Beatsurfing CHEat Code Multi-FX
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- KVRian
- 1273 posts since 28 Sep, 2012 from Norway
I bought the bundle at their homepage a while back when it was 50% off(I think it was, or maybe 30%, my memory atm... is off(Edit: I checked and it was 76% off with 20% off on top of that, so it came to € 159.20 for the full bundle ) and got this code as a newsletter subber, Welcome20%off, which made the difference of just buying the cheatcode and the whole bundle so little that it felt 'wrong' to not take the bait.billinder33 wrote: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:21 pm I was interested, but I have a love/hate relationship with these types of plugins in that I'm not into 'glitchy' sounds all that much and most of the video content I've seen on it is very glitchy. I wanted to demo it but they don't offer that as an option, so I decided to pass.
Kind of interested in the random plugins. I think there's a deal on them at Plugin Boutique, so may take a dive on those.
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- KVRian
- 853 posts since 22 Jan, 2022
I tried your code on the Collab Bundle - Random, Random Metal, CHEat Code, and Lunchbox. No need for Lunchbox, but the code brought the entire package down to $120. An offer I couldn't resist... thanks a bunch!!!gaf_thit wrote: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:39 pmI bought the bundle at their homepage a while back when it was 50% off(I think it was, or maybe 30%, my memory atm... is off(Edit: I checked and it was 76% off with 20% off on top of that, so it came to € 159.20 for the full bundle ) and got this code as a newsletter subber, Welcome20%off, which made the difference of just buying the cheatcode and the whole bundle so little that it felt 'wrong' to not take the bait.billinder33 wrote: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:21 pm I was interested, but I have a love/hate relationship with these types of plugins in that I'm not into 'glitchy' sounds all that much and most of the video content I've seen on it is very glitchy. I wanted to demo it but they don't offer that as an option, so I decided to pass.
Kind of interested in the random plugins. I think there's a deal on them at Plugin Boutique, so may take a dive on those.
I'll come back and drop some thoughts on CHEat Code when I get a chance to tinker with it.
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- KVRian
- 1273 posts since 28 Sep, 2012 from Norway
Nice one, I'm glad it helped with your G.A.Sbillinder33 wrote: Tue Jul 08, 2025 9:40 pmI tried your code on the Collab Bundle - Random, Random Metal, CHEat Code, and Lunchbox. No need for Lunchbox, but the code brought the entire package down to $120. An offer I couldn't resist... thanks a bunch!!!gaf_thit wrote: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:39 pmI bought the bundle at their homepage a while back when it was 50% off(I think it was, or maybe 30%, my memory atm... is off(Edit: I checked and it was 76% off with 20% off on top of that, so it came to € 159.20 for the full bundle ) and got this code as a newsletter subber, Welcome20%off, which made the difference of just buying the cheatcode and the whole bundle so little that it felt 'wrong' to not take the bait.billinder33 wrote: Tue Jul 08, 2025 5:21 pm I was interested, but I have a love/hate relationship with these types of plugins in that I'm not into 'glitchy' sounds all that much and most of the video content I've seen on it is very glitchy. I wanted to demo it but they don't offer that as an option, so I decided to pass.
Kind of interested in the random plugins. I think there's a deal on them at Plugin Boutique, so may take a dive on those.
I'll come back and drop some thoughts on CHEat Code when I get a chance to tinker with it.
But wow, I made a mess editing that post, hehe
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- KVRian
- 853 posts since 22 Jan, 2022
Played with CHEat Code a bit this eve. Inserted it after Random Metal on some snappy, percussive arpeggiations. I am shocked by how much I like this plugin. Like most posters here, I have a vast arsenal of plugins. But I don't own anything quite like this.
I was expecting something like a glitchy RC-20 or Serato Hex FX. And in some ways it is. But it's also much more. The versatility of the time-based effects and how you can manipulate them is impressive. It can get glitchy and out of control easily, but can also be carefully manipulated into creating some really interesting, rhythmic outputs. I tried it on a set of percussive patterns and it made them dance in ways I wasn't expecting. Also tried it on a pad to get a sense of what it could do on a tonal track, and it created a 'washy', rhythmic, gate-like effect. Very cool. This would be awesome for creating rhythmic background loops to augment a song's main beat. Mangling drum loops would be an obvious use case, but I haven't tried that yet.
IMO it's not a very preset-friendly plugin. Many of the presets are rhythmic so they are hit or miss on any given track. Plus minimal categorization means a lot of hunting to find a preset that works. When tweaking a preset, it's not always easy to find the parameter or multiple parameters that will make it properly fit the track. Not a big deal to me since I almost exclusively design from scratch. But I could see how it might not suit some people who value preset hunting over sound designing.
It's really fun for sound design. There's a lot in this plugin to learn. It's one of the few plugins where I wanted to actually read the manual, rather than just search it as needed. Unfortunately the manual is only 6 pages long
and doesn't go into detail about each module. Some module's parameters aren't exactly intuitive, and they don't always do what you expect. The interface has some quirks, but mostly follows familiar UI design paradigms and is easy enough to figure out. The print is very hard to read and needs more contrast and better fonts.
In terms of the fx modules, some of them - the phaser, chorus, reverb, downsampler, and a couple others - aren't very interesting (reminds me somewhat of Kilohearts), but they are mostly complementary to the time-based fx. I wish the visuals were more technical and less aesthetic. However, the plugin excels in the variety and uniqueness of the modules, and how they interact together to create really interesting sounds and rhythms. I didn't find myself needing more module slots (only 4) or wanting to use the same module twice (you can't). It's a shockingly satisfying plugin, despite the all the quirks and limitations.
