What is a Transient Shaper?
Forum rules
By using this "Production" sub-forum, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed with our terms of use for this site. Click HERE to read them. If you do not agree to our terms of use, you must exit this site immediately. We do not accept any responsibility for the content, submissions, information or links contained herein. Users posting content here, do so completely at their own risk.
Quick Link to Feedback Forum
By using this "Production" sub-forum, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed with our terms of use for this site. Click HERE to read them. If you do not agree to our terms of use, you must exit this site immediately. We do not accept any responsibility for the content, submissions, information or links contained herein. Users posting content here, do so completely at their own risk.
Quick Link to Feedback Forum
What is a Transient Shaper?
I don't know what a transient is, or what a transient shaper is. I hear it can make drums hit harder or something, so I wana know how it works. Did a google search and a youtube search, didn't come up with anything helpful. Thanks in advance.
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
so transient shapers are the same thing as waveshapers?Ezzcal wrote:logic has one built in called Wavshaper
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
A Transient is the first Oscillation of the start of a sound. In most cases this is the first big wave of a drum sample. A transient shaper allows you to change the ADSR volume of each hit by detecting the transient of each drum in your track and then boosting or reducing the volume over the length of your drum hit, then starting again as soon as the next hit comes through it.
In effect you can use it to make a Kick drum have more bite (by increasing its attack), a hat to ring out more loudly by increasing its sustain or a host of other stuff.
In effect you can use it to make a Kick drum have more bite (by increasing its attack), a hat to ring out more loudly by increasing its sustain or a host of other stuff.
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
so nothing I couldn't do with the ASDR in my sampler?gen_ wrote:A Transient is the first Oscillation of the start of a sound. In most cases this is the first big wave of a drum sample. A transient shaper allows you to change the ADSR volume of each hit by detecting the transient of each drum in your track and then boosting or reducing the volume over the length of your drum hit, then starting again as soon as the next hit comes through it.
In effect you can use it to make a Kick drum have more bite (by increasing its attack), a hat to ring out more loudly by increasing its sustain or a host of other stuff.
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
No, what it does is it lets you make certain parts louder. Like I'm needing to make the first millisecond of my snare loud and heavy, so I need a transient shaper. I think a compressor can do this too.
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
I always thought it was a way to isolate and saturate a certain part of a waveform.
I might be wrong though.
If I am, someone please correct me since I'm just as curious!
I might be wrong though.
If I am, someone please correct me since I'm just as curious!
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
Do you mean enveloper?Ezzcal wrote:logic has one built in called Wavshaper
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
Yeah, its sculpting your dynamics. If you can imagine its doing the opposite of a compressor, but nott the same. You can add extra snap to a snare, and remove its decay/release. Really useful tool thats overlooked most of the time.
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
It's much more precision than a compressor, but can be used to do essentially the same thing. The great thing about it is, unlike you're sampler, it bases the moment it triggers itself on the sounds going through it. You can lay down a really snappy snare, jam your fave fat reverberations on it, then use the shaper to bring down the reverb tail exactly the moment before your kick comes in after!
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
Transient shapers are pretty self explanitory - they shape the transients, giving you more control of them.
SoundcloudSoulstep wrote: My point is i just wanna hear more vibes
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
alright good info. now I gotta find a free one. Is flux bittersweet II any good? thanks for all the help
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
You using FL right? FL Studio has its own one called Fruity waveshaper
Otherwise http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.p ... 04&start=0
Otherwise http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.p ... 04&start=0
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
oh wow didnt know that, thanks. and its good?BassSaber wrote:You using FL right? FL Studio has its own one called Fruity waveshaper
Otherwise http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.p ... 04&start=0
-
- Posts: 1737
- Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:56 pm
- Location: http://www.scmastering.com , maac at subvertmastering dot com
- Contact:
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
A waveshaper isn't a transient shaper - a waveshaper is a distortion effect.
Waveshapers allow you to draw curves of input versus output, so when a certain level comes in, a certain level comes out.
Soft knee-compression style curve - http://flstudio.image-line.com/help/htm ... shaper.jpg
Hard-knee compression style curve - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... shaper.JPG
Mentalistness - http://d3vvl31cy8gagb.cloudfront.net/14 ... ss/011.png
More here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waveshaper
A transient shaper works a bit like a compressor in that it listens to the incoming audio and then does stuff accordingly.
BUT
Unlike a compressor it doesn't listen to the level of the audio coming in. What it listens to is the rate of change of the incoming level and not the level itself. A signal that is changing faster than a set value (set fixed internally or via front panel controls) is deemed a transient. So a soft pad won't trigger it, a cymbal ping will. This is why it can impart snap on softer ghost/shuffle hits on snare drums, even though they are quieter, as it is listening to the rate of change and not the level.
Once it has decided something is a transient, that portion of the audio can be boosted/softened/whatever to provide snap, or to soften sharp stuff. Easy peasy.

