The 7 Best Clipper Plugins For Music Production 2023

We bring you the 7 clipper plugins that we believe are worth it in 2023.

Clippers are used for either controlling transients or for generating harmonic saturation. Instead of avoiding distortion as limiters do, clippers utilize it. Also, they often retain the tone and punch of a mix better than limiters do to a certain level.

People often find the masters done using clippers sound “brighter,” “thicker,” or “richer.” It is similar to how exciter plugins work as they also introduce distortion to add clarity and “sheen.”

The 7 Best Clipper Plugins For Music Production 2023

1. Venn Audio V-Clip

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V-Clip is one of the most intuitive yet highly configurable clippers featuring detailed audio analytics.

You could use this plugin as a creative saturation stage or as a mastering clipper. It features a user-friendly interface with an audio visualizer with zooming features. 

The visualizer shows you the gain reduction, the input audio, and the output audio. Furthermore, it can be enabled or disabled. Similarly, it also features automatic gain adjustment, which ensures that your output audio isn’t peaking. If you prefer RMS over dB, you can switch the scale as well.

On a side note, the main clip shaper view shows your audio’s RMS (green) and peak (yellow) levels independently.

V-Clip comes with a pre-equipped “Visualizer” which could be considered an oscilloscope tool.

You will abundance of presets that should suit your clipping needs. The first folder is equipped with “Standard Shapes”.

The second one comes with “Complex shapes”. As you can see, it comes with a different main screen:

Finally, here is what the “Oversample” tab comes with:

Key Features:

• Extensive Clip Types
  There are nine types of standard clip shapes and three complex shapes that add distinct character to your sound. The standard shapes range from very soft clip shapes to hard ones. In addition, you can adjust each shape with the soft-knee knob next to the drop-down menu.
• Custom Clip Shape
  With the Custom Shape mode, you can control the positive and negative samples independently, which allows for asymmetric saturation. It also lets you add both odd and even harmonics to your distortion for a richer and thicker sound.
• Built-in Oscilloscope
  V-Clip has a built-in oscilloscope and test tone for analyzing the effect your clip shape has on audio. These features are advantageous when creating a custom clip shape, and you want to see what you are doing with the waveform.
• Anti-Aliasing
  This plugin supports up to an incredible 256x oversampling. In addition, it has independent oversampling controls for real-time and offline modes. Another thing worth noting is that it features double DSP processing, which adds precision to the audio processing if your DAW supports it (most do).

Compatibility:

V-Clip is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 32-bit and 64-bit. It comes in VST 2/3, AU, and AAX formats.

2. Brainworx bx_clipper

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Brainworx bx_clipper is primarily used as a peak clipper or limiter.

Its main purpose is to control the peak levels of audio signals, preventing them from exceeding a certain threshold. This can be particularly useful in mastering or mixing situations where you want to ensure your audio doesn’t clip or distort when played back at higher volumes.

It allows you to set a threshold level beyond which audio peaks are clipped or limited. This helps prevent distortion and ensures that your audio remains clean even when pushed to high volumes. bx_clipper combines analog warmth with digital flexibility, letting you explore creative effects through features like Ambience and the unique Wet knob, which emulates vintage drum synthesizers’ character. This plugin empowers you to achieve competitive loudness while preserving the integrity of your mixes.

Key Features:

