The Native AAX DSP FinalPlug Mastering Peak Limiter and Volume Maximizer Plug-In from Wave Arts is designed for sonically transparent operation in mastering applications. In addition to peak limiting and volume maximizing, the FinalPlug features bit-depth truncation from 4 to 24 bits and has integrated dithering for mixing down from higher bit-depths.

FinalPlug is a professional peak limiter/volume maximizer with extensive bit depth truncation and dither options, making it ideally suited for a final mix. Tame the peaks a bit, or really squeeze all the volume you can out of it.

The FinalPlug interface could hardly be simpler. Select a desired output ceiling level, say -0.1 dB, and then adjust the threshold level. As you decrease the threshold you increase the volume.

The peak limiter section works by looking ahead 1.5 milliseconds. When a input peak is detected that will exceed the desired output ceiling, the gain is quickly ducked to let the peak pass, then the gain is restored relatively slowly according to the release time control. During rapidly changing program material with frequent peaks, a faster release time will achieve better results. During slowly changing material, slower release times prevent excessive modulation distortion. FinalPlug’s auto release feature analyzes the input signal to determine peakiness, and selects the optimum release time for the program material.

The truncate/dither section is usually used for CD mastering, where truncation to 16 bits can create audible quantization distortion. By adding special dither noise, the quantization distortion can be eliminated, and the dither noise can be spectrally shaped to move it to frequency ranges where it is less audible. FinalPlug contains a comprehensive noise shaping section which reproduces a variety of commonly used noise shapes.

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