The Cheapest Way to Buy FabFilter Plugins

How to buy FabFilter plugins with up to 70% discount

FabFilter have an extensive range of plugin effects. They are well regarded and enjoy strong reviews, including our 5 star review of FabFilter Pro Q3. But they are expensive. Many cost $199, and the FabFilter Total bundle nearly $1000. So what are the best options to get your hands on those expensive plugins for the lowest possible price? And legally - without downloading a cracked version?

TLDR: The quickest way to buy FabFilter at the cheapest price

• ‍Are you a student? Then buy FabFilter for 50% off.‍
• Are you comfortable buying second hand? Then you can buy FabFilter second-hand for typically 50% off, and transfer the license to you.
• ‍‍Can you find FabFilter cheaper at the cheapest official retailer in your country? We found you can buy FabFilter at the cheapest official reseller to save up to 25%.

Step by Step guide to buying any FabFilter plugin at the lowest price

We researched all options we could find, and listed them in order. To help guide you to the best option for Fab Filter plugins, just follow the decision tree.

Step 1 Trial Version: Try FabFilter plugins for free for 60 days

Do you fancy free, unlimited use of any and all FabFilter plugins for up to 60 days?

Then check out our free Fab Filter trial guide, how to not only get the standard 30 days, but also how to request a 30 day extension.

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FREE Auto-Tune: Our Ultimate Guide to 8 Free Auto-Tune Plugins

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Step 2 Personal Offer: Save up to 70% on additional plugins

Do you own any Fab Filter plugins already?‍

Then you can save between 14% and 60% on your next FabFilter plugin using your personal discount offer from Fab Filter, increasing to 70% during a sale.

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Step 3 Student Version: Students and teachers save 50%

Are you a student or teacher?

‍Then use the education discount to save 50% on FabFilter plugins.

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Step 4 Second-Hand: Buy FabFilter "used" to save around 50%

‍Are you comfortable buying a license from someone else?‍

Then buy a used license and get it officially transferred, to save typically 50%.

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Step 5 Sale: Get 30% off all plugins and bundles until 1 May 2024*

Is there currently a FabFilter sale on?

Yes. FabFilter have a 30% off sale from 22 April until 1 May 2024*, celebrating their 20 year anniversary. When you buy from Plugin Boutique*, you will pay the same price as buying from FabFilter directly, but also get a free plugin on top (Audified U78 Saturator or Excite Audio VISION 4X Lite*)

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When will the next FabFilter sale be?

We predict the next sale to be Summer 2024, offering 25% off.

Why? We researched all FabFilter sale events in the last 5 years to work out likely future FabFilter sales dates and discounts.

To get notified of future discounts and sales, why not sign up to the musicmanta newsletter.

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Step 6 Cheapest Retailer: Save up to 25% all year by buying from official Fab Filter retailers (instead of the Fab Filter Shop)

Are you OK to do some research on the cheapest reseller?‍

Well, we have done the hard work for you and regularly compare FabFilter prices across 10 top retailers. Our research revealed that you can save up to 25% all year, compared to the FabFilter Shop.‍

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Step 7 Referral Coupon: Get a 10% FabFilter coupon

Can't do any of the above, and still want a 10% discount you can use at any time?‍

Then request a referral coupon code from musicmanta for 10% off at any time for anyone to redeem in the FabFilter shop.

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Don't want to miss the latest Fab Filter deals? Sign up to the musicmanta newsletter and we will send you a free 130 MB sample pack, the latest deals, plus exclusive competitions, latest news and reviews, and much more.

1. FabFilter Trial: up to 60 days for free

Before any potential purchase, we recommend you try any software first. But not every manufacturer offers this. Native Instruments, for example, does not offer trials of their plugins. And others limit functionality severely, such as intermittent white noise.

The company however offers a generous 30 days fully functional trial of all its products, including the Total bundle. Just head to the download page and install the plugins.

At the time of writing during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can get a free 30 day extension for all plugins, extending the trial to 60 days in total.

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Do you fancy owning Output plugins for up to 69% off? How about trying Output Arcade for free for 100 days? Then read our brand new guide on cheapest ways to buy Output.

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2. Personal Offers: up to 70% discount

50% off updates to FabFilter plugins you own

For major updates, such as FabFilter Pro Q 2 to Pro Q 3, or Timeless 2 to Timeless 3, a 50% discount applies. Log into your account to see the offer.

