Unlimited
Key Features
- Loudness maximizer and brickwall limiter with transparent, transient-preserving sound quality
- ITU-R BS.1770 compliant loudness meter (LUFS) alongside RMS output meters for accurate loudness monitoring
- Supports both stereo and 5.1 surround material with independent threshold offsets for Center, LFE, and Surround channels
- Character control adjusts limiting aggressiveness from transient-emphasizing to smooth compression
- Classic Mode switch changes behavior from maximizer to traditional limiter operation
- Automatic signal detection disables unused surround channels, reducing CPU usage during stereo playback
- GUI designed by Crimsonmerry with intuitive layout placing main controls next to metering displays
Description
Unlimited by Sonic Anomaly is a loudness maximizer and mastering limiter that handles both stereo and 5.1 surround material. It includes an ITU-R BS.1770 compliant loudness meter alongside RMS output meters, giving accurate loudness monitoring during mastering.
The limiter aims for balanced characteristics, avoiding audible distortion typical of hard limiting and clipping while still delivering competitive loudness without sounding compressed or lifeless. It automatically detects the input signal type and disables unused surround channels, keeping CPU usage low during stereo operation.
The Threshold and Out controls handle the core limiting, while a Character slider adjusts the aggressiveness of the limiting algorithm. Lower Character values emphasize transients, and higher values produce smoother, more compressed results.
Three Weight controls (Center, LFE, Surround) provide independent threshold offsets for 5.1 surround channels. A Classic Mode switch changes the plugin from maximizer behavior to a traditional limiter.
KVR users describe Unlimited as transparent and transient-preserving, and plugins4free reviewers rate it 4.6 out of 5 with comments like "the best free brickwall limiter, no discussion." On Reddit, users in r/mixingmastering recommend it as a go-to limiter after testing multiple options.
Unlimited is available for Windows in 32-bit and 64-bit VST format. The download is approximately 1.4 MB per version.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Unlimited work on macOS or only Windows?
Unlimited is currently Windows-only, available in both 32-bit and 64-bit VST format. There is no macOS or Linux version available.
What is the difference between the default mode and Classic Mode?
The default mode operates as a loudness maximizer, optimized for competitive loudness while preserving dynamics. Classic Mode switches the plugin to traditional limiter behavior, which applies more conservative gain reduction without the maximizing stage.
Can Unlimited be used for 5.1 surround mastering?
Yes. Unlimited fully supports 5.1 surround material with dedicated Weight controls for Center, LFE, and Surround channels that let you set independent threshold offsets for each channel group. When working in stereo, the surround channels are automatically disabled to save CPU.
How does the Character control affect the sound?
The Character slider controls how aggressively the limiter responds. At lower values it emphasizes transients and preserves punch, while higher values produce smoother and more compressed results. Adjusting this control lets you balance between loudness and dynamic preservation.
