Reckless Technology

VST plugins / Dynamics and EQ

Plugin

Reckless Limiter

v0.21

A fast peak limiter: its peaks come out held at −2 dBFS, the peaks between the samples included, and nothing leaves over full scale.

The Reckless Limiter plugin panel.

From the user guide

Using it

The ceiling is fixed. Input is how hard you push into it: at 0 dB a mix peaking under -2 dBFS passes untouched; turn it up and the peaks are held while everything under them gets louder. Both channels move together. A transient that gets past the attack is rounded off by an output clipper, and the red CLIP lamp in the header lights. If it stays lit, shorten Attack or switch Look-ahead on.

The CLIP lamp in the header.
The CLIP lamp in the header.

The needle meter shows the gain reduction. Under it, REDUCTION gives the figure and TRUE PEAK the peak of what leaves, in dBTP: -2.0 while the limiter works.

The needle, with REDUCTION and TRUE PEAK under it.
The needle, with REDUCTION and TRUE PEAK under it.

Controls

ControlRangeDefaultWhat it does
Input, close up on the Reckless Limiter.Input-12 to +24 dB0 dBHow hard the signal is driven into the -2 dBFS ceiling.
Attack, close up on the Reckless Limiter.Attack0.01 to 10 ms1.0 msHow fast the gain comes down. Longer lets a hit's snap through.
Release, close up on the Reckless Limiter.Release50 to 500 ms100 msHow fast the gain comes back. Short is lively, long is invisible.
Output, close up on the Reckless Limiter.Output-24 to 0 dB0 dBLevel after limiting; never above 0, so nothing exceeds the ceiling.
Look-ahead, close up on the Reckless Limiter.Look-aheadOff / 1 ms / 2 ms / 5 msOffGain is down before the peak arrives. Adds that much latency.
Smooth, close up on the Reckless Limiter.SmoothOff / 500 Hz / 200 Hz / 100 Hz / 20 HzOffLowpass on the gain's movement; adds lag a look-ahead can hide.
Release Mode, close up on the Reckless Limiter.Release ModeManual / AutoManualAuto rides sustained passages down slowly, so they do not pump.
Hold, close up on the Reckless Limiter.HoldOff / 5 ms / 10 ms / 20 ms10 msHolds each peak before release, stopping flutter on bass notes.

Tips

  • Safety limiter on the master: Input 0, the plates as they open. Only peaks over -2 dBFS are held.
  • Louder: turn Input up until the meter reads 2 to 4 dB on the loudest hits. Past about 6 dB of steady reduction, compress first.
  • Drums with their snap: Attack 5 to 10 ms, Release 50 to 100 ms, Look-ahead Off. The lamp flickers on every hit; that is intended.
  • Transparent: Attack 1 ms or under, Look-ahead at least as long as Attack, Release 200 ms or more.
  • Bass buzzing at twice its pitch: keep Hold on (10 ms covers notes down to 50 Hz), or lengthen Release.
  • Tracking live: leave Look-ahead Off; the plugin then adds only a millisecond and four samples of latency.

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