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Up to 60% off for additional plugins you buy

Once you have bought your first FabFilter plugin, you are eligible to a personalised discount between 14% and 60%, which increases with every incremental purchase:

1. The first discount depends on you - whether you buy at full price or at a sales discount from FabFilter, or another retailer. From the 2nd purchase onward, the following FabFilter personal discounts apply:
2. 14%
3. 40%
4. 45%
5. 50%
6. 55%
7. 60% - from 7th purchase onwards, a 60% discount applies

FabFilter orders the plugins from most expensive to cheapest, but you can select any combination for the best discount for you. Just log into your account to find out your personal discount offers.

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Up to 70% off during FabFilter sales (during Black Friday and Summer Sale)

You can double up your personalised discount for existing users during Sales for even bigger savings. When FabFilter offers at 25% discount, your personalised discounts increase as follows:

• 2nd plugin: 35.5% off (was 14%)
• 3rd plugin: 55% off (was 40%)
• 4th plugin: 58.75% off (was 45%)
• 5th plugin: 62.5% off (was 50%)
• 6th plugin: 66.25% off (was 55%)
• 7th plugin onwards: 70% off (was 60%)

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Check out the musicmanta In-Depth Review of FabFilter Pro Q 3, with pros and cons, practical examples, alternatives, meta reviews, artist users, and much more.

3. Educational and Student Discount: 50% off

FabFilter offers a 50% student discount/education discount on all its products - indivdual plugins and bundles.

How can I get a student discount from FabFilter?

• Scan your educational proof document (such as a student card or enrolment letter).
• Complete the application form, attach your document and submit the form.
• The company will assess your application and, if granted, create a FabFilter account marked Educational for you.
• If you log in to that account, your prices in the shop will show the 50% discount.

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What restrictions apply to FabFilter plugins bought with a student/education discount?

• The discount will apply for one year, but you can extend this by submitting a new document.
• There are no restrictions on the number of plugins you can buy at a discount. There is nothing stopping you from buying the FabFilter Total bundle of all plugins at half price.
• There are no restrictions on creating commercial music, and you don't have to upgrade to a full license once you have left education.
• Licenses will be Not For Resale (NFR), preventing you from selling the plugins by license transfer.

Our musicmanta Ultimate Guide to Student Discounts lists top brands offering up to 66% discounts, including AVID Protools, Ableton Live, Native Instruments Reaktor, FL Studio, Antares Auto-Tune and many more

4. "Used" FabFilter plugins via License Transfer: typically 50% discount

FabFilter allows license transfers, thereby enabling the selling and buying of "used" or second-hand plugins:

• The seller must initiate the license transfer from their account to the buyer via email, and pay a £9 license transfer fee.
• The license is then automatically transferred to the new owner's account (if he or she already has one) or will receive an email to set one up.

You can find offers to sell and transfer FabFilter licenses on forums such as KVR, VI Control, or Sound on Sound. Prices vary, but I have noticed offers at around 50% discount. Make sure you check the seller's credentials before you part with your money, and ensure the buyer pays for the license transfer fee, which is essential for the legitimate transfer via their account.

You could also try out knobcloud, a website that facilitates the buying and selling of plugin licenses. I discovered this website thanks to an email from a reader. knobcloud is a marketplace where sellers can list their licenses for sale, and buyers can purchase them using PayPal. knobcloud does not change a fee for the service, but the seller is still accountable for the accurate description and smooth transfer of licenses. That means the vigilance I advised above still applies.

I have not used knobcloud myself, but it looks like an appealing concept, saving some effort to trawl through forums. Reviews on KVR generally report a positive experience from both buyers and sellers, but prices seem a bit more expensive than less what sellers ask for on KVR, VI Control, or Sound on Sound. For example, I noted that FabFilter Pro Q 3 was offered for sale at €115, about a 22% discount off the usual €149 price.

5. FabFilter Sales: Get 30% off all plugins and bundles until 1 May 2024

Is there currently a FabFilter sale on?

Yes. FabFilter have a 30% off sale from 22 April until 1 May 2024*, celebrating their 20 year anniversary. When you buy from Plugin Boutique*, you will pay the same price as buying from FabFilter directly, but also get a free plugin on top (Audified U78 Saturator or Excite Audio VISION 4X Lite*)

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When will the next FabFilter sale be?

We predict the next sale to be Summer 2024, offering 25% off.

Why? We researched all FabFilter sale events in the last 5 years to work out likely future FabFilter sales dates and discounts.

To get notified of future discounts and sales, why not sign up to the musicmanta newsletter.

Will there be a FabFilter Black Friday sale in 2024?