Waveshapers allow you to draw curves of input versus output, so when a certain level comes in, a certain level comes out.
Soft knee-compression style curve - http://flstudio.image-line.com/help/htm ... shaper.jpg
Hard-knee compression style curve - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... shaper.JPG
Mentalistness - http://d3vvl31cy8gagb.cloudfront.net/14 ... ss/011.png
More here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waveshaper
A transient shaper works a bit like a compressor in that it listens to the incoming audio and then does stuff accordingly.
BUT
Unlike a compressor it doesn't listen to the level of the audio coming in. What it listens to is the rate of change of the incoming level and not the level itself. A signal that is changing faster than a set value (set fixed internally or via front panel controls) is deemed a transient. So a soft pad won't trigger it, a cymbal ping will. This is why it can impart snap on softer ghost/shuffle hits on snare drums, even though they are quieter, as it is listening to the rate of change and not the level.
Once it has decided something is a transient, that portion of the audio can be boosted/softened/whatever to provide snap, or to soften sharp stuff. Easy peasy.

www.scmastering.com / email: macc at subvertmastering dot com
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
oh gotch! Now I know exactly what a transient is, thanks for that, seriously! So fruity waveshaper isnt a transient shaper? back to bittersweet then I guessmacc wrote:A waveshaper isn't a transient shaper - a waveshaper is a distortion effect.
Waveshapers allow you to draw curves of input versus output, so when a certain level comes in, a certain level comes out.
Soft knee-compression style curve - http://flstudio.image-line.com/help/htm ... shaper.jpg
Hard-knee compression style curve - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... shaper.JPG
Mentalistness - http://d3vvl31cy8gagb.cloudfront.net/14 ... ss/011.png
More here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waveshaper
A transient shaper works a bit like a compressor in that it listens to the incoming audio and then does stuff accordingly.
BUT
Unlike a compressor it doesn't listen to the level of the audio coming in. What it listens to is the rate of change of the incoming level and not the level itself. A signal that is changing faster than a set value (set fixed internally or via front panel controls) is deemed a transient. So a soft pad won't trigger it, a cymbal ping will. This is why it can impart snap on softer ghost/shuffle hits on snare drums, even though they are quieter, as it is listening to the rate of change and not the level.
Once it has decided something is a transient, that portion of the audio can be boosted/softened/whatever to provide snap, or to soften sharp stuff. Easy peasy.
- Electric_Head
- Posts: 16958
- Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 9:59 am
- Location: South of Africa
- Contact:
Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
Liar, liar, your pants be on fire.jrisreal wrote:I don't know what a transient is, or what a transient shaper is. I hear it can make drums hit harder or something, so I wana know how it works. Did a google search and a youtube search, didn't come up with anything helpful. Thanks in advance.

2nd post on google "What’s wrong with transient shapers?"http://kimlajoie.wordpress.com/2010/04/ ... t-shapers/
"Transient shapers are processors that adjust the dynamics of a sound. Rather than changing the dynamic range like a compressor, transient shapers operate only on the initial onset of the sound – the transient. The initial smack of a drum. The plink of a piano. The pick of a guitar or bass. They don’t work with sounds that don’t have a sudden start, such as vocals, violins, or synth pads. Transient shapers can either bring out the transient – making it louder, sharper and more prominent. They can also reduce the transient – making it softer and duller."
Last edited by Electric_Head on Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:43 am, edited 1 time in total.





Re: What is a Transient Shaper?
*liar* and that wasnt in my google search...im stupidElectric_Head wrote:Lier, lier, your pants be on fire.jrisreal wrote:I don't know what a transient is, or what a transient shaper is. I hear it can make drums hit harder or something, so I wana know how it works. Did a google search and a youtube search, didn't come up with anything helpful. Thanks in advance.![]()
2nd post on google "What’s wrong with transient shapers?"http://kimlajoie.wordpress.com/2010/04/ ... t-shapers/
"Transient shapers are processors that adjust the dynamics of a sound. Rather than changing the dynamic range like a compressor, transient shapers operate only on the initial onset of the sound – the transient. The initial smack of a drum. The plink of a piano. The pick of a guitar or bass. They don’t work with sounds that don’t have a sudden start, such as vocals, violins, or synth pads. Transient shapers can either bring out the transient – making it louder, sharper and more prominent. They can also reduce the transient – making it softer and duller."

- Electric_Head
- Posts: 16958
- Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 9:59 am
- Location: South of Africa
- Contact:
- Electric_Head
- Posts: 16958
- Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 9:59 am
- Location: South of Africa
- Contact:
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests