Hi there,

I write and produce rock/metal music using Cakewalk Sonar on Windows XP.

I have read reviews of the Oxford Inflator that discribe this plugin as doing exactly what I would like. I.e to get the music onto CD as loud as possible without distortion.

Since I don't have either Pro Tools or a Powercore, does anyone know of a way to get the plugin working without either of these, or a quality alternative?

Thanks

Spencer

Try this one, Spence: http://www.kvr-vst.com/get/650.html

Waves L1+, L2, L3
Voxengo Polysquasher/Elephant

For a more even sound use a non limiting multiband compressor before the limiter (like elephant, or the waves L1/2/3) in the chain. Adjust it in a way that you even out spikes in the spectrum a little. Then the limiter afterwards won't make it sound as harsh or apparently brickwalled, it'll be a smoother sound overall.

Wow, thanks for the quick replys,

I will have a look at these!

Spence

spenno wrote:

Hi there, I have read reviews of the Oxford Inflator that discribe this plugin as doing exactly what I would like. I.e to get the music onto CD as loud as possible without distortion. Thanks Spencer

Having Inflator, I'd say there really isn't an equal out there. It attempts do create a more tape saturated sound. And yes, you can get more levels that any other plugin I can think of. Granted I haven't tried them all, but more like 50%, including the waves, which most people think would do this particular job...
George

spenno wrote:

a quality alternative?

Alternatively, turn up the volume of your amplifier
Louder is not always better, read this thread: http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=59309&postdays=0&postorde r=asc&start=0

C00kie wrote:

spenno wrote: a quality alternative? Alternatively, turn up the volume of your amplifier Louder is not always better, read this thread: http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=59309&postdays=0&postorde r=asc&start=0

Thanks again for your opinion, and indeed the opinions of the members from the other thread, but it is a personal preference, you have yours I have mine.

It's not just the actual decibels it can change the feel of a track, especially a heavy one!

Spence

Spence

Hi Spencer,

First: I recommend not to buy anything because some people say it's good without having really used (understood correctly and applied correctly) and compared it yourself.
Second: My history route for master limiters was L1, then L2, then Elephant, and now I use TLs Maximizer. At first I thought this tool is a creapy freeware gimmick as I turned up the dull-crisp slider all up which gives some serious distortion with certain material! Now I turn it down until I have a clean sound. Great maximizing with good sound. Check it out, it's one of the few shining freeware pearls that you better don't judge by it's price.

rawcan

spenno wrote:

It's not just the actual decibels it can change the feel of a track, especially a heavy one!

Sure you need some tape-like saturation! I won't argue with that, I put some compression on the master for that myself. But thats quite different from squeezing the most dBs as possible out of a track just to match the levels with a commercial release.

The tools are there, use & abuse them to your own taste

edit - nm, too early in the err.. afternoon

somebody (a joker?) posted a comparison to ruby tube on uad forums ...

http://www.silverspike.com/download.html

erm ... you never know ...

rawcan wrote:

Hi Spencer, First: I recommend not to buy anything because some people say it's good without having really used (understood correctly and applied correctly) and compared it yourself. Second: My history route for master limiters was L1, then L2, then Elephant, and now I use TLs Maximizer. At first I thought this tool is a creapy freeware gimmick as I turned up the dull-crisp slider all up which gives some serious distortion with certain material! Now I turn it down until I have a clean sound. Great maximizing with good sound. Check it out, it's one of the few shining freeware pearls that you better don't judge by it's price. rawcan

any ideas where we can get this Tls maximizer as the webpage is down or gone

http://hem.bredband.net/tbtaudio/plugins.html

cheers

LOL. My waves L3 above generated totally different attitides. well there you go.

You can get it here, the link still works

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:vFA5cTTnr0IJ:hem.bredband.net/t btaudio/tls.html+Tls+maximizer&hl=en

Spence

Did you try it, Spence? Whatcha think?

Ah yeah,

one thing I forgot: I tried the Inflator with high expectations. I was very disappointed. I don't like it's sound, Elephant sounds better than Inflator and gives a higher clean loudness level.

rawcan wrote:

Did you try it, Spence? Whatcha think?

Yes I had a quick play with it last night (5 mins) it seems to do what I need so thanks for that.

Spence