FabFilter
Developer of audio plugin software
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
FabFilter B.V. is a Dutch developer of audio software plug-ins. Their plug-ins have been described as "something of an industry standard" by Sound on Sound magazine.[1] The company won an Engineering Emmy for its equalizer plug-in Pro-Q 3 in 2019.[2]
| |
| Industry | Software |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , Netherlands |
| Products | Audio plug-ins |
| Website | FabFilter.com |
History
Frederik Slijkerman and Floris Klinkert founded FabFilter in 2002. Their first product was FabFilter One, a synthesizer; the company initially focused on creative plug-ins that create or manipulate sound such as synthesizers, filters and delays.[3]
In 2007, the company began launching a range of mixing and mastering plug-ins, starting with Pro-C, a compressor.
Twin
In 2005, FabFilter released the synthesizer plug-in Twin. The company subsequently released Twin 2 in 2009 and Twin 3 in 2023. In a review of Twin 3, Sound on Sound magazine asserted that FabFilter plug-ins 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".[1]
A preset from Twin was reported to be the inspiration for the name of Billie Eilish's 2024 album Hit Me Hard and Soft; MusicRadar speculated that said preset was used on the album's track "Bittersuite".[4]
Pro-Q
In 2009, FabFilter released Pro-Q, an equalizer plug-in. Pro-Q 2, 3, and 4 were released 2014, 2018, and 2024 respectively.
In 2019, Pro-Q 3 was given an Engineering Emmy Award by the Television Academy.[2] In an interview for Sound on Sound about his work on St. Vincent's 2021 album Daddy's Home, recording engineer Cian Riordan described it as "such a powerful plug‑in, just leagues above everything else".[5]
Recording magazine said in a review of Pro-Q 3 that "FabFilter is widely known for creating some of the best plug-ins on the market", adding that it "stands out in a sea of hardware modeling and emulation plug-ins because it doesn't attempt to emulate the design, operation or sound of a hardware EQ."[6]
In 2025, Sound on Sound compared the impact of Pro-Q to that of the Minimoog, Yamaha DX7, and SSL console, noting that "back in 2011... the large majority of plug‑in equalisers retained many [analog] design conventions... Pro‑Q wriggled free of this straitjacket, reimagining the plug‑in equaliser using the principles of good software interface design instead of preconceptions inherited from hardware."[7] Tape Op magazine made a similar point, saying Pro-Q "has become one of the most used, if not the most used, EQ plug-ins for professionals and enthusiasts alike."[8]
Products
FabFilter has released its products in VST, AU, AAX and VST3 formats for PC and Mac, and for iOS.[9]
The range of software is listed below.[10]
| Software | Function | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Pro-C | Compressor | 2007 | Updated to Pro-C 2 in 2015, and Pro-C 3 in 2026 |
| Pro-Q | Equalizer | 2009 | Updated to Pro-Q 2 in 2014, Pro-Q 3 in 2018, and Pro-Q 4 in 2024 |
| Micro | Filter | 2010 | |
| Pro-L | Limiter | 2010 | Updated to Pro-L 2 in 2017 |
| Pro-G | Gate/Expander | 2011 | |
| Saturn | Distortion | 2012 | Updated to Saturn 2 in 2020 |
| Pro-DS | De-esser | 2012 | |
| Pro-MB | Multiband compressor | 2013 | |
| Pro-R | Reverb | 2016 | Updated to Pro-R 2 in 2023 |