What is the difference between a Fabfilter plugin and a ToneBoosters plugin ?

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Samu

If one is using the iPhone the only option is ToneBoosters.

I admit I have all the FF and TB AUv3's and I find the FF stuff to be easier to tweak with a more polished UI...
...I have not done any specific sound quality tests but some how I prefer Pro-Q3 for EQ while I preferrer the TB Reverb over Pro-R...

Even though I just recently got Saturn 2 I somehow prefer the 'grit and crush' I get from AD Grind...

So I guess it all end up being very subjective and a matter of taste and budget.

richardyot

The main difference is the UI. In terms of sound quality Toneboosters are on a par with FabFilter.

Toneboosters are one of the best deals in the App Store.

As for FabFilter they’re also awesome and I’m delighted we get to use them on iOS for a fraction of the desktop price.

I bought all the apps by both developers (twice in the case of FF since I also own them in Auria) with no regrets.

Gavinski

I vastly prefer the interface of the FF ones, but the Toneboosters' ones sound great and are brilliant value.

auxmux

ToneBoosters are also lower on CPU, so they have that edge. It depends on use case. I have both / all. Saturn incoming.

iOSTRAKON

After using TB for a while and then finally switching to FF (Q3 and Pro-R) I notice a big difference on my end. FF is better sonically and visually. Cpu is higher but well worth it. Not putting TB down at all but I might be retiring them if I hit the purchase button on the bundle.

Jocphone

It really depends how much you want to spend.

The UI is by no means bad on the ToneBoosters apps at all. In fact it is a lot better than many other UIs on other apps I own.

I think it unlikely that either set would hold you back. Some may prefer one over another but they are all great and flexible effects at a bargain price.

Mostly I own the ToneBoosters AUs but am eyeing up Saturn 2 as that seems unique to FabFilter.

jacou

I admittedly went straight for Fabfilter as the price compared to their desktop plugins is very low and I always loved their desktop plugins (I still remember that feeling to use Pro-Q1 for the first time back in 2012 or something. Pure dopamine.). So it’s pure bias.
Now I don’t really feel the necessity to buy the ToneBoosters stuff as it looks quite similar.
Even though I’d love to have FF plugs on my iPhone...

AudioGus

I have and love all the FF. I have a few of the TB, reverb in particular seems to have some modulation features not in FFR but the thing that compels me to still get TB EQ and Barricade is that I can afford the desktop versions and it would be nice to learn them on iOS if and when I go back to desktop for final mixing.

Lil_Stu07

There is some overlap with a few of the apps, and with those it's mostly preference. EQ, Compressor, Limiter. I will say that the reverbs are different, and FF has two distinct compressors for different use cases. One being a standard compressor and the other, a multi band compressor. But there are other outliers. I really enjoy the TB reverb for most things, but the FF gives you a lot of control over the reverb. With TB, they have Reelbus (Tape), DualVCF (Sweeping Filter), Enhancer (...), and Morphit (headphones correction). With FF, Pro-G (Gate), Pro-DS (De-esser), and now Saturn 2 (Massive, versatile saturation).

So, it really depends on what you want. There is some overlap, but they do have unique cases and it doesn't hurt to have both (I do 😁🤫). Plus, price, universal vs iPad only, UI, and cpu. With some FF presets and aggressive compression and eq, there's noticeable lag because it's working the system hard. Have yet to experience that with TB, but I also use them a lot gentler, and generally for different purposes.

Lil_Stu07

And with that being said, I generally will use FF EQ, MB compressor and Limiter, and use TB reverb (really great shimmer that has wet, dry and delay, Reelbus (great delay, echo, flanger, wow, flutter, noise, hiss, with some mastering and compression), and filter. Love these apps. If you use desktop at all, I liken Reelbus to RC-20 (though I've never actually used rc-20, just seems like the closest thing we have IMHO, strictly ios here).

NTKK

I tried to compare the compressors - and the fab opto setting was a favourite. Not sure it’s a fair comparison. It’s a matter of taste and what suits your track.
But they are pretty close in some areas.
Just get one of them and use them and learn what they do.
There wasnt really anything in the tb one that was not covered i n c2

Gavinski

Reelbus is a great app that does a lot, some overlap with Saturn but not everything, well worth getting. I must revisit the TB reverb, I usually use the FF one over it, should compare them more closely.

