KVR Audio is the Internet's number one news and information resource for open standard audio plugins. We report new releases, product announcements and product updates (major and minor) for all VST Plugins, DirectX Plugins and Audio Units Plugins. We manage a fully searchable audio plugin database (updated daily), and offer many free member services including user reviews, product update notifications and a very active discussion forum. We also host official support forums for many plugin developers plus the official Receptor support forum.
Plug-in Database: Virtual
Instruments, Effects & Hosts
Banks & Patches
Download & Upload
Plug-in Ratings
by KVR Members
Wiki: Tutorials,
Audio Lexicon, ...
Listen to Music
by KVR Members
Search
KVR

Google Powered Search:

in new window

KVR Powered Plug-in Search:

Nasty Shaper
by Big Tick
12 members are watching Nasty Shaper for news
Product Nasty Shaper
Developer Big Tick
Primary Type Distortion / Overdrive / Amp
Price (MSRP) Free
Plug-in Formats
Effect(s)VST
Operating System Availability
Operating
System
Latest
Version
Download Is it
Available?
Windows 1.1 Free DownloadReleased
Miscellaneous Information
Copy Protection None
Average User Rating Average rating - 7.000
Fully Compatible
advertisement
ACID Pro 7
Nasty Shaper
  • Pre and Post gain knobs.
  • 3 different waveshaping functions. Shape 1 has 4 stages, Shapes 2/3 have 2 stages.
  • 8x oversampling mode for high-quality offline rendering.

User Reviews by KVR Members for Nasty Shaper.

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR REVIEW


By kritikon
On 21st November 2003
Version: 1

Read all reviews by
kritikon


2 of 2 people found
this review helpful.

Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
Variable scores on this one, but mainly for specific features rather than its sound

Interface - To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what the A, B, C, D knobs do - I think they are types of wave distortion - soft, hard clipping etc and maybe split into frequency bands. I'd like it to be clearer, but there are only a few knobs you basically just play until you've got the distortion you want by ear.

Presets - none. Id like some so that I could know what does what, but again, it's the kind of plug you just experiment with.

VFM - free

Stability - mostly excellent. It always works well until you turn on the oversampling - more often than not my system crashes when I use it - dunno why. But I'm happy enough without it.

Features - quite a big variation in the type of distortion you can get. It doesn't seem to do that lovely warm gentle overdrive, but will certainly scream with nasty distortion, and the subtle distortion is quite gentle (still identifiable as distortion rather than overdrive, but very musical). That's one of 2 main reasons why I like this one
It can be a real screamer, but in moderation, it won't swamp your mix and it's useable - some distortions just stand out too much even on mild settings for my liking - Nastyshaper can do both easily.
The other main reason is a follow on from the previous. I often use it on drum groups with almost no distortion and it works like an exciter. Subtle stereo distortion means you can add just a hint of crunch (like you could use limiting) to add the top sparkle, but it adds the stereo field, making it excellent for livening up tracks using mono drum samples. In fact I use Nastyshaper as an exciter more than as an out-and-out distortion effect. Not as extreme as something like Cyanide, but then you can't use Cyanide as an exciter. Also try it out on something like a 303 emulation - not all of those are that close to a 303, but you'll be pleasantly surprised what Nastyshaper does to basslines if you use it very subtly. Or any bass sound (doesn't have to be a 303)
When you do get it screaming, using the 4 pre knobs can alter the tone alot, giving you a fuller bassier sound, or a harsh scraping toppy sound. I don't play guitar, but imagine it is very useful as a guitar pedal because of this feature.

So that's it.... there's only so much you can say about a distortion FX. I prefer Nastyshaper over commercial ones simply because it has other uses and doesn't overdo it at low levels. It's certainly not a valve type of distortion, but isn't meant to be so it achieves its aims well. And it's easy on the eye too. It's become one of my stidio essentials - not always used, but appreciated when it is - for being simple and musically useable - not too many bells and whistles to get in the way, which is what a studio essential should be.
 
   Report
Latest 1 review from a total of 1

Reviews, articles, interviews, etc. for Nasty Shaper.

None listed yet.