We predict that FabFilter plugins and bundles will be reduced by 25% during FabFilter Black Friday 2024. Black Friday 2024 will start 29 November 2023, and we expect Fab Filter to start their annual promotion on Monday 25 November 2024, and continue for 7 days until Monday 2 Dec 2024.

What discounts has FabFilter offered in the past?

FabFilter have offered a 25% discount on all their plugins during one of their sale periods in the past. How much can you save? For example, when the FabFilter Pro Q 3 Sale is live, you can buy their most popular EQ plugin for 25% off, reducing the price from $179 down to $134.

In recent years, the company has run two main sales periods: Summer Sale for 2 weeks in July or August, and Black Friday Sale, usually starting from the Monday before Black Friday, and lasting for 7 days.

• Black Friday 2018 (22 to 26 November 2018): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Summer Sale 2019 (15 August to 1 September 2019): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2019 (30 November to 2 December 2019): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Summer Sale 2020 (15 August to 1 September 2020): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2020 (26 to 30 November 2020): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Summer Sale 2021 (12 July to 1 August 2021): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2021 (25 to 29 November 2021): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Holiday Sale 2021 (15 December 2021 to 1 January 2022): 25% off all bundles (only on the FabFilter website).
• Summer Sale 2022 (11 July to 1 August 2022): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2022 (21 to 28 November 2022): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Holiday Sale 2022 (15 December 2022 to 1 January 2023): 25% off all bundles (only on the FabFilter website and Sweetwater).
• Summer Sale 2023 (16 June to 1 July 2022): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2023 (20 to 27 November 2022): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Holiday Sale 2023 (18 December 2023 to 1 January 2024): 25% off all bundles (only on the FabFilter website and Sweetwater).
• 20 Year Anniversary Sale (22 April to 1 May 2024): 30% off all plugins and bundles.

Do you already own any FabFilter plugins?

A FabFilter sale is a great way to add to your collection. Why? You can double up any FabFilter sales discount with the Existing User discount for even bigger savings - saving up to 70%.

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Check out our guide of Black Friday 2023, which includes our research on Black Friday deals for the most popular VST plugin and DAW brands, such as Ableton, Protools, Auto-Tune, iZotope, Soundtoys, and Arturia.

6. Cheapest FabFilter Retailer: up to 25% discount

Some retailers choose to sell FabFilter plugins at a lower price than the FabFilter shop. We have done the hard work for you, comparing prices of all main retailers for years now, and regularly updating prices.

In our own research, we compare prices across the following retailers:

• FabFilter
• Pluginfox*
• Plugin Boutique*
• KVR
• SOS Music Tools
• Sweetwater
• Guitar Center
• Reverb*
• Plugin Discounts
• Gear4Music*
• zZounds*
• ADSR Sounds*

Most retailers matched the MRSP (Manufacturer Recommended Retail Price) that Fab Filter charges on their own website. The few that choose to undercut MRSPs were:

1) Gear4Music*: up to 25% off

Gear4Music is a UK based music retailer and one of the largest in Europe*. The company enjoys strong ratings and reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5, based on over 100,000 reviews.

The company is public, and you can buy shares on the London Stock Exchange. The company sells into many international markets, including the United States. You can buy in many local currencies, including US dollars. The great news is that Gear4Music sells FabFilter products at a significant discount all year round.

(Prices last checked: 17 December 2023)

Individual FabFilter plugins are up to 25% off:

• FabFilter Pro R 2 reverb: $151.50 (10% off $169)*
• FabFilter Pro L 2 limiter: $156.75 (7% off $169)*
• FabFilter Pro MB multi band compressor and expander: $156.75 (10% off $169)*
• FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ: $126.50 (25% off $169)*
• FabFilter Pro C 2 compressor: $146.00 (14% off $169)*
• FabFilter Pro DS de-esser: $146.00 (14% off $169)*
• FabFilter Pro G gate/expander: $146.00 (14% off $169)*
• FabFilter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation: $118.75 (8% off $129)*
• FabFilter Twin 3 synthesizer: $118.75 (8% off $129)*
• FabFilter Timeless 3 tape delay: $118.75 (8% off $129)*
• FabFilter Volcano 3 filter: $107.75 (16% off $129)*
• FabFilter One synthesizer: $42.50 (13% off $49)*
• FabFilter Simplon filter: $42.50 (13% off $49)*
• FabFilter Micro filter: $27.25 (6% off $29)*

FabFilter bundles are up to 12% off:

• FabFilter Total bundle: $827 (8% off $899)*
• FabFilter Mastering bundle: $408 (7% off $439)*
• FabFilter Essentials bundle: $325.00 (9% off $359)*
• FabFilter Pro bundle: $609.00 (8% off $659)*
• FabFilter FX bundle: $729.00 (9% off $799)*
• FabFilter Mixing bundle: $543 (12% off $619)*
• FabFilter Creative bundle: $304 (10% off $339)*

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2) Plugindiscounts: up to 13% off

This retailer is cloaked in secrecy, and only reveals prices once you register and log in. To start with, they claim to be "the world's largest plugin superstore".

