Overview
CLIPER reshapes peaks before the limiter. Input drives the signal into a sample ceiling; Hard, Soft and Smooth select the clipping character. The plugin uses fixed 4× FIR oversampling and reports its processing latency to the host. It is not a true-peak limiter.
Requirements and installation
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Computer | Apple Silicon Mac, macOS 13 Ventura or newer |
| Formats | Standalone Mac app, VST3, AU |
| Host | A compatible VST3/AU host; verified in Ableton Live 12 |
| Access | Free edition. No online plugin activation or trial timer. Your free Lemon order is your licence receipt. |
See Downloads for availability. In Ableton Live enable VST3 System Folders and Audio Units, then rescan. In standalone open Settings, connect the required audio device and unmute deliberately; input starts disconnected/muted to avoid feedback.
Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Input | −24 to +24 dB. Drives the clipping stage. |
| Ceiling | −12 to 0 dBFS. The sample ceiling before output attenuation. |
| Output | −24 to 0 dB attenuation after clipping. |
| Hard | Directly clips samples at the ceiling. |
| Soft | Rounds peaks near the ceiling. |
| Smooth | Starts rounding earlier than Soft. |
| Delta | Auditions the removed difference signal; turn it off for normal listening. |
| Level Match | Attenuation-only RMS-based comparison. It never boosts the processed signal. |
| A/B | Compare two parameter configurations. |
| Bypass | Compare the latency-aligned input with the processed output. |
The character modes differ when peaks reach their clipping region. With quiet input below that region, changing the mode may produce little or no difference. Oversampling is fixed, not a user-selectable quality control; there is no separate Stereo Link knob.
Metering
The main graph shows eight seconds of peak history: before clipping, after clipping, and removed peaks highlighted in red. Peak Cut shows attenuation in dB. L/R IN and OUT meters show sample peaks, with held maxima and Reset Peaks. This is a peak-history graph rather than a sample-by-sample waveform.
The Ceiling line is a clipping reference. Output trim and Level Match can lower the final output further. Check the result with ANALYZER or another true-peak meter; reconstructed inter-sample peaks are not guaranteed by a sample ceiling alone.
Presets
The preset menu groups factory recipes under HARD, SOFT and SMOOTH. Names such as Hard Clip +2 / +4 / +6 dB describe the input drive settings, not a guaranteed amount of reduction on every source. USER PRESETS, Save current preset, Import preset and Open preset folder manage your own recipes. Changing a recipe marks the current settings Custom.
Workflow
- Place CLIPER before your final limiter.
- Start with low drive and add Input until Peak Cut shows a small, useful reduction.
- Compare Hard, Soft and Smooth on the same section.
- Use Delta briefly to hear what is removed, then disable it.
- Enable Level Match for a fairer listening comparison; check both A/B settings.
- Use the final limiter and a true-peak meter for delivery checks.
Troubleshooting
No clipping is visible when the driven signal stays below the clipping region. Raise Input gradually or lower Ceiling. If output is unexpectedly quiet, check Output, Level Match, Delta, Bypass and the DAW fader. Standalone needs an explicitly selected audio device and unmuted output. Free builds do not require a licence key inside the plugin.