apShaper

harmonic distortion plugin
analog modelled waveshaping
deep modulation options
Overview
apulSoft apShaper is an audio effect plugin to add harmonic distortion to audio signals. It combines a waveshaper with three filter bands and various modulation options - two LFOs, two dynamics detectors (with sidechain option), and user-configurable knobs.

apShaper can simulate multiple types of distortion, including tape and tube saturation, wave folding, and analog bit crushing.

The three filter bands offer high-quality filtering without high-frequency squeezing. The variable-slope low-pass filter type provides smooth slopes not possible with traditional filtering - ideal to gently shape signals with large amounts of distortion applied. Multiple tone control filter types modelled after classic circuits allow classic bass/mid/treble tone shaping.

Distortion without digital artifacts
apShaper uses sophisticated algorithms to reduce the big problem of digital distortion - unwanted nonharmonic noise. It performs analog waveshaping using integration. The distortion is applied to a continuous model of the audio signal. This reduces digital artifacts more than traditional oversampling could, especially if the transfer curve is not smooth (hard clipping/wavefolding/bitcrushing).

Main Features

  • Demo version! Download and try in demo mode.
  • Five high-quality waveshaping engines: harmonic, tube, saturation, steps, wavefold.
  • Extremely low aliasing.
  • Three multi-type filters can be applied before and/or after waveshaping.
  • Four types of guitar amp tone stack simulations included.
  • Multiple types of saturation soft-knee: tape, classic, distortion, hyper and clip.
  • The steps engine allows continous adjustments of the number of bits.
  • The wavefold engine provides symmetrical and asymmetrical user-editable breakpoints.
  • The variable-slope low-pass filter type is ideal to use with harmonic distortion products.
  • The direct channel can be independently filtered and dry/wet mixed with the shaped sound.
  • Graphical editing of filter parameters on the spectrum display.
  • Zoomable frequency spectrum and f0-synced waveform displays.
  • Built-in input/output meters.
  • dc offset removal filter.
  • Modulation system with up to 16 modulation rules with independent gains.
  • Internal modulation sources: two LFOs, two dynamics detectors and three user-definable knobs.
  • Side-chain input for the dynamics detector.
  • Midi input using the modulation system.
  • A low processing latency of 6 samples (minimal phase mode) allows real-time performance.
  • Unlimited undo/redo for all actions.
  • Plugin formats: AudioUnits/AAX/VST/VST3 on macOS (intel/arm 64-bit) and Windows (32/64-bit intel)
  • Built-in system-wide preset management with import and export of preset files, compatible across platforms and hosts using a xml file format.
  • Bright & dark color schemes and support for user defined color schemes.
System Requirements
  • macOS 10.11 or newer on an Intel or Apple Silicon CPU (64-bit only).
  • Windows 7 or newer (64-bit & 32-bit supported).
  • A host application compatible with AudioUnits, VST2/3 plugins or Pro Tools (>10.3.5, AAX, including Apple Silicon native)
Demo Limitations
  • After 4 minutes, faded bursts of random noise are added to the plugin output.
  • Presets cannot be exported/saved to the preset menu.
  • When the plugin interface is opened, a demo welcome dialog is shown for 5 seconds.