• Modes – M/S and L/R
  Brainworx bx_clipper offers versatile processing with M/S (Mid/Side) and L/R (Left/Right) modes. In M/S mode, it separates the stereo signal into its center (mid) and stereo width (side) components, allowing independent clipping control. L/R mode enables separate processing of the left and right channels. These modes enhance spatial manipulation, ensuring precise shaping of stereo imaging and mono compatibility while controlling peak levels.
• RMS and Peak readings
  The plugin includes RMS (Root Mean Square) and Peak meters. The RMS meter measures the average loudness of an audio signal over a short period, offering insight into its perceived volume.
  On the other hand, the Peak meter detects the highest instantaneous peaks in the signal, which is crucial for avoiding clipping and distortion. These meters provide real-time visual feedback, helping you monitor and adjust the audio signal’s dynamics and prevent unwanted clipping or excessive loudness.
• Visual feedback
  Brainworx bx_clipper includes a graph, wave, and knee visualizer. The graph visually represents the clipping threshold and signal levels, aiding in precise threshold adjustment. The wave visualizer displays the audio waveform before and after clipping, helping you visualize the effect of the processing.
  The knee visualizer shows the transition from clean to clipped audio, allowing for fine-tuning of the clipping knee, influencing the onset of distortion.
• Diode/FET Switch
  When the diode switch is engaged, the plugin emulates the behavior of diode-based clipping circuits. Diode clipping produces a more aggressive and saturated distortion, often associated with classic analog saturation and harmonically rich sound. When the FET switch is engaged, the plugin simulates the characteristics of Field-Effect Transistor-based clipping circuits. FET clipping typically offers a smoother and more transparent saturation than diode clipping, with less pronounced harmonic distortion.
• Comprehensive parameters
  Brainworx bx_clipper provides comprehensive parameters for precise audio control. The “knee” and “ceiling” knobs adjust the clipping onset and maximum threshold, respectively. “Input” sets the signal level, while “mix” and “output” regulate the blend of processed and dry signals. “Audio trim” fine-tunes input gain. Notably, the “auto-ceiling” feature intelligently adapts the ceiling to prevent excessive clipping. These parameters collectively offer advanced shaping, loudness control, and creative audio processing and mastering possibilities.
• Up to 32x oversampling
  Oversampling involves processing the audio signal at a much higher sample rate than the original to reduce aliasing artifacts and improve the accuracy of the digital representation. With up to 32x oversampling, this plugin minimizes distortion and maintains the integrity of your audio, especially when applying aggressive clipping or limiting, ultimately resulting in a cleaner and more transparent sound.

Compatibility:

bx_clipper is available in AAX Native, AU, AAX AudioSuite, VST2, and VST3 plugin formats. and is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.

3. SIR Audio Tools StandardCLIP

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When it comes to clippers, you will want more control and reliability, which this plugin delivers.

StandardCLIP is an advanced clipping plugin that you could use in two ways: as a dynamic effect for mastering or as a harmonic generator for distortion/saturation. Its multiple clipping modes, extensive oversampling, and linear phase mode make sure that your audio can be manipulated in the way you want, without introducing unwanted artifacts or phaseshift.

Same as with the V-Clip, StandardCLIP also offers oscilloscope mode:

And finally presets that come with StandardCLIP:

Key Features:

• Multiple Clip Modes
  There are three modes of clipping in this plugin: Soft Clip Classic, Soft Clip Pro, and Hard Clip. The first two are designed to add saturation as the audio nears the clipping level until it finally clips, whereas Hard Clip doesn’t add any saturation at all until it clips. It makes the latter sound much more drastic compared to the previous two.
• Soft-Clip Saturator
  The slider below the clip mode selector lets you adjust the amount of soft-clipping applied to your audio. For the Soft Clip Classic mode, it acts as a mix parameter. However, it adjusts the threshold in Soft Clip Pro mode, which compresses the audio by half and adds equal makeup gain.
• Oversampling
  Oversampling is an essential feature for a clipper. So, StandardCLIP features up to an incredible 256x oversampling to eliminate any aliasing. In addition, it also had advanced options that let you adjust the filter cutoff, order, and filter kernel size (for linear phase mode). Note that higher levels of oversampling will consume a lot of CPU power.
• Output Gain Assistant
  This feature helps you find a reasonable headroom between the calculated clip level (indicated by a red arrow on the output gain fader) and the ceiling level. Simply play the loudest part of your audio while the assistant is open, and then click on “Apply New Output Gain” to set the output gain. It helps ensure that none of your peaks are shooting over the ceiling, which might cause aliasing despite oversampling.

