Cableguys released a new distortion and saturation module called DriveShaper. The plugin offers multi-band distortion found in plugins such as FabFilter Saturn. You can just apply any of its 10 distortion types statically, or dynamically automate in your DAW. But where DriveShaper offers something different is dynamic modulation. Through its visual interface and various curves & timing options known from the Cableguys Shaperbox series, DriveShaper makes rhythmic changes look easy.
DriverShaper features include:
10 distortion types: Soft/ Hard Clip, Soft/ Hard Square, Soft/ Hard Rectify, 4 wave folding algorithms
Multi-band distortion: Different distortion modulation can be applied to 3 frequency spectra
MIDI trigger: LFO curves can be changed dynamically via MIDI triggers
User curves: 9 user presets can be stored
Envelope follower: Use the incoming signal to modulate distortion levels
LFO modulation: can be set to bars, beats and frequency - from 32 bars to 1/128 notes
Presets: a range of presets are included
Cableguys quotes many well known musicians and producers who apparently use DriverShaper: Zedd, The Chainsmokers, Richard Devine, Jordan Rudess, Rik Simpson, BT, Andrew Scheps, and others.
Available as a standalone plugin, Cableguys DriverShaper is also added for free in the Cableguys Shaperbox plugin. The German software house has steadily grown their range of modulation options in Shaperbox, which now includes 7 modulators in Shaperbox 2: Time, Drive, Filter, Crush, Pan, Volume, Width.
Our View
There are so many free and paid options of saturation and distortion available on the market, it is hard to get excited about yet another distortion plugin. But Cableguys has found a combination of dynamic modulation, multi-band distortion, and various algorithms, worth a closer look.
Cableguys offer a free trial worth checking out. Compared to more expensive options, such as FabFilter Saturn 2, the price for the standalone version looks reasonable if you want to add multi-band distortion or make rhythmic changes easier compared to automating yourself in the DAW. And if you are an existing user of the Shaperbox bundle, this is a free update.
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Bundle: DriveShaper included in the Shaperbox 2 bundle for €89/$99, together with 6 other modules, and a free update for existing Shaperbox owners.
Trial/Demo: Cableguys offers a free, time unlimited trial of DriverShaper, with limitations of only one instance per song and not being able to save settings.
Trained in classical and jazz piano, Christof has over 30 years of experience in songwriting and music production. In 2021, he founded musicmanta and is now its Editor-in-Chief. Christof has worked in marketing for 25 years in Unilever and Kimberly-Clark. He is now the Head of Performance Marketing UK for Andrex, Kleenex, and Huggies, leading a team of 10 to create award-winning marketing campaigns, writing effective content, reaching millions of people.
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