FabFilter releases Pro-C 3 compressor plug-in

Noise Harmony
8 hours ago
2 min read

FabFilter has announced the release of Pro-C 3, the latest generation of its professional compressor plug-in. Pro-C 3 expands on its predecessor with six new compression styles, enhanced character controls featuring analog-inspired saturation, and full immersive audio support including Dolby Atmos®. All new functionality is presented within a refined and modern user interface.

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Six new compression algorithms

Building on the eight styles available in the previous version, Pro-C 3 introduces six additional compression algorithms designed to cover a wide range of dynamics processing tasks. Versatile serves as a flexible, all-purpose option, while Smooth is tailored for transparent bus compression with low ratios and longer time constants. For more extreme processing, Upward delivers upward compression with pronounced movement, and TTM combines upward and downward compression across multiple bands. The new Op-El and Vari-Mu styles draw inspiration from classic opto and variable-mu hardware, adding warmth and musical coloration.

Compression with character

A new Character panel enhances Pro-C 3 with three analog saturation flavors: Tube, Diode, and Bright. Users can adjust the Drive amount and choose between pre- and post-compression routing, allowing for subtle harmonic enhancement or more pronounced coloration and distortion.

Enhanced Side Chain EQ

Sidechain processing has been significantly upgraded, with the number of EQ bands increased from three to six. Each band offers the familiar filter types from Pro-Q 4, including extended slope options such as brickwall low-pass and high-pass filters. Every band can also be independently set to mid or side mode, providing detailed control over how the compressor responds to incoming signals.

Dolby Atmos® and immersive audio support

Pro-C 3 is fully compatible with immersive audio workflows, supporting surround formats up to Dolby Atmos® 9.1.6. Channel routing automatically adapts to the host project’s format, stereo linking is handled independently for each channel pair, and the output meter displays all channels clearly. This multi-channel implementation follows the design approach previously introduced in Pro-Q 4 and Pro-R 2.

Host tempo triggering and Auto Threshold

A new Host Sync option enables tempo-based triggering directly from the host, generating a steady internal pulse for rhythmic compression and ducking effects without external sidechain sources. Additionally, the new Auto Threshold function dynamically adjusts the threshold to maintain a consistent amount of compression across varying input levels, making it particularly useful for dialogue and other dynamically inconsistent material.

Key features at a glance

Professional compressor for mixing and mastering with 14 compression algorithms
Six new styles: Versatile, Smooth, Upward, TTM, Op-El, Vari-Mu
Character mode with Tube, Diode, and Bright saturation
Six-band Side Chain EQ with advanced filter types and mid/side processing
Full Dolby Atmos® support up to 9.1.6
Host tempo triggering and Auto Threshold
Adjustable maximum lookahead and oversampling up to 32x
Redesigned interface and preset browser with tagging and search
Seamless integration with other FabFilter plug-ins and full MIDI control