Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xilentch
➡️
Hey Solar,
This is exactly the kind of review I was hoping for! Thank you so much for taking the time.
That said—I’d absolutely love to hear your technical evaluation as well!
Thank you again. I'm also a sound engineer, specializing in the mastering stage. The final limiting process has always been something I was obsessively focused on. I could never quite get what I wanted. Other tools in the same category always tended to “clip” in some way. So I rolled up my sleeves...
I wanted to develop a final limiting plugin that is transparent, maintains an "analog" feel, and is so subtle that you can barely tell it’s even working. No spectral coloration, no transient loss, no collapse of the 3D space.
And now—with your confirmation as a beta tester—I think it’s finally there!
XMLimiter, XMEQ, and XMCompressor were actually all developed in parallel, starting about a year ago. That’s why updates for XMLimiter came quickly. The roadmap was always clear. (Next up: a mastering compressor—and the philosophy stays the same!)
It’s truly an honor to know XMLimiter gave you that little spark of confidence. I think, within both physical and conceptual boundaries, this is as far as one can go—short of some very specific exceptions.
Like I’ve said before, it’s now just waiting to be discovered.
It really is a “secret weapon.” In the right hands and the right context—maybe even most of the time—I believe it will do the job better than expected.
Here’s another personal usage tip:
After bouncing your mix, normalize the resulting file to 0.0 dB.
Then insert XMLimiter, and raise it +1.0 dB… then another +1.0 dB...
You will be surprised.
Thank you again for your support.
I’d love to see your thoughts on XMEQ in the dedicated thread as well—I have a feeling you’ll be surprised by that one too, especially what it adds in the air region.
Please keep in touch. Once the mastering compressor is complete, I’d love to send you a link so you can try it before anyone else.
Best regards
Hey @
Xilentch
,
Wow—thank you so much for the thoughtful and passionate response! Seriously been long time i've been this excited about a plugin ;-)
Reading through your message, I can truly feel the heart, intention, and obsession for sonic precision that you’ve poured into the XMLimiter and the entire XM lineup. It’s not every day you come across a developer who not only gets it from a technical standpoint, but also connects with the creative side of what we engineers and artists aim to preserve and elevate in our work.
What really resonated with me was your mention of “no spectral coloration, no transient loss, no collapse of the 3D space.” That’s exactly what blew me away. It felt like the limiter wasn’t just “not harming” the mix—it was actively respecting the integrity of the music. That's rare.
I’m definitely going to explore XMEQ in the coming days and will share my thoughts in the dedicated thread as soon as I can. If it’s anything like the limiter, I already know I’m in for a treat, especially if it handles the top-end “air” the way you hinted at.
And regarding the upcoming mastering compressor—yes, absolutely, I’d be honored to try it early. You’ve clearly tapped into something special with this line, and it deserves all the attention and recognition it’s starting to get.
Keep doing what you're doing. You're not just making tools—you’re making trusted allies in the music-making process.
All the best once again,
