APU Loudness Limiter

Description

Overview

The APU Loudness Limiter by APU Software is a professional real-time limiting solution designed for true-peak-safe processing with precise LUFS control. It provides a comprehensive suite of measurement types, allowing engineers to monitor and control Integrated, Short-term, and Momentary LUFS alongside traditional RMS, Peak, and True Peak metrics. By accounting for inter-sample peaks, this limiter ensures your audio remains transparent and clipping-free across all playback systems.

Beyond standard limiting, the tool offers advanced ballistics and diagnostic capabilities. Users can choose between Natural and Inertial behavior or utilize a Linear Release mode for a constant rate of gain change. The integrated real-time visualization provides a rolling history and loudness histograms, while specialized diagnostic tools like breath residual visualization help identify exactly where the limiter is working hardest to meet target gain.

Key Details

• Multi-Standard Monitoring: Supports LUFS (Integrated, Short-term, Momentary), RMS, Peak, and True Peak measurements.
• Advanced Ballistics: Selectable Natural and Inertial types with a Linear Release mode for non-traditional gain envelopes.
• Precision Control: Includes Threshold, Ceiling, Attack, Release, and look-ahead parameters for preemptive gain reduction.
• Flexible Routing: Ability to split or link channels, making it ideal for multi-channel formats like Dolby Atmos®.
• Streaming Presets: Built-in targets for major platforms including Spotify, Apple, and EBU R128 standards.
• Dynamic Visualization: Real-time source, target, and output signal displays with histogram and rolling history views.
• Artifact-Free Adjustment: A specialized budget system for look-ahead and attack times allows real-time adjustments without audio artifacts.
• Additional Processing: Features optional dithering and external sidechain input for advanced dynamics processing.

Use Cases

Mastering for Streaming: Use the integrated LUFS presets to ensure your tracks meet the specific loudness and peak requirements of Spotify and Apple Music without sacrificing dynamic integrity.

Immersive Audio Production: Leverage the channel linking and splitting options to maintain consistent loudness across complex multi-channel mixes, such as Dolby Atmos® projects.

Broadcast Compliance: Utilize the EBU R128 presets and True Peak detection to meet strict broadcast standards and prevent inter-sample clipping during transmission.

Installation

The APU Loudness Limiter is available as a digital download. Once purchased, install the plugin into your preferred DAW’s plugin folder. The software supports multiple formats including VST-3, AU, and AAX, as well as a Standalone version for direct application use. Ensure your system supports OpenGL 3.2 for full graphical visualization functionality.

Compatibility

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 10 or higher (32-bit/64-bit), macOS 10.14 or higher (Intel or Apple Silicon)
• RAM: 4GB RAM
• Disk Space: 500MB Hard Drive Space
• Plugin Formats: VST-3, AU, AAX, Standalone
• Additional Requirements: OpenGL 3.2 support

Product Demo

Product Demo