For years, I've processed all my mixes through Ableton Live. I record pretty quiet by most people's standards (highest peak is around -6) which, thanks to a 24-bit interface and 32-bit floating point summing and effects, still gives me plenty of dynamic range…the limiting factor is still either the original tracks or my DJ mixer, depending on some specifics.
I use Live's included limiter plugin–which is actually quite good–to give myself at most 3 dB of limiting at the loudest volume peaks of my mix using the Limiter's pre-gain setting with a cutoff of about -0.2dB, though I use the free SSL plugin X-IMS (or something like that) to check for intersample modulation distortion and adjust the ceiling and gain to get rid of it if it's there. It does make a noticeable difference if you A/B it, but it should be as subtle as possible…the volume war has already been fought by the time you hit play…there's no reason to make it worse. Actually using the dynamic range you have available to you is another story….
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