CLIPPER - which ones can you recommend?

[Igro]

Just tried quite a few. Standrd clip, Glip, and KClip.
Late: KClip sound just like Standard Clip in hardclip mode, after some audiotion. Will go for the cheaper one.

Melda Saturator did a great job, but input and output are not linked, too much hassle.

Added: I don´t know if I set the ToneBooster Barricade wrong at first time or the new update fixed that (released today), but know Barricade sounds identical to the other top clippers.

[MattLeschuck]

Barricade has clipping, compression and limiting. You can see the threshold for clipping in the picture on the left. And you can see at the bottom there is a drop down menu to set hard clip, soft clip, and many others.

Clipper.png

Thanks, i missed the hard clip option on it. In fact, i'm not looking at the soft clipping at all.
Lets see how this compares to others. I don't believe that Barriacade has extreme oversampling options (it doesn't have that choice at all)

For oversampling the manual states "All input modeler modes use internal oversampling to eliminate aliasing. The amount of oversampling is determined automatically based on the sample rate of the input signal and the settings of the input modeler."

[Igro]

Barricade has clipping, compression and limiting. You can see the threshold for clipping in the picture on the left. And you can see at the bottom there is a drop down menu to set hard clip, soft clip, and many others.

Clipper.png

Thanks, i missed the hard clip option on it. In fact, i'm not looking at the soft clipping at all.
Lets see how this compares to others. I don't believe that Barriacade has extreme oversampling options (it doesn't have that choice at all)

For oversampling the manual states "All input modeler modes use internal oversampling to eliminate aliasing. The amount of oversampling is determined automatically based on the sample rate of the input signal and the settings of the input modeler."

Thank you for the info!
I decided to use what I already own - Melda MBSaturator. It turned out that its hard clipping mode sounds absolutely identical to the KClip and Satandard Clip.

[pekbro]

Hmm, it seems I did wind up buying the Yum Audio clipper (Crispy Clip) as part of their discounted Dynamics Bundle.

[Michey]

I decided to use what I already own - Melda MBSaturator. It turned out that its hard clipping mode sounds absolutely identical to the KClip and Satandard Clip.

You can also use your (already owned) MCompressor. it can function as an AWESOME clipper (or, as Jon V. coined it : an "almost-clipper") with some added bonuses (and it makes we wonder out loud why people keep on buying xxx$ clippers when there are such good alternatives - FOR FREE - beneath their legs. but that's just me...). ReaComp and HAMMER are also good candidates.

[Igro]

I don't see a clipping option in MCompressor.

[Pyramidz]

Flatline, StandardClip, Kclip3 and the classic clipper by t-racks.

[LFO8]

I tried the one by Yum Audio recently; Crispy Clip. It’s really good. But I ended up not buying it since the clipper in Limiter 6 is also very good. Just a different flavour.

[egbert101]

No love for Blue Cat Audio Destructor? Ridiculously full of options and presets, but still has great saturation options.

[legendCNCD]

Kush Omega TWK for that GOLDEN 70's clip

[Dark Fiber]

Yeah it's been said a few times before ; clippers all sound the same. Pretty much all of them actually null with each other when the same oversampling settings and values are used.

I have a few clippers, but mostly use Standardclip. It's lightweight, has plenty of options, very deep oversampling options, good visual feedback, and is simply reliable.

It's no use spending 100 or 200 bucks on a clipper, as it will sound identical to cheaper ones or freebies. But take care with free ones that have no oversampling ; they will cause dc offset and aliasing, as that's inherent to the process of clipping.

If you want more control over the sound when clipping, there's a few tricks that are far more important than the choice of clipper itself :
- use an eq before the clipper ; to subtly control which frequencies are touched by the clipper more. Most 'emulations' do this inside the plugin, making ppl hear 'magical' things.
- use a transient tool or expander before the clipper ; gives more control over the effect that a clipper has on your sound. Some clippers are based on this technique.

But anyway, clipping itself is a simple mathematical thing and unlike compressors, eq's or other fx, has no 'sound' or 'magic' going on. But devs will go to great length to make you believe otherwise. And consequently many users will fall for the marketing bs and actually go on forums defending their choice, despite many blindtests and null-tests proving otherwise.

Underrated post! Thanks for sharing.
Groeten

[pekbro]

^^ This is true if your clipper is a simple one that only does clipping, pretty much all of the ones I use add something else to the mix, saturation, different types of distortion, crossovers etc.

[Benedict]

This is me showing absurd overmastering with Peak Eater. It is free and while a bit quirky 9at time of testing) a very useful tool.

Clipping does change the overall perceived sound with a more "meaty" balance and overtones but I three agree that with only clipping, all other things being equal, there is no secret sauce. A few Devs pretend that there is, and mostly that is simply a sure sign that they are filthy fibbers - which of course makes me question everything else they do.

[pekbro]

I like the BSA Clipper as well tho I would probably not buy it for anywhere near full price.
Seems like this clipper was also authored by Yum Audio interestingly...

*It is on sale atm here

[svyet]

I'll echo Newfangled / Eventide Saturate. I like the fact that it can be used as a typical soft or hard clipper on a master, but has lots of shaping options in between hard and soft, as well as symmetrical/asymmetrical curve shape for a range of harmonic flavors that make it an equally great saturator. Anti-aliasing and auto gain are nice. A great all-around either/both clipper and saturator. Replaces the need for multiple plugins if you dig deep enough into it.