Modulation Mayhem!

Cableguys are well known for their amazing modulation plugins and now they just released the 3rd version of their famous plugin - ShaperBox 3!

ShaperBox 3 is a modulation powerhouse that continues to have all the tools of the previous version but also adds a few more useful features to make it a one-stop shop for audio modulation and manipulation. So what is ShaperBox 3?

ShaperBox 3 is a multi-effects unit that comes with 9 different multiband effects and a compressor that you can use in any order you like. Each of the 9 multiband effects has an LFO that you can shape in numerous ways to set the timing of the effect. That means that you will actually draw the LFO shape that controls the effect, resulting in all sorts of modulations like fluid sweeps, angled lines, or stepped patterns.

In a nutshell, ShaperBox 3 is a plugin that creates movement and rhythm using some pretty straightforward effects like Filter, Drive, Flanger, etc. And I think that is what makes it so special. Using the LFOs adds so many rhythmic elements to a standard, plain sound.

LFOs, while being such a standard modulation source for synths, are not that common for plugins. You can work your way around it like for example within Ableton, you can use Max for Live’s LFOs to control anything you want. But the immediacy you get with ShaperBox 3 is amazing. And the combination of effects + modulations via LFO can get so deep and interesting.

The LFO waveforms are super-easy to edit and will get you much further than your standard LFO shapes. In ShaperBox, you can create any LFO shape you can imagine by drawing it!

A few brand new features that come in very handy:

Now you can trigger all 9 effects using any sound so that it follows a specific rhythm from your tracks.
Sidechain! That is a big one. You can now use an external sound like a Kick to create sidechain effects. And the best thing about ShaperBox 3, is that you are not just doing that for Volume control, but you can use it for any effect. So let’s say you want to add Drive or a Bitcrushafter your kicks. Now you can!
LiquidShaper: A brand new shaper that’s essentially a Flanger and Phaser
An enhanced browser with categories and more than 600 (!) presets! ShaperBox 3 is very deep and can get overwhelming sometimes. So using and tweaking some of the presets will definitely help you learn the plugin.

Conclusion

ShaperBox 3 is a very refreshing and fun plugin to use. It serves a very specific purpose in a unique way. The interface is vivid and very easy to navigate so you’ll very quickly understand how to use it and get deeper with it. And yes, it can get very deep as you keep adding effects but the effects are so profound you’ll always hear what you’re doing.

It is probably the easiest way I’ve come across to make boring lines interesting and exciting. And being in a all-in-one package saves a ton of time! You can get glitch and stutter sounds, subtle movements, or syncopated rhythms with a few cilicks and that’s where its power lies.

Buy it from Plugin Boutique