Tension
High-performance character clipping engine designed to fundamentally redefine the weight of your audio.
Currently exclusive to Windows systems (additional OS support in development).
What is it?
Tension is a high-performance character clipping engine designed to fundamentally redefine the weight of your audio. Unlike a standard digital clipper that simply caps the signal, Tension reaches inside the waveform to sculpt how it breaks.
It combines three distinct processing topologies—Precision ADAA Saturation, Transient Snapping, and Harmonic Wavefolding—into a flexible, interactive workflow. Whether you need to push a snare drum to give it that "laser-whip" snap, fold a cinematic sub into a growling bass, or add "Iron Core" weight to a master bus, this module handles the heavy lifting.
Under the hood, it utilizes a "Deep Fix Architecture" with 4x Oversampling and a proprietary Smart Auto-Gain system, ensuring that while you push the boundaries of harmonic tension, your output levels remain perfectly balanced and alias-free.
Key Features
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1
The "Tension" Drive
The heart of the plugin. This isn’t just gain; it’s a high-performance clipping engine that uses advanced "Smart Antialiasing" (ADAA). Push your levels into the red and get the loudness you need while keeping the top end smooth and professional.
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2
"Pulse" Transient Snapping
Designed for the sound designer who needs impact. The Pulse engine detects the fastest hits in your audio and "snaps" them into the clipper. It’s the secret sauce for getting drums to feel "laser-whip" sharp without losing their body.
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3
"Weave" Tonal Tilting
Stop fighting with EQs. Weave allows you to tilt the tonal balance of your distortion. Shift the energy toward a bright, modern "sizzle" or a dark, vintage "warmth" with a single movement.
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4
"Age" & "Character" (Analog Mojo)
Give your digital tracks some history. The Age control simulates the slow, heavy response of vintage hardware, while Character adds a magnetic "growl" that reacts to the movement of your audio.
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5
"Fold" Harmonic Grit
When a standard clip isn't enough, use the Wavefolder. It folds the audio back onto itself, creating rich, metallic textures that are perfect for industrial sound design and aggressive synth leads.
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6
Advanced M/S & Linked Routing
Professional control for your master bus. Process your Mid and Side signals independently to widen your mix, or link them for a rock-solid center image.
Audio Demos
Specifications
FAQ
Q:Why is it free?
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We are sound designers and composers first. We built this tool for our own projects, and I want to share it with the community that has helped us grow. All I ask is that you join my newsletter so I can send you updates on new tools and sound design tips.
Q:Is this just another "Hard Clipper"?
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Not even close. Under the hood, Tension uses a custom "Deep Fix" architecture. It runs at 4x oversampling and uses 2nd-order math to ensure that when you "mangle" your audio, you don't get the ugly aliasing noise typical of cheap digital clippers.
Q:Does it work on my system?
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Tension is available as a VST3 plugin for windows only for now. It has been optimized for low CPU usage, so you can run it on every single track in your session without your computer breaking a sweat.
Q:What is the "Focus" knob for?
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Focus allows you to tell the clipper where to "look." By shifting the internal filter, you can protect your low-end from distorting while letting the high-mids take the heat, or vice versa.