Laid out like a rack converter

Every control sits in a module, in the order the signal passes through it. Here is what each one does.

Drive

Input sets how hard you hit the clipper, from -12 to +24 dB.

Density lifts quiet detail by up to 6 dB while peaks at the ceiling stay put. It works sample by sample, so it never pumps.

Clip

Three curves: Smooth for transparent masters, Warm for a rounder shoulder with a touch of even-order colour, Hard for maximum punch.

Ceiling sets the clip point. Guard makes sure no sample peak gets past it.

Tone

Silk softens the top end only at the moments you push into the ceiling, so hits stay smooth and quieter parts stay bright.

Air Trim removes ultrasonic clipping products.

Output

Mix blends clipped and dry signal, delay- and phase-matched so parallel clipping never combs. Split gives separate dry and wet levels.

Unity compares at equal loudness.

Process

Oversampling at 1x, 2x, 4x or 8x, with minimum- or linear-phase filters. Latency is reported to your DAW automatically.

Delta lets you hear only what is being clipped off.

System

A and B slots for instant comparison, with Copy A/B.

The Hot Spot read-out remembers the biggest clip in the song and when it happened, so you can set Input for that exact moment.

A three-band clipper inside

Switch to the Multiband page to split the signal into low, mid and high bands and clip each one on its own, before the main clipper. Tame a booming kick without dragging the vocal and hats into the clipper with it.

Each band has Clip, Knee, Mix and Level, plus its own meter. Clip is level-compensated, so it changes how hard a band is clipped, not how loud it is. The 24 dB/octave crossovers add no latency, and with every band untouched the stage measures flat within 0.05 dB.

Ember Clip's Multiband page: low, mid and high band modules, each with an LED clip meter and Clip, Knee, Mix and Level knobs, next to the crossover module.

Specifications

The full manual covers every control, the formulas behind Density and Silk, and measured latency and aliasing figures.

Read the manual (PDF)

Formats: VST3 (Windows and macOS), AU (macOS)
Systems: Windows 10 or later, 64-bit. macOS, native on Apple silicon and Intel.
Tested in: FL Studio. Works in any host that loads VST3 or AU plug-ins.
Oversampling: 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x; minimum or linear phase
Latency: 0 to 5 samples at minimum phase, up to 65 samples at linear phase, reported to the host
Channels: Mono and stereo
Licence: One licence, two computers. Activate once online, then works offline.

Try it on your own mixes

The trial is the full plug-in, with nothing switched off, for 14 days. When it ends, Ember Clip goes quiet for 2 seconds every 45 seconds until you activate it. Your settings and projects are never touched.

Buying gives you a licence key by email. Paste it into the licence panel at the top of the plug-in and you are done. How activation works

Ember Clip

$39

Use it on two computers
Free updates for every 1.x version
VST3 and AU for Windows and macOS
Full PDF manual

Buy Ember Clip

Checkout, payment and sales tax are handled by Lemon Squeezy, our online reseller. Prices are in US dollars.

Questions

Does it work in my DAW?

Ember Clip is a VST3 plug-in on Windows and macOS and an Audio Unit on macOS, so it loads in FL Studio, Ableton Live, Reaper, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig, Logic Pro and most other hosts. There is no AAX version for Pro Tools yet. Try the free trial in your own setup before you buy.

How many computers can I use it on?

Two at a time. To move to a new computer, click Deactivate this computer in the licence panel on the old one, then activate on the new one. Reinstalling on the same computer does not use up an activation.

Do I need to be online?

Only once, to activate. After that Ember Clip works offline. About once a month, when you are online, it quietly confirms the licence. If it cannot reach the server it simply keeps working.

What happens when the trial ends?

Every control keeps working, but the audio drops out for 2 seconds every 45 seconds. Activate a licence and it stops immediately, with no reinstall.

Are updates included?

Yes, every 1.x update is free. Download the latest version from the link in your order email and install it over the old one; your licence stays active.

Can I get a refund?

Yes, within 14 days of purchase. Please use the free trial first so you know it suits you. See the refund policy.

What information does activation send?

Your licence key and an anonymous code that identifies the computer, nothing else. See the privacy policy.