Mastering
Choosing a limiter for a streaming master
Evaluate audible reduction, ceiling control and the delivered file rather than an unsupported league table.
Hear and inspect the tools in this guide
Loop the same phrase, change one control at a time and compare at similar playback loudness. The linked walkthroughs are product demonstrations, not measurement results for this guide.
Pictured: Finish Him (Limiter) — Choose Transparent, Punch, Dense or Safe limiting.
Watch the Finish Him video walkthrough →
Start with delivery and the mix
Read the current requirement for the release destination and format. A streaming normalisation figure is not automatically the level at which every master must be made. Loudness, sample peak and true peak describe different things.
Fix substantial balance and transient problems upstream. A limiter cannot independently repair a buried vocal, resonant kick and harsh cymbal while preserving every other element.
Compare actual processors
Use current specifications to identify ceiling, timing and quality controls. Describe Finish Him and End Times by those contracts, not an invented common mode list or unrecorded benchmark.
Raise processing until you can hear what changes, then reduce playback level for comparison. Listen for flattened attacks, pumping and distortion. A quieter, clearer result can be preferable to a louder one.
- Keep a representative phrase.
- Compare at similar playback level.
- Check quiet and loud passages.
Inspect the exported deliverable
Measure the final file with an appropriate meter. Check any conversion that is actually part of delivery. Session settings do not prove the exported peak or loudness.
A true-peak ceiling leaves chosen headroom, but no single value guarantees every codec or playback device. Follow the destination specification. This guide does not assert platform certification or a listening-panel result.
Side-by-side comparison of related plug-ins
Compare the Fat Berry DSP plug-ins referenced in this guide by price, category, formats, and primary studio role. Every licence is a perpetual single-user licence (3 machine activations, 14-day full refund policy).
| Plug-in | Category | Regular Price | Formats | Primary Studio Job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish Him | Limiter | $79.99 USD | VST3, AU | Choose Transparent, Punch, Dense or Safe limiting. |
| End Times | Limiter | $59.99 USD | VST3, AU | A loudness chain: clipping, spectral limiting and a true-peak ceiling in one. |
References and comparison method
An explanatory guide based on the linked product specifications and host documentation. Suggested listening steps are a method for your session, not a report of a controlled experiment. Behaviour depends on the release, source and settings.
Use the actual product controls, compare at similar playback loudness and check the result in the arrangement. Settings and behaviour vary by recording and software release.
Sources and further reading
Questions, answered
Must every master use one LUFS value?
No. Distinguish normalisation policy from delivery requirements and musical intent.
Is this a benchmark ranking?
No. It explains selection criteria and links the actual product specifications.