Sima Precision Mastering-grade Clipper

SIMA

[ ↓ ] PRECISION MASTERING GRADE CLIPPER

:DATA_FORWARD: Approach to precision.

Meticulously developed in-house to pay homage to one of the best available Mastering grade A2D converters by iteratively nulling against their path.

Sima Bias Filters
SYS.CLIP // V.1.0.0

Born To Clip

Crafted to provide additional bass headroom and tonality with feature-rich Bias filters.

[TRIAl] HIT NEW LEVELS [►]

HACIENDA_SIMA

CORE_V1.0.0 FEATURE NOTES

[■] SATURATION
DYNAMIC BIAS
LOW SHELF BIAS
CONVERTER
TONE SHAPING
IMAGING
WORKFLOW

Harmonic Saturation Engine

Three transfer curves, continuously morphable. 0 dB is clean hard clip at the converter ceiling. +3 dB and +6 dB are soft knee curves modeled on an ideal tape magnetization characteristic that gently soften peaks. The transfer (Hard/Soft) knob let's you dial between two modelled sample by sample mathematical transformations; Hard Being closer to practically derived hard transfers vs theoretically modelled digital Soft transfers.

Sima runs at your session's native sample rate with no oversampling by default. Real hardware converters clip a little better at native rate, and that's where we believe the character lives. Optional 2x [OS] oversampling is available in the Advanced panel if you need to ensure the audio remains more pristine.

Internal compensation tracks the impact of the peak level reduction shift caused by the drive curve, so your monitors stay consistent as you accurately evaluate the knob. You're reacting to tone, without being misled by the resulting increase in average signal amplitude.

Dynamic Bias Processing

A proprietary designed, program dependent biasing control stage that runs ahead of the clipping engine. It watches out for your kick and bass relationship with intelligent detection; figures out when material threatens to exceed the converter’s optimal operating range. The engine then applies processing and distortion reduction to that specificied area of spectrum, ensuring intermodulation distortion is minimized without altering the source's natural punch envelope. Making the punch remain apparent while the distortion doesn't.

The engine is configured to be active and dynamicly reactive to material, that's coming through; whether it's transient heavy, or a sustained bass note, or a decaying tail and reacts accordingly. Set Attack to where the knock feels right and Release to how fast you want the biasing to recover.

The Intensity scales the absolute depth of the Dynamic Bias up or down. Set it and forget it, or ride it to taste.

Internal Bias Control

Unlike an ordinary low shelf; this filter operates as a mastering grade Automated Pre-Emphasis / Post-Emphasis network. The Low Shelf Bias attenuates the low-frequency shelf prior to converter stage and automatically applies a reciprocal gain in perfect equilibrium.

The network uses a non-standard implementation of a highly precise Topology-Preserving Transform (TPT) architecture; Using negative values pulls the lows back to tighten the overall response and preserve critical headroom , minimizing low-frequency intermodulation distortion while maintaining absolute equilibrium of the overall linear transfer function. Conversely, applying positive values pushes more low end weight directly into the saturation stage, generating rich bloom and harmonic density.

Converter Emulation & Word Length Reduction

While we believe that the ideal converter should be a "perfect wire" that brings about no change to the signal. Our philosophy to data driven emulation means that we pay attention to the minutia of unintentional mathematical errors and non linearities that occur due to real life limitations and degradations in environmental conditions. So we give you the option to toggle those back on to taste.

Circuit Artifacts is an optional toggle to emulate the harmonics caused by precisely modelled mathematical time errors (jitter), noise and internal component drift artifacts that could be essential to the tone of the hardware converter

SAR Mode switch bypasses modern delta sigma linearity to emulate the Differential Non Linearity (DNL) of early Successive Approximation Register converters. Rather than "texture," this mode accurately models the transfer function errors of hardware, introducing odd order harmonic distortions (turning low level tones into square waves) and signal dependent noise modulation. Subtle at full bit depth, more pronounced as you reduce word length.

Bit depth runs from full Digital 32 bit resolution down to Internal Hardware word lengths such as 20, 21, 22 and 24. A straightforward truncation to shorter word lengths severely deteriorates fine musical detail. The ABC section prevents this. HPDF (Highpass Probability Density Function) or Flat Dither mathematically eliminates truncation distortions and noise modulation. Paired with NS1 through NS5 noise shaping reshapes the frequency content of the quantization errors, shifting quantization noise away from the frequencies you're most sensitive to.

Alias Shaping & DC Suppression

A high order master low pass filter operates during the oversampling and downsampling process to mathematically suppress ultrasonic energy before it can fold back into the audio band as aliasing. Choose Chebyshev for steep, aggressive attenuation of out of band frequencies or Butterworth for a perfectly cleaner, flat amplitude response across the passband. The cutoff and transition width knobs let you tune it to your material.