Compatibility:

This plugin is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 32-bit and 64-bit. It comes in VST 2/3, AU, and AAX formats.

4. Yum Audio Crispy Clip NEW*

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Yum Audio’s Crispy Clip revolutionizes audio processing with its meticulously curated features.

Offering a distinctive blend of precise Push and Ceiling parameters for sound shaping, seamless transitions between clipping modes, and Crossover Control for versatile frequency clipping, it brings unparalleled flexibility to audio production.

With artifact reduction through a Pre Filter, balanced audio output via Gain controls, real-time monitoring, an innovative waveform view, and enhanced sound fidelity through 16x Oversampling, the Crispy Clip is an indispensable tool, ingeniously designed to cater to the needs of modern sound engineers and music producers.

Key Features:

• Clip Push and Celling
  Crispy Clip’s Push and Ceiling parameters are your keys to mastering the art of sound shaping. These parameters allow you to fine-tune the degree of clipping and the maximum output level, respectively, providing an optimal balance between controlling the dynamic range and preserving the sonic character of your audio.
• Clipping Modes
  Offering the versatility of both soft and hard clipping modes, Crispy Clip ensures an effortless transition between these two, letting you choose the softer, rounder sound distortion or more extreme, sharper clipping depending on the creative requirement of your audio project.
• Crossover Control
  The Crossover Control feature empowers you to segment your audio into multiple frequency bands, allowing you to apply varying degrees of clipping to different frequency ranges. This means you can add warmth to the bass while preserving the clarity of your highs, for instance.
• Pre Filter
  The Pre Filter function in Crispy Clip is a preventive tool designed to reduce the potential artifacts due to clipping. Attenuating certain frequencies before the clipping stage ensures that your audio remains clean and distortion-free, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the clipping process.
• Input and Output Gain
  By implementing Input and Output Gain controls, Crispy Clip allows you to manage the volume levels of your audio both before and after the clipping process. This ensures that the final output maintains a balanced and consistent volume level, thus enhancing the overall quality of your audio production.
• Mix Control
  With the Mix Control feature, you can blend the original and processed signals to create a final sound that’s both controlled and nuanced. This control allows subtle to dramatic modifications, providing a vast canvas for creative sound design.
• Real-time Monitoring
  The Clip Amount Display Section brings transparency to your workflow. It allows you to monitor the amount of clipping applied to your audio in real time. The waveform view is an innovative feature visually representing the clipped audio signal. By enabling you to see the impact of your modifications on the waveform, this tool ensures you have a deeper understanding and control over the clipping process.

Compatibility:

Yum Audio Crispy Clip is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.12 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST, AU, and AAX formats.

5.  Newfangled Audio Saturate

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With merely two significant sliders to tweak, Newfangled’s contender is probably the easiest yet very musical-sounding clipper to master.

Saturate was first integrated into Newfangled’s limiter called Elevate. However, the clipper is now available discretely to use as a mixing effect or for mastering.

According to Newfangled Audio, the clipper utilizes a complex signal processing chain under its hood to deliver transparent and clear sound no matter how hard you drive it. At the far left and right of the interface, you will find meters and numeric labels displaying both the peak and the RMS levels.

The center part of the interface shows the main clipper’s shape. Unfortunately, the default symmetrical clip shape is the only one available in this plugin.

Key Features:

• Easy to Use
  Many people want a ton of features in their plugins, but an equal number want a simplistic tool that just gets the job done. If you are one of the latter folks, the lack of an interface that looks like a cockpit will be a welcome change from most of the entries on our list. Saturate claims to give you anything from a hard clip to the smoothest curve feasible with a single slider called Clipper Shape, and its excellent sound confirms it.
• Plenty of Drive
  The plugin features a whooping drive gain of 24 dB. You’ll likely be using far less for purposes like mastering, but if you are someone who enjoys super distorted bass or guitars, Saturate has you covered and then some. Furthermore, since this plugin is a spectral clipper, it makes sure that any amount of drive will keep the sound tonally the same.
• Automatic Gain Adjustment
  Above the output peak meters, you can set the output gain to Auto. It will adjust the output gain automatically and make sure it doesn’t overshoot over 0 dB. Unless you are okay with manually checking the levels to confirm, having this feature turned on makes mastering much easier and alias-free.

