FabFilter SIMPLON Users Manual
Table of contents
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Table of Contents
About FabFilter Simplon
Overview
Loading presets
Purchasing FabFilter Simplon
Support
2
Introduction
Quick start
Using FabFilter Simplon
Knobs and switches
Filters
Interactive filter display
MIDI learn
Undo and redo
Presets
Saving presets
How presets are stored
Purchasing FabFilter Simplon
Entering your license key
Support
Manual installation
License agreement
Acknowledgements
About FabFilter
About FabFilter Simplon
3
After our first filter plugin FabFilter Volcano, we now offer a more basic way of using our filters. FabFilter
Simplon is the answer if you need quality filtering for an affordable price.
FabFilter Simplon provides the best sounding filters in an easy to use setup. It contains the fattest multi-mode
filters which are impressively analogue-sounding with brilliant resonant sweeps and a deep bass end.
Multimode filters
Two independent multimode filters provide low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass responses with 12, 24
and 48 dB/octave slopes. Both filters feature three different high-quality filter characteristics that define
the unique sound and overdrive of the filter. They range from smooth and clean to raw, self-oscillating
and over-the-top! Since the 2 multi-mode filters work both serially and in parallel you can combine them
in any way imaginable.
Interactive filter display
Tweak the filters with the interactive filter display that shows both filter curves and lets you drag them
around. You can adjust them separately or both at the same time.
MIDI learn
FabFilter Simplon works with any MIDI keyboard or controller. It is very easy to assign each of Simplon's
parameters with any MIDI controller number, just by turning knobs in the user interface and on the
external controller.
Smart parameter interpolation
Changes to any of FabFilter Simplon's parameters are interpolated by smart algorithms, ensuring both
responsiveness and smooth transitions. There are no unwanted digital clicks and zipper effects, and even
MIDI controller changes are handled perfectly smooth.
Low CPU usage
We have taken great care to ensure that FabFilter Simplon uses even less CPU power than Volcano with
innovative AltiVec and SSE optimizations. All parameters can be automated and handling of MIDI events
and parameter changes is sample accurate.
Platform-independent presets
FabFilter Simplon enables you to create and save your own presets. You can share your settings with
other users and the preset files are the same on Windows and Mac OS X.
FabFilter Simplon is available in VST, VST3, AU (Audio Units), AAX Native and AudioSuite formats (all both 64bit and 32-bit), as well as RTAS (32-bit only), for Mac OS X and Windows.
Windows requirements
32-bit: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP
Mac OS X requirements
OS X 10.6 or higher
64-bit: Windows 10, 8, 7 or Vista (x64)
VST 2/3 host or Pro Tools
AU or VST 2/3 host or Pro Tools
4
Intel processor
Next: Quick start
See Also
Using FabFilter Simplon
Quick start
5
The installer will copy the FabFilter Simplon plug-in into the common VST, VST 3, AU (macOS only) and Pro
Tools plug-in folders on your computer. On macOS, the global plug-in folders in /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins are
used.
In most cases, your host will then recognize the plugin automatically. However, if the instructions below do not
work, see Manual
Cubase
Choose an empty insert slot, for example in the Mixer, and select FabFilter Simplon from the menu that
appears. To use the MIDI features in Simplon, create a new MIDI track and set its output to the Simplon
instance you have just created. (The VST 3 version of Simplon can be found in the Filter section.)
Logic Pro
Choose an empty insert slot on one of your audio tracks, instrument tracks or buses and select FabFilter
Simplon from the pop-up menu. You will find FabFilter Simplon in the Audio Units > FabFilter section
(named FF Simplon).
Ableton Live
In Session view, select the track you would like to place FabFilter Simplon on, for example by clicking the
track name. At the left top of Ableton Live's interface, click on the Plug-in Device Browser icon (third icon
from the top). From the plug-ins list, double-click FabFilter/FabFilter Simplon, or drag it onto the track.
Pro Tools
Choose an empty insert slot on one of your audio tracks, instrument tracks or buses and select FabFilter
Simplon from the pop-up menu in the Effects section.
Next: Using FabFilter Simplon
See Also
Presets
installation instead.
Overview
6
FabFilter Simplon's interface is, as the name suggests, simple and functional. There are three basic components
to FabFilter Simplon: the filters itself, the input/output stage and the MIDI learn functions.
Interactive filter display
This is the graphic representation of the filter settings which enables you to drag both filters individually
or simultaneously and control the filter settings with key combinations. See Filters
Filter parameters
The filters offers pretty much everything you would expect, with a choice of low-pass, high-pass and
band-pass modes, and a slope variable from two-pole (12dB/octave) all the way up to eight-pole
(48dB/octave). For each filter there are three algorithms that offer three different filter characteristics.
See Filters
Volume and effect mix
Here you can control the audio input and output gain. The Effect Mix knob controls the mix of the
processed and unprocessed audio.
MIDI learn
MIDI Learn offers the possibility to easily associate any MIDI controller with any plug-in parameter. See
MIDI Learn
Presets
With the preset buttons, you can easily browse through the factory presets or save your own sounds so
you can re-use them in other songs. See Presets
Next: Knobs
See Also
Quick start
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Knobs
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It is easy to control FabFilter Simplon's parameters with the large round knobs. They will light up when you
move the mouse cursor around to indicate that you can adjust them. The moment you move the mouse cursor
over a knob, a parameter value display will pop up, which shows the name and the current value of the
parameter.
All knobs support four ways of control:
1. Vertical mode
Click on the center area of a knob and drag up or down to rotate it. The knob reacts to the speed with
which you are dragging, so if you move the mouse slowly, you make precise adjustments.
2. Rotate mode
Grab the arrow of the knob and drag it around. By moving the mouse cursor further away from the
knob while dragging it, you can make precise adjustments.
3. Mouse wheel mode
Perhaps the easiest way to make adjustments is by using the mouse wheel when you hover over a
knob. This mode works for all the knobs and possible panning rings. (On Windows, you might need to
click in the plug-in interface first to make sure it is the active window.)
4. Text entry mode
Double-click a knob to enter an exact value using the keyboard.
Tips
To reset a knob to its default position, hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (macOS) and
click the knob once. Note: In Pro Tools, Simplon uses the default Pro Tools keyboard shortcut for reset:
Alt+click.
To fine-tune a value when using vertical drag mode or the mouse wheel, hold down the Shift key while
dragging or moving the mouse wheel. Note: In Pro Tools, Simplon uses the default Pro Tools keyboard
shortcut for fine tune: Ctrl+drag on Windows or Command+drag on macOS.
There are several handy shortcuts in text entry mode. With frequency values, you can type e.g. '1k'
to set the value to 1000 Hz, and also 'A4' for 440 Hz, or even strings like 'C#3+13'. With dB values, you
can type e.g. '2x' to get +6 dB (the value that corresponds to two times louder). With all values, you can
also type a percentage (e.g. '50%' will put a knob exactly in the middle position).
Sometimes, knobs in our plug-in interfaces are linked: these be adjusted simultaneously by holding
down the Alt key (Shift key in Pro Tools) while dragging on one of them. For example, an output level
and input level setting of a plug-in could be adjusted simultaneously (in the opposite direction) this way.
Next: Filters
See Also
Overview
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