We have no contact or experience with the company, so cannot vouch for its legitimacy. We contacted them to answer a few questions, and if they are willing to be interviewed. We emailed them in March 2022 and have not heard back. So we are keen to hear from anyone who has bought from them.

When we did some research, the experiences that people posted in forums were generally positive. But we could only find a few posts from 2016 to 2020:

• Gearspace (2020): "Plugindiscounts.com still alive?"
• ‍VI Control (2019): "Plugindiscounts....has anyone purchased anything via here?‍
• Sound on Sound (2016): "Plugindiscounts.com - reliable, safe to do business with?"
  

When we registered and logged in, we saw decent discounts of up to 12% on FabFilter plugins (30th July 2022):

• FabFilter Pro R reverb: $174.79 (12% off $199)
• FabFilter Pro L 2 limiter: $174.79 (12% off $199)
• FabFilter Pro MB multi band compressor and expander: $174.79 (12% off $199)
• FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ: $154.99 (13% off $169)
• FabFilter Pro C 2 compressor: $156.79 (12% off $169)
• FabFilter Pro DS de-esser: $156.79 (12% off $169)
• FabFilter Pro G gate/expander: $156.79 (12% off $169)
• FabFilter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation: $137.97 (10% off $129)
• FabFilter Twin 2 synthesizer: $140.79 (9% off $129)
• FabFilter Timeless 3 tape delay: $115.79 (10% off $129)
• FabFilter Volcano 3 filter: $115.79 (10% off $129)
• FabFilter One synthesizer: $59 (no discount)
• FabFilter Simplon filter: $59 (no discount)
• FabFilter Micro filter: $33.81 (no discount)

Plugindiscounts.com offered similar discounts on FabFilter bundles:

• FabFilter Total bundle: $869 (13% off $999)
• FabFilter Essentials bundle: $352.99 (12% off $399)
• FabFilter Mastering bundle: $447.99 (10% off $499)
• FabFilter Pro bundle: $647.00 (12% off $739)
• FabFilter FX bundle: $787.00 (12% off $899)
• FabFilter Mixing bundle: $589.00 (13% off $679)
• FabFilter Creative bundle: $339 (10% off $379)

Do you fancy owning high class Output plugins for up to 69% off? How about trying Output Arcade for free for 100 days? Then read our brand new guide on cheapest ways to buy Output.

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7. FabFilter Referral Code/ Coupon: 10% discount

What if you don't want to wait and do not qualify for education discounts? You can still receive a 10% discount at any time via a referral. If you would like a 10% referral discount code/ coupon code, simply send a message to musicmanta with* "FabFilter Discount" in the title, and we will send back a personal discount code to you.

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What are the limitations for the 10% FabFilter referral code?

• Existing FabFilter customers cannot use it - but use the much better Existing Customer Discount instead.
• You can only use one referral code per account/email. That means if you have already been invited on your email, you cannot again use another referral code. However, you can open a new account with a new email address.
• The referral code has a 2 month expiry.
• You cannot use the referral code during a sale, or combine it with the educational discount.

Keen on buying FL Studio with up to 50% off? Then find out the cheapest ways to buy FL Studio, one of the most popular musicmanta articles.

Buying FabFilter: Questions and Answers

Does FabFilter ever go on sale? When does FabFilter go on sale next?

We predict that Fab Filter will run their next sale in Summer 2024, with 25% off bundles. Why? In the last 5 years, FabFilter has always offered 25% off all bundles in the summer.

If you sign up to the musicmanta newsletter, we will let you know of future sales.

Does FabFilter offer a student discount or educational discount for students and teachers?

Yes. You can apply for an educational discount of 50% on all FabFilter plugins by completing a form.

What is Fab Filter?

Fab Filter, a brand generally spelled together "FabFilter", is a software company that creates audio plugins. The company was founded in the Netherlands, and is used by many famous musicians, such as Disclosure, Flux Pavillion, Hardwell and Sigala. Fab Filter is best known for their Fab Filter Pro Q 3 EQ plugin, Fab Filter Pro L 2 limiter plugin, and Fab Filter Pro R 2 reverb.