Compatibility:

This plugin is available for Windows 8 or higher and macOS 10.9 or higher, both 32-bit and 64-bit. It comes in VST 2/3, AU, and AAX formats.

6. Kazrog KClip 3

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With multiband features and extensive clip types, KClip 3 offers much more than meets the eye.

KClip focuses on every aspect of music production. So, it can be fully transparent for mastering and busses, or it can be as characterful as needed for creative uses. The right part of the interface displays extensive LUFS metering with variable scales from -12 to -24 dB LUFS.

The lower values are instrumental when you are utilizing the threshold parameter instead of the input gain. Furthermore, its clip shapes are designed for clean mastering, emulating analog units, and even oddities like germanium diode saturation, guitar amps, and blown speakers.

They help get creative sound effects without tweaking too many knobs.

Key Features:

• Multi-band
  Other than the default clipping view, you can switch over to a multi-band mode with four bands. You can adjust the crossover between the bands freely and, if so desired, disable the saturation per band. Each band has all the controls you find in the default single band view, so it’s easy to have a certain kind of saturation on the lower frequencies with another trait in the higher ones.
• Mastering Grade Sound
  KClip features spectrally transparent clipping shapes as well as oversampling to avoid aliasing. You can have a different oversampling value for online and offline mode each so that you can prevent too much CPU usage during real-time monitoring.
• Coherent Clip Modes
  There are eight clip modes in this plugin: Smooth, Crisp, Tube, Tape, Germanium, Silicon, Guitar Amp, and Broken Speaker. The first two are designed for mastering and will make the sound smooth and transparent. And the rest of the modes range from analog sound to creative choices. Of course, you can also adjust the soft knee of almost every type of clipping.
• Mid/Side Control
  KClip still takes clipping one step further with a knob for adjusting mid and side mode with all the extensive features. It’s handy when you are trying to apply clipping only to a specific element in your mix while mastering. For example, setting the mid/side knob towards the mid signal and using a band focusing on the mid frequencies will result in the vocals getting saturated while the rest of the mix remains untouched.

Compatibility:

This plugin is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10.9.5 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST 2/3, AU, and AAX formats.

7. Boz Digital Labs Big Clipper

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

There’s no such thing as a messy distortion with Big Clipper, and the reason is simple.

Big Clipper combines a clipper with a standard limiter in four blend modes to achieve a whole new world of dynamics processing. The interface features an input gain (Push), a threshold (Pull), and a Shape parameter. The Shape fader lets you adjust how hard or soft your clipper is.

Note the Attack and Release faders, which you can’t find in any of the other clipper plugins, at the bottom right of the interface. It’s because those faders belong to the limiter algorithm. Overall, the interface feels quite comprehensive but not overwhelming.

Key Features:

• Crossover Blend Modes
  The crossover blend mode lets you divide your audio into two ranges of frequencies and apply the limiter/clipper in each. There are two crossover blend modes available: Clipper | Limiter, and Limiter | Clipper. Each places the two processors in the mentioned order. You can select the crossover frequency using the Blend fader (from 100 Hz to 20 kHz).
• Other Blend Modes
  You can have the limiter and the clipper in parallel or series routing. In the series mode, the Blend fader acts as a threshold offset for the Clipper. So, if you have the Pull knob set to -16 dB, the Blend Fader is set at 6 dB, your Clipper will have a threshold of -10 dB only.
• Stereo Processing
  You can have Big Clipper process in stereo mode, mid/side mode, mid only, and side only. In the first two modes, the plugin processes the mentioned signals independently. Note that a single instance of this plugin will not let you adjust the mid and side signal separately. You will need an instance for each.
• Frequency Sensitivity
  This section lets you adjust how much sound from each of the three bands enters the signal detector. It isn’t precisely multi-band, but it does allow you to specify how saturated or clipped each band is. It is useful when you are clipping a full mix and don’t want the kick introducing too much distortion, for example.