Lil_Stu07

@Gavinski said:
Reelbus is a great app that does a lot, some overlap with Saturn but not everything, well worth getting. I must revisit the TB reverb, I usually use the FF one over it, should compare them more closely.

Be a great time for some FF videos. 😉 No codes needed, just pure unadulterated info.

[Deleted User]

@Lil_Stu07 said:

@Gavinski said:
Reelbus is a great app that does a lot, some overlap with Saturn but not everything, well worth getting. I must revisit the TB reverb, I usually use the FF one over it, should compare them more closely.

Be a great time for some FF videos. 😉 No codes needed, just pure unadulterated info.

Plus this

😊

Gavinski

That’s true, have a few other things lined up, but let’s see!

tk32

I think FF are about 5% better than Toneboosters

...for roughly 300% the price

Most of that 5% is interface/interaction design (not sound quality)

mojozart

Saturn2 is in a class of its own, even among FF plugins.

Pro-C2 has more presets and more features than TB, but is iPad only and a Pencil is useful in order to use all the controls. Pro-C2 is also an instabuy after watching the Dan Worrall videos, so be warned:

https://www.fabfilter.com/video/

onerez

@tk32 said:
I think FF are about 5% better than Toneboosters

...for roughly 300% the price

Most of that 5% is interface/interaction design (not sound quality)

This!! I have both, cuz I am an Idiot.... but I dont see where that extra sound quality comes in on something that is in a mix.... and 80% of folks that listen to something it will be streaming and you might have headphones on or maybe just your phone or ipad speakers....

Except Saturn.... I do like that. :—)

mojozart

Given what my time is worth, a 5% improvement can quickly add up.

dreamrobe

What is the difference between a carrot and a cucumber?

noob

yep, but FF are industry standard and all that cht not gonna start Protools Reaper Lgic debate.. just chk youtube i promise , you will see Fabfilters all over the pro mixing channels.. its just the way it is..uknow..hype or not, its here to stay and they 1. look way better 2. Working long sessions on 2 platforms , np, same on my desktop, and im used to it 3. sounds better (imho) than anything (debatable) 4 not really expensive considering you will never buy another eq or limiter plugin again.
TB Morphit tho, i love this one, cant live without it

sigma79

For me ( Tone ) I see Toneboosters as boosting my wallet and or music production.

Fabfilter has the potential to filter out anything Fab or filter out the un-fab.

Simple.

Skyblazer

Regarding the reverbs, I think ToneBoosters has the most versatile, most neutral, general use reverb. And FabFilter has the most realistic reverb. Sometimes realistic isn't what you're going for; I like Bleass for that big EDM sound, for example. But if you want a reverb that pairs well with a grand piano sound, I'd recommend Pro-R. If you want to use one reverb on every song in an album for the sake of consistency, and having an identifiable sound that isn't all about big reverb, I'd go with ToneBoosters.

shinyisshiny

in my opinion FF stuff is greater sound quality than TB. Although i use FF stuff on desktop i bought TB eq and compressor at first, to save some bucks. After about a week of use, i was missing FF quality, and ended up buying them.

FF is pretty much industry standard on desktop.

Fingolfinzzz

I think someone proved FF was better and I’ll agree but TB is a very close second at least for me. I like TBs reverb more too and tend to use their stuff more because the low cpu usage. Nothing compares to Saturn though, that thing is wild

noob

yeah well, the “ industry standard” etiquette is worth jack shit. But its what it is, hype or not, just get the Fabs and follow the herd. baaaaah.
Fabfilters are boring cold surgery tools.. you can use TB but you will get FF.. all in the end. (applause, confetti, curtains)

DavidM

I might not be in the typical FF fan club but do appreciate their tools a lot.

That said, when comparing FF and TB, I do appreciate Toneboosters cleaner and more minimalistic UIs, compared to the somewhat dated FF UIs with heavy use of gradients. Also, some of the TB tools have functionality not present in FF (for example, non-linear filters in the EQ, ducking, gating and shimmer in the reverb, and alike).

Häxanäx

About $20-$40.

noob

T oo B ee or not TB..

PeteSasqwax

@Samu said:
If one is using the iPhone the only option is ToneBoosters.

This is why I'll end up completing my TB collection at some point despite having just bought the FF bundle.