McDSP - ML4000 Mastering Limiter Native

The McDSP ML4000 is a mastering limiter and a four-band dynamics processor in one package. It's for engineers who want a limiter that can go from transparent peak control to heavy crushing, and multi-band gating, expansion and compression ahead of it.

Two plug-ins

• ML1: a brick wall look-ahead mastering limiter with multiple stages of limiting
• ML4: a four-band gate, expander (upwards or downwards) and compressor, feeding the same limiter as the ML1

How it works

The ML1's Knee and Mode controls change how the limiter responds, which is what lets it cover such a wide range of material. In the ML4, each band's gate, expander and compressor can be set separately or linked, with steep 24 dB/oct crossovers and plenty of metering. Output ceiling control and large meters with readouts make level setting quick.

The sound

Clean when you want it, aggressive when you ask. It's a solid all-rounder for mastering and mix-bus duties. The ML8000 builds on the same limiter with a more advanced multi-band first stage.

Native or HD?

Native runs on your computer in AAX Native, AU and VST3, which is all most studios need. If you mix on Pro Tools HDX or an Avid VENUE S6L, ML4000 Mastering Limiter HD adds AAX DSP support.

Features

• Brick wall look-ahead limiter
• Multi-stage peak detection and limiting
• Knee and Mode limiter controls
• Four-band gate, expander and compressor
• Adjustable 24 dB/oct crossovers
• Multiple real-time metering options
• Analogue saturation modelling
• Double precision processing, ultra low latency

System requirements

• Version: 7.3
• Mac: macOS 10.13 High Sierra to macOS 26 Tahoe. AAX Native, AU and VST3. Native on Apple Silicon and Intel
• Windows: Windows 10 and 11. AAX Native and VST3
• RAM: not specified by McDSP
• Licence: iLok, on an iLok2 or iLok3 USB key, your computer or iLok Cloud (a free iLok account is needed). Two activations per licence

SOUND7 is an authorised McDSP reseller. Digital delivery: licence activation code sent by email.

Demo