Blue Cat's Protector by Blue Cat Audio limiter plugin interface with level meters

Blue Cat's Protector: 0 dB Stereo Brickwall Limiter Plugin Free Download

Rated 4.6/5 on Plugin Boutique (17 ratings)

Blue Cat's Protector is a 0 dB stereo brickwall limiter plugin by Blue Cat Audio. It adds adjustable dynamics response, from transparent limiting to colorful distortion, and is built for mastering and master bus work.

VST2AUAAXRTASWindowsmacOS

AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique

Download Now

Free trial available from the developer

01Overview

Blue Cat's Protector is a limiter from Blue Cat Audio, typically placed on a master bus to prevent overshoot and raise perceived loudness. Its controls are deliberately simple, yet they cover a wide range of responses. The developer positions it for creative uses as well, such as distortion, pumping and heavy limiting on individual tracks. Large zoomable meters and a configurable dynamics histogram show what the processor is doing as you work.

Best for

Master bus limiting
Loudness control
Distorted limiting effects
Side chain compression
Parameter modulation

Developer: Blue Cat Audio
Category: Limiters
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

0 dB brickwall peak limiter with built-in waveshaper
Continuous dynamics response from transparent to distorted
Stereo link control for channel coupling
DC filter to remove DC offset
Zoomable peak, RMS and gain reduction meters
Real-time loudness boost monitoring
Configurable dynamics response histogram
Side chain capability via MIDI CC output
No latency

03In depth

Sound and Dynamics Response

Protector's dynamics response is continuously adjustable. At one end it limits transparently. Toward the other end, it adds waveshaping and colorful distortion, which lets the same plugin serve as a clean mastering limiter or as a character effect.

It includes a 0 dB brickwall peak limiter and a waveshaper, along with a DC filter to remove DC offset. Stereo link control keeps the two channels working together when you need a unified image.

Blue Cat Audio describes the sound as very transparent in its frequency response when used for general loudness work.

Metering and Side Chain Workflow

The plugin provides large, zoomable peak and RMS level meters and gain reduction meters, plus loudness boost monitoring so you can see the level gained from limiting in real time. A fully configurable dynamics histogram helps you read the response curve as you adjust it.

Protector also includes side chaining. Its MIDI CC output can send control data to other plugins, enabling side chain compression and parameter modulation. The developer notes that the plugin has no latency.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Blue Cat Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Limiter
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX, RTAS
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Free trial	Yes

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Blue Cat's Protector support?

Protector is available in VST2, AU, AAX and RTAS formats. It runs on Windows and macOS.

Which operating systems does Blue Cat's Protector run on?

The developer lists Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10, and macOS 10.9 or newer. It requires an Intel or Apple Silicon (M1) processor on Mac.

Does Blue Cat's Protector have a trial?

Yes, a trial version is available.

What is the side chain feature in Protector?

Protector's MIDI CC output can send control data to other plugins. This allows side chain limiting, compression and parameter modulation of any plugin's parameters.