Compatibility:

Big Clipper is available for Windows 7 or higher 32-bit and 64-bit and macOS 10 or higher 64-bit. It comes in VST 2/3, AU, AAX, and RTAS formats.

6 Best FREE Clipper Plugins 2023

1. Kazrog KCLip Zero

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KClip Zero is a versatile and powerful clipper plugin designed for music producers, mixing engineers, and mastering engineers.

Developed by Kazrog, it aims to provide transparent, high-quality clipping and peak limiting, making it an essential tool for controlling your audio material’s dynamic range and loudness without introducing unwanted distortion or artifacts.

Key Features:

• High-Quality Clipping Algorithm
  KClip Zero employs a sophisticated clipping algorithm that ensures transparent and precise peak limiting without introducing unwanted distortion or audible artifacts.
• Real-Time Waveform Visualization
  The plugin offers real-time waveform visualization, which helps you monitor the input and output signals, making it easier to adjust the clipping settings.
• Adjustable Ceiling and Threshold
  You get adjustable ceiling and threshold controls, allowing you to set the desired clipping level and peak limiting, ensuring a balanced and controlled output signal.
• Oversampling
  An oversampling feature is included in the plugin, which can help reduce aliasing and improve the overall sound quality when applying to clip or limiting the audio material.
• Bypass and Output Gain Controls
  KClip Zero features bypass and output gain controls, enabling you to compare the processed and unprocessed signals easily and adjust the output level for seamless integration into the mix.

Compatibility:

The plugin is available in VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats, ensuring compatibility with various digital audio workstations (DAWs) and platforms.

2. Initial Audio Initial Clipper

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Initial Clipper sets the bar of free plugins a notch higher with its elegant user interface and simplicity.

When using a limiter to master a track, we often want transparency. That might even involve using many parameters, additional compressors, etc. However, Initial Clipper seeks to simplify the process and provide you only the vital controls related to limiters. Instead, it offers saturation.

So, I prefer using this plugin either when soft limiting is adequate or when I want a saturated sound.

Key Features:

• Limiter
  The user interface shows the input audio signal graph, and you can use it to dial in the parameters accurately. First, you’ll find an input gain. Second, the threshold knob controls the level at which the limiter starts processing. This parameter is also reflected on the input graph.
  You’ll find a built-in LUFS meter at the bottom right of the user interface. You can use this meter to see how loud your audio is without switching over to an analyzer plugin. Also, you can drag the bottom right corner of the interface to resize the GUI.
• Saturation
  There are two saturation knobs on the interface. One is labeled Positive, whereas the other is Negative. The Positive saturation adds extra harmonic saturation, often found in analog hardware gear like tape, tube amps, etc. Conversely, the Negative saturation adds inharmonic saturation. A mix of these two could provide novel results.

Compatibility:

Initial Clipper is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10 or higher, both 64-bit only. It comes in VST 2 and AU formats.

3. Venn Audio Free Clip

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Free Clip is a convenient soft clipper that allows a wide variety of clip shapes.

This plugin is an excellent tool for adding some saturation or volume to your tracks without overshooting peaks. You could use it on drums to lower their peaks while adding richness or even for mastering as a limiter.

All you must do is select a clip shape and pull down the ceiling. In addition, there are input and output gain controls as well.

Key Features:

• Variable Soft Clip
  The dial at the center of the interface controls the type of your clip wave. When dialed fully to the left, it does hard clipping, and turning it to the right makes the clip shape softer and softer. The shape is also indicated by the graph on the background of the interface.
• Oversampling
  This plugin features a maximum of 32x oversampling to remove any high-frequency aliasing. However, it introduces some peaks over the ceiling level. You can counter this issue by enabling “Post-Oversampling Clip” below the Oversampling knob.
• Visualization
  The bottom of the interface shows a visualization of your input audio and clipping. So, for example, if you see a squashed-out waveform while you’re mastering, it’s probably best to lower the input gain somewhat.

