Mainline Audio

The Final Word

True Peak Brickwall Mastering Limiter

Transparent true peak limiting with optional character when you want it. Built for the last stage of the chain.

Available Now · Introductory Price

$99

Regular price $149

Buy Now — $99 Download 14-Day Demo See what's inside ↓

The Final Word mastering limiter plugin interface

True Peak Ceiling

Dedicated true peak ceiling protection remains active regardless of the selected oversampling setting. Up to 8× oversampling and adjustable lookahead provide precise control over transient handling and inter-sample peaks.

Learn more about true peak →

Five Character Modes

Shape the sound of the limiting itself — from clean and transparent to vintage tape and tube — without leaving the plugin. Blend any character amount in parallel without sacrificing output safety.

Complete Metering

True Peak, Integrated LUFS, Short-Term LUFS, PLR, LRA, and GR — everything needed to hit streaming and broadcast targets without a separate meter.

Stereo & M/S Link

Link sets how tightly gain reduction is tied together across the active pair — Left and Right in Stereo mode, Mid and Side in M/S mode. At 0% each responds independently; at 100% both follow whichever one needs more reduction, with a smooth blend in between.

Character

Five modes. One ceiling.

Each character mode applies a distinct algorithm inside the oversampled limiting stage. Mix it in parallel — the ceiling is always enforced on the blend output.

Clean

Pure transparent brickwall limiting with no additional harmonic processing.

Soft

Softens the transition into limiting for a gentler, less abrupt presentation while preserving the source material.

Warm

Introduces tube-inspired warmth and subtle harmonic enrichment that increases naturally with drive.

Punchy

Preserves transient energy while adding presence and impact where the material demands it.

Vintage

Introduces tape-inspired high-frequency softening and even-harmonic saturation that increases with drive.

Stereo Field

Stereo & M/S Link

Stereo & M/S Link — 0–100%

Stereo / M/S

Switches the limiter's gain-reduction stage between conventional Left/Right operation and Mid/Side processing. In M/S mode, the signal is processed as Mid and Side components before being decoded back to stereo.

Monitoring

Four ways to hear the truth

Every monitoring tool is latency-compensated. Bypass, Gain Match, Delta, and A/B give you a complete and honest read of what the limiter is doing.

Bypass

Latency-compensated pass-through of the pre-trim source. True A/B against the unprocessed signal — Input Gain not applied. 512-sample equal-power crossfade, click-free.

Gain Match

All processing active, output RMS-matched to the pre-trim source. Removes the loudness bias from comparisons so you hear the character of the limiting, not its level.

Delta

Outputs the difference between the dry and processed signal. Silence means the limiter isn't acting. A true null test for limiting and character.

A / B

Two fully independent parameter snapshots. Switch between settings instantly with a click-free handoff — no artifacts at the crossover point.

Metering

Read what matters

No blurred distinctions — sample peaks and true peaks are shown separately, and every meter tells you exactly what it's measuring.

Output L/R

Sample-peak level bars in dBFS from the final output. Displays Mid and Side levels in M/S mode. 2-second peak hold with clip indicator.

True Peak

Oversampled inter-sample peak in dBTP. Ceiling enforcement uses a dedicated 8× stage independent of the main Oversampling setting. 2-second hold.

GR + Max GR

Gain reduction bar (0 to −20 dB) and session-maximum numeric readout. Max GR captures peaks beyond the bar's display range.

Integrated LUFS

Overall loudness across the full track, measured to broadcast standard.

Short-Term LUFS

3-second sliding window K-weighted loudness per EBU R128.

PLR

Peak-to-Loudness Ratio — True Peak minus Short-Term LUFS. Real-time dynamic headroom indicator.

LRA

How much the loudness varies across the track — from quiet passages to loud ones.

In Delta mode, LUFS, PLR, LRA, and the waveform display all reflect the residual signal — what limiting and character are adding or removing.

Specifications

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Range
Input Trim	−24 to +24 dB
Ceiling	−24 to 0 dBTP
Attack	0.1 – 50 ms
Release	10 – 1000 ms
Oversampling	Off / 2× / 4× / 8×
Lookahead	0.5 – 10 ms
Formats	AU / VST3
Platform	macOS · Apple Silicon & Intel (Universal)

Mainline Audio

Available
Now.

VST3 & AU · macOS · Apple Silicon & Intel

FAQ

What is The Final Word?

A true peak mastering limiter designed for the final stage of the mastering chain, combining transparent limiting with optional character and integrated metering.

Can I get it now?

Yes — The Final Word is available now.

What formats are supported?

VST3 and AU on macOS (Apple Silicon & Intel, Universal). AAX / Windows are not currently supported.

How many computers can I install it on?

Up to 2 computers that you own or control. Deactivate a machine at any time to free up an activation.

Is educational licensing available?

Educational and institutional licensing may be available for schools, labs, and training facilities. Contact Mainline Audio for details.

Do you offer a demo?

Yes. A fully functional 14-day demo — the same AU/VST3 installer as the paid version — is available with no audio interruptions, muting, or feature restrictions. Get it through the free demo checkout above; you'll receive download access by email. Once installed, choose Start 14-Day Demo when you open The Final Word. No payment or license key required.

Will there be updates?

The plugin checks for updates automatically on launch. All v1.x updates are included with purchase.