Hey guys,

ShaperBox 3 has been my favourite effects plugin for a while now. I've been using it for at least a year without any problems. Unfortunately, out of nowhere, all my presets have dissapeared and now it says "Your license key expired".

I've been trying to fix this issue and those are the things I've figured out:

- You can go to "C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\Cableguys" and delete the "ShaperBox3" folder, to get it back to working
-> BUT you need to press the sync button to get all the neccessary Noise-files and presets back
-> pressing the sync button triggers the license key problem
-> this seems to be the problem for most people on the russian site (including me)
-> for some people it works tho (why?)
- the "presets.db" in "C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\Cableguys\ShaperBox3" contains a database of all the presets. after syncing and triggering the license key problem, the "presets" table of the database just contains two rows that contain the "Your license key expired go to cableguys.com bla bla" message.

basically: syncing leads to a corrupt presets.db file

you can still use shaperbox 3 if you don't press the sync button but then you have way less presets and no noise files.

there are many different shaperbox 3 versions on the russian site and basically all of them lead to the same problem.

only exception is the shaperbox 3 v.3.2.1 by mocha.
this version comes with some preloaded presets.
pressing the sync button results in the same problem tho.

I used to have way more presets tho. I believe that some other version used to work for me. I'm pretty sure I've also used the sync button to download everything without any problems. My shaperbox version used to be full of presets, some were given likes by someone else. Now it feels like I can't revert to that state. It feels like they somehow blacklisted me.

Also many people suggest to press sync and after downloading, to block cableguys in the hosts file. Unfortunately that doesn't work, because as soon as everything has downloaded, the license key expires.

 

Last edited: Feb 10, 2025

@Backtired mentioned you can just edit the preset.db file and fix it that way. not entirely sure how tho

 

Cableguys ShaperBox 3 v3.2.1 WiN [MOCHA]
Cableguys Shaperbox v3.5.2-TeamCubeadooby
CableGuys ShaperBox v3.5.2.CE Rev.2 - V.R

Cableguys Shaperbox v3.5.2-TeamCubeadooby

WhiteBear says:
I was freaking out why it wasn't downloading the database...
Then I figured...I had cableguyz blocked in my hosts file....

So removed from hosts...and bamm everything works
After it downloads everything (it was 371 MB for me all presets, noises, IR)
When you press "sync presets" it will download even Virtual Riot's ShaperBox presets as well
So "My Presets" will be 1251 presets really really nice

ShaperBox Ideas
Ok quick update:
The presets don't work (can't be changed) if your DAW and-or cableguyz is blocked from the internet
So I was testing with GigPerformer (this is not blocked from internet) so I could change presets easily if cableguyz is not blocked from internet
but...
With Ableton Live Suite presets don't work because Ableton (for me) is blocked from the internet (even if cableguyz is not blocked presets don't work)

CableGuys ShaperBox v3.5.2.CE Rev.2 - V.R

Stevie Dude say:
I use new blank project in Reaper where there is no plugin in the project, exclude it from the firewall blocklist AFTER Reaper is launched (so no plugins get connected during scan, just a precaution). Few minutes download all the content, then block it back. I did it everytime Shaperbox got an update since its release. It doesn't affect any other plugins or the Reaper itself.

 

Where are the comments from?
Also, like I've said, that procedure doesn't work for me.
After everything is downloaded from the Cableguys server, the license key expires.
Doesn't matter how quick I re-add it to the hosts file.

 

Have you tried this version:
Cableguys Shaperbox v3.5.2-TeamCubeadooby or CableGuys ShaperBox v3.5.2.CE Rev.2 - V.R ?

 

Yes. I've tried all 3.5 versions that I could find on the russian site.
Basically all versions that require you to press the sync button trigger this problem.
Same thing happened to my friend like a year ago. We've tried multiple versions but never got rid of it.
It's as if as soon as Cableguys finds out you were using a cracked verison, they blacklist you and make it impossible for you to use the sync button.
Pretty sure it's all because they corrupt the preset.db file.

 

every good things in life have expiry date....

 

Thanks for the valuable information, I guess we'll have to wait for a release from Team R2R.

 

Last edited: Feb 10, 2025

Alernatives:
Sugar Bytes - Wow2 & FabFilter - Volcano & Cytomic - Drop & UVI - Shade & Xfer - LFOtool & TAL - Filter 2

 

I had the same problem like you a few weeks ago. All versions ever released have this problem, because they need to be connected to the internet to download the presets and sample content. During this download, the plug-ins write the database file and because these cracked serials are known to cable guys, they render your database file useless.

So unless these plug-ins get cracked and all the presets and samples are provided with the crack, they won't work anymore.

I even tried to edit the database file, but to no effect. Whenever I changed something it just corrupted the file.

So, I decided to actually buy the cableguys bundle because their stuff is super usefulll and not to expensive for the value one gets.

 

I'm just wondering why it used to work and now it doesn't. Like I said, for my friend, it had already stopped working a year ago, while it was still working for me. Feels like they not only banned those serials but also the MAC address of your PC or something.

Also thought about buying it, but then I would still miss all those presets that came with the cracked version that I've used in countless of my beats

Also been trying to edit the database without any success.
I feel like it wouldn't even be that hard to fix. Why can't they just supply the Shaperbox3 folder with a working database, so we can copy and paste it?

Also, I can't believe that TCD/Mocha/V.R./... are still continuously providing new versions of a crack that doesn't work for most people.
R2R has to step in..

 

Have you tried a clean install?
I mean first delete everything that is cableguys/shaperbox with revo uninstaller and then reinstall.

 

CableGuys ShaperBox v3.5.2 CE (Win64; AAX*, VST3, VST)
more info http://www.cableguys.com/shaperbox

** - for download additional presets, noises & reverb IR
required Internet connection
Rev.2 - the developer has banned the fake activation email of the previous release,
so from now on the sub is installed with a random activation email

 

Last edited: Feb 10, 2025

Yes. Multiple times

 

hi. yes, that's what i still have i think, i'm not sure, i haven't downloaded or updated anything in a LONG time.
i remember wondering how the hell it worked, because the k'd one i had wasn't downloading the presets, or something.
i don't recall how i did it, but i remember downloading a freeware tool to edit database and well, once you open the right file, it's pretty easy to understand what you have to fix. i'm afraid, honestly, i don't remember anything else.

 

anti-ban file added now.

 

Last edited: Feb 10, 2025

it's just a text file people edit to override the banned included one. It's in the VR 3.5.2 now. but some people have been using one from a less well known releaser. It could be the same one afaik.

 

Plugins such as these that "require" an internet connection for anything should simply be avoided and move on to something that doesn't.

 

You probably already have, but:-

127.0.0 *.cableguys.*

have you got that in your HOSTS file?

 

1. just try to uninstall it , remove the folder from this place just put Ur name rather NameOfUrcomputer

Code:

C:\Users\NameOfUrcomputer\AppData\Roaming\Cableguys

2. now block ur windows host file

Code:

127.0.0 *.cableguys.*
127.0.0.1 www.cableguys.com
127.0.0.1 85.13.135.127

3. now when you install it go to this place

Code:

C:\Users\UrComputerNameAppData\Roaming\Cableguys\ShaperBox3

now in that folder you will see "presets.db" just allowed to this file only read and execute .
by pressing left mouse key then go to "Properties" in the tab go to "Security" then go to "Advance"
press on "disable inheritance" then "Edit" just check box only "read and execute " and read"
and unckeck all others for all users such adminstrator

 

Last edited: Feb 11, 2025