Overall CHEat Code is amazing. Really fun. Novel and useful, almost ideal for certain things. Didn't expect to like it as much as I do. Probably the most joy I've gotten from a multi-FX plugin since Infiltrator's release.
I was expecting something like a glitchy RC-20 or Serato Hex FX. And in some ways it is. But it's also much more. The versatility of the time-based effects and how you can manipulate them is impressive. It can get glitchy and out of control easily, but can also be carefully manipulated into creating some really interesting, rhythmic outputs. I tried it on a set of percussive patterns and it made them dance in ways I wasn't expecting. Also tried it on a pad to get a sense of what it could do on a tonal track, and it created a 'washy', rhythmic, gate-like effect. Very cool. This would be awesome for creating rhythmic background loops to augment a song's main beat. Mangling drum loops would be an obvious use case, but I haven't tried that yet.
IMO it's not a very preset-friendly plugin. Many of the presets are rhythmic so they are hit or miss on any given track. Plus minimal categorization means a lot of hunting to find a preset that works. When tweaking a preset, it's not always easy to find the parameter or multiple parameters that will make it properly fit the track. Not a big deal to me since I almost exclusively design from scratch. But I could see how it might not suit some people who value preset hunting over sound designing.
It's really fun for sound design. There's a lot in this plugin to learn. It's one of the few plugins where I wanted to actually read the manual, rather than just search it as needed. Unfortunately the manual is only 6 pages long
In terms of the fx modules, some of them - the phaser, chorus, reverb, downsampler, and a couple others - aren't very interesting (reminds me somewhat of Kilohearts), but they are mostly complementary to the time-based fx. I wish the visuals were more technical and less aesthetic. However, the plugin excels in the variety and uniqueness of the modules, and how they interact together to create really interesting sounds and rhythms. I didn't find myself needing more module slots (only 4) or wanting to use the same module twice (you can't). It's a shockingly satisfying plugin, despite the all the quirks and limitations.
Overall CHEat Code is amazing. Really fun. Novel and useful, almost ideal for certain things. Didn't expect to like it as much as I do. Probably the most joy I've gotten from a multi-FX plugin since Infiltrator's release.
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Sampleconstruct Sampleconstruct https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=191286
- KVRAF
- 16732 posts since 12 Oct, 2008 from Here and there
My first CHEat Code patch using one of my Tremor beats and some Rhodes chords as audio input, video starts dry. I would prefer if the slicer module was more predictable as it does not restart with the DAW, so sometimes several restarts are needed until you get what you want, bouncing to audio is probably the best option...
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1867 posts since 8 Jan, 2022
Great stuff.Sampleconstruct wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 12:53 am My first CHEat Code patch using one of my Tremor beats and some Rhodes chords as audio input, video starts dry. I would prefer if the slicer module was more predictable as it does not restart with the DAW, so sometimes several restarts are needed until you get what you want, bouncing to audio is probably the best option...
I contacted them about the slicer issue. It's really frustrating that it doesn't sync its phase with DAW start.
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- KVRist
- 405 posts since 1 Oct, 2009
They have been updating and squashing bugs on both Random plugs from the day they came out, so hopefuully the slicer issue will get resolved within longkraster wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 7:52 amGreat stuff.Sampleconstruct wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 12:53 am My first CHEat Code patch using one of my Tremor beats and some Rhodes chords as audio input, video starts dry. I would prefer if the slicer module was more predictable as it does not restart with the DAW, so sometimes several restarts are needed until you get what you want, bouncing to audio is probably the best option...
I contacted them about the slicer issue. It's really frustrating that it doesn't sync its phase with DAW start.
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Sampleconstruct Sampleconstruct https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=191286
- KVRAF
- 16732 posts since 12 Oct, 2008 from Here and there
CHEat Code certainly invites for jam sessions and beat-producing, here is a video with 3 instances of CHEat Code using custom presets, processing acoustic guitar, drums and a synth drone.
- KVRAF
- 8442 posts since 29 Sep, 2010 from Maui
Picked up Beatfader with the loyalty promo today, pretty interesting, unique and fun. I don't even have a DJ mixer or anything with a fader on it that I'm using currently. Anyway, I quite like it! 
Very interested to see what their upcoming plugin is going to be...
Very interested to see what their upcoming plugin is going to be...
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- KVRist
- 405 posts since 1 Oct, 2009
Can anyone confirm if Beatsurfing did any changes to the slicer / syncing to host within the last couple of updates?Sampleconstruct wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 12:53 am My first CHEat Code patch using one of my Tremor beats and some Rhodes chords as audio input, video starts dry. I would prefer if the slicer module was more predictable as it does not restart with the DAW, so sometimes several restarts are needed until you get what you want, bouncing to audio is probably the best option...
- KVRAF
- 4533 posts since 12 Jan, 2019
In Ableton Live 12 (AMD 3700x, Windows 10), projects that I put Cheat Code on, when reopened and played send CPU meter over 100 percent and junk bits of noise comes out. I suspect the settings I had for Cheat Code are not saving correctly--or something else magical is happening when I open a project that uses it?
Doing nothing is only fun when you have something you are supposed to do.

