PanCake 2: Cableguys' Free Auto-Panner Gets a Major Upgrade
Cableguys has just released PanCake 2, an updated version of their completely free auto-panning plugin, now featuring expanded support, a fresh interface, and even more ways to modulate stereo movement. If you’ve ever wanted precise control over how your sounds move in the stereo field—whether subtly or in extreme, experimental ways—this is a must-have.
PanCake has long been a favorite among producers for its fully customizable panning curves, powered by Cableguys' signature drawable LFOs. Unlike most auto-pan effects that rely on basic sine or triangle waveforms, PanCake 2 lets you draw your own movement patterns, creating anything from gentle stereo sweeps to rapid, stuttered shifts. The update brings a redesigned GUI, a dry/wet mix knob, and MIDI-triggered panning, giving you even more flexibility when shaping movement in your mix.
One of the biggest upgrades is compatibility—PanCake 2 now supports VST3, AAX, and Apple Silicon, making it fully optimized for modern setups. Whether you’re on Windows or Mac, it’s ready to go, and best of all, it’s still completely free.
What Makes PanCake 2 Stand Out?
Stereo modulation plugins are nothing new, but PanCake 2’s level of control is rare, even among paid alternatives. It’s not just about bouncing sounds left and right—it’s about crafting movement in a way that enhances groove, depth, and energy in a track.
With MIDI note triggering, you can sync panning to specific rhythmic events, making it especially powerful for dynamic drum patterns, evolving synths, and unpredictable automation tricks. The real-time oscilloscope gives you precise visual feedback, so you always know exactly how your stereo modulation is behaving.
For producers working in electronic music, sound design, or even film scoring, this kind of hands-on stereo control can be invaluable. You can keep things subtle—like adding natural stereo motion to pads and guitars—or push it into wild, unpredictable territory with sharp panning jumps and offbeat syncopations.
Free vs. Paid: PanCake 2 vs. PanShaper
PanCake 2 is already a powerhouse for a free plugin, but for those looking for even deeper stereo control, Cableguys offers PanShaper, a paid upgrade that expands on PanCake’s functionality.
PanShaper adds:
Three independent LFOs targeting different frequency bands
Psychoacoustic Haas panning for a wider stereo effect
Envelope followers and transient triggering for dynamic movement based on audio input
If you just need a solid auto-panning tool, PanCake 2 is an easy recommendation. But if you want to shape stereo movement with multi-band precision and deeper psychoacoustic effects, PanShaper is the way to go!
PanShaper is currently on sale for just $9 until March 4.
ShaperBox 3: Going Further with Cableguys
If PanCake 2 is your first introduction to Cableguys’ approach to modulation, it’s just the beginning. Their flagship plugin, ShaperBox 3, takes the same intuitive drawable LFO concept and expands it across multiple effect types, giving you an all-in-one toolkit for advanced sound design. While PanCake focuses purely on panning, ShaperBox lets you shape volume, filtering, time effects, width, bitcrushing, and more, all with the same level of precision. This makes it a go-to plugin for rhythmic chops, dynamic movement, and creative audio manipulation.
What makes ShaperBox 3 stand out is its multi-band processing, allowing you to apply different effects to different frequency ranges. For example, you can automate a sidechain-style volume ducking on your bass while applying wider stereo movement to your mids and highs.
The ability to stack multiple "Shapers" together means you can build intricate, evolving effects chains—all controlled by drawable LFOs or audio-reactive triggering. Whether you’re making groove-heavy electronic music, glitchy sound design, or dynamic mixes with subtle automation, ShaperBox takes the same core principles at work in PanCake and pushes it to a professional level.
If you’re loving PanCake 2, ShaperBox is a logical next step for taking control of your sound.
Downoad ShaperBox 3 here
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