One key element that distinguishes amateur tracks from professional ones, especially in club music, is the amount of movement a track has. There are many ways to achieve this, like layering synths with complementary envelopes or adding sidechain compression to make elements interact in interesting ways. However, with traditional methods, something often seems to be missing.

ShaperBox by Cableguys isn’t a new tool, but I’ve been using it extensively over the past few months and feel ready to write an in-depth review. While there’s a ton I could praise about this plugin, I’ll focus on some of my favorite features. I’ll also share a few hesitations when I first installed it and include insights from other professionals. Specifically, I’ll discuss how some professional musicians have used ShaperBox 3 in their music, with audio references to tracks where it’s been used.

Before we discuss all that and get to the main details of this ShaperBox 3 review, let’s first explain what this plugin is all about.

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What Is Shaperbox 3?

ShaperBox 3 by Cableguys is a versatile plugin that enhances modern mixes with various creative effects. It includes nine multiband effects, known as “Shapers,” which can be arranged to produce a wide array of sounds. Each Shaper is controlled by an editable LFO, allowing you to use preset waves or draw custom shapes for precise control over sweeps, steps, and rhythms. The LFO can be synced to your project or triggered by MIDI and audio transients, offering dynamic possibilities for sound shaping.

The plugin introduces several new features, including a redesigned browser for easy preset selection and a new Shaper effect for creating rhythmic flanging and phasing. The audio triggering feature is particularly noteworthy, as it allows the LFO to restart based on detected transients, enabling effects like filtered plucks and reactive time manipulation. Additionally, the external sidechain input can trigger ShaperBox from any track in your project, adding another control layer.

ShaperBox 3 also features improved wave editing tools, making creating smooth curves and intricate patterns easier than ever. The new Liquid Shaper adds phaser and flanger effects with adjustable parameters, and the plugin now includes a separate multiband compressor tool. The updated envelope follower has an analog-style adaptive release for more responsive effects. With all these enhancements, ShaperBox 3 offers a comprehensive toolkit for crafting unique and dynamic soundscapes.

Shaperbox 3 Review – The Pros

The Presets

A lot is happening in this plugin, and while I’ll go into the specifics later in the article, the wide range of features initially gave me some hesitation. However, the extensive preset bank makes ShaperBox 3 incredibly manageable and even inspiring. If I’m unsure how to add motion, life, or character to a pad, drums, or any other element, I can load the plugin, scroll through the presets, and find something suitable.

The presets are well-organized, making it easy to find exactly what I need, whether I’m looking to add sidechain movement, filter effects, or delay effects. This versatility extends across all the different effects bundled in ShaperBox 3, allowing me to experiment with various movements. I can effortlessly apply it to a bus or instrument channel and explore how different presets affect the sound, adding unique motion and character.

The Movement

I interviewed Leaving Laurel two years ago as a fledgling editor at Magnetic Magazine. One of the biggest takeaways from our hour-long conversation was the importance of adding movement to a track. Leaving Laurel emphasized the need for a track to have a “heartbeat,” a quality that’s not always easy to achieve.

Sidechaining is a standard method for creating this effect. Still, without complex modulation options, adding the throbbing pulse that serves as a song’s heartbeat can be challenging. ShaperBox 3 excels in this area, offering a wide range of movement and modulation options in unique ways not typically found in other modulation plugins.

While Rift by Minimal Audio remains one of my favorite plugins for adding movement, particularly in saturation, it mainly focuses on enhancing distortion and warmth. However, ShaperBox 3 offers a distinct advantage with its ability to synchronize multiple movement points within a single plugin. This integration allows for a cohesive and unified effect, all operating on the same clock. It’s become one of my go-to tools for creating that pulsing heartbeat that brings club music to life and makes it groovy and vibrant.

Super Tight Sidechaining

I’ve always been a big supporter of using Ableton’s stock compressor for all my sidechaining needs. When I want to sidechain my sub-bass to the kick, I set the stock compressor to auto. This setup provides a super tight release time, making the effect hardly noticeable while still effectively clearing the bassline from the kick drum’s path.

However, ShaperBox 3 offers a significant advantage with its ability to get super granular and create custom curves and movements in your sidechaining. This allows you to precisely control the tightness of the kick, whether you want it to pump visibly or maintain a more subtle presence. The tight sidechain timing that ShaperBox 3 provides is one of its standout features.

Additionally, the plugin’s capability to pair volume sidechaining with filter sidechaining and other modulation options creates unique, tight pumping motions. This combination makes ShaperBox 3 a powerful tool for achieving complex, nuanced side-chaining effects.

Plus it shows the beat interger at the top so you can tell exactly how long the movement lasts for (1/16th note, 8th note, etc).

