Schwabe Digital HiFAL: From Vinyl Cutting to Cutting Edge
A versatile high-frequency dynamics processor for mixing and mastering.
Schwabe Digital HiFAL: From Vinyl Cutting to Cutting Edge · Source: Schwabe Digital
Schwabe Digital HiFAL · Source: Schwabe Digital
The Schwabe Digital HiFAL plugin is an intuitive new plugin for your DAW workflow inspired by old-school vinyl mastering technology.
Founded in 2023, Schwabe Digital is a fledgling plugin developer that has already made waves in the industry with its high-end mastering plugins that cater to today’s engineers and the style of modern music.
Schwabe Digital HiFAL
HiFAL is a new type of dynamics processor that focuses exclusively on high-frequency content, using a processing technique from vinyl mastering. This process, known as acceleration limiting, was used as a protective measure to prevent the stylus from overheating while simultaneously maintaining the detail and power of the signal.
Although it wasn’t originally applied with tonal shaping in mind, acceleration limiting allowed engineers to clean up the high-frequency range and achieve louder, punchier records. However, the idea behind HiFAL isn’t to bring back vintage sounds from the past, but rather to provide a versatile tool for managing high frequencies anywhere in your mix.
Using Schwabe Digital’s specially designed linear phase filterbank, HiFAL’s high-frequency limiter works on a sample-by-sample basis, ensuring that there is no loss of fidelity or phase smear, according to the developer. The plugin has two main processors: the main limiter section and the parallel limiter section.
While the main HiFAL limiter deals with the entirety of the input signal, the parallel limiter uses frequency-conscious limiting to compensate for any gaps in the high-frequency range. With the momentary solo function, you can listen to exactly what is being processed at any time, so you can work precisely in different areas of your mix.
As usual, Schwabe Digital has done its homework in the R&D department to ensure that HiFAL offers a versatile, high-quality solution. Although the price tag is high for a dynamics processing tool, the developer’s reputation has already become trusted by top producers, as well as mixing and mastering engineers.
Pricing and Availability:
Schwabe Digital HiFAL is currently available at an introductory price of $159 until 14 October (regular price $199).
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One response to “Schwabe Digital HiFAL: From Vinyl Cutting to Cutting Edge”
Every day is a school day. Never heard of parallel limiting before. Might see if I can mock it up in a DAW with a limiter, and a parallel EQ/filter and limiter. Wonder if the limiter settings affect it, or if you need to sidechain the parallel limiter? If it good, might buy plugin.