Compatibility:

Free Clip is available for Windows 7 or higher and macOS 10 or higher, both 32-bit and 64-bit. It comes in VST 2 and AU formats.

4. J1000 CL36

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The CL36 is a significantly feature-rich clipper that deserves a try.

This multi-band clipper separates the audio into three frequency ranges: low (LF), mid (MF), and high (HF). The interface contains identical controls for each range and some master controls.

The X-Over knob controls the crossover frequency for all three bands at the same time.

This parameter might take a little getting used to. It calculates the LF-MF crossover by dividing the parameter value by 4, whereas it multiplies the value by 4 for MF-HF. So, the default position .75 kHz gives out an LF-MF crossover of 750/4=188 Hz and an MF-HF crossover of 750×4=3 kHz. Why this strange behavior, you ask?

Our best guess is that it serves to keep the audio artifact-free because the values fit the filtering algorithm.

Key Features:

• Mid/Side Processing
  CL36 features an M+S button that activates the processing independently in the mid and side signals. This feature doesn’t allow you to adjust the clipper in each part, but it functions independently with the same controls. Note that this feature might turn the volume up slightly.
• Asymmetric Distortion
  The Bias knob lets you emphasize the clipping in the positive or the negative side of the signal, creating an asymmetric effect for creative uses. Asymmetric distortion alters the tone of your sound, so try using it on instruments like bass, lead synths, and guitars.
• Modulation
  Another feature worth mentioning is the Mod button, which activates modulation in the clipper. Vintage tube amps, guitar amps, and other hardware units have transformers inside them. And they change tonality constantly due to power fluctuations. To emulate this, the Mod button introduces a subtle random LFO signal.

Compatibility:

CL36 is available for Windows 7 or higher, 32-bit only. It comes in VST 2 format.

5. GVST GClip

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GVST is known for its free effects plugins like GSnap, and GClip is one of the effects available.

If you aren’t familiar with clippers yet, this free plugin is a great place to start. The interface contains an input gain, a clipping threshold, and a soft-knee adjustment knob. If you use this clipper as a mastering limiter, try setting the Clip knob to 99% (100% is 0 dB, which causes digital clipping).

Key Features:

• Stereo Visualization
  The plugin features a separate visualizer for each stereo channel – the top one is the left channel, whereas the bottom one is the right channel. You can also adjust the vertical zoom level of each using the slider displaying 1.00x in the screenshot.
• 2x Oversampling
  GCLip has a 2x oversampling switch at the top of its interface. While it works just fine for general use cases, you might want to avoid using this plugin if your audio contains a lot of high frequencies (above 12 kHz).
• Softness Adjustment
  The plugin has a Softness knob, which controls how soft or hard your clipper is. For example, when mastering, you will generally want to use a value less than 10%, if even that, to keep the clipper sharp and instantaneous.

Compatibility:

This plugin is available for Windows 7 or higher 32-bit and 64-bit, macOS 10 or higher 64-bit, and Linux (Debian) 32-bit and 64-bit. It comes in VST 2 and AU formats.

6. de la mancha ClipStar

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Unlike other clippers, this one attempts to remain subtle at its approach, making it a good choice for mastering.

ClipStar uses a soft clipper primarily for its limiting/clipping. However, it also features a Hard Limit toggle switch to catch any transients that slip past the soft clipper. This Hard Limit is positioned after the output gain as well, so you could use two limiters together to get louder masters.

Key Features:

• Low-Frequency Bypass
  Using the Lo Freq knob, you can set the frequency for the high-pass filter that bypasses the clipper. Generally, it is the lower frequencies that create distortion. So, if you use a high-pass filter in the signal detector, you will get a much more predictable saturation.
• Vintage Style
  The sound of this clipper is notably inspired by vintage hardware units, and not only that, but the metering is also reminiscent of the past. It features a needle meter that can display input, output, and gain reduction. The screw just below the meter adjusts the peak hold time.

