Anybody using a MOCHA or TCD version of Cableguys Shaperbox 3.x that gives you the faded out screen timebomb? Just a heads up that if you click the plugin after it fades, it sends all this info about you:

Code:

cableguys.com/web_app.py?page_name=welcome&architecture=<YOUR CPU TYPE>&buildhash=<XXXXXXXXX>&hardkey=<XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX>&host=<YOUR DAW>&hostfile=<YOUR DAW EXE>&init=<XXXXXXXXXX>&license=<LICENSE TYPE>&licensekey=<LICENSE KEY>&pluginhash=<HASH>&product=ShaperBox3&shapers=<XXXXX>-filter-T<XXXXX>-time-<XXXXXXX>-volume-<XXXXX>-pan-<XXXXX>-width-<XXXX>-oscilloscope-<XXXXX>-crush-<XXXXX>-liquid-<XXXXXX>-noise-<XXXXX>-driver-<XXXX>-compressor-<XXXXX>-curve-<XXXXXX>-halftime-<XXXXX>-sidechain-<XXXXX>-trim-<XXXX>&system=<YOUR OS>&version=3.X.X&wrapper=VSTX

If you add the plugin to a new track, it will work for a bit but will timebomb eventually so one workaround is to just bounce your track out to another audio track as soon as you apply a filter then remove the plugin from the track.

 

If you use warez, you should use a good firewall , obviously.

 

it's an outbound solicitation on an http or https port number. depending on the firewall ruleset/level of paranoia, that could maybe get through. I would probably just add them to my hosts file to be sure.

 

Definitely. However, these Shaperbox rips require you to sync to the Cableguys server to download the initial filter/preset settings which is a little harrowing to begin with.

 

The Mocha 3.11 release doesn't require you to connect to the internet to get presets. I had 640 presets listed after installing and have never connected. All work except the ones that require the noise shaper module. Those presets are different and use separate wave samples which I don't think are included.

Most likely when you tried to update is when it blacklisted itself.

 

That's a personal choice, but I never use releases that imply to connect to developer's site, as you never know what could developers change in there part once they know what's going on.

In this particular case, MOCHA's release is a better solution.

 

My firewall is set to tell me about any new connection attempt and let me decide. So nothing get through.
Once you "educate " your firewall with rules, there are not so much alerts, but you're protected.
I'm actually using Evorim free firewall.

 

I downloaded the noise samples then blocked in hosts and everything works fine.

 

yeah me too, never had problem since Shaperbox 2 that I also updated the preset list online then block in the firewall. About the Noise files you only need to do it once, then you can backup all the files incase you needed to do clean update of new TCD release or better, just install over previous installation. I use Shaperbox 3 a lot, everyday. No timebomb so far. 6 months now I guess.

 

I put them into the hosts file and my malwarebytes windows firewall program where all outbound connections are blocked if not explicitly allowed. I used FL Portable on my older notebook with a VPN to get the sound files and had no issues until now. I figured that if cableguys knew the request to download the sound files came from a plugin without a legit license they wouldn't have let me download them in the first place. Btw I tried to add the sound files from the older mocha release manually first but the plugin did not recognize them.

 

Yeah adding it to the hosts file seems to mitigate the problem. I've ran into this timebomb in the past but it's worked seamlessly for a good while now.

 

Hey, apologies if this is a stupid question or if its been answered somewhere else, but how does one add shaperbox to the host files with the native windows 11 firewall, if at all possible ? been looking around for a step by step on how to do it but can't seem to find it, maybe i'm just bad at searching .. i've been running into this timebomb issue as well and would like to avoid it in the future

 

If you do not ever go to their website, you should block it using your hosts file. https://www.howtogeek.com/784196/how-to-edit-the-hosts-file-on-windows-10-or-11/#:~:text=The hosts file is the,administrative permissions to edit it.

This way it is not application or PID# specific. It's for the entire Windows install. No programs, plugins, browser or otherwise will open cableguys.com. Your firewall can be application specific based on your ruleset. So a browser may not connect, but a plugin in your DAW may. The traffic originates from a different PID # (process ID).

 

thanks for that fast answer ! will do

 

if you hit the "sync" presets button accidentally, it will lock you out of it also, on Mac. I did it twice before I gave up and let it stay in demo mode. All that means is you cannot save presets. I looked forward to the v3 update of it, and I am back to using 2 in most cases anyway.

 

Did you try Cableguys ShaperBox 3 v3.5 [WiN] release?

 

Being that I have a few craks installed, I have my Wifi disabled on bootup.

No internet while in production mode. 100% foolproof. Shaperbox 3 never flaked out in 4 months of use, and I'm about to install the 3.5 update.

My firewall/HOSTS are properly configured, but just as a safety net to accidentally being connected while in production. Just turn that sh*t off and create.

 

Yes, and it suggests you sync to server to grab all the presets, wavetables, noises, whatever, etc.
Since I have my DAW firewalled, I loaded the VST3 in another plugin host and synced it up from there.