FabFilter
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| Industry | Software |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founders | Floris Klinkert and Frederik Slijkerman |
| Products | Plug-ins for audio production |
| Website | FabFilter.com |
FabFilter is a Dutch developer of audio software plugins widely used[1][2][3] in the production of music, broadcasting, game design and podcasting and has been described as an "industry standard".[2] The company won an Engineering Emmy for its plugin Pro-Q3 in 2019.[1]
History
Frederik Slijkerman and Floris Klinkert founded FabFilter in 2002[4] with the aim of making synthesiser and audio effect plugins. Their first product was FabFilter One, a synthesiser, and it initially focused on creative plugins that create or manipulate sound such as synthesisers, filters and delays.[4]
In 2007 it began a Pro range of mixing and mastering plugins, starting with Pro-C, a compressor and has continued to add and update products. Pro-Q3, its equaliser plugin, was given an Engineering Emmy Award by The Television Academy in 2019, which described Pro-Q3 as "the preferred equalizer for mixing professionals around the world".[1]
Pro-Q3 appeared in Now and Then, a short film about The Beatles' last song[5], and a preset from Twin was reported to be the inspiration for Billie Eilish's song Hit Me Hard and Soft.[6]
FabFilter's plugins have been widely praised by music technology reviewers and users. Magnetic magazine called Saturn 2 "the best multiband distortion of all time".[7]In an interview for Sound on Sound magazine about his work on St Vincent's album Daddy's Home, recording engineer Cian Riordan described Pro-Q 3 as "such a powerful plug‑in, just leagues above everything else"[8]. The magazine said that Fabfilter plugins had "become something of an industry standard among mix engineers. It’s a rare Inside Track column in this magazine that doesn’t feature their Pro‑Q equaliser, Pro‑MB multiband dynamics or Pro‑C compressor" during a review of the Twin 3 synthesiser in May 2023.[2]
Recording magazine said in a review of Pro-Q 3 that "FabFilter is widely known for creating some of the best plugins on the market", adding that it "stands out in a sea of hardware modeling and emulation plugins because it doesn't attempt to emulate the design, operation or sound of a hardware EQ."[9]
Among the 110 artists and producers who have endorsed Fabfilter are Groove Armada, Armin van Buuren, Jamie Liddell, Mogwai, Joe West, Noisia, Recoil, Hardwell, Joe Barresi, Elkka, Roni Size, Remy, Kevin Killen, Omar Hakim and Local Natives.[10]
Products
FabFilter has released its products in VST, AU, AAX and VST3 formats for PC and Mac, and for iOS.[11]
It distinguishes between Pro and Creative plugins, with Pro placed at a higher price as "they typically take more time to develop", according to engineer Maarten de Boer.[12]
The range of software is listed below.[13]
| Software | Function | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FabFilter One | Synthesizer | 2004 | |
| Volcano | Filter | 2005 | Updated to Volcano 2 in 2008 and Volcano 3 in 2021 |
| Twin | Synthesizer | 2005 | Updated to Twin 2 in 2009 and Twin 3 in 2023 |
| Timeless | Delay | 2006 | Updated to Timeless 2 in 2009 and Timeless 3 in 2021 |
| Simplon | Synthesizer | 2007 | |
| FabFilter Pro-C | Compressor | 2007 | Updated to Pro-C2 in 2015 |
| FabFilter Pro-Q | Equalizer | 2009 | Updated to Pro-Q2 in 2014 and Pro-Q3 in 2018 |
| Micro | Filter | 2010 | |
| FabFilter Pro-L | Limiter | 2010 | Updated to Pro-L2 in 2017 |
| FabFilter Pro-G | Gate/Expander | 2011 | |
| Saturn | Distortion, saturation | 2012 | Updated to Saturn 2 in 2020 |
| FabFilter Pro-DS | De-esser | 2012 | |
| FabFilter Pro-MB | Multiband compressor | 2013 | |
| FabFilter Pro-R | Reverb | 2016 | Updated to Pro-R2 in 2023 |
External links
References
- ^ a b c "Engineering Emmy Awards Winners Announced". Emmys.com.
- ^ a b c "FabFilter Twin 3". Sound on Sound. May 2023.
- ^ "FabFilter Pro-Q 3". RecordingMag.com. January 2020.
- ^ a b "Meet the programmers". MusicRadar. 10 May 2013.
- ^ "The Beatles - Now and Then: FabFilter's Pro-Q plugin becomes an unexpected star of new short film that tells the story of the band's last ever song". MusicRadar. 2 November 2023.
- ^ "The FabFilter synth preset that inspired the name of Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft was used on one of its songs, and we're pretty sure we know which one". MusicRadar. 6 June 2024.
- ^ "The Best Multiband Distortion Of All Time: Our FabFilter's Saturn 2 Review Shows Why It Has No Rival". MagneticMag.com. 2 February 2023.
- ^ "Inside Track: St Vincent 'Pay Your Way In Pain' - Secrets Of The Mix Engineers: Cian Riordan". Sound on Sound. August 2021.
- ^ "FabFilter Pro-Q 3". RecordingMag.com. January 2020.
- ^ "Artists". Fabfilter.com.
- ^ "Review: FabFilter iOS plug-in collection". MusicTech.
- ^ "Are Plugin Prices Confusing? What Do Developers Think?". Attack. 26 March 2024.
- ^ "FabFilter Press Area". FabFilter.