Nugen Audio has launched ISL, an intersample true-peak limiter designed to help avoid distortion when encoding audio files for compressed-audio formats.

Offering ‘Mastered for iTunes’ status, ISL enables music producers to address intersample clipping directly. Unlike traditional peak limiters, ISL measures and corrects for intersample levels, protecting against distortion that can be introduced when codecs such as MP3 and AAC are applied downstream.

‘There is growing acceptance that intersample clipping causes problems with codecs, but it’s a relatively new notion, which is why there are so few tools to help,’ says Nugen Audio Creative Director, Jon Schorah. ‘If your music is going to end up as an MP3 file or on iTunes, you need to measure and avoid intersample clipping, and that requires the right tools for the job. ISL eliminates the need for iterative processing to try and hit the mark.’

ISL gives control over peak levels in audio signals from mono to 5.1 by allowing user setting of true-peak limit rather than the traditional threshold at which limiting begins. ISL is intuitive in use, and ‘lets audio professionals mix with their ears, leaving the limiter to detect and eliminate potential problems’.

Using the standardised true-peak algorithms of ITU-R BS1770 and related standards, ISL features comprehensive dBTP metering, adjustable channel linking, support for audio formats from mono to 5.1, adjustable ballistics, colour splits and peak indicators.

ISL is RTAS/AudioSuite/AU/VST-compatible, and is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions for OS-X and Windows at US$249.

More: www.nugenaudio.com