Shapes by pATCHES & PerforModule
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Shapes is a collection of Shaper Presets, Audio Effect Racks, and Instrument Racks for Ableton Live 11 Suite, created in collaboration between pATCHES and PerforModule.
The collection is comprised of Shaper Presets (crafted by PerforModule) and complementary Audio Effect and Instrument Racks utilizing their capabilities (crafted by pATCHES).
USER GUIDE: Shapes-User-Manual
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Shaper Presets, Audio Effect & Instrument Racks
Shapes is a collection of Shaper Presets, Audio Effect Racks, and Instrument Racks for Ableton Live 11 Suite, created in collaboration between pATCHES and PerforModule. Each Shaper can modulate up to eight parameters with its custom curvature, giving you LFO-style modulation with any arbitrary shape you choose.
The collection is comprised of Shaper Presets crafted by PerforModule and complementary Audio Effect and Instrument Racks utilising their capabilities, crafted by pATCHES. Shapes come in four varieties: Pulses, Rises, Sawblades, and Silhouettes.
- Collection of Shaper Presets, Audio Effect Racks, and Instrument Racks for Ableton Live 11 Suite
- Created in collaboration between pATCHES and PerforModule
- Each Shaper can modulate up to eight parameters with its custom curvature
- Think of them as LFOs, but instead of just basic sine or triangle waves, you can apply any arbitrary shape you want
- Shapes come in four varieties: Pulses, Rises, Sawblades, and Silhouettes
- Pulses: designed to implement numerical intervals that mathematically divide up a measure of time; includes Shapers for thirty-six unique pulse intervals ranging from half to sixteenth
- Rises: designed to add drama and flair to parameters by ramping them up over time in various ways; includes twelve named Shaper presets
- Sawblades: five Shaper presets based upon patterns of actual physical sawblades from real life
- Silhouettes: shapes that mimic the outlines of physical things from real life, plus some miscellaneous useful contours
- .alp Ableton Live Pack
- User manual (PDF)
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Reviews
Shaperbox 4?
This is a nice little package if you want to experiment with the shaper tool, but want lots of options that are pre-mapped into racks, so you can try quickly and move on.
Jesus del cerro
Modulation has evolved significantly over the years: a source of inspiration and creativity 3.0.
Isotonik has some real gems for moving your devices. I'd almost say it can even modulate a microwave oven, haha. Shapes is very, very intuitive and encourages creativity. Great collaborative work.
Isotonik is 10 years ahead of maxforlive, etc.
City Skyline
Pulses
Six pulse shapes offer straightforward rhythmic modulation, functioning like LFOs with custom curvature rather than basic waveforms. Each can modulate up to eight parameters simultaneously, ready to use in production straight away.
Jittle
Rises
Rises shapes ascend rather than oscillate, forming one of the three more utilitarian categories in the collection. These presets provide upward-curving modulation profiles, ready to apply to any parameter in Ableton Live via the Shaper.
Pulse 1-3
Sawblades
Pulse 1 to 3 includes three Sawblade Shaper Presets, offering more utilitarian modulation shapes. The Sawblade Crown Tooth preset pairs with a two-sided pad rack, where tone shifts between gold and grit depending on how you play it.
Pulse 1-6
Silhouettes
Six Shaper presets grouped under Silhouettes offer the most characterful shapes in the collection. Each pairs a descriptive name with a complementary Instrument Rack, from a velocity-expressive night signal to an endlessly harmonic drone.
Pulse 2-9
Distortion Category
The Distortion category groups Pulse shapes focused on distorted, wavering modulation forms. These presets offer pre-formulated curves beyond standard LFO shapes, ready to apply immediately to any parameter in Ableton Live 11 Suite.
Tetrads, Long Held Bass
Hall Category
The Hall category houses the "Tetrads, Long Held Bass" patch, where smooth synth bass meets geometric edges. Hold monophonic notes for a bar to let modulation handle the rhythmic work, then use the Macro Filter to pull everything into a breakdown with a contrasting rolling sound.
Shaper, City Skyline
Modulated Delay Category
The Modulated Delay category contains Shaper presets that apply custom curved modulation shapes to delay parameters. Rather than standard LFO waveforms, each preset uses an arbitrary silhouette shape to drive up to eight parameters simultaneously.
Jittie, Unstable Mod Delay
Room Category
The Room category groups presets suited to spatial and ambient contexts. It provides a set of starting points for producers working with depth, atmosphere and environment-based modulation within the Jittie unstable mod delay device.
