What is a loudness maximizer?

[Rodney Spaulding]

Can anyone tell me what it IS actually? I kknow what it does but I don't know what it does.

A delay? Compressor?

Just curious how it gets it's 'maximizing' power.
Are there different types of maximizers? I know that Waves and TC both make an expensive hardware unit. Are they basically the same concept.

Thank you very much.

 

[Michael Fossenkemper]

Basically, they are brickwall limiters. as you increase the threshold, you increase the limiting thus increasing the level. each has their own sound.

 

[Rodney Spaulding]

Thank you Michael.