Analog Obsession — one of the most consistently generous plugin developers in the scene — has released RazorClip, a free analog-based clipper.
What it does
RazorClip is a saturation/clipping plugin that models five different analog circuit types. Rather than a generic "drive" knob, each mode gives you a distinctly different character:
| Mode | Character |
|---|---|
| Tape | Soft, musical saturation; gentle compression-like rounding |
| XFMR | Transformer saturation; adds subtle harmonic content and warmth |
| BJT | Bipolar junction transistor; tighter, transistor-style clip |
| Tube | Vacuum tube overdrive; even-harmonic richness |
| Diode | Hard diode clipping; aggressive, squarewave-adjacent |
Controls
- Gain — up to +24 dB of input drive
- Output — –24 dB to +24 dB for gain compensation after clipping
- Blend — dry/wet mix for parallel saturation or subtle harmonic enhancement
The interface is resizable from 50% to 200%, which is a nice touch for high-DPI displays.
Use cases
- Mastering / bus processing — gentle Tape or XFMR mode for analog warmth
- Drums — BJT or Diode for aggressive transient shaping
- Parallel saturation — use Blend to add harmonic density without obvious distortion
- Character effects — Tube mode on synth pads and bass
Compatibility
- Format: VST3, AU, AAX Native
- macOS: 10.11+ (Intel + Apple Silicon)
- Windows: 10 / 11
Download
👉 Get RazorClip free on Patreon — no subscription required, direct download.