Vocal Limiter
by W.A. Production · Limiter · Vocal limiter
Not rated yet
Vocal Limiter is a simple limiter from W.A. Production made for the end of a vocal chain.
It offers four release modes, a threshold control and VU meters, for $19.90.
Best for: Vocals. Genres: Pop, Hip-Hop & Trap, R&B & Soul.
Keywords: vocals, simple, metering, beginner-friendly, minimal controls, dialogue, podcast, rap vocals, A/B compare, corrective, lead vocals, single-band, single knob.
What it does
Vocal Limiter is a simple limiter tuned for the human voice, meant as "the last step in your vocal processing chain". It catches peaks and raises the level of a vocal with only a handful of controls.
- Vocal-focused detection: developed to target the frequencies of vocal performances, so it reacts less to high- and low-frequency content outside the voice range.
- Threshold: a single slider sets where the limiter clamps down on peaks.
- Four speed modes: slow, medium, fast and ultra slow release settings, picked from a drop-down menu for different vocal styles.
- Input and output gain: faders to balance vocals of different levels and dynamics before and after limiting.
- Metering: real-time VU meters showing the signal through the processing.
- Workflow: factory presets with a browser and navigation arrows, plus pop- and click-free bypass for A/B checks.
The current version is 2.1.0 (April 2024), and a demo is available.
Source: W.A. Production product page
When to use it
Vocal Limiter is the pick when you want quick peak control and loudness on a single vocal with almost no setup. Compared with FabFilter Pro-L 2 or TDR Limiter 6 GE, it has no limiting styles, lookahead settings or loudness metering, but its detection is tuned for the voice and its four speed modes cover most vocal jobs. It is closer in spirit to Waves L2 Ultramaximizer, with a similar few-control approach, but it is aimed at vocals rather than the master. It is also inexpensive.
- Best for: taming peaks and adding level on lead vocals, rap and spoken word, as the last plugin in a vocal chain.
- Genres: pop, hip-hop, R&B, podcasts and any vocal-led style.
- Look elsewhere if: you need a limiter for the mix bus or master, or detailed metering; Pro-L 2 or TDR Limiter 6 GE are better suited.
- Tip: use the slower modes for sung vocals and the faster modes for spoken word and rap (Bedroom Producers Blog).
What producers say
There is little written about it, but the one review found it simple and easy to use for beginners and experienced producers alike.
- Bedroom Producers Blog (December 2020, when it was free at launch via Plugin Boutique) liked the "streamlined interface" and said beginners and experienced producers would find it equally easy to use.
- Vocal tuning: the same article highlighted that it is less sensitive to non-vocal high- and low-frequency content.
Where to buy
- Best Service: $19.90
- W.A. Production: $19.90
- Plugin Boutique: $19.90
- AudioDeluxe: $19.90
Tutorials and reviews
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