Sound Particles InShaper — Multi-Channel Waveshaping Up to 22.2!

In this video, I take a look at InShaper, the new LFO-driven waveshaper plugin from Sound Particles, through the lens of immersive audio production. While InShaper is not specifically an immersive audio plugin, it stands out from the crowd by supporting multi-channel formats all the way up to NHK 22.2, making it a genuinely useful tool for anyone working in Dolby Atmos or other spatial audio formats. To demonstrate its multi-channel capabilities, I set up a 7.1.4 session in Reaper using INU by Sam Hocking for upmixing and the Binaural Renderer for Apple Music from Audio Movers for monitoring, so you can hear the results directly on YouTube.

I walk through what InShaper can and can't do in a multi-channel context. The plugin handles any channel count with ease and includes a phase offset feature that can subtly widen the stereo image in a way similar to the Haas effect. However, I also highlight its main limitation for immersive work: the inability to selectively bypass individual channels or channel groups within the plugin itself — something that would make it significantly more powerful for spatial audio production. I share a workaround using Reaper's input/output routing, and give my overall verdict on whether InShaper is worth your attention as an immersive audio producer.