In this guide, you will learn how to use MIDI notes in Reason to retrigger LFOs in ShaperBox (TimeShaper, FilterShaper Core, VolumeShaper, PanShaper, WidthShaper), FilterShaper 3, MidiShaper and PanCake.
Using this technique, the LFO will play from the beginning each time a MIDI note is received. You can therefore trigger the LFO in any pattern you like – for example, sidechain your bassline to a non-4/4 kick drum pattern.
Reason cannot route MIDI directly to VST effects, so you will need to install a virtual MIDI port. This small piece of software lets you route MIDI signals "behind the scenes", like a virtual MIDI cable. We’ll be using it to plug Reason’s MIDI output back into its MIDI input — a technique called "MIDI loopback".
macOS’ built-in IAC driver is all you need for MIDI loopback.
Open the 'Audio MIDI Setup' application – you'll find it in your 'Applications/Utilities' folder, or by doing a Spotlight search (⌘-Space) for "audio midi setup".
In the 'Window' menu, select 'Show MIDI Window', double-click the 'IAC Driver' and make sure 'Device is online' is checked.
On Windows, please install third-party software to provide the virtual MIDI port – for example, LoopMIDI.
Select a 'MIDI Triggered' or 'MIDI 1-Shot' triggering mode in the Cableguys plugin.
In Reason, add an Instruments >> Reason Devices >> External MIDI Instrument (aka EMI) device. Set its output to the virtual MIDI port you set up in Step 1 (e.g., "IAC-driver 1").
On the EMI track, insert MIDI notes in the rhythm that you want to trigger the Cableguys plugin.
Any note will work, except when ShaperBox's MIDI Trigger option for Wave switching is enabled, in which case only C notes will trigger a Wave reset.
Download Curve 2.6.2 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit):
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download FilterShaper 3.3.2 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit):
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download ShaperBox 2.0.1 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit)
— includes TimeShaper 2, FilterShaper Core 2, VolumeShaper 6, PanShaper 3, WidthShaper 2:
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download ShaperBox 2.0.1 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit)
— includes TimeShaper 2, FilterShaper Core 2, VolumeShaper 6, PanShaper 3, WidthShaper 2:
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download ShaperBox 2.0.1 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit)
— includes TimeShaper 2, FilterShaper Core 2, VolumeShaper 6, PanShaper 3, WidthShaper 2:
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download ShaperBox 2.0.1 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit)
— includes TimeShaper 2, FilterShaper Core 2, VolumeShaper 6, PanShaper 3, WidthShaper 2:
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download ShaperBox 2.0.1 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit)
— includes TimeShaper 2, FilterShaper Core 2, VolumeShaper 6, PanShaper 3, WidthShaper 2:
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download ShaperBox 2.0.1 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit)
— includes TimeShaper 2, FilterShaper Core 2, VolumeShaper 6, PanShaper 3, WidthShaper 2:
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download HalfTime 1.0.1 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit):
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download MidiShaper 1.5.1 Demo (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit):
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
The demo is fully functional and has no time limit, but you can only use one instance per song and you can't save your settings.
Download PanCake 2.3.1 (VST / AU, 32 / 64bit):
WINDOWS
Windows 7, 8 or 10
MAC
OS X 10.8 or later
PanCake is completely free.
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Buy Curve 2 Now!
€119 / $129, incl. VAT
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Log in for upgrades (including Bundle upgrades).
Buy FilterShaper 3 Now!
€69 / $74, incl. VAT
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Log in for upgrades (including Bundle upgrades).
Buy FilterShaper Core 2 Now!
€39 / $44, incl. VAT
Transactions are handled through Share-it. Your unlock key will be sent to the email address that you enter during the payment process.
Log in for upgrades (including Bundle upgrades).
During the payment process, you will be asked to enter your email address.
Your unlock key will be sent to this email address.
Buy TimeShaper 2 Now!
€39 / $44, incl. VAT
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Your unlock key will be sent to this email address.
Buy VolumeShaper 6 Now!
€29 / $34, incl. VAT
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Buy PanShaper 3 Now!
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Buy WidthShaper 2 Now!
€19 / $24, incl. VAT
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Buy HalfTime Now!
€10 / $12, incl. VAT
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Buy MidiShaper Now!
€24 / $29, incl. VAT
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Contains TimeShaper 2, FilterShaper Core 2, VolumeShaper 6, PanShaper 3 and WidthShaper 2
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Buy ShaperBox 2 Bundle Now!
€89 / $99, incl. VAT
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Contains Curve 2, FilterShaper 3, VolumeShaper 6, TimeShaper 2, FilterShaper Core 2, PanShaper 3, WidthShaper 2, HalfTime and MidiShaper
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Your unlock key will be sent to this email address.
Buy Cableguys Bundle Now!
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On any questions, please check our FAQs first — maybe the answer is already there.
On any technical issues, please let us know which operating system, which Cableguys plugin and which DAW you're using, and if you're running your DAW in 32- or 64-bit.
Alternatively, you can also contact us via contact@cableguys.com