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Electronic Production

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SIR StandardCLIP

  • Writer: Leiam Sullivan
    Leiam Sullivan
  • Jan 29
  • 2 min read

Updated: Mar 30

SIR StandardCLIP: My Go-To Clipper for Peak Control, Loudness & Snares That Hit Just Right


Over the years, I’ve tested a lot of clipper plugins in search of one that balances transparency, control, and musicality. While there are plenty of great options—like Kazrog KClip 3 and Black Salt Audio’s Clipper, both of which I’ve used extensively—SIR’s StandardCLIP has firmly become my go-to.


Why StandardCLIP?


Clippers are essential for controlling peaks without introducing excessive compression, and the way StandardCLIP handles soft clipping is what sets it apart. Unlike some other clippers that can introduce strange artefacts, this one just holds the sound in place beautifully. It doesn’t feel like it’s altering the character of the audio; instead, it lets me push things where needed while keeping everything clean and controlled.


You can drive it hard and get a noticeable effect, but for my approach—just controlling peaks and managing transients—it’s a perfect tool. The soft-clip saturator control is a great addition, adding subtle harmonic richness when needed.


Where It Shines in My Workflow


✅ Peak Control on Individual Tracks – Just enough clipping on a drum or lead synth to tame rogue transients without squashing dynamics.


✅ Love It on Snares – Especially when you want them to crack through the mix with presence and energy. It helps contain any overly sharp peaks without dulling the attack, letting the snare sit just right in the mix.


✅ Subtle 2-Bus Clipping – Occasionally, I’ll use it just before my mastering chain, if needed, to catch any peaks before they hit my final processing. It’s a great way to preserve clarity while maximising perceived loudness.


✅ Group Processing – Applying slight clipping at multiple stages across groups (e.g., drums, bass, synths) allows me to control peaks incrementally, keeping my mix competitive in the loudness game without introducing pumping or over-compression.


✅ Clean UI & Visual Feedback – One of the best things about StandardCLIP is the intuitive display. Being able to visually dial in the clip threshold and immediately hear the effect makes it incredibly easy to use. Just pull the clip level down, control peaks to a desired level, and gain headroom—simple but highly effective.


Final Thoughts


There are plenty of great clipper plugins out there, but StandardCLIP has become my go-to because of its clean sound, reliable peak control, and easy workflow. It fits effortlessly into my mixing and mastering process.


SIR StandardCLIP
SIR StandardCLIP GUI

If you’re looking for a powerful, transparent clipper that delivers without colouring your sound in unwanted ways, give SIR StandardCLIP a go. Whether it’s taming transients, making snares hit harder, or tightening up your master, this plugin delivers every time. 🚀🎛️


Check out SIR StandardClip for more details.


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