LAAL (Look Ahead Analogue Limiter)

The HUM Audio Devices LAAL is a high quality 2 channel Look Ahead Analogue Limiter.

“This is by far the best analogue limiter I’ve tried.”   Mauro Brando – Solar Vox Studios (link to review below)

“One of the best limiters you will ever hear.  I’m actually blown by how good it sounds.”   Audio Animals

“The LAAL is the best analogue mastering limiter I’ve ever heard; punchy and fast, resulting in a smooth presence and brightness lift. The phase and centre image is absolutely rock solid, and it has bottom end for days.  It’s featured on the majority of my masters since I got hold of it.”  Matt Colton at Metropolis Mastering
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HUM Audio are extremely excited to introduce the new LAAL (Look Ahead Analog Limiter).
An innovative idea of the detection and limiting process have allowed HUM Audio to achieve a new standard in analogue mastering.
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One of the strongest advantage of the design is a fully analogue (200 microseconds) delay line to obtain a “look ahead” ability. Thanks to this. the detection circuit is able to react to even the fastest peaks.
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The detection circuit can react to even the fastest peaks.  LAAL is extremely effective in this task, allowing the reach of great RMS levels when required, but with minimal side effects and without compromising the sound quality.  Tracks will preserve low-end energy and punch in a wide gain attenuation range.
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LAAL does not use any soft clipping or similar process to artificially raise RMS levels.  All magic happens in the sophisticated detection and gain circuits.
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LAAL takes the maximum care in the quality of the master.
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Another extraordinary and unique feature of the limiter is the DYNAMIC TRANSIENT function. It regenerates transients proportional to the limiting level. In a few words, great RMS levels can be acheived with minimum side effects.  It plays a major role in preserving space and detail in the sound.
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The final addition is a STEREO WIDTH circuit that works differently and is more musical comparing to similar processors.  You will perceive a nice increase in the spaciouness of the tracks, but you won’t lose low-end energy in the centre of the stereo image.  It’s also fully mono compatible and it can also be used as two independent mono limiters if required.
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The LAAL is very precisely calibrated with better than 0.1dB accuracy in L/R channels and keeps the output level exactly.
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The detection circuit is thermally compensated which ensures stability and repeatability of results in all studio conditions.
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Input and output levels can be set with a resolution of 0.2dB as well as six different release times: from 2ms to 100ms.
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HUM Audio took maximum care to choose every single component in the LAAL audio path for sound quality, noise-free performance and sound quality.  Absolutely no compromise.
They also developed the ultra-stable, classic linear power supply with an audiophile grade custom toroidal power transformer with a large reserve of power.  It is double-shielded and works as a power conditioner, ensuring a large headroom and the very clean power required for the most critical mastering tasks.
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Main features of LAAL:
  • All discrete analogue signal path
  • Very high headroom (+/-24V int. powering)
  • Analogue LOOK AHEAD circuit
  • Variable STEREO WIDTH function
  • DYNAMIC TRANSIENT function
  • Variable Release Time (from 2ms to 100ms)
  • Highest quality audio transformers
  • Precision led metering (0.5dB steps)
  • Peak Hold function for gain reduction meter
  • Precision input/output setting (0.2dB steps)
  • Stereo link for detection
  • Limiter Bypass
  • Hard Bypass
  • Rotary step switches for all control knobs

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Self-noise A-weighted:          -102dB (at 0dB IN/OUT setting)
  • THD+N absolute:                    0.026% (1V RMS, 1 KHz at max gain reduction)
  • Frequency Response:            20Hz – 30KHZ (±0.3dB)
  • Maximum input level:             +22dBV
  • Maximum output level:          +28dBV
  • Input XLR, balanced, impedance 10KΩ
  • Output XLR, balanced, impedance 75Ω
  • Power consumption:               max. 70 Watts
  • Weight:                                    9.4kg (11.6kg packed)
  • Dimensions:                            19″ rackmount – 3U
  • W x D x H                                484 x 314 x 133mm  (packed = 600 x 400 x 250mm)

In the box:  LAAL with Custom shielded mains cable.

LAAL data sheet
LAAL User Manual.   (v1.2 October 2023 – Updated version)
LAAL Session Recall Sheet    (Downloadable Session Recall Sheet for printing out)
LAAL Tutorial Video  –  Excellent tutorial video which really shows what the LAAL can do.

Hugh Robjohns’s Sound On Sound review of the LAAL  (February 2024)
Review of the LAAL (Look Ahead Analogue Limiter) (November 2022)
YouTube review of the LAAL (Look Ahead Analogue Limiter) (November 2022)

This is a new product, officially launched on the 1st September 2022 – this is already having a lot of interest.  Sound-Link has a demonstration unit available so you can try it for yourself. So far everyone who has tried it is buying one.