Shaperbox 3 Review – The Cons

It’s Noticeable

This plugin offers a unique and somewhat wild range of functionalities, allowing for a lot of creative modulation. However, it tends to be quite noticeable on almost everything you apply it to. By noticeable, I don’t mean it’s instantly recognizable as a “ShaperBox” sound, but rather that it has a very apparent effect, even at low levels of dry/wet mix.

This is great if you aim for tight sidechain compression, like when sidechaining a bass to a kick drum. However, if you’re looking for a more fluid and subtle compression, I’ve found myself reverting to the good old Glue Compressor in Ableton. It provides a more transparent and fluid sidechain compression.

That being said, this isn’t a major downside. There are only a few cases where I felt the need to avoid the noticeable effect it introduced. Most of the time, the distinct sound it imparts is desirable. Nonetheless, there are moments when the effect can be too attention-grabbing, even at low dry/wet settings.

It Throws You Into The Deep End

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=TMQoYn1nUjk&si=p6RLeX9UPjY_tb5P[/embed]

This plugin offers a lot of functionality, and aside from the extensive library of presets, it doesn’t provide much guidance on how to use everything. You can guess your way through basic sidechaining tasks and achieve a functional result. However, it can feel a bit overwhelming when you start exploring the more complex rhythmic chop gate modulations and advanced presets, especially for those new to the plugin.

The learning curve, while present, is not steep. I’ve been using the plugin consistently for about a month, and I feel confident in my understanding of it now. Learning the individual components within the bundle was relatively straightforward. The complexity arose when figuring out how these different components interact and synchronize. This part required a bit more effort to grasp.

Fortunately, plenty of YouTube tutorials, walkthroughs, and breakdowns are available, many of which come directly from the Cableguys YouTube page. These resources have been invaluable in getting up to speed with the plugin’s more advanced features.

Case Studies

(FRom Left To Right) L.GU, Pocket, Raphael Felix, And Shingo Nakamura

Over the past six months, we’ve interviewed many music producers for our “How It Was Made” features, where they discuss their favorite plugins and studio tools. ShaperBox 3 has become a popular choice among these producers.

Below, I’ll share some of these interviews’ best and most insightful responses. This way, you can see how other professional producers use this plugin and check out the specific tracks where they’ve mentioned its use. These examples will allow you to hear ShaperBox 3 in action through three case studies.

L.GU – Lost

I enjoy using this plugin to “bring to life” some sounds that feel too static, such as arpeggios and pads. I particularly love the “Gated Sequence” preset (which I used on one of the main pads in this track)!

I highly recommend using this plugin because it can genuinely help find that “unique” and “different” sound that is so sought after in today’s music. With this plugin, the possibilities are endless! It was actually using this preset on the pad that inspired Lost!

Pocket – Another Night In London

I like using volumeshaper as a sidechain for it’s ease of use. It gives you way more control over your sidechain shape than using sidechain compression, and you can input your pre-existing kick as a trigger. In the case of this shape it was used really simply and with a ducking that wasn’t so severe that it was noticeable, just enough to give the kick some space.

This is a great tool imo, it gives you heaps of control and can also be paired with all the other modules within shaper box to get creative with your sidechaining and volume shaping. It acts kind of like an idea generator for me, you can throw so many different fx in at once and just see what sticks.

Shingo Nakamura – Underneath

ShaperBox 3 is one of my most frequently used Plugins. I can’t imagine composing without it! It has several effects in one, but I mainly use VolumeShaper.

VolumeShaper is mainly used for a sidechain but can also be used for other effects, like a gate. I always start from the preset of “Sidechain” and edit the details on the table (right side of the picture). I also used the gate sound this time, so I used the preset of “Trimming”. (left side of the picture) I added the sidechain to the synth sounds like pads and bass and to the percussion loop to make it more groovy.

This plugin features a full range of presets and easy editing. By changing the “Mix” and “Bands,” you can easily create the intended sidechain. Another appeal of the plugin is its wide variety of presets. It helps shorten the work time.

Felix Raphael – The Further We Go

In “The Further We Go”, I used Shaperbox not just for sidechaining the bass and kick but also in a more creative, sound design-focused way for one of the main plucks. I applied the “Crush” feature to give the clap and plucks a unique sound by bit-crushing it. By utilizing the filter features, I applied the effect only to the top end of the sound. The mix control can be very effective in making sure that the effects aren’t overdone. Shaperbox operates over time, so I also drew a time automation curve to allow the sound to open up gradually.

Cableguys frequently upload short tutorials on their YouTube channel that can be both interesting and helpful. These quick tutorials offer valuable insights and tips for getting the most out of Shaperbox 3. I highly recommend checking them out.

The post Shaperbox 3 Review: The Best Swiss Army Knife Of Movement And Modulation In Music appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.