HoRNet Plugins has announced the release of ZeroLoud, an intelligent loudness maximizer that HoRNet says does what traditional limiters can’t — it analyzes your audio, calculates the exact gain staging and limiting curve needed, and delivers your target LUFS automatically.
The Problem Being Solved
Every mastering engineer knows the drill: insert limiter, guess threshold, estimate makeup gain, bounce, check meters, adjust, repeat. Twenty minutes later, you’re still not sure if you nailed -14 LUFS for Spotify.
Traditional limiters force you to work blind. You set threshold by ear, hope your makeup gain calculation is close, and pray you land near the target. Meanwhile, every track has different dynamics, so you’re manually recalibrating every single time.
We got tired of this. We build plugins to save time and improve workflow, but we were still fighting the most basic task: hitting a specific loudness number.
How ZeroLoud Works
ZeroLoud takes a different approach. Instead of making you guess parameters, it does the math for you:
- Learning Phase: Play the loudest 10 seconds of your track. ZeroLoud records and analyzes the dynamics.
- Target Selection: Tell it what LUFS level you need. -14 for streaming? -9 for CD? -16 for podcasts? Your choice.
- Analysis: ZeroLoud calculates the optimal gain and limiting curve offline, using the actual dynamics of your specific audio.
- Application: Press Apply. It processes in real-time with the calculated parameters. Done. No threshold guessing. No makeup gain estimation. No bouncing five versions to check if you nailed the target.
Why HoRNet Built This
Honestly? I was tired of the limiter dance. I love mastering, but I don’t love spending 20 minutes per track fighting with numbers that a computer could calculate in 2 seconds.
ZeroLoud is the tool I wanted in my own workflow: intelligent, fast, and predictable. Set the target, let the analysis work, get consistent results. If you’re mastering for streaming platforms, preparing podcast episodes, or just tired of LUFS guesswork, I think this might help.
Key Features
- Automatic Target Loudness: Set any LUFS level from -30 to -5 LUFS.
- Offline Analysis: Uses 10-second buffer to calculate optimal parameters for your specific audio.
- Complete LUFS Metering: Momentary (400ms), Short-term (3s), and Integrated measurements.
- Precision Controls: TRIM (±6 dB post-analysis) and CEILING (-6.0 to 0.0 dB True Peak).
- Transparent Processing: Automatic 2× oversampling below 88.2kHz for clean limiting.
- 4-Step Workflow: Learning → Target → Analysis → Application (repeatable and predictable).
Real-World Applications
HoRNet designed ZeroLoud for scenarios where you need to hit specific loudness targets:
- Streaming Prep: Hit -14 LUFS for Spotify/Apple Music without trial and error.
- CD Mastering: Push to -9 LUFS with confidence.
- Podcast Production: Normalize episodes to -16 LUFS consistently.
- Broadcast Compliance: Meet -23 LUFS for EBU R128.
- Stem Mastering: Apply consistent loudness across multiple buses.
Technical Specifications
- Formats: VST3, Audio Units (AU), AAX Native.
- Platforms: macOS 10.13+ (Intel & Apple Silicon native), Windows 10/11 (64-bit).
- Processing: 64-bit floating point, automatic 2× oversampling.
- Sample Rates: 44.1kHz to 192kHz.
- Copy Protection: None (email watermark only).
- Interface: GPU-accelerated, scalable graphics.
Pricing & Availability
ZeroLoud is available now at €24.99. HoRNet Complete Bundle owners receive a 40% discount (€14.99). All purchases include free updates and a 15-day money-back guarantee.
A fully functional demo is available with no time limit (periodic audio interruption reminder only).
Why No Copy Protection?
After 15 years in this business, we’ve learned something: trust works better than DRM. ZeroLoud has no copy protection, no iLok, no challenge-response. Just a watermark with your email address in the files you download. We’d rather build a relationship with you than treat you like a potential pirate.
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