Sonar DeClipper v1.0 (beta), yes this is beta software, so right now it's free.

Have a recording that clipped or peaked a bit when it was recorded? Looking for a quick way to correct those clipped sections? I searched the web a bit and didn't find free plugins in this space, so I started working on writing this Sonar Dxi plugin to fix clipped recorded wav files.

DeClipper (beta) attempts to reconstruct clipped portions of recorded audio.. Reconstruction is (currently) done with a simple cubic curve fit thru the clipped portion of the wave. This implies that only the basic fundamental frequency will attempt to be restored, higher frequency components will be lost, which if it's a simple clip may be sufficient. Reconstruction of the higher frequency components will have to wait for the next release.

The beta version can't fix serious overs. For example, a clip that actually flips the sign of the wave won't be fixed correctly, but it can help round out the occasional 'flat top'. The future 'full' version DeClipper will use a frequency domain algorithm to replace the clipped section which should extend the number of cases that can be 'unclipped'.

Usage

Download and run the install. Typical work-process is insert DeClipper plug-in into the track with clipped audio, then follow it with a compressor plug-in, then bounce the track. Adjust parameters as necessary and rebounce. Archive/Mute the original (save the original, just in case!). Bouncing to another track is recommend as then you can visually determine how effective the DeClipper parameter settings are.

Note that if a clipped section of audio contains many high frequency components, the curve fitting algorithm may have difficulty determing an appropriate replacement curve. Try adjusting the Pre/Post point count to give the curve fit routine either fewer or more points to work with depending on what the actual curve looks like around the clipped section. The default parameters: Pre/Post pts = 14; Clip level = 50%

Couple of usage notes:

• The DeClipper does not feature any compressor or limiter function, thus the reconstructed wave will clip again unless modified by a down-stream plug-in. This allows you to use your favorite compressor/limiter to appropriately reduce the clipped portion.
• The (beta) DeClipper can only process mono signals.
• DeClipper requires a fairly large buffer (and thus large latency). If you recieve a "Mixdown aborted. Ran out of memory" error, you probably need to increase your audio buffer size of decrease the Pre/Post point count. The plug-in is not designed to be run 'live', only use it in during a 'Process Audio' step/
• As the (beta) DeClipper only curve-fits, extreme clipping where the waveform has actually overflowed or flipped the peak will not be correct as only the flat spots will be removed.

Download

DeClipper Setup file

Forum

Talk about it here