IIR is zero latency, and is recommended for use in tracking, real time work, or general mixing sessions. FIR is linear phase for maximum transparency in the high end, and is recommended for mastering and critical applications or situations where phase coherence is paramount; latency is reported to the DAW and compensated automatically.

DC removal strips the slow subsonic offset that asymmetric saturation can accumulate. Even a fraction of an LSB of DC offset alters the distortion structure of the signal; So we recommend that you keep it on during any serious clipping session, protecting both peak headroom and speakers.

Stereo Unlinking Divergence

When two channels clip identically, the generated harmonic distortions are phase locked (correlated by dual mono); which collapses and narrows perceived width of the sound imaging field. Sima breaks that lock by applying a calibrated frequency dependent divergence between the left and right channels, everywhere except the low end.

0% Keeps Stereo Unchanged: Absolute mathematical phase coherence. 100% Introduces a minimal calibrated frequency dependent phase non linearity. 200% Maximized phase divergence and harmonic decorrelation as seen in the analogous to the component tolerance deviations found in discrete dual channel analog hardware.

Crucially, Low frequencies stay phase coherent and intelligently maintained across all settings, guaranteeing absolute mono compatibility and minimizing low end phase cancellations.

Workflow & Controls

DELTA ∆
Hear only what Sima is adding. Subtracts the dry input from the processed output pure saturation, harmonic density, and dynamic shaping with the original signal removed. The fastest way to know if your drive is working or just distorting.
INTERLINK + ∆
Character Delta Mode. Engage Interlink and Delta at the same time to activate 'Character Delta' mode, which perfectly isolates the pure harmonic distortion. This let's you hear ONLY the pure harmonic saturation, and noise shaping character without volume delta applied to the original signal.
INTERLINK
Honest A/B at any drive level. Locks Input, Saturation, and Output together so pushing the drive doesn't make it louder on your monitors. The output knob's offset tells you exactly how much loudness the converter stage is generating. Click to re-anchor at any point.
SHIFT+DRAG
Audition any stage in isolation. Hold Shift while adjusting the Bias shelf knobs, filter knobs, dynamic bias envelope knobs, or DC Cut only that stage's signal reaches your monitors. Release to return to the full chain.
SHIFT+DRAG
Fine control on the Input and Output Gain knobs. Slows the drag resolution down for precise level calibration.
ALT/OPT
Snap to detents. On the Bias Lift knob: integer dB steps. On Stereo Unlink: snaps to 0%, 50%, 100%, and 200% between the meaningful calibration points.
RIGHT CLICK
Precise input. View additional info and type in precise value for any of the parameters.
Bob Katz
What is happening to me???!!!! Sima has turned my whole world upside down! An audio technique which goes against my past principles has replaced an audio technique that I’d been using for 50 years! I tend to work with purist and acoustic-oriented music, so I don’t need another loudness-maker.
Honestly, Sima makes my masters sound better even at the same loudness as before. Is this smoke and mirrors? What is their magic and how do they do clipping better than any other device or plugin in the audio pantheon? Inquiring minds want to know.

Bob Katz

MASTERING ENGINEER @ DIGITAL DOMAIN || Orlando, Florida

BOB MACC
Finally, a clipper I actually like the sound of. Sima is obviously great for mastering, with features that provide a ton of control. But you can take it way beyond plain old clipping too if you want, and it always sounds pleasant. A real achievement.
I feckin love this thing.

BOB MACC

MASTERING ENGINEER @ SUBVERT CENTRAL || Essex, England

OF THE TREES
so THIS is also what gets me excited about yalls plugin because it allows me to add some extra sauce without complicating my usual approach. best clipper I've ever used.

OF THE TREES

TYLER COOMBS | BASS MUSIC DJ / PRODUCER || Denver, Colorado

Emiliano Caballero
emilianocaballero Today at 7:11 PM
SIMA is an excellent clipper plugin that delivers outstanding sound quality, great flexibility in tonal balance, and a surprisingly wide and natural 3D stereo image. It’s quickly become one of my favorite tools — highly recommended!

Emiliano Caballero

Mix Engineer / FOUNDER @ LEAPWING AUDIO || Los Angeles, California

Jack "antithesis" (fka Ternion Sound)
aиtithesis Today at 1:40 PM
I've been using Sima on a variety of materials and finding that it's quickly become my favourite clipping and saturation device. Everything from more subtle mastering use cases, to drum bus smashing, to sound designing crunchy 808s, gets a unique treatment and tone from Sima. Very happy to see something like this come to existence!

Jack "antithesis" (fka Ternion Sound)

Bass music DJ / Producer || Minneapolis, Minnesota

Thomas "Plec" Johansson
plecmastering Today at 4:12 PM
Finally, I can eat the cake and have it too. I A/B'd this against my original hardware and honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing. Nothing else on the market comes close. Matt nailed it, and then some, exactly what you'd expect from a mastering engineer with his level of attention to detail.

