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.

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).

Last Updated on March 4, 2019 by Tomislav Zlatic.