FabFilter Pro-G | Gate / Expander Plug-In

FabFilter Pro-G is a professional gate and expander designed for flexible use in studio and live productions. Whether for the reduction of noise components, the targeted processing of transients or as a creative dynamics tool – Pro-G combines high-precision signal processing with a sophisticated, visually supported workflow. Six different operating modes are available, including classic gate and expander functions, upward expansion for amplifying dynamic behavior and a ducking mode for level reduction using sidechain-controlled signals.

It is controlled via program-dependent attack and release curves, the response of which adapts to the input signal. Other parameters such as an adjustable knee, the maximum gain reduction (range) as well as lookahead up to 10 ms and hold time provide comprehensive control over the dynamic processing. The dry/wet mix also enables parallel processing directly in the plug-in.

Visual feedback is one of the strengths of Pro-G: an interactive level display shows input, output and gain reduction in real time, supplemented by a dynamic display of the transmission curve. The metering section supports precise and intuitive setup – both in a musical and technical context.

The sidechain function is extended in Expert mode: In addition to internal routing, an external sidechain input is also available, with fully configurable stereo linking and mid/side processing. FabFilter Pro-G can be specifically controlled via MIDI triggers, e.g. for rhythmic control in live setups. For maximum sound quality, the plug-in can oversample up to 4 times, while a zero-latency mode is also available for real-time applications.

As usual, Pro-G offers all the typical FabFilter comfort functions such as Smart Parameter Interpolation, Undo/Redo, A/B comparison, MIDI Learn, GPU-accelerated display and sample-accurate automation. The user interface is available in several sizes and can be seamlessly integrated into all common DAW environments.

Technical properties

Plug-in formats: VST 2/3, Audio Units, AAX Native, AudioSuite, CLAP (64-/32-bit each)
System requirements Windows: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 or Vista, VST/CLAP host or Pro Tools
System requirements macOS: macOS 10.13 or higher (64-bit only), Intel or Apple Silicon, AU/VST/CLAP host or Pro Tools
Processing modes: 6 algorithms incl. gate, expander, upward, ducking
Parameter control:
– Lookahead (up to 10 ms)
– Hold, Range, Knee
– Program-dependent attack/release
– Stereo linking adjustable
– Dry/Wet control
Modes: Mono, Stereo, Mid/Side
Sidechain: Internal, external, freely configurable in Expert mode
Oversampling: Up to 4x linear phase
Triggering: MIDI-controlled possible
Metering: real-time level display, transfer curve
Other features:
– Zero latency option
– Preset library for common applications
– GPU-accelerated display
– Smart parameter interpolation
– Undo/Redo, A/B comparison
– Sample-accurate automation
– Support for Pro Tools Control Surfaces
– MIDI Learn
– Large and compact GUI sizes