Clipper2
Loud, warm
and under control.
Initial Clipper 2 is our free soft clipper for maximun loudness. Add warmth, catch peaks before they distort and match levels with the built-in LUFS meter.
Download requires a free Initial Audio account. VST3 / AU / AAX • Mac & PC.
Why use a soft clipper?
Getting loud is easy. Getting loud without sounding crushed, harsh or brittle is the hard part.
❌ Just slamming a limiter
- Transients get flattened and drums lose punch.
- Harsh digital clipping when levels jump unexpectedly.
- Hard to keep a consistent loudness from section to section.
- No clear visual of what you are actually clipping.
✅ With Clipper 2 in front
- Catch peaks before they ever hit your limiter.
- Add smooth saturation and harmonics instead of ugly distortion.
- Use the LUFS meter to match loudness while A/B-ing settings.
- See the pre/post waveform in the real-time scope as you dial it in.
The Toolset
Everything you need to get modern loudness without destroying your mix.
Real-Time Scope & True Peak Control
Watch your signal before and after clipping in the high-resolution scope while you dial in gain, threshold and saturation. Combined with true peak limiting and the integrated LUFS meter, you always know exactly how hard you are hitting your mix.
Input Gain & Threshold
Push into the clipper with Input Gain, then set the Threshold to decide where full saturation starts. The soft knee keeps things smooth instead of crunchy.
Saturation Curve
Fine-tune the curve to boost harmonics and add warmth. Go from subtle glue on the mix bus to aggressive clipping on drums and 808s.
Ceiling & Output Level
Set the Ceiling to keep your peaks locked where you want them. Perfect for hitting streaming-friendly levels or feeding your limiter with a controlled signal.
Integrated LUFS Meter
Get Integrated, Short-Term, Momentary and Loudness Range readings right inside the plugin – no extra loudness meter needed on the master.
How to dial in Clipper 2
Three quick moves to get loud, punchy and controlled.
Drive the input
Insert Clipper 2 at the end of your drum bus, 808 bus or mix bus and raise Input Gain until you see the top of the waveform gently shaving off.
Shape the saturation
Adjust Threshold and Saturation until peaks sound controlled but still punchy. Watch the scope and meters while you listen in context.
Match loudness
Use the Ceiling to cap peak levels and the LUFS meter to monitor perceived loudness. Aim for -10 LUFS or louder to hit industry-competitive levels.
Built for modern loudness workflows.
From trap drums to EDM drops to final masters.
🥁 Drums & 808s
Smash kicks, snares and 808s into the clipper for extra smack while keeping peaks in check. Great as a final stage on your drum or 808 bus.
🎚 Mix Bus & Mastering
Add a few dB of clean loudness before your limiter. Use the LUFS meter to sit your tracks right where you want them for streaming.
🎸 FX & Sound Design
Push synths, guitars and FX into saturation for character and edge without losing control. Perfect for aggressive, modern productions.
Hear Clipper 2 in action
Watch how it shapes peaks, adds harmonics and keeps loudness under control in a real mix.
Download Clipper 2 (Free)
Login to your Initial Audio account (or create a free one) to unlock the Mac & Windows installers. The same installer is used to install, update or uninstall Clipper 2.