Thomas "Plec" Johansson

Mastering Engineer @ Studio Bohus || Gothenburg, Sweden

BUKEZ FINEZT
I'm a clipper guy. I love clippers and honestly thought I already had more than enough. At least until Matt Davis gave me a copy of SIMA.
From that day on, SIMA became a staple in my workflow as a bassmusic producer. It found its way into my own productions, my coaching sessions, my Twitch streams, and pretty much anywhere I could use it. Whether on the drum bus or, especially, on the master bus, SIMA quickly became my go to clipper for the final touches.
These days, I honestly couldn't imagine my music without it

BUKEZ FINEZT

BASS MUSIC DJ / PRODUCER || Berlin, Germany

Jack Haigh | THE GREYS
I don't think I've done one master in the past month without it

Jack Haigh | THE GREYS

MASTERING ENGINEER @ GREY MASTERING || UK || INDIA

Alexander Hume
humeaudio Today at 9:15 PM
In a world overpopulated by ‘analog-modeling’ plugins that completely miss the mark, Sima allows me to confidently & consistently achieve a level of brilliance and loudness that was previously much more time-consuming, finicky & difficult to achieve in the box. Not only does it work great for mastering, it also sounds awesome on individual sounds and grouped stems.

Alexander Hume

Mastering Engineer @ Hume Audio || Seattle, USA

Alexander QwentyZ
As a versatile music producer, I typically aim to create different combinations of sounds. My core requirements are to maintain a clear, clean sound with minimal transient distortion and no interference with the soundstage. Sima, the first mastering converter plugin developed by the Hacienda team, perfectly meets my wide range of needs and standards. I’ll integrate it into my long-term workflow to support even more of my experiments.

Alexander QwentyZ

COMPOSER / PRODUCER @ QWENTYZ || Shanghai, China

RUSLAN SLATIN
@SLATINIZE Today at 10:11 PM
Sima was one of the missing pieces in my arsenal. The 3D and width it provides feel damn near impossible to find anywhere else in the box. The insane level of micro-detail controls it offers feels like a mastering engineer's wet dream.

RUSLAN SLATIN

MASTERING ENGINEER @ SLATIN PRO || Madrid, SPAIN

Ben Encanti [ZEBBLER ENCANTI EXPERIENCE]
Sima is so much more than a plugin. It brings a life and clarity to the loudness war that people chase their whole lives to achieve by any other means. I’ve never heard anything quite like it. It’s a permanent addition to my mixing workflow

Ben Encanti [ZEBBLER ENCANTI EXPERIENCE]

ARTIST / EDUCATOR / FOUNDER @ DATAMIND AUDIO || Barcelona, Spain

Ian Stewart
Sima has become an integral part of my mastering chain, providing not only level, but more interestingly tone and dimensionality.

Ian Stewart

MASTERING ENGINEER @ FLOWTOWN MASTERING || Boston, Massachusetts

Brice Deloose
@incidence.studio Yesterday at 9:20 pm
Calling Sima a clipper is reductive. For me, it is a tool for shaping density, articulation, low-end behavior, and loudness with intention, the kind of processor that changes how you think about clipping.

Brice Deloose

Mastering Engineer @ INCIDENCE STUDIO || BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

LAB_SPECIFICATIONS // HACI001SIMA

Technical Architecture

macOS
Windows
ID_CORE
TYPE: DATA_MODELLED_DSP
BIT_DEPTH: 64-BIT INTRNL // 20-32 BIT OUT
SAMPLE_RATE: HOST_DEPENDENT // ANY
ID_SYNC
LATENCY: 0.00ms + ADAPTIVE
OVERSAMPLING: 2X_LINEAR_PHASE + IIR
CHANNEL SUPPORT: Stereo
ID_COMPATIBILITY
MAC_OS: APPLE SILICON M1+ & x86 METAL / INTEL
WINDOWS: WIN 7+ // ARM [coming soon]
FORMATS: AAX (OSX Only) // VST3 // AU
AUTH: KEY BASED_LICENSING
ONLINE REQUIRED FOR LOGIN
ID_DAW_SUPPORT
SUPPORTED HOSTS: ABLETON // BITWIG // STUDIO ONE // REAPER // PRO TOOLS [OSX ONLY, WIN SUPPORT COMING SOON] // LOGIC PRO // SEQUOIA // CUBASE // NUENDO // FL STUDIO
Perpetual

Perpetual License

$150.00 USD Introductory Pricing
  • Full lifetime access to SIMA
  • All future v1.x updates included
  • Included Factory Presets
RENT TO

RENT TO OWN

$12.50 USD PER MONTH / FOR 12 months
  • Pause or cancel anytime
  • Own it forever after 12 payments
  • Zero interest, no hidden fees
  • Instant access to full features

Support & License Management

Please use the form below for technical support, license inquiries, or general questions.