I bought the Concrete Limiter a couple of years ago and as for as I'm concerned it's not in the same league as the Waves L2.  Maybe if you're looking for 'color' it may work for you.  But if you're looking to finalize a mix the L2 is more transparent and makes the mix as loud as any other limiter- without adding audible artifacts.  of course YMMV

ftf613
I used the L-2 for mastering (or at least slamming the levels) so you think the Concrete Limiter would do me ok?

For sure give it a whirl, I really like it myself, you could also look at Toneboosters Barricade, vey nice and cheap :}

Sacalait
I bought the Concrete Limiter a couple of years ago and as for as I'm concerned it's not in the same league as the Waves L2.  Maybe if you're looking for 'color' it may work for you.  But if you're looking to finalize a mix the L2 is more transparent and makes the mix as loud as any other limiter- without adding audible artifacts.  of course YMMV

There's a huge fundamental difference - the Concrete Limiter is broadband, the Waves is multiband. That's why the CL can sound so good on drums whereas the L2 sounds less "exciting," and why the L2 can do such an excellent job of transparent boosting on program material that the CL can't touch.
 
I've never found anything that can do what the Waves maximizers do, they have the recipe down. However, I have been experimenting with some SONAR-only techniques that come really close. If they pan out, they'll become a tip of the week. 

I just really like that "color" the Concrete Limiter adds to my mix bus. As I said before, it replaced my Waves and Sonnox limiters. That said, most every thing I record requires some nice, subtle grit! But, I'm not doing any orchestral stuff or jazz here. I guess everyone's ears are different and my ears just like it. To each, their own.
 

bapu
..."I'd say the xxxx is *somtimes* better and sometimes not.

Ja, that's what you always say.
 
 
(
Yo Bapu: Take a look at this post:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Forum-search-is-beyond-idiotic-m3135378.aspx
)

Thanks be unto THE CRAIG for providing some context.
 
To the OP: This is a great question.
 
But, many of the responses so far are not such.
 
From many of the responses I infer that the stuff included with Sonar is from the "also ran" bin.
 
In the words of Wayne's World, it is "not worthy." So buy something else.
 
If so, maybe the CW managers should stop including most all the stuff currently included, and somehow get the best stuff available for Sonar users at discounts. Or at least encourage the WAVES dudes to create lite products for us.
 
What's up with all the NOMAD BLUE plugs?  Not worth considering? Should I avoid it all and get Izotope products? Even though no one mentioned them above?
 
(Yea I know it is "iZotope" but I have a general disgust with the stupidity of placing an "i" in front of any word. Same with placing "My" in front of everything else. Just dumb.)

Once again THE CRAIG provides clarity:
 
This week's FRIDAY TIP points the way.
 
All hail THE CRAIG!

Hah! I made it in before the midnight deadline. Well, at least in Nashville.
 
It took a long time to put that tip together, but I hope you enjoy "Multiband Maximization for Mastering." I say it in the text, but I'll say it again: the settings are really critical and there are infinite possibiiities...ultimately it's like a combination lock, if you get all the parameters lined up right, you're good to go.
 

YouDontHasToCallMeJohnson
Thanks be unto THE CRAIG for providing some context.
 
To the OP: This is a great question.
 
But, many of the responses so far are not such.
 
From many of the responses I infer that the stuff included with Sonar is from the "also ran" bin.
 
In the words of Wayne's World, it is "not worthy." So buy something else.
 
If so, maybe the CW managers should stop including most all the stuff currently included, and somehow get the best stuff available for Sonar users at discounts. Or at least encourage the WAVES dudes to create lite products for us.
 
What's up with all the NOMAD BLUE plugs?  Not worth considering? Should I avoid it all and get Izotope products? Even though no one mentioned them above?
 
(Yea I know it is "iZotope" but I have a general disgust with the stupidity of placing an "i" in front of any word. Same with placing "My" in front of everything else. Just dumb.)

 Maybe Cakewalk should develop more and have less reliance on 3rd party developers.  Lite versions of a 3rd party app are an annoyance.

kitekrazy1
 
Maybe Cakewalk should develop more and have less reliance on 3rd party developers.  Lite versions of a 3rd party app are an annoyance.

Hey... speak for yourself!    The included Lounge Lizard Session is my favorite EP, and I've used TH2 Producer and Breverb PC many times over.   And while they're not light versions, Blue Tubes FX and AD2 are used on almost every project too.   I'm happy that they're all included!
 
Back on topic... I'll have to checkout Craig's limiter tip.   While Ozone 5 is my go-to, ya never know when a little different flavor might come in handy.