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Definitely Not "Just Another Mastering Limiter" . . .
Do you remember that really cool Golden Compressor GCO-1 plug-in that Craig Anderton reviewed in the February 2005 issue of EG? Well, the company that created that sweet little product has put something new on the market-the MPL-1 Pro SE. In short, it's a cross-platform plug-in that plays nice with both Windows and Mac operating systems, is available in VST, RTAS, and AU formats, and is targeted for mixing and mastering applications. Interested? Sure you are. And we got the intimate details for you, too.
OVERVIEW
There are a few features that make this limiter unique, with the most significant being Kjaerhus' over-sampled peak detecting algorithm (Figure 1). This new approach ensures that high frequency peaks are more accurately detected, resulting in both better high-frequency performance and elimination of output clipping. Another highlight is the stereo linking function, which is a kind of stereo/not stereo/stereo again deal. When enabled, the linking code allows peaks to be limited individually on each channel, while longer-lasting gain reductions remain linked. The benefit in the real world is that peaks in one channel do not produce artifacts in the other channel ("not stereo") while the average compression still remains the same in each channel to avoid disturbances in the stereo balance ("stereo again"). Other nice-to-have features with the MPL-1 Pro SE include silent knobs, A/B comparisons, and parameter control via a "MIDI learn" function.
The GUI for the MPL-1 Pro SE has a clean, streamlined feel. Controls are neatly spaced, while values and meters are easy to read. There are four stereo meters (with peak-hold and AES 17 compliant...