WAVES L2 UltraMaximizer Hardware Mastering Processor

The L2 is basically a stand‑alone, 2U‑rack, hardware version of the plug‑in, which not only mimics the software functions, but which also has some extra refinements and comes with a host of professional interfacing for use in mastering systems. Stereo digital audio can be supported at any of the common bit depths and sample rates up to 24‑bit/96kHz, and can be received and passed on through either AES‑EBU or S/PDIF input and output sockets. A word clock input is provided, for synchronizing the unit to a master clock, and there is also a nine‑pin serial port on the rear panel, allowing for remote function control. Should you wish to feed analogue signals into the unit, both balanced and unbalanced I/O (on quarter‑inch jacks and XLRs) are catered for, operating at +4dBu and incorporating high‑quality 24‑bit converters.

Because the L2 Ultramaximizer can accept signals of up to 24‑bit resolution, and as it will usually be required to increase the level of these signals, the internal processing is performed to 48‑bit precision. This high resolution helps minimise the errors that inevitably occur when any digital data is changed in level (due to mathematical truncation errors). The fact that upward level changes are involved also means that there may be a benefit in using the noise‑shaped dither even when the input and output are both set at 16‑bit resolution, as the processed signal (inside the box) will almost certainly end up at a higher resolution than this.