Cableguys’ ShaperBox 3 is a plug-in that uses LFOs you draw to move 11 kinds of effects, such as volume, filter, distortion and pitch. It has Audio Triggering, which moves effects in time with the attack (the start) of a sound, and an external sidechain (a feature that moves an effect to match the sound of another track).
A creative effect plug-in moves a sound in time with the rhythm, or turns it into a completely different sound.
In this article we compare ShaperBox 3 with 9 creative effect plug-ins and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.
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Score 4.0 / 5 (average of the 9 products compared: 2.9)
- Specs last checked
- 2026/09/27
- Number of effects
- 11 types
- Ways to create movement
- Drawable LFO, MIDI
- Reacting to sound
- External SC + Audio Triggering
- Price (store, date)
- $89 (sale; regular $99) [PB, checked Oct 26]
Summary
Among the 9 creative effect plug-ins, ShaperBox 3 is rank A. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and A is second from the top. Averaging the scores for the three criteria (out of 5) gives 4.0.
Strengths
- Number of effects (4 points): many kinds of effects are included.
- Reacting to sound (5 points): you can move the effect to match the incoming sound or another track.
Who it suits: people who want to build bass sidechain and rhythm-matched movement in detail.
Main features of ShaperBox 3
11 Shaper effects
ShaperBox 3 puts 11 effects into one plug-in: Volume, Time, Drive, Filter, Crush, Noise, Pan, Width, Liquid, Reverb and Pitch. Each is moved by a drawn LFO to make a rhythmic effect. Version 3.6 added a pitch shifter with four algorithms.
Three bands, band by band
Every effect can be used in three frequency bands. For example, you can chop only the low end, or put reverb on only the highs. The manufacturer explains that it can also be used to fix problems in a mix.
Movement that reacts to sound
It has an envelope follower that moves with the loudness of the sound, and Audio Triggering, which restarts the LFO on the attack of a sound. Using an external sidechain to lower other sounds in time with the kick (ducking) is also introduced.
Where it is useful
- Lowering the volume of a bass or pad in time with the kick (sidechain)
- Adding chopped volume or pan movement to a vocal
- Making stutters and pitch-rising risers on a drum loop
Rating by criterion
Number of effects: 4 / 5
We look at the number of kinds of effects included.
It has 11 kinds of effects, such as Volume, Time, Drive, Filter, Crush, Noise, Pan, Width, Liquid, Reverb and Pitch, and each can be used in three bands.
Ways to create movement: 3 / 5
We look at how many ways there are to move a sound over time (movement you draw yourself, randomization and so on).
It has freely drawable LFOs and triggering by MIDI (performance data that says which note was played and how hard).
Reacting to sound: 5 / 5
We look at whether the effect can be moved by the incoming sound or the sound of another track.
It has an external sidechain input, Audio Triggering, which restarts the LFO on the attack of a sound, and an envelope follower.
How we score (Creative effect plug-ins)
| Criterion | Basis | 5 pt | 4 pt | 3 pt | 2 pt | 1 pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of effects | Number of kinds of effects included | 12 or more | 8 or more | 5 or more | 2 or more | 1 |
| Ways to create movement | Which of drawable LFOs, a step sequencer, randomization and MIDI triggering it has | All four | Three | Two | One, or the kinds are not stated | None |
| Reacting to sound | Whether the effect can be moved by the incoming sound or another track (sidechain and so on) | Both an external sidechain and retriggering on the attack of the sound | Many parameters can be moved by the incoming sound | One feature that reacts to sound, such as an envelope follower | — | Not mentioned |
Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: adding movement and change to loops, synths and vocals. Scores follow the conditions in the table above. "Reacting to sound" is a criterion that answers the common search for "sidechain". The basis is the manufacturer's product description on the Plugin Boutique product page. Sound quality has not been compared by ear, so it is not scored. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.
ShaperBox 3 screens and images
ShaperBox 3 system requirements and getting started
| Operating system | Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11 (64-bit) / Mac (macOS 10.15 or later) |
|---|---|
| Plug-in formats | Windows: VST2, VST3, AAX / Mac: VST2, VST3, AU, AAX |
| Trial | Free trial available |
| OBS (streaming) | Works as it is (VST2 is listed) |
Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026. How to use plug-ins in the OBS streaming software is explained in How to use VST3 plug-ins in OBS.
Compared with other creative effect plug-ins
Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.
| Product | RankAvg. score | Number of effects | Ways to create movement | Reacting to sound | OBS (streaming) | Price (store, date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OutputMovement | B 3.3 | 6 types | LFO, steps, random | Sidechain on anything | ○ | $149 [PB, checked Oct 26] |
| OutputPortal | C 2.3 | Granular + 7 types | Humanize and more | No feature that reacts to sound | ○ | $149 [PB, checked Oct 26] |
| CableguysShaperBox 3 | A 4.0 | 11 types | Drawable LFO, MIDI | External SC + Audio Triggering | ○ | $89 (sale; regular $99) [PB, checked Oct 26] |
| Sugar BytesEffectrix 2 | A 4.0 | 14 types | Steps, random, MIDI | Envelope follower | ○ | $129 [PB, checked Oct 26] |
| Sugar BytesTurnado | A 3.7 | 24 types | LFO, steps | Envelope follower | ○ | $129 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| iZotopeStutter Edit 2 | B 2.7 | 11 types | Drawn curves, MIDI | Not listed | × (VST3 only) | $199 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| SoundtoysEffect Rack | B 2.7 | 14 types | Tempo-synced rhythmic effects | Not listed | ○ | $299 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| SoundtoysCrystallizer | C 2.0 | 1 type | MIDI sync | Gate, duck | ○ | $149 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
| CableguysHalfTime | C 1.0 | 1 type | None | Not listed | ○ | ≈$13.45 [Official, checked Oct 26] |
Features checked on each manufacturer's official website on September 27, 2026. Check the store page behind the buy button for the price.
Read next
- Effectrix 2: features and rating (rank A)
- Turnado: features and rating (rank A)
- Movement: features and rating (rank B)
- Portal: features and rating (rank C)
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