Air-G Clip
User Manual
Version 1.0
A clipper based on two Airwindows algorithms: ClipSoftly and ClipOnly3.
Original source code released under an open license (MIT) by Chris Johnson.
User Manual
Version 1.0
A clipper based on two Airwindows algorithms: ClipSoftly and ClipOnly3.
Original source code released under an open license (MIT) by Chris Johnson.
Air-G Clip is a clipper: a tool that shaves off the highest peaks of the signal. Use it to tame transients, to gain loudness, and to add colour or saturation. Used gently it’s almost transparent; pushed hard it becomes an effect with character.
Inside it uses two Airwindows algorithms (Chris Johnson), selected with the SOFT / HARD button:
The single control that drives the signal into the clip is the Drive knob: the more drive, the more clipping, colour and loudness.
Pick SOFT (colour/saturation) or HARD (clean loudness), raise the Drive until you like it, and watch the meters: OUT for the output level and CLIP for how much you’re clipping. Turn on Auto Gain to compare without the volume fooling you.
Air-G Clip interface.
The plugin is resizable (keeping its aspect ratio). Double-click the Drive knob to return it to 0 dB.
The central knob sets the input level into the clipper, from 0 to +24 dB (0 = no change). It is the heart of the plugin: more drive means more signal hitting the clipping ceiling, and therefore more clipping, more colour and more loudness. The exact value is shown below (“DRIVE x.x dB”). Double-click returns it to 0.
Toggles between the two algorithms:
When set to ON, it automatically compensates for the loudness added by the Drive (it lowers the output by the same amount). That way you can raise the Drive and hear how the character of the sound changes without the level increase fooling your ear. Ideal for an honest “before and after” comparison.
When active, you hear only what the clipper removes (the difference between input and output): that is, exactly the distortion you’re adding. It’s a way to “see with your ears” how much and how you’re clipping. (Auto Gain doesn’t apply in this mode.)
Click the logo to open a screen with plugin information; click again to close it.
DriveInput level into the clipper, 0 to +24 dB. More drive = more clipping, colour and loudness. · SOFT/HARDSOFT = soft clip (saturation); HARD = clean clip only on the peaks. · Auto GainCompensates the drive’s loudness so you can compare without level jumps. · DeltaHear only what the clipper removes (the added distortion).
The black panel on the right has two bars sharing a real numeric dBFS scale (0 at the top, down to −48 at the bottom). They are faithful: they read the signal directly, not an approximation.
The left bar shows the plugin’s output level, filling bottom-up (green → amber → red). A white line marks the recent peak (peak-hold), so you can see how close to 0 dBFS you’re getting.
The right bar shows how much the clipper is reducing the signal, drawing top-down from 0. The further it drops, the harder you’re clipping. It’s computed honestly by comparing the signal before and after the clipper (aligned for the internal latency), so it reflects the real reduction, not an estimate.
A touch of CLIP (a few dB) is often enough to tame peaks and add punch. If the CLIP bar drops a lot, you’re clipping aggressively: great for loudness or effect, but watch that it doesn’t get harsh (especially in HARD). Use OUT to avoid going past 0 dBFS at the output.
In HARD, with a little Drive, clip only the highest peaks so the signal is more even and takes more loudness without touching the rest. Great on drums, bass or the mix bus.
In SOFT, raise the Drive to fatten and warm up the sound. Excellent on vocals, synths, or to give “body” to something too clean.
In HARD, push the Drive to maximize: ClipOnly3 takes extremely high levels without the usual digital harshness. If you need a transparent limiter, this isn’t it — it’s a clipper, and it sounds like one.
Turn on Auto Gain to judge the character without the volume fooling you, and use Delta to hear exactly what you’re clipping.
Clipping depends on the level coming in. If you want more effect, raise the Drive (no need to raise the track). For a fair comparison, leave Auto Gain on while you move the Drive.
Air-G Clip uses two clipping algorithms from Airwindows, created by Chris Johnson: ClipSoftly (SOFT mode) and ClipOnly3 (HARD mode), under an interface with a drive knob, a SOFT/HARD selector, Auto Gain, Delta and two digital dBFS meters.
The original algorithms are the work of Chris Johnson / Airwindows and are used under the terms of his open license (MIT). The original source code is publicly available.
To Chris Johnson, for sharing his clipping work under an open license, and for the documentation of each algorithm that served as the basis for this manual.
Air-G Clip v1.0 — Air-G Audio. The clipping algorithms are the work of Chris Johnson / Airwindows and are used under the terms of his open license (MIT).