apShaper – why no love?

[Autobot]

I was looking for a dynamic saturation plugin and cam across this one. I wonder why there is no "rave" 'bout it? It seems to check a lot of boxes (at least for me). Just downloaded the demo and I like what I hear.

+ nice user interface
+ good visualization of what is happening
+ nice set of sat/dist modes
+ very flexible saturation settings
+ modulation options
+ oversampling (here the dev claims to have less aliasing than a 32x oversampled competitor. The page says that the plugin "performs analog waveshaping using numerical integration. The distortion is applied to a continuous model of the audio signal. This reduces digital artifacts more than traditional oversampling could)

So why is this one not in any best of list? It seems that there is even no review out there. Also on GS their is not much talked about it. Bad marketing? Secret Weapon so nobody wants to talk about it?

Did you tried it? What's your opinion? I will quite probably buy it as it seems to offer a lot of saturation/distortion, sound shaping and a bit more (tremolo, etc.).

https://apulsoft.ch/apshaper/

[El°HYM]

Good question. In General apulSoft doesnt seem to get much recognition in here.

[Autobot]

Good question. In General apulSoft doesnt seem to get much recognition in here.

That's true. Nevertheless the company is long time in this business so it seem to work. The other products are top as well. I start to think people use it but don't talk about it cause it soo good jokin aside: folks check out apulSoft!

[kejkz]

It's kind of a geek tool, like the eq. I have both and am using them all over. But they take some time getting used to, since they're quite powerful in both sound you can get and possibilities. In most cases, you just can't throw them in a track and get a result you want. You have to tweak...

[fese]

+ nice user interface
…

Well, that’s kinda subjective… I personally find all the Apulsoft plugins very uninviting GUI-wise. Too much functionality cramped into too little space, debatable taste in colors.
Plus, as kejkz wrote, too tweaky and geeky. I generally prefer simple, dedicated tools over the “jack-of-all-trades” approach (it’s coz I’m stupid!)

[Obsolete462444]

I think they make good products, but their UIs lack the mass appeal (= too complex for most hobbyists, who make up 95% of the potential audio plugin customers).

[Autobot]

Yeah the UI puts a lot of information in small space. one needs to get custom to it.
Geeky tweaky? I thought that's patented by Melda
But probably it's true that's a bit too nerdy for mass market
Well, I'm sure I'll have my fun with it

[sinkmusic]

I never tried this one, but that's right Apqualizer is amazing.

[chk071]

Hideous GUI.

I'm always surprised how bad some of them are in the audio plugin world.

Looks like something I would use in medical study, but not to get inspired to make music with it.

[.jon]

This looks really interesting, thanks for the heads-up! Have to give the demo some time, and check it against Meldas waveshaper.

The specs mention customisable UI colours, which is good because those default ones don't really work.

[fairlyclose]

I have been using apqualizr for quite a while - very very good. For those who dont like the GUI, for apqualizr at least the GUI is very functional, clear discrimination between functions, easy on the eyes over long periods. Of course your aesthetics might be at complete odds, but from a usability aspect the GUI is very good

[gaggle of hermits]

this looks up my street. I don’t know why but apulsoft stuff just seems to fly under the radar for me. i’ve thought about getting the eq but with a bunch of others already in the plug-in folder, it hasn’t quite made it into the shopping list.

[sinkmusic]

this looks up my street. I don’t know why but apulsoft stuff just seems to fly under the radar for me. i’ve thought about getting the eq but with a bunch of others already in the plug-in folder, it hasn’t quite made it into the shopping list.

It's the only eq I know with modular routing, LFOs, env shapers, compressors and various signal routers... It's so much more than just an eq

(well, the only comparison would be UVI shade, but Apqualizer was out well before Shade).

[martinjuenke]

Not really cheap, isn't it?

[gaggle of hermits]

(well, the only comparison would be UVI shade, but Apqualizer was out well before Shade).

i happened to buy shade before i took a better look at apqualizr. i've also got the hofa modular thing, though it might be easier to do some things with apulsoft's.