Emmy-Winning Technology Delivers Enhanced Loudness Control and Transparency
CEDAR Audio has released APEX Adaptive Limiter, a mastering plugin built on the company's Emmy Award-winning adaptive limiting technology. The limiter uses spectral processing algorithms to achieve loudness increases while maintaining audio transparency and soundstage integrity.
Adaptive Spectral Limiting Technology
APEX employs CEDAR's proprietary Spectral Limiting algorithm that calculates continuously varying EQ profiles for each audio channel. Unlike conventional limiters that suppress peak amplitudes at fixed thresholds, this adaptive approach constrains output amplitude while preserving input signal integrity.
The Spectral Control feature enables engineers to achieve different tonal characteristics, from richer, weightier sounds at higher settings to brighter or smoother results at lower configurations. Temporal LF/HF controls determine the rate at which the spectral profile changes across different frequency ranges.
Enhanced Processing Capabilities
APEX offers higher resolution processing at low frequencies compared to previous CEDAR limiters, enabling more precise limiting control. The continuously-variable Link capability provides control over audio soundstage, from independent channel limiting to perfectly linked gain reduction across stereo channels.
By incorporating additional latency for transient prediction, APEX manages transients with surgical precision, resulting in smoother limiting, enhanced transient clarity, and consistent loudness without pumping artifacts or distortion.
Professional Loudness Management
The limiter includes comprehensive loudness control features with gain adjustment for maximum loudness before limiting, ceiling control for absolute output levels, and oversampling for intersample peak detection. When oversampling is enabled, APEX functions as a True Peak limiter for broadcast compliance.
Quantization controls allow output bit depth selection with refined noise shaping for delivery optimization across different platforms and formats.
Genre Versatility and Applications
CEDAR positions APEX for mastering across various applications and genres, from adding richness to classical music without affecting transparency to providing extra energy for electronic dance music. The limiter is also designed for dialogue programming control in post-production environments.
The plugin suits mastering content for streaming, broadcasting, and music production while maintaining both power and transparency in the final output.
Availability and Pricing
APEX Adaptive Limiter is priced at £199 plus tax with a 14-day free trial available for evaluation. The plugin joins CEDAR's existing lineup of audio processing tools, including the Adaptive Limiter 2 at a reduced price of £99.50 plus tax.
More information about APEX Adaptive Limiter is available on the CEDAR Audio website.