 

Products by Big Tick

Product: Angelina
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Voice/Formant Synth
Price: €30
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
2 tuned oscillators and 1 breath oscillator.Graphical multipoint envelopes with curvature controls.X/Y control pad for formants morph control.MIDI control with assignable controllers.Unison mode, chorus and reverb for ultra-rich vocal pads.... [more]

 
Product: Cheeze Machine
Developer: Big Tick
Type: String Ensemble Synth
Price: Free
OS&Formats: WindowsMac OS XUniversal BinaryVSTAudio Unit
This little synth generates sound by feeding a simple, saw-like waveform, into a chorus ensemble emulator, a 6-stages phaser, and a ReverbUp to 32 notes polyphony, with the same note stealing algorithm as EP-StationFully midi-controlledSupports Doepfer Pocket Control midi controllerAvailable with 2 different GUI's... [more]

 
Product: Dodecaline
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Chorus/Enhancer/Stereo Expander
Price: Reg Users Only
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
12 delay lines version of Hexaline.12 stereo delays with cross-feedback.Parallel or serial modes.Up to +/- 100% feedback for ambient special effects.Available for free for registered users of EP-Station, Angelina and Rainbow.... [more]

 
Product: DualDelay
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Delay / Echo
Price: Free
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
2 independent left/right delays with delay and feedback controls. Lowpass (-24 dB/Oct) resonant filter. Delay times can be expressed in ms or in 16th notes (when synced to the host tempo). Group mode for ping-pong delay effects. ... [more]

 
Product: EP-Phazer
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Modulation (Flanger / Phaser / Chorus / Tremelo)
Price: Reg Users Only
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
2 independent left/right phasers.Full stereo effect, with cross-feedback between left and right channels.Available for free for registered users of EP-Station, Angelina and Rainbow.... [more]

 
Product: EP-Station
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Electric Piano
Price: €20
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
EP-station generates sound by mixing 3 different raw electric piano FM models. The mix output is then processed by a tremolo, a phaser, a stereo chorus, and an autopan effectsEach of the 3 models have separate controls for mix level, tuning, decay time, brightness, and velocity response (with 3 different velocity curves). The playing velocity can be used to control the overall model level, or its brightness, or bothThanks to its powerful note stealing algorithm, dense passages can be played, even with a limited maximum polyphony... [more]

 
Product: Hexaline
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Chorus/Enhancer/Stereo Expander
Price: Free
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
3 stereo delays with cross-feedback.Parallel or serial modes.Up to +/- 100% feedback for ambient special effects.... [more]

 
Product: Makunouchi Bento
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Ring Modulator
Price: Free
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
This plugin ring-modulates incoming audio with sine waves of continuously varying frequency, and runs the result through a state-variable filter. It can often produce unexpected effects, from stuttering rhythms to ambient tones.2 independent left/right ring modulators.Variable (from low-frequency to audio rate) modulators range.Variable modulators shape.Built-in resonant filter.... [more]

 
Product: Nasty Shaper
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Distortion / Overdrive / Amp
Price: Free
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
Pre and Post gain knobs.3 different waveshaping functions. Shape 1 has 4 stages, Shapes 2/3 have 2 stages.8x oversampling mode for high-quality offline rendering.... [more]

 
Product: Rainbow
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Synth
Price: €40
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
VSTi & Standalone versionsFM, AM, additive and subtractive synthesis1 to 4 oscillators per voiceUp to 24 voices (CPU dependant)Selectable shape (sine, saw, square, triangle, noise)Coarse / Fine tuning knobs, with selectable keyboard tracking modeLFO modeDistortion (Waveshaping knob)APDSR (Attack/Peak/ Decay/ Sustain/ Release) level envelope Control of the level by midi velocity and/or key position4x4 Frequency and Amplitude modulation matrixSelectable Low, High, or Band pass double mode filter, with cutoff and resonance controlsAPDSR envelope and env mod knobResonance controllable by midi velo... [more]

 
Product: Rhino
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Monster Synth
Price: €70
OS&Formats: WindowsVST
Waveforms Rhino features a huge list of built-in waveforms.Up 6 oscillators per voice for a huge sound! Additive Generator The built-in additive synthesizer can be used to define new waveforms. Ultra-slick graphic envelopes Graphical multipoint envelopes with curvature controls.Envelopes can be synchronized to tempo.Each oscillator has his own level, pitch, and waveshaping amount. Waveshaping section Each oscillator can have his own waveshaper.Waveshaper can be modulated by an envelope, keyboard tracking, velocity or aftertouch. Filter section Dual multimode filter, with -12/-24/-36 dB/oct. ... [more]

 
Product: Ticky Clav
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Clavinet
Price: Free
OS&Formats: WindowsMac OS XUniversal BinaryVSTAudio Unit
Hohner Clavinet emulator, based on physical modelling algorithmsModels strings vibration, as well as the 2 pickups of Clavinet model C.Up to 32 notes polyphony, with the same note stealing algorithm as EP-StationBuilt-in wah-wah effect with selectable manual/autowah modeFully midi-controlledSupports Doepfer Pocket Control midi controller... [more]

 
Coming Soon...