Compatibility:

ClipStar is available for Windows 7 or higher, 32-bit only. It comes in VST 2 format.

Bonuses:

Signum Audio SKYE CLIPPER

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

SKYE Clipper by Signum Audio is a clipping and saturation plugin. 

The clipper can add more perceived volume and energy to your sounds. It clips sounds at a certain threshold, creating harmonics that increase the sound’s thickness and introduce a unique texture. In addition, you can use it as a saturation plugin to add grit and crunch to your sounds.

Key Features:

• Anti-aliasing technology
  The plugin uses a real-time anti-aliasing algorithm to create the distortion effect, which has a unique and fresh sound. You can use it on electric guitars, synths, Snare, or the mix bus. You can also use it on the master to emulate analog to digital-conversion clipping.
• Removes aliasing artifacts
  SKYE Clipper’s proprietary anti-aliasing algorithm makes it possible to remove aliasing artifacts produced by clipping. So you can use it to clean audio signals, use a lower sample rate, and put less load on your CPU.
• Automatable controls
  All the parameters in the plugin, including Pre-gain, Threshold, Clipping Type, Gain Link, Post-Gain, and Dry-Wet Mix, are fully automatable. Hence, you can have different settings for different parameters at different points in your timeline.
• Other features
  The plugin has features like seven types of clippings, pre, and post-gain linking, mix control for simplified parallel clipping/saturation, and a resizeable audio interface.

Compatibility:

SKYE Clipper is available in AU, AAX, VST, and VST 3 plugin formats.

Integraudio & Sixth Sample Clips

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A clipper, compressor, and gate are housed inside this neat sonic toolkit.

Made in partnership with Sixth Sample, Clips is one of the plugins that bears integraudio’s seal of approval. This package consists of a compressor, a clipper, and a gate effect, all of which are ready to be used in your next mixing or mastering session.

Key Features:

• • Clipper
    In times where loudness war exists, to be able to monitor and set the proper loudness in your track is a valuable asset to have nearby. Clipping is one of the best techniques to even out your project’s loudness with other tracks, and Clips can get you going on that. You can even use it as a maximizer effect by selecting the “Out = Ceil” button.
  • Processing management
    Clips allow you to process only the necessary parts of your audio without analyzing extra areas that don’t need adjustment. You can count on a multiband selection that easily handles the problematic frequencies into three distinct bands with complete monitoring.
  • Dark theme
    Using very bright screens for an extended period of time might be extremely harmful to your eyesight. Thinking of this, Sixth Sample included a dark mode in Clips that’s very friendly to stare at without retaining the visual quality behind each segment inside this plugin.
  • Transient shaping
    Due to the multiple ways you can analyze your track’s frequencies, it’s expected that a plugin bundle such as Clips could handle transient shaping well. The compressor, allied with the multiband processing of the frequencies in your track, can help smoothen out some ends while boosting the warmth in others.

Compatibility:

This plugin is available for macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows  8.1 or higher (64-bit only). It runs in VST3 and AU plugin formats.

Verdict

In general, almost all clippers do the same thing. The difference lies in idiosyncracies and the level of flexibility they offer. For example, StandardCLIP and V-Clip offer the most level of flexibility. However, KClip 3 has a multi-band feature, which is rare for clipping plugins.

Similarly, if you prefer straightforward plugins that deliver quick results, we can’t recommend Newfangled Audio Saturate enough. And if you are looking to add a clipper to your mastering chain as a limiter, Boz Digital Big Clipper is unbeatable.

For getting started, we also suggest dabbling with a free plugin like Venn Audio Free Clip, which is immensely versatile and impressive. It also features up to 32x oversampling, which is a feature generally only found in paid plugins.

Anyway, when it comes to plugins like clippers, our choices should always be based more on personal preference than people’s opinions. However, we hope our general classifications help you find your clipper of choice quicker.