ShaperBox 2

ShaperBox 2

ShaperBox 2 is a multi-effects plug-in from Cableguys for rhythmic, LFO-driven sound design. In each of its effect modules you draw a waveform, and that shape modulates volume, filter, panning, stereo width, time, distortion or noise in sync with the song tempo. ShaperBox 2 combined eight such effects in one plug-in; it has since been succeeded by ShaperBox 3, which adds new modules and is the version Cableguys sells and supports today.

ShaperBox 2 provides powerful creative control over rhythmic effects with intuitive, easy-to-use wave editing tools.

Features

• Several shaper effects in one plug-in: Time, Volume, Filter, Pan, Width, Noise, Crush and Drive
• ShaperBox 3 adds LiquidShaper (flanger and phaser), ReverbShaper and PitchShaper
• Drawable LFO waves with curved, stepped or ramped segments
• 3-band multiband processing for every effect
• Each band has its own LFO and envelope follower
• Tempo sync, MIDI triggering and audio triggering from transients
• Sidechain ducking with an external sidechain input in VolumeShaper
• High-resolution oscilloscope for precise editing
• Preset browser plus saving of your own presets
• Mid/side processing options for refining the stereo image
• VST2, VST3 and AAX plug-in formats on Windows (AU on Mac)
• 64-bit plug-in for Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11

Wave editor

All ShaperBox effects are controlled by drawn waves. You add points, bend the curves between them and choose the length of the pattern, from short rhythmic steps to slow sweeps over several bars, so the effect moves exactly as you want.

VolumeShaper

VolumeShaper creates sidechain-style ducking, gating and tremolo effects. It can follow an external sidechain signal, so a bassline can duck in time with the kick drum without a separate compressor.

TimeShaper

TimeShaper manipulates the playback time of the audio, which gives tape-stop, stutter, reverse and scratch-like effects that stay locked to the tempo of the track.

FilterShaper

FilterShaper moves the cutoff of a filter with the drawn wave, for classic rhythmic sweeps and wah-like patterns. In ShaperBox 3, LiquidShaper adds flanging and phasing that can be shaped the same way.

DriveShaper, CrushShaper and NoiseShaper

These modules add character: DriveShaper applies distortion, CrushShaper reduces bit depth and sample rate, and NoiseShaper layers noise textures, each with an amount that follows its own wave.

PanShaper and WidthShaper

PanShaper moves the sound across the stereo field, and WidthShaper changes the stereo width over time, which helps to make static parts feel more alive in the mix.

Multiband and triggering

Every effect can work on up to three frequency bands with separate settings, so you can, for example, pan only the highs or duck only the lows. Waves can run in sync with the host, restart from MIDI notes or be triggered by the transients of an audio signal.

Compatibility

ShaperBox works in all major digital audio workstations that support VST or AAX plug-ins on Windows, including Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Cubase, FL Studio, Studio One and REAPER. It is commercial software with a free trial, and owners of ShaperBox 2 can upgrade to ShaperBox 3.