Cableguys Filtershaper Xl Review

Cableguys FilterShaper XL: What’s it?

It’s virtually 10 years since Cableguys launched FilterShaper 3, its modulation-focused clear out plugin. Whilst the developer had already established its now-familiar emphasis on customisable waveforms, by the use of the likes of its Curve synth and VolumeShaper, it’s arguably FilterShaper 3 that laid the groundwork for the preferred ‘Shaper’ results that experience made the developer a staple of digital musicians’ plugin folders.

FilterShaper XL is described as a ‘trendy reboot’ of the plugin, although widely talking the structure stays constant to earlier variations. As ahead of, the UI is constructed round a couple of multimode, resonant filters that may be organized both in serial or parallel. They take a seat above a modulation phase, used to use motion to quite a lot of components of the impact. 

Cableguys FilterShaper XL: Efficiency and verdict

There were vital upgrades although. Initially, the filters themselves were overhauled, with redesigned algorithms that includes 20 clear out sorts. Those absorb low, prime and band-pass, along side notch and top modes. Every genre has slope choices in addition to blank and heat diversifications, the previous being a extra refined virtual clear out and the latter imparting a personality in line with MS-20-style Sallen-Key filters. 

In particular at the faux-analogue entrance, the filters represent a noticeable improve from FilterShaper 3. There are some great improvements to how the resonance behaves too, with a ‘Protected’ mode, which may also be switched on or off to turn on or steer clear of squealing comments, plus a new Resonance Power parameter in a position to recreating the behaviour of an overdriven analogue clear out. This joins a devoted force parameter for each and every clear out, which may also be positioned both pre- or post-filter for differing tonal responses.

XL marks the spot

The primary space the place FilterShaper has had an ‘XL’ overhaul is at the modulation aspect. As with the former iteration, each and every main parameter – Cutoff, Resonance, Pan and Quantity for each and every clear out, in addition to grasp Pan and Quantity – has its personal modulation phase. Those are considerably upgraded right here although. No longer most effective does each and every have two absolutely customisable LFOs and two envelope fans, however the price and velocity of each and every LFO has its personal devoted LFO and follower phase. This opens up doable for a staggering quantity of complicated modulation, wherein customized LFOs have interaction to create various modulation patterns, which themselves shift in timing and intensity over the years.

What’s extra, the equipment used to form and cause those are massively slicker too, thank you in large part to the paintings Cableguys has put into refining ShaperBox. It makes drawing modulation curves pleasantly fast, however moreover lets in for quite a few choices to cause, sidechain and sync modulation. A good crop of preset curve shapes, in addition to total presets, are at hand timesavers too.

Filter out modulation is a staple software, specifically in digital song nation-states. The facility so as to add motion – be it as a valid design software or throughout an association as a complete – is regularly what units an amateurish demo excluding a certified manufacturing. FilterShaper XL suits this transient exceptionally neatly, and with a degree of intensity that implies it could actually adapt to an enormous number of eventualities. Depend this as one thing of vital.

MusicRadar verdict: Gives a wealth of various, helpful programs – for digital manufacturers specifically, this plugin is just about crucial.

Cableguys FilterShaper XL: Arms-on demos

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Cableguys FilterShaper XL: Specs

• KEY FEATURES: Twin clear out plugin with complete modulation phase providing 60 customisable LFO/envelope shapers and 50 envelope fans. 
• PLUGIN FORMATS: PC/Mac, VST, AU, AAX.
• CONTACT: Cableguys