[Review] sonible "smart: limit" Review (Limiter Plug-in with Machine Learning Function, Introduction of Functions, Comparison with Other Products, etc.)
sonible is a popular effects plug-in maker that focuses on machine learning systems. After comp, EQ, and reverb, they have now released a limiter.
Manufacturer Information
SMART: LIMIT is a worry-free limit. Its intelligent processing preserves track detail and provides transparent, uncompromised limit quality. smart:limit's extensive loudness and dynamics monitoring eliminates the need for additional metering plug-ins. In addition to providing all the loudness information needed to confidently publish in real time, smart:limit guides you to reach the safe zone requirements of your streaming platform or loudness standard, and provides interactive quality check feedback via tips.
Use smart:limit to speed up your workflow. Its intelligent processing analyzes the signal and detects in just seconds all the limiting parameters that allow the mix to breathe. You can prime plug-ins for different limiting characteristics by selecting genre-based profiles that suit your mix. Or, if you are aiming for a specific limiting style, upload a reference track instead. You can use smart:limit with or without automatic parameterization. Or you can use a combination of both.
Cited by sonible
Introduction to Functions
The first way to use the software is to select presets for each genre and analyze them by AI, as recommended by the manufacturer. There is a wide variety of presets with diverse presets for acoustic, speech, classical, jazz, and even age in pop. There is also a very wide variety of other genres such as country, EDM, hip-hop, etc.
Style, saturation, low frequency, balance, etc. can also be adjusted. The most convenient feature is that slots 1-8 are provided, allowing you to save up to 8 different limiter settings. This means that you can instantly compare the results of your listening experience.
The QuickCheck feature suggests what adjustments should be made to the loudness criteria set on the right. Sometimes loudness plug-ins have this feature. I find it helpful when I'm getting swamped in a mix.
Evaluation
This is a high quality product that ranks high among the products released this year. It has functions that are comparable to other products such as iZOTOPE in terms of machine learning limiters.
The ability to adjust the limiter and various tone shaping settings for each genre is a feature not found in other products. Cloudbounce is a similar product, but it is superior to Cloudbounce in that it is easier to fine-tune various parameters.
Compared to EQ, is it more compatible with automatic analysis? With a little adjustment, you can achieve satisfactory limiting.
It is also quite nice to have not only machine learning but also a full range of loudness-determining software functions.
The knobs for adjusting the four tones can also be intuitively adjusted by simply turning them. The visibility is also excellent (a feature common to all sonible products, I think), so I would like people who find other products difficult to use to give it a try. The loudness standards of various streaming services are not only supported, but also a function that checks how much you are exceeding the standards. If you are looking for a limiter that is perfect for you, I think you should give it a try.
