| Operating System | Latest Version |
|---|---|
| 3.0.3 | |
| System Requirements Windows 8.1+ 64-bit VST/VST3/AAX Compatible DAW | |
| 3.0.3 | |
| System Requirements OS X 10.9+ 64-bit VST/VST3/AU/AAX Compatible DAW | |
| 3.0.3 | |
| System Requirements Ubuntu 18.04+ 64-bit VST Compatible DAW | |
Maximal 3 is a true-peak brickwall limiter, soft clipper, and broadcast standard loudness meter.
Maximal 3 is a loudness maximiser, designed to limit and maximise your track. Featuring both a true-peak brickwall limiter and a variable shape soft clipper, Maximal 3 can increase the overall loudness of your track, without destroying the sonic quality.
The limiter features true-peak lookahead detection, meaning inter-sample peaks will never overshoot and clip. With four different modes, and controls for attack and release, the shape of the limiter can achieve anything from transparent limiting with transient preservation, to warm bus gluing or pumping.
Features
True-Peak Limiting
Maximal 3 features true-peak, lookahead, brickwall limiting. This means that no matter how hard you push it, there will never be any overshoots from intersample peaks.
With four different limiter modes, and attack and release controls, Maximal 3 can be used for anything from clean and transparent loudness maximising, to gluing a bus together.
Variable Soft Clipping
Clipping can be used to shave off rampant peaks before limiting, or used as a creative tool to add a bit of warmth to tracks.
An adjustable curve from hard to soft allows chopping transients or adding saturation to both individual tracks and whole mixes.
Loudness Metering
Maximal 3 features a dedicated loudness metering section, displaying the LUFS and true-peak value of the signal, based on the ITU-R BS.1770-4 specification.
Additionally, you can set the target loudness of the meters to any level, such as for mastering specifically the EBU R128 standard.
Oversampling
To help limit aliasing and catch inter-sample peaks, Maximal 3 offers up to 16x oversampling.
Using linear-phase resampling filters, our high-quality oversampling algorithm cleanly upsamples the signal before applying the limiting, before cleanly bringing the sample rate back to the original.
{See video at top of page}
I use it on the Master in FL Studio and it harmonizes with the Fruity Limiter very well and also runs stable all the time. The intelligent algorithms bring a really nice boost to the mix, especially the Limiter with additional Tape Saturation.
Read ReviewReviewed By piermarco.lunghi [all]
March 26th, 2021
Version reviewed: 2.3.0 on Linux
Really good sounding plugin, cpu-friendly and well-looking. I use it in the mastering path on mixbus 32c...great.
Read ReviewVery high quality saturator / maximizer, with the update just got better! Most often I use it for bass, drums, but it can be successfully used on any instruments! It also happens on the master track.
Read ReviewMaximal 2 is a look-ahead limiter that I first came across in its CM variety a couple of months ago.
I liked it so much I bought the full version. The price is a very reasonable sub $40, and there's often a deal going.
I think I paid $26 for mine.
Limiters are very personal, a bit like guitars. Everyone has favourites. So here's my take on Maximal 2.
What do I like about it most?
> First and foremost, the sound. It makes things sound richer & warmer. For me, this is a special kind of warmth, and I love it on lots of things. Instant improvement.
> The volume. I can get a lot more thick volume from a track. It's now part of my standard channel strip.
> It's adjustable & quick to operate. There are up to 8 levels of look-ahead oversampling, so I can use it on my master out if I fancy. It has 4 types of loudness: Clean, Loud, Tape, Tube, which is very handy when you throw different types of material at it. There's also an adjustable attack, which is very handy as well, eg, fine tuning attacks for bass, drums, lead synths and sounds with snap, compared to thick slow pads. So there's plenty to experiment with, without it being overly complex. I don't take it into the ultra dirty zone much, though it gives plenty of crunch if required.
> CPU is very low. Good code in here, so I can use lots of them.
> I can boost Maximal 2 on output, instead of boosting the input channel trim for level balancing, which can sound better sometimes. It's nice to have the choice.
> i can make choices quickly, as in: Tone? Volume? Go for it.
> I also like the cool black interface. Very tasty, and imo expensive-looking.
Oh, and there's a manual.
What don't I use it for.
> Brick wall limiting on tracks. It's more of a volume & rich tone effect, than a brick wall, although there's no reason it can't do this, with the attack set on zero.
> Dynamic orchestral string parts need to be handled with care, as it can sometimes make them sound plain wrong.
I heartily recommend it. I'm a genuine buyer and not paid to say nice things. I just like it xxx.
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