Tetrads, Long Held Bass
Special Category
Tetrads pairs smooth synth bass with geometric modulation edges. Hold monophonic notes for a bar to let the modulation handle the rhythm, then use the Macro Filter to pull everything into a breakdown with a contrasting rolling sound.
Shaper, City Skyline
Ambient & Evolving Category
The Ambient & Evolving category sits within the Silhouettes collection, described as "the most fun stuff." These presets include shapes such as Sand Dunes, Pyramids and Yeah No, designed for drones, held chords and slowly evolving textures.
Sawblade Crown Tooth
Bass Category
The Bass category features "Sawblade Crown Tooth," a two-sided pad preset that can read as golden warmth or gritty texture depending on how it is played. The character of the sound sits just beneath the surface, shaped by your performance choices.
Up and Away
Cinematic Category
The Cinematic category sits within the Silhouettes section, described as "the most fun stuff." Its presets apply custom-curvature Shaper modulation to create evocative, scene-setting textures suited to atmospheric and narrative-driven music production.
Important Information
CHANGELOG
V1.0.0 – Initial Release – January 2024
INSTALLATION
Our Products are generally provided as Zip file downloads which in all cases will need to be extracted and saved to your hard drive prior to installation. Details on the different file type provided and what to do with them are below.
.alp Files: These are Ableton Live Packs and will either install directly into the Packs Section of the browser of Ableton Live or ask you to save them to your hard drive. For packs that install to the library, when you double click on them you will see a pop up window asking you to confirm that installation is ok as the files are described as “Legacy”. This is fine and you are ok to proceed, the packs are created using the format for an earlier version of Live and so remain compatible with the current version.
LICENSE
END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR ISOTONIK STUDIOS SOFTWARE PRODUCTS.
PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE CONTINUING WITH THIS PROGRAM INSTALL.
This End-User License Agreement (referred to as “EULA”) is a legal agreement between an individual or a single entity (referred to as “LICENSEE”) and Isotonik Studios for the Isotonik Studios software product(s) which may include associated software components, media, printed materials, and “online” or electronic documentation (referred to as “SOFTWARE PRODUCT”). By installing, copying, or otherwise using the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, the LICENSEE agrees to be bound by the terms of this EULA.
This EULA represents the entire agreement concerning the program between the LICENSEE and Isotonik Studios and it supersedes any prior proposal, representation, or understanding between the parties. If the LICENSEE does not agree to the terms of this EULA, the LICENSEE should not install or use the SOFTWARE PRODUCT.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What version of Ableton Live do I need to use Shapes?
Shapes requires Ableton Live 11 Suite. The Suite edition is necessary because the collection makes use of Max for Live devices, including the Shaper modulator, which is not available in Standard or Intro editions.
What exactly is included in the Shapes collection?
The collection includes Shaper Presets crafted by PerforModule, plus Audio Effect Racks and Instrument Racks put together in collaboration with pATCHES. The Shaper Presets are organised into four categories: Pulses, Rises, Sawblades, and Silhouettes.
What are Shaper Presets and how do they work in my project?
Shapers are Max for Live modulators that let you apply custom-drawn waveform shapes to any parameter in Live, similar to LFOs but with far more flexibility. Each Shaper in this collection can modulate up to eight parameters simultaneously using its pre-designed curvature, so you can drop them straight into a session without building shapes from scratch.
What is the difference between the four Shaper categories?
Pulses are designed around mathematical divisions of a measure, making them ideal for rhythmic gating and timed effects. Rises and Sawblades are similarly utilitarian and movement-focused, while Silhouettes is the most expressive and experimental category, offering the most characterful and playful shapes of the bunch.
How do I install Shapes once I have downloaded it?
Simply place the included Racks and Presets into your Ableton User Library in the appropriate folders, then rescan your library. Everything will appear in your browser, ready to drag and drop directly into your sets.
Is this suitable for live performance as well as studio production?
Absolutely. The pre-formulated shapes are designed to be immediately usable, which makes them just as practical for live performance as for studio work. Having complex modulation ready to go without any setup time is a real advantage on stage.
Can I get a discount if I buy Shapes alongside other PerforModule products?
Yes. If you purchase any three or more PerforModule products in the same transaction, a 20% discount is automatically applied at checkout, so it is worth browsing the full PerforModule range before completing your order.
In Depth
SHAPES
You can use these directly to add “shaped” modulation to any parameter in Live. Each Shaper can modulate up to eight parameters with its custom curvature. Think of them as LFOs, but instead of just basic sine or triangle waves, etc., you can apply any arbitrary shape you want. To save you time, these fun & interesting shapes have been pre-formulated for you to use in production immediately.
