Cableguys FilterShaper XL is a new creative FX plugin with two multimode filters and a deep modulation engine for endless filtering fun.
A filter is an often underestimated effect. Mostly put in the context of a Synthesizer design where you can make sounds duller and brighter. Filter effects in hardware or software show that you can also work more creatively with it.
Cableguys, best known for their shaper plugins, have released FilterShaper XL, a new filter plugin that allows you to explore fields beyond classic filtering.
Cableguys FilterShaper XL
The German developers are specialists when it comes to deep, fully customizable modulations. With its popular shaper engine, modulation can be generated that can be designed down to the last point. They also adopt this concept in their new FIlterShaper XL plugin.
The core of FilterShaper XL consists of two independent filters based on zero-delay feedback algorithms. Each filter comes with 20 colorful filter types ranging from punchy filter types for juiced-up basslines, warm filters inspired by Sallek-Key filters, to crisp/clean filters for perfect precision.
There is something for everybody. They also offer resonance compensation and internal saturation + oversampling options.
Each filter has a set of classic functions, including cutoff, resonance, volume, pan, and drive. The resonance has a safe mode that limits resonance to stable levels. If you want to explore crazier timbres, you can deactivate this mode and you get self-oscillating timbres. Then both filters can be interconnected. You can use them in serial or in parallel, which gives different results.
Modulation Powerhouse
Cableguys are modulation experts and that love is built into this plugin as well. FilterShaper XL features 60 LFOs and envelope followers. However, these are not classic modulators. Each of them can be edited in detail.
With the LFO edition tool, you can simply draw your own filter movements you want to hear. This can go from subtle modulations to evolving rhythmic elements. The developers have built many preset shapes and patterns into the plugin, which can be used immediately.
Alternatively, you can also draw your own shapes by modifying curves, steps, ramps, etc. right in the editor. And these signals can be routed to a variety of parameters.
Besides the LFOs, you have also flexible envelope followers. Use the envelope followers to dynamically filter synths, basslines, drums, melodies – anything. Increase cutoff as synths get louder – or boost resonance as volume decays.
FilterShaper XL ships with over 500 ready-to-use professionally-designed presets with which you can explore the engine in just a few seconds.
Turn synths into twisted mutations that leap from the speakers. Transform basslines into bubbling, pulsing patterns. Morph drums into exciting filtered rhythms and bizarre modular-style FX. Go from subtle nuances and precise tweaks to powerful sweeps, stepped resonances and giant wobbles.
First Impression
At first glance a nice deep filtering plugin. The difference to the FilterShaper Core is that you have twice the power thanks to two filter cores. So double the filtering fun.
Cableguys FilterShaper XL is available now for an introductory price of $49/49€ instead of $79/79€. It is also part of the Cableguys Bundle for $179/179€. It runs as a VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin on macOS (Intel + native Apple Silicon) and Windows.
More information here: Cableguys
Available at my partner
Be the first to comment