When can I get a deal on FabFilter? When does FabFilter have sales?

We predict that Fab Filter will run their next sale in Summer 2024, with 25% off bundles. Why? In the last 5 years, FabFilter has always offered 25% off all bundles in the summer.

If you sign up to the musicmanta newsletter, we will let you know of future sales.

Does FabFilter have Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales?

Yes, our research showed that FabFilter offered 25% off plugins and bundles during Black Friday every year from 2018 to 2023. Black Friday 2024 will start 29 November 2023, and we expect Fab Filter to start their annual promotion on Monday 25 November 2024, and continue for 7 days until Monday 2 Dec 2024.

‍Sign up to the musicmanta newsletter to get notified when the next sale takes place.

Is FabFilter the best EQ?

Well, the honest answer is "it depends". There is no doubt that FabFilter Pro Q 3 is a high quality EQ VST plugin. If you want to know why, read our Pro Q 3 in-depth review. We awarded Pro Q 3 5 stars.

But if you are a beginner, or short of money, I would not recommend you invest $179 into Pro Q 3*. Or if you want to add more character to your sounds, there are other EQ plugins I would recommend first, such as Maag EQ.

What plugins does Fab Filter offer?

• Fab Filter Pro R 2 reverb
• Fab Filter Pro L 2 limiter
• Fab Filter Pro MB multi band compressor and expander
• Fab Filter Pro Q 3 EQ
• Fab Filter Pro C 2 compressor
• Fab Filter Pro DS de-esser
• Fab Filter Pro G gate/expander
• Fab Filter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation
• Fab Filter Twin 3 synthesizer
• Fab Filter Timeless 3 tape delay
• Fab Filter Volcano 3 filter
• Fab Filter One synthesizer
• Fab Filter Simplon filter
• Fab Filter Micro filter

What are the best FabFilter plugins?

Here are our top 5 FabFilter plugins:

1. FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ: the industry standard EQ plugin
2. FabFilter Pro L 2 limiter: adds loudness while adding few artefacts
3. FabFilter Pro R 2 reverb: from subtle to spacious, this reverb has it all
4. FabFilter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation: nuanced warmth when you need it
5. FabFilter Simplon filter: the easiest to use filter

What products are included in the FabFilter bundles?

The FabFilter Total bundle includes all their plugins:

1. FabFilter Pro R 2 reverb
2. FabFilter Pro L 2 limiter
3. FabFilter Pro MB multi band compressor and expander
4. FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ
5. FabFilter Pro C 2 compressor
6. FabFilter Pro DS de-esser
7. FabFilter Pro G gate/expander
8. FabFilter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation
9. FabFilter Twin 3 synthesizer
10. FabFilter Timeless 3 tape delay
11. FabFilter Volcano 3 filter
12. FabFilter One synthesizer
13. FabFilter Simplon filter
14. FabFilter Micro filter

The FabFilter FX bundle includes:

1. FabFilter Pro R 2 reverb
2. FabFilter Pro L 2 limiter
3. FabFilter Pro MB multi band compressor and expander
4. FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ
5. FabFilter Pro C 2 compressor
6. FabFilter Pro DS de-esser
7. FabFilter Pro G gate/expander
8. FabFilter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation
9. FabFilter Timeless 3 tape delay
10. FabFilter Volcano 3 filter

The FabFilter Pro bundle includes:

1. FabFilter Pro R 2 reverb
2. FabFilter Pro L 2 limiter
3. FabFilter Pro MB multi band compressor and expander
4. FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ
5. FabFilter Pro C 2 compressor
6. FabFilter Pro DS de-esser
7. FabFilter Pro G gate/expander

The Mixing bundle includes:

1. FabFilter Pro R 2 reverb
2. FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ
3. FabFilter Pro C 2 compressor
4. FabFilter Pro DS de-esser
5. FabFilter Pro G gate/ expander
6. FabFilter Saturn 2 distortion/ saturation
7. FabFilter Timeless 3 tape delay

The Mastering bundle includes:

1. FabFilter Pro L 2 limiter
2. FabFilter Pro MB multi band compressor and expander
3. FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ
4. FabFilter Pro C 2 compressor

The Essentials bundle includes:

1. FabFilter Pro R 2 reverb
2. FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ
3. FabFilter Pro C 2 compressor

The Creative bundle includes all plugins:

1. FabFilter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation
2. FabFilter Twin 3 synthesizer
3. FabFilter Timeless 3 tape delay
4. FabFilter Volcano 3 filter

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Do you have a question not covered here, or found another way to buy FabFilter plugins at a discount? Help us help others by letting us know.