FabFilter Pro-G

A good gate/expander is an indispensable tool in any mixing or live situation. FabFilter Pro-G offers everything you could wish for: perfectly tuned algorithms, complete control over the side chain and channel linking, excellent metering and great interface design.

When you’re dealing with noisy tracks, or bleed from other microphones, you can often turn to a gate/expander to mute any audio below a certain volume threshold. They can also be used to expand the dynamic range of a track as well. These types of plug-ins, while useful, can also be frustrating in that they might make an audio track sound unnatural. Or, conversely, they could sound good, but only after a lengthy tweaking process. The Pro-G from FabFilter never falls into those traps. In fact, it’s arguably one of the easiest gates to use that any of us here at www.recordingsoftware.com have tried, and it sounds as good as anything else on the market. And as usual, FabFilter added several features that can allow you to get creative with it, and use it in some unexpected ways.

First of all, like most FabFilter plug-ins, it looks fantastic. Our favorite feature of this plug-in is featured on most FabFilter dynamic processors: the real-time level display. This makes setting thresholds really easy by illustrating the waveform’s peaks and valleys. The interface is easy to navigate, with large icons that clearly state each parameter. We found that we didn’t waste any time finding out the proper threshold, which allowed us to get to work setting the other parameters.

What we found most helpful were the cool presets. They give you a taste of what the plug-in can do. These are basically different gate and expansion algorithms, which are designed for specific uses. For instance, you have upward expansion, which actually flips gating on its head and processing signals above the threshold instead of below. There’s also a similar setting that optimizes the plug-in for ducking instead of gating. More advanced features of the plug-in include it’s “Expert” settings, which can be accessed via a submenu. These allow you to use a sidechain input to set your thresholds, which can make for some really interesting sounds. Additionally, the MIDI Triggering feature lets you open the gate yourself with a controller: perfect if you want to automate it intuitively without relying on the plug-in.

With stereo and mono plug-ins, additional mid/side processing, sidechain capabilities, and great presets, you have just about all you’d need in a gate contained in this one plug-in. Whether you are cutting out unwanted noise, or expanding the dynamic range of a drum bus or mix, this plug-in is a great problem solver as well as an interesting creative tool.

Features:

• Six meticulously tuned expander/gate algorithms, including upward expansion and ducking, give the plug-in different response types for different uses
• Program dependent attack and release curves allow you to optimize gate for specific uses
• Low CPU usage and zero-latency operation mode makes this plug-in super efficient on any system
• Optional look-ahead time up to 10 ms helps preserve transients and reduce artifacts
• Precise and helpful metering, and a real-time level display
• Expert mode that offers highly customizable side chain options as well as additional gain and wet/dry signals
• Stereo and mono plug-ins available, with mono, stereo (Left/right) or mid/side processing
• Up to four times linear-phase oversampling to help reduce aliasing
• MIDI triggering lets you open the gate/expander with your MIDI keyboard
• External side chain option lets you use another track to trigger the gate
• Easy to set up for common gating / expansion scenarios with the included factory presets
• GPU-powered graphics acceleration
• Supports common Pro Tools hardware control surfaces
• MIDI Learn lets you assign parameters to your MIDI controller
• Smart Parameter Interpolation allows for smooth parameter changing with no artifacts, pops, or zipper effects
• Extensive help file with interactive help hints make using this plug-in easy and quick

Controls:

• Real-time level display makes setting threshold easy
• Threshold, Attack and Release controls interact with level display for easy adjustments
• Ratio adjusts level of expansion (with maximum setting being a complete gate)
• Range control lets you adjust amount of gating or expansion that occurs
• Hold control keeps gate open for longer (after release)
• Knee control lets gating occur more gradually
• Lookahead control allows gate to open before audio crosses threshold, reducing interference and cleaning up gating process
• Global input and output volume level controls, as well as an additional global bypass button
• “Expert” control submenu allows for sidechain input controls, including overall gain, dry and wet signal gain, a dedicated filter, plus an Audition button that lets you isolate the sidechain signal
• Presets activate different gate algorithms for different uses
• Undo/redo and A/B comparison makes for easy revisions
• Double-click text entry of parameter values

Requirements

Windows

• 64-bit: Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista
• 32-bit: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP
• VST 2/3 host or Pro Tools

Mac OS X

• OS X 10.6 or higher
• AU or VST 2/3 host or Pro Tools
• Intel processor