apShaper

apulSoft apShaper is an audio effect plugin designed to add harmonic distortion to audio signals. It combines a waveshaper with three filter bands and various modulation options, including 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 for gently shaping signals with large amounts of distortion applied. Multiple tone control filter types modeled 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, applying distortion to a continuous model of the audio signal. This reduces digital artifacts more effectively than traditional oversampling, especially if the transfer curve is not smooth (hard clipping/wavefolding/bitcrushing).

Features:

• Waveshaping Engines: Five high-quality waveshaping engines: harmonic, tube, saturation, steps, wavefold.
• Low Aliasing: Extremely low aliasing.
• Multi-Type Filters: Three multi-type filters can be applied before and/or after waveshaping.
• Guitar Amp Simulations: Four types of guitar amp tone stack simulations included.
• Saturation Types: Multiple types of saturation soft-knee: tape, classic, distortion, hyper, and clip.
• Steps Engine: The steps engine allows continuous adjustments of the number of bits.
• Wavefold Engine: The wavefold engine provides symmetrical and asymmetrical user-editable breakpoints.
• Variable-Slope Filter: The variable-slope low-pass filter type is ideal for use with harmonic distortion products.
• Direct Channel Control: The direct channel can be independently filtered and dry/wet mixed with the shaped sound.
• Graphical Editing: Graphical editing of filter parameters on the spectrum display.
• Displays: Zoomable frequency spectrum and f0-synced waveform displays.
• Built-in Meters: Built-in input/output meters.
• DC Offset Removal: DC offset removal filter.
• Modulation System: 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: Side-chain input for the dynamics detector.
• MIDI Input: MIDI input using the modulation system.
• Low Latency: A low processing latency of 6 samples (minimal phase mode) allows real-time performance.
• Undo/Redo: Unlimited undo/redo for all actions.
• Plugin Formats: AudioUnits/AAX/VST/VST3 on macOS (intel/arm 64-bit) and Windows (32/64-bit intel).
• Preset Management: Built-in system-wide preset management with import and export of preset files, compatible across platforms and hosts using an XML file format.
• Color Schemes: Bright & dark color schemes and support for user-defined color schemes.