‘Shapes’ come in four varieties, “Pulses”, “Rises”, “Sawblades” and “Silhouettes”.
The first three categories are more utilitarian; head to “Silhouettes” for the most fun stuff…!
4 on the — Velocity-Expressive Night Signal
Best paired with a velocity sensitive MIDI controller, but barring that pull up the velocity rand knob. Let this be the follower to your track’s energy’s lead, or establish an emotional arc as you feel out the varying timbres.
The pulse is your anchor like a Gatsby light across the lake.
Electrical Surge — Multi-variant Warm Tonesynth
Play varying positions of the Env. Shape knob against itself for maximum impact — staccato jolts interspersed by sustained, sizzly synth swells.
Sand Dunes — Moment in Time
Still your breath to imprint this point in time. Moments distilled from moments. Now exhale, blowing holes through this whispy cloud about your feet, your feat to have just noticed.
Hold small chords as long as you’ll allow yourself to.
Serpinskish – Blade Runner Texture
Left to it’s own devices here in this dystopia, your momentum will knock out it’s own rhythm. Buried under others’, you’ll push out wide adhesive. Who might those shadowy figures stuck among it all?
Take your time, you have nowhere else to be.
Climbing — Alien Engine Rev
Put your foot to the pedal to the metal for a growling quasar engine that can barely hold itself together. Fun to press and hold, but don’t dismiss short percussive stabs forvariable percussion layers!
Tetrads — Long Held Bass
Smooth synth bass meets geometric edges. Hold out monophonic notes for a bar to let the modulation do the rhythmic work, but let quicker, meandering fills escape up a few octaves every few passes. Then tug everything into a breakdown with the Macro Filter and smooth out the filter modulation for a contrasting rolling sound.
Delayed Gratification — Distant Howler Mystery
Good things come to those who wait. Keep things under cloak until those choice moments to latter up octaves. If that resonance peeks it’s head out more than every few bars, you might be off the path.
Excellent chance for discreet key presses to make friends with smooth, now-and-again Aggression turns.
Pyramids — Endlessly Harmonic Drone
Topples over itself, it’s hard to recognize how shapely this all is. Release often, press softly, and keep that Rate dial turning, and Pyramids will start to speak.
Sawblade Crown Tooth — Two-sided pad_s pad
Bubbling up underneath. If it’s gold or grit is up to how you play it, and what you take is from all of that.
Yeah No – Swelling Depthful Organism
And so where do you want to go? This is about limits, and you’re setting them. Denying them. Pressing waves against themselves and to the ground unless you want them to leap all spring-y.
Active Radiation — Ramping Sweet Grit
Laser treatment, though not quite surgery. This is an analysis — bag this data.
Drill — Uncertain Mallets
For your signal to reach that hidden stranger, you must make a chance on a direction, press the pulse, release, and wait. Wait. Wait. And repeat if you can’t decipher a response amongst your fading lingering.
Tap out longer words if you must, but make them at least halfway intelligible.
Rising Flame — Cloudy Marimba Bell
Harsh bell, nightmare music box, but soft enough skin to pass for what it isn’t. Ghost emitting, tonal percussion. Darker the key, closer the Carpenter.
Stormy Seas — Playful Banter synth
Waves rocking vessels, vessels jittering over rocks. Not all predictable how your requests will be responded to, but patiently take what may and sail that way. You’ll find some mooring in soft.
Lightning Bolt — Rapid Gallop Arp
One hand on your notes, one hand on Arp Gate, sifting for pebbles. When you find it, hold it, and then only subtle shifting from there until you’re told otherwise.
Logo — Pulsing Delay Synth
Aim your strikes for the logo ridges, and don’t mind the added groove as you miss. Eventually, you’ll want to turn to holding, and shift Timbre when you do.
Running Late — Elseworld Descending Build
A season’s long bloom. What other messages can you decipher along the Arp scroll? Less is more, and Frequency lets you emit the least.
There’s a track’s worth of timbres here, if you’re careful how you morph between them — when in doubt, Ground Swell is your no-brainer transitioning solution.
Sawblade Double Tooth — Poking Saw Rhythms
Pops and sparkles captured at high frame rate. You can’t avoid a lopsided rhythm, but I recommend determining this yourself with uneven keyboard stabs — what falls in the gate is of its own mind. The bursts might not always align properly, but celebrate when they do.
Sawblade Skip Tooth — Multi-Timbral Rhythmic Discovery
Machines repurposed to translate our message. Come out scratchy, round, or not at all. Just keep the dials rotating til you’ve found serenditious Euclid.
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