HiFAL
by Schwabe Digital · Limiter · Acceleration limiter
Not rated yet
Limiter from Schwabe Digital that works on the acceleration of the waveform rather than simple level, aimed at transparent peak control.
Best for: Mastering, Mix Bus, Drums. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: corrective, low latency, mastering, bright, full mix, samples & loops, bus processing, cymbals, drums, enhancement, external sidechain, mid/side, mix bus, built-in mix knob, mixing, modern, multi-band, oversampling, parallel processing, sidechain input, smooth, vinyl, vocals, zero-latency.
What it does
HiFAL is Schwabe Digital's high-frequency acceleration limiter (now HiFAL 2), which smooths brightness and controls harsh peaks. The developer describes it as a vinyl-era mastering approach applied to modern work.
- How it works: sample-by-sample compression where attack and release speed up as gain reduction increases, so no fixed timings are needed.
- Bands: a crossover between 1 and 20 kHz sets the region it acts on.
- PARALIMIT: a parallel path for clarity and density.
- Options: M/S or L/R, external sidechain, three filter types (Linear, Dynamic, zero-latency Live), oversampling and dry/wet.
Source: Schwabe Digital product page
When to use it
HiFAL is a specialist de-harshener for the top end, not a general peak limiter like FabFilter Pro-L 2. Use it on mixes or masters that sound bright or brittle.
- Best for: taming harsh highs on vocals, cymbals, mixes and masters.
Where to buy
- Schwabe Digital: $139.30
Tutorials and reviews
- Schwabe Digital HiFAL Plugin Review
- Schwabe Digital HiFAL Plugin Review
- 02) Overview of HiFAL
- HiFAL Plugin Review By Schwabe Digital
- HiFAL - High Frequency Control for the Modern Age
Similar plugins
- OD Limen by Tokyo Dawn Labs · High-frequency acceleration limiter · $191.90
- Invisible Limiter G2 by A.O.M. · Transparent mastering limiter · $199
- Uni-L Master Limiter by Tone Projects · Mastering limiter · $199
- TDR Limiter 6 GE by Tokyo Dawn Labs · Modular, multi-stage · $60
- LAxLimit5 by TBProAudio · Look-ahead true peak limiter · $112.41
- Grand Finale by Klevgrand · Mastering finalizer · $69.99
More from Schwabe Digital
- Gold Clip by Schwabe Digital · Clipper · 8.9/10 · $249
- Orange Clip 3 by Schwabe Digital · Clipper · $119