Abstract Our paper deals with temporal shaping of ultrashort pulses by direct spectral filtering performed with bulk acousto-optic filters using noncollinear geometry. This geometry allows arbitrary optical pulse repetition rate and high diffraction efficiency at relatively large optical apertures. A theoretical model of the pulse shaper is presented, emphasizing the degrees of freedom in this shaping technique. Phase and angular dispersion effects are analyzed, and experimental results on generating controllable pulse trains are presented.