Cable Guys
ShaperBox 3 €99
If you like dynamic effects, you’ll love the latest version of this impressive multi-effects package
ShaperBox 3 (AU, VST, VST3, AAX) is the latest incarnation of CableGuys excellent multieffects package. The bundle includes their current key audio effects (normally €39 each) and at €99 is clearly an excellent deal. It includes one new effect (Liquid phaser/flanger) taking the total to nine, and also a separate Compressor module, so you have ten options in the chooser. As before, you’re limited to one instance of each effect, but effects can be re-ordered to taste.
Effect types now include noise, volume, time, drive, filter, phaser/flanger, crush, pan, width and compressor, and all are multiband (3-band) with band solo. The nine effects have highly customisable LFOs for each band, and some effects such as Liquid, Filter and Crush have more than one controllable parameter, each with their own set of LFOs. The LFOs are syncable to DAW playback, triggered via MIDI or triggered by audio. The result is amazingly dynamic effects and the more than 600 categorised presets give an excellent window on what’s possible. If you want our take on the existing effects, check out the Computer Music review of ShaperBox 2 ( 278) and also reviews of individual plugins added since, namely DriveShaper, CrushShaper and NoiseShaper.