D16 Frontier Limiter VST/AU Plugin Is Now FREE!

D16 Group Audio Software has released the Frontier limiter VST/AU/AAX plugin as a free download for everyone who creates an account on their website (no purchase required).

Fontier is an audio limiter with adjustable release time (fast, medium, or slow), automatic gain makeup functionality, and optional soft clipping on the output. It also features a large gain reduction meter, a built-in preset manager, selectable input channel control (left, right, or mid), and an advanced options menu for adjusting the processing quality when used in real time and while rendering the song. This allows the user to save some CPU power while mixing or mastering and then render the project at the highest quality possible.

See also: Limted-Z Is A FREE Limiter VST Plugin By LVC Audio

I took Frontier for a spin on the master bus of a pop song I’m currently working on. Right after loading the plugin, I noticed that the overall loudness increased significantly without introducing too many limiting artifacts. Some pumping was audible when the bass kicks in, though. The default threshold is set to -12 dB, resulting in an instant loudness boost. This occurs thanks to Frontier’s auto gain makeup feature which increases the output volume as the threshold is decreased. I decreased the threshold slightly to a more tolerable level and set the release time to medium. With these settings, I was already happier with the results I got from Frontier, compared to my current go-to limiter LoudMax. I still haven’t explored Frontier’s soft clipping capabilities, so feel free to post your experiences with this particular feature in the comments section below.

In summary, Frontier could work very well as a mastering tool in your home studio, or as a mixing utility for taming the dynamics of drums, bass guitars, and similar sound sources. It features a clean user interface with large and nicely laid out controls. The workflow is fast and the plugin is a joy to use overall.

Frontier was previously offered as a free download for D16’s exsting customers only. As of today, everyone can get it completely free of charge, even if they don’t already own a D16 Group Audio Software product. Simply sign up for a free user account on the company’s website, download and install the plugin, and enter your login credentials on the first load to activate the software. A big thank you to our reader Matt Diesel for sharing the news about this release.

Frontier is available for free download via D16 Group Audio Software (17.7 MB download size, EXE installer, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/AU/AAX plugin format for Windows & MacOS).

13 Comments

heavymetalmixer
on February 18, 2019 12:57 pm

Sadly, this plugin is actually a soft-limiter (not-brickwall) so it leaves alone very short peaks go through like TDR NOVA 2 (it’s an RMS compressor with a very short RMS window), or maybe the attack isn’t fast enough.

The other thing is that this plugin colors the sound a lot, so for me it’s more like a saturation plugin, mostly with the SOFT CLIP switch ON.

The fact that this plugin never got a manual since it’s release in 2016 didn’t help, still I use it as one of my favorite coloring tools, just not as a brickwall limiter.

- Eanna
  on February 18, 2019 8:27 pm
  
  Exactly my experiences too.
  Only one brickwall limiter for me.. Bx_limiter.
  
- Brenner
  on February 18, 2019 11:25 pm
  
  Meh I still love the sound of Frontier, it’s fantastic!
  
- James
  on April 3, 2021 10:18 pm
  
  Hey, maybe check out Venn Audio FreeClip as an alternative!
  
corrosiveabuser
on February 18, 2019 2:55 pm

I’ve always liked it, has a very weighty sound, making it a good choice for drums and bass, – for free it’s a no-brainer. Also own Decimort2, Devastor2 and Lush-101, – all great tools, and if I had the money I’d buy all their plugs, low CPU options and 100% stable.

animus
on February 18, 2019 3:21 pm

Frontier is a great limiter, it did pretty well in the limiter tournament i did a while back: https://performodule.com/2017/09/13/a-limiter-tournament/

It’s one that errs more on the side of pumping than on the side of distorting.

i agree with heavymetalmixer’s comments… it’s perhaps better for individual tracks and busses than the master.

Vatche Demirjian
on February 19, 2019 7:41 am

Here is my review of the plugin a while back. Still one of my fav compressors that gives me the right colouring of the sound. I don’t use it as a limiter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87vOsCdM-AA

bmovie
on February 19, 2019 6:31 pm

Thanks for the headup Tomislav! Haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere else

Wing Yee
on February 20, 2019 8:38 am

Attractive looking but output level is not accurate.

lattu
on February 24, 2019 1:26 am

so sweet coloring!

Merv de Peyer
on March 7, 2019 12:50 pm

Having tried many au limiters I can now say it’s truly great! It saved my arse with some electric and acoustic guitars and mastering track, it allows me to boost the level almost like a compressor would but better, without sucking all the energy out like so many limiters do.. GREAT JOB GUYS!!!

saeed
on March 18, 2020 5:37 pm

I install the Frontier Limiter , my DAW did not recognize it, my Daw is Studio One 4.6 and my windows is 10. what should I do? please

Elmer Arevalo Sanchez
on April 17, 2021 1:35 pm

El link que dejan para la descarga del Frontier Limiter no abre por favor si me pueden ayudar?.gracias.

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D16 Frontier Limiter VST/AU Plugin Is Now FREE!

13 Comments