Cableguys Pancake vs Soundtoys PanMan...?

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They pretty much look very similar in functionality.

Do you have a strong preference why you'd want to spend money on PanMan over Pancake?

(I know PanMan has saturation extra)
Reaper (win), i7-7700k, 16GB

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PanMan has unique rhythm functions like swing and is multi band. If I were gonna spend money I'd just buy Cableguys Shaperbox or Melda's MultiBandPanner

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Cableguys Shaperbox is imo a highly attractive and versatile tool. Recommended!

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I've personally been using Panman for years, it's great. Audio Damage Panstation is a nice alternative

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What soundporn wrote is going to be the best response here.

The reasons to use pancake, or the better suggestion of using Shaperbox is because you want something that more resembles DAW automation in terms of workflow.

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DubLifeSD wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:04 pm Audio Damage Panstation is a nice alternative
If you like a deficient poor support...

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Between Pancake and PanMan, PanMan offers a lot more. As Pancake is free and PanShaper is on more even footing with PanMan, I'll compare those two, which will also explain advantages over PanCake.

PanShaper is multiband, can MIDI trigger 9 patterns, can trigger sync or time and via MIDI looping or one-shot. Pattern can range from 1/128 to 32 bars or 0.02 Hz to 5.24 kHz (yes, audio rate). The pattern editing is very nice and quick, all CableGuys plugins are like this, arbitrary number of points can be sharp or curved, and there are snapping, step editing, and randomization tools. I also like the online preset database, great way to find interesting patterns with little effort.

PanMan's pattern editor has several modes. Rhythm Step is closest to PanShaper's, where you position nodes according to the current grid size, and use a Smoothing Mode to determine how it globally transitions between nodes. You can automate and globally "rush" or "drag" the timing, offset it to the left or right, and adjust the width. There is also a built-in modulator for offset, width, and rate, triggered by an envelope (you can control threshold, attack, and decay). And of course, you've got the famous saturation algorithms.

PanMan has 5 other modes that are unique. LFO mode ranges from 0.1 Hz to 10 hz and you can automate the direction. Rhythm Shape is similar to step but it's linear, and rush/drug becomes shuffle/swing. Ping Pong is fantastic, it alternates the pan position every time the trigger is activated, and there is a divider control that requires a certain number of triggers before it actually changes the position. There is a filter to refine the trigger. Step is similar, where the position is random. Random moves around randomly (instant or glide via Smoothing) to the specified beat interval.

I like both for different things. I find PanShaper useful when you want to sculpt something and in combination with the rest of the ShaperBox (which is fantastic), and precisely trigger it (via MIDI). PanMan lends itself to reacting to the material (via audio trigger) and organic creativity since you tweak knobs until it sounds good, and it offers more modulation internally and via automation. I recommend both.

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Goodhertz Panpot is definitely worth a look. The Spectral panning creates a really interesting effect, especially when combined with phase panning. Almost like someone is tapping you on the side of your ear. Panpot also automates incredibly well with no artifacts whatsoever. This is a staple characteristic of all Goddhertz plugins as well.

On the downside, it's missing the rhythmic options of PanShaper and PanMan. This is where I think Goodhertz could find room for improvement in future updates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pSdHLPdohA

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I love the Cableguys interface in ShaperBox. To me, that is quite important!

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dandezebra wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:18 am I love the Cableguys interface in ShaperBox. To me, that is quite important!
Agreed, it is very intuitive. And the drawing feature is so cool.

My only qualm is they need resizable interfaces like yesterday, especially MIDIShaper. Way too many tiny buttons on the modulations grid. VST3 format would also be nice, but that's nitpicking for now. I wrote to their support about it and heard no reply. I hope they're working on updates. :ud:

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It'd be good to see them allow for loading of separate instances, like iZotope do with advanced. They could charge a bit more for that to generate a bit more money. I'd purchase in the form of a reasonably priced upgrade.
MSI z390, i7 9700k OC, Noctua Cooling, NVMe 970 Pro, 64GB 3200C16, BeQuiet PSU, W10, Cubase 10, Avenger, Spire, Nexus, iZotope, Virus TI (INTERGRATED), Yamaha CS2x (Custom Mapped).

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Tappistry wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2019 4:28 am
dandezebra wrote: Wed Jul 17, 2019 3:18 am I love the Cableguys interface in ShaperBox. To me, that is quite important!
Agreed, it is very intuitive. And the drawing feature is so cool.

My only qualm is they need resizable interfaces like yesterday, especially MIDIShaper. Way too many tiny buttons on the modulations grid. VST3 format would also be nice, but that's nitpicking for now. I wrote to their support about it and heard no reply. I hope they're working on updates. :ud:
100% agree!

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Neon Breath wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:25 pm
DubLifeSD wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:04 pm Audio Damage Panstation is a nice alternative
If you like a deficient poor support...
I was going to recommend Panstation - as my goto autopanner - but I've never had to deal with Audio Damage's customer support so I can't say either way. They do make great modulation plugins though.

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Ableton Shaper mapped to Autopanner or a Utility device work sufficiently for me in most cases.

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Pancake. f**k Soundtoys
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