The new free plugin, Transient REShaper, has just been released by Psycho Circuitry. It comes with analogue-inspired VCA envelopes to provide your tone with more character.
As you know, I am a fan of well-made analog-inspired plugins. And Psycho Circuitry has made the double this week with the Razorgate and Transient RESHaper.
This one has a level-independent transient detection system, so the plugin can detect and control the track’s sustained portions and transients regardless of the signal level.
It is a pretty straightforward plugin to use, and I found the user interface to be highly simple and organized. You basically choose whether the plugin detects the Transient or the Sustain, and then you can use the main controls to reshape the sound envelope as you like.
I loved that the UI is resizable, which makes things much easier in my workflow. On the deck, we have four main knobs, including Gain, Sense, Reshape, and Speed. Gain controls the emphasis or de-emphasis through expansion or compression, Sense is for deciding how much of the signal will be detected, and Speed adjusts how fast the plugin reacts.
In my opinion, the plugin’s real strength is the Reshape control. It redesigns the gain boost or attenuation in a non-linear way.
I like how simple the controls are and how effective the plugin works. However, it also features some other tricks, such as the CV Bleed control, the Delta switch, selectable Stereo operation modes, a Wet Mix slider, and Oversampling up to x16.
I really enjoyed the addition of the Delta Switch, as it allows you to listen to what the plugin is doing and how the sound is being processed and changing.
Another feature I appreciated was the unique CV bleed distortion control, which adds good-sounding distortion to the control signal.
Another perk, in my perspective, is the option to make the plugin operate in Stereo, Mono, or Dual Mono.
The plugin has two versions: a paid one and a free one. The main difference between the two is that the free version only processes Transients or Sustain, while the paid version can do both jobs simultaneously. Also, the free version does not have a metering or sidechain filter. I think you can go with the free version to test the plugin out and if you find it really handy in your mixes, you can go for the paid version as it is only $19 as the introductory price for a limited time. The real price is $49.
If you want to learn more about transient shaping and how the plugin works in the technical sense, you can check out this video by Psycho Circuitry, which briefly explains the technical process behind the innovation.
To see the plugin in action with some explanations, this demo video from the brand is pretty handy.
I think this is a pretty handy tool for any producer, considering it is simple, effective, and free. I have downloaded the free one and am seriously considering going for the paid version.
Transient REShaper comes in AU and VST3 formats for Mac and Windows users.
Check out the manual of Transient REShaper here.
Berk is a multi-instrumentalist musician from Istanbul, Turkey. He has been playing guitar, handpan, and percussion for over ten years, developing a sound that blends melodic sensitivity with rhythmic depth.
He began his musical journey as a teenager, learning guitar and performing in several bands. In 2016, he discovered the handpan, an instrument that immediately resonated with him on a deeper level and gradually became central to his artistic identity.
Since then, he has performed in streets, festivals, bars, and concert venues across different countries, connecting with diverse audiences through both intimate and large-scale performances.
Alongside his live work, Berk is deeply involved in studio production. He works from his home studio, where he composes, records, and produces his own music. His studio serves as a creative space for layering handpan, guitar, and percussion with modern production techniques, allowing him to shape fully realized, atmospheric compositions from start to finish.
His music explores a wide range of genres and textures, combining organic acoustic instruments with detailed studio production to create immersive and expressive soundscapes.