Waves L4 Ultramaximizer Review: Smart Adaptive Limiter for Modern Mastering

When it comes to mastering limiters, Waves has a long legacy. From the legendary L1 and L2 to the multiband L3 series, the company has shaped the sound of modern mastering for decades. Now, Waves L4 Ultramaximizer enters the scene as the newest evolution in their loudness toolkit — promising smarter limiting, better transparency, and streaming-ready results.

But does it really deliver?

Let’s dive in.

What Is Waves L4 Ultramaximizer?

Waves L4 Ultramaximizer is an adaptive peak limiter and loudness maximizer designed for modern mastering workflows. It combines intelligent signal analysis, true peak control, and multiple limiting styles to help producers achieve competitive loudness without sacrificing punch and clarity.

Unlike older limiters that rely heavily on manual tweaking, L4 uses a more advanced algorithm to analyze your incoming signal and adjust limiting behavior in real time.

Key Features

🔹 Adaptive Limiting Engine

L4 dynamically analyzes transients and program material, automatically optimizing release and peak control for more transparent results.

🔹 Multiple Limiting Modes

You get several styles to match different genres and mastering goals:

• Modern

• Smooth

• Aggressive

• Safe

• Classic L2 Mode

This flexibility makes L4 suitable for everything from EDM and hip-hop to acoustic and pop productions.

🔹 Upward Compression

One standout feature is built-in upward compression. Instead of just controlling peaks, L4 can gently lift quieter details, increasing perceived loudness without over-squashing transients.

🔹 LUFS & True Peak Metering

Integrated loudness metering makes it easier to hit Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube loudness targets. True Peak detection helps avoid inter-sample clipping.

🔹 Dual Interface Modes

Switch between a modern graphical interface with detailed gain-reduction visualization or a classic Waves-style layout for a more traditional workflow.

Sound Quality

The biggest question: how does it sound?

L4 delivers clean, punchy results with impressive transient preservation. It can push mixes loud while maintaining clarity, especially in Modern and Smooth modes. Compared to older Waves limiters, L4 feels more refined and controlled at higher loudness levels.

Aggressive mode adds density and impact — ideal for club-oriented genres — while Safe mode prioritizes transparency and headroom protection.

Performance & CPU Usage

L4 offers oversampling up to 16x for improved audio quality. However, higher oversampling settings can increase CPU usage significantly, especially in large sessions. For mastering projects, this is usually not a dealbreaker.

Pros and Cons

✅ Pros

• Intelligent adaptive limiting

• Built-in LUFS & True Peak metering

• Multiple limiting styles

• Upward compression for enhanced loudness

• Modern, clean interface

❌ Cons

• Not a complete mastering chain

• Higher CPU usage at maximum oversampling

• Strong competition from other high-end limiters

Final Verdict

Waves L4 Ultramaximizer is a serious upgrade in the Waves limiting lineup. It combines modern loudness standards with adaptive processing that makes achieving streaming-ready masters easier than ever.

While it may not completely replace every high-end limiter in your toolbox, it absolutely earns its place as a powerful, flexible mastering maximizer — especially for producers who want loud, punchy, and polished results without overcomplicating the workflow.

Rating: 4.5/5