Pro-G is a professional gate and expander plugin from FabFilter, offering six algorithms, flexible sidechain routing, precise metering, and a highly customizable interface for mixing and live use.
Purpose and Core Functions
Pro-G is designed as a versatile gate and expander for mixing and live scenarios. It provides six meticulously tuned algorithms, including upward expansion and ducking, with program-dependent attack and release curves that adapt to the audio material. This makes it suitable for cleaning up tracks, tightening performances, and creative volume shaping.
The plugin offers full control over range, hold time, and knee settings, plus an optional look-ahead time of up to 10 ms for precise transient control. A zero-latency mode is also available for live use. Low CPU usage ensures efficient operation even in large sessions.
Key Capabilities and Flexibility
Pro-G offers exceptional routing flexibility. You can choose between mono, stereo, or mid/side processing, and in expert mode, an external sidechain input is available with fully customizable channel linking and routing. This allows for advanced keying scenarios, such as ducking a bass or opening a gate from a specific frequency band.
Additionally, MIDI triggering lets you open the gate or expander with a MIDI keyboard, which can be used for rhythmic gating or performance effects. Separate dry/wet level settings are provided for parallel processing, and up to four times linear-phase oversampling can be enabled for high-quality filtering.
Metering and Workflow
Pro-G provides clear and precise metering with smart input/output level meters, a real-time level display, and a transfer curve. This visual feedback helps you set up the gate/expander accurately and observe its impact on the signal. The interface includes perfectly tuned knobs and interactive MIDI Learn for hands-on control.
Workflow enhancements include undo/redo, A/B comparison, and Smart Parameter Interpolation for smooth parameter transitions. Double-click text entry of parameter values allows for exact numeric input. Factory presets are included for common gating and expansion scenarios, making initial setup straightforward. An extensive help file with interactive hints rounds out the user experience.
Practical Applications
In mixing, common uses include cleaning up drum tracks, tightening guitars or bass, and removing background noise from vocals. The ducking algorithm can automatically lower a music bed when a voiceover is present. For sound design, upward expansion can add life to quiet recordings, while MIDI triggering enables creative rhythmic patterns.
In live situations, the zero-latency mode and low CPU usage make Pro-G suitable for real-time processing. The flexible sidechain routing allows for advanced live keying, and the GPU-powered graphics ensure responsive UI interaction. Pro-G works across various plugin formats, making it widely compatible with major DAWs.
Key features
- Six expender/gate algorithms including upward expansion and ducking
- Program-dependent attack and release curves
- Adjustable range, hold time, knee, and look-ahead up to 10 ms
- Mono, stereo, or mid/side processing
- External sidechain input with customizable routing in expert mode
- MIDI triggering for gate/expander control
- Zero-latency and low CPU modes
- Smart Parameter Interpolation, undo/redo, A/B switch, and MIDI Learn
Best for
Pro-G is best for mixing engineers and live sound technicians needing a flexible, transparent gate and expander. It excels in drum cleanup, vocal noise reduction, ducking, and creative MIDI-triggered gating, offering deep sidechain control and precise metering suitable for both studio and stage.