L3-16 fuses a 16-band peak limiter with paragraphic EQ control for precise, transparent level maximisation in mastering.

The informative display shows 16 virtual bands with three discrete curves for attenuation, EQ and priority, all under intuitive control via a familiar paragraphic EQ control set, so you can shape masters beyond traditional dynamics and re-balance dynamics and frequency. Linear-phase crossovers avoid phase distortion even with massive maximisation, preserving transients and high-end clarity. 21 release characters range from warm analog to vocal or bass priority to crystal-clear digital, and IDR bit reduction with two dithering options and three noise-shaping algorithms at 16 to 24 bits takes care of the final step for digital releases.

Features

• 16-band peak limiter with paragraphic EQ control
• 21 release characters, from warm classical to punchy modern
• Priority option ensures key elements like vocals are not masked
• Linear-phase crossovers without phase smearing
• Bell or shelf EQ, 3 band slopes for broader or narrower control
• Dithering and noise shaping, 38 presets for mastering

Technical details

• Operating systems: Windows, macOS
• Plug-in formats: VST3, Audio Unit (macOS only), AAX
• Architecture: 64 bit
• Licensing: licence key, machine-bound or USB flash drive (via Waves Central)

System requirements

• macOS 14 Sonoma, 15 Sequoia, 26 Tahoe or 27 Golden Gate (Apple silicon or Intel)
• Windows 10 64-bit (version 22H2) or Windows 11 (Intel or AMD, x64)
• 16 GB RAM
• 30 GB free disk space on the system drive

The licence is registered with the manufacturer at https://www.waves.com/downloads/central. You will receive your serial number and the download link by e-mail immediately after purchase.