SonicLAB: NATURL Audio AL-1 Limiter

We spoke to Andrew Raynhard from NATURL Audio about AL-1, the company's mastering limiter plug-in, which has been taking the industry by storm through word of mouth. Due to its unique ability to handle limiting and yet still preserving the transients. Just a look at the testimonials on their site and you will see people are impressed.

AL-1 is a mastering limiter focused on preserving transient articulation while increasing level. Version 2 is available now and adds Engine 2, which NATURL Audio describes as an analogue physics model rather than an emulation of existing hardware. Engine 1 remains the original, more digital design, while Engine 2 is intended to reduce distortion and offer a denser, smoother response.

The plug-in is arranged as a left-to-right workflow. Gain structure covers input, output and ceiling. The response section controls how the limiter behaves, with engine-dependent controls such as response, recovery, attack and release. Window and tuning settings use timing values related to musical pitch, and parameters are stepped to reflect an analogue mastering workflow. Voicing offers different response characters, while the stereo linking section uses correlation, threshold, minimum and maximum linking, plus slope control, to move between linked and dual-mono behaviour.

For a mastering engineers take on this, we recommend you check out the excellent video by Justin Colletti, who's ears are finely tuned to the nuance of what the AL-1 does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEfdOE_pT6U

AL-1 is available for $299, with a 10-payment rent-to-own option at $22.90 per month. A 30-day unrestricted trial is available.
More Info: https://naturl.audio

 

• Naturl Audio Updates AL-1 Limiter - TPL and more 03-Sep-26