This article will discuss using transient shapers on drums for electronic, rock, and acoustic genres.
A transient shaper is an audio processing tool used to modify the transient response of a sound, typically a percussion or drum sound. Transients are the initial, short-lived bursts of sound that occur at the beginning of a sound wave, which gives a sound its sharpness and impact.
A transient shaper allows you to independently adjust the attack and sustain a sound. You can increase or decrease the attack portion of a sound, making it sound sharper or softer, respectively. You can also increase or decrease the sustain portion of a sound, which will make it sound longer or shorter, respectively.
This can be useful in a variety of situations. For example, you might want to add more punch to a kick drum or snare drum in a mix by increasing the attack portion of the sound. Alternatively, you might want to reduce the sustain of a cymbal to make it sound less washy and more distinct. A transient shaper is a powerful tool for shaping the character of individual sounds and the overall mix.
Now let’s address the main question of the hour.
How To Use Transient Shaper On Drums? (Electronic and Rock Music)
To use a transient shaper on drums, identify the drum track, listen to the sound, insert the transient shaper, adjust the attack and sustain, find the right balance, and repeat for other drums. This can help you add more punch and clarity to the drum sound and make them stand out in the mix.
Drums are one of the most important elements in a mix, and getting them to sound punchy and powerful is crucial. A transient shaper can be a great tool to help you achieve this goal. Here are some steps you can follow to use a transient shaper on drums:
- Identify the drum track you want to work on
First, you need to identify the drum track you want to process. It could be a kick drum, snare drum, hi-hat, or any other percussion instrument. You can solo the track to focus on that particular drum.
- Listen to the sound
Once you’ve selected the drum track, listen to the drum sound. Please focus on the transient part of the sound and how it contributes to the overall mix. If the drum sound lacks punch, the transient shaper can help you add more attack. Similarly, if you want to create a space for a snappier instrument/drum that coincides with your sound, you can reduce its attack.
On the other hand, some percussions may need more sustain, so you can also adjust that.
- Insert the transient shaper.
Insert the transient shaper plugin on the drum track in your DAW. Some DAWs may have a built-in transient shaper, but you can also use third-party plugins like the SPL Transient Shaper, Waves Trans-x, Wave Smack Attack, and more.
- Adjust the attack
The first parameter to adjust is the attack. Increase the attack to make the transient part of the sound more pronounced. This can add a thump to the drum sound. On the other hand, if the sound is too sharp, you can decrease the attack to make it sound softer.
- Adjust the sustain
The second parameter to adjust is the sustain. Increasing the sustain can make the drum sound longer and more sustained. Decreasing the sustain can make the drum sound shorter and more percussive. Avoid removing too much sustain, or the drum sound may sound unnatural.
- Find the right balance.
Finding the right balance between the attack and sustain is crucial to getting a great drum sound. A good starting point is to increase the attack by a few dB and decrease the sustain by a few dB. However, every drum sound is unique, and you may need to experiment to find the right balance.
- Repeat for other drums.
Once you’ve found the right settings for one drum, repeat the process for other drums in your mix. Each drum will have its unique sound, so you may need to adjust the attack and sustain differently for each drum.
In addition to using a transient shaper on individual drums, you can also use it on the overall drum bus. However, be careful not to overdo it, as too much processing can make the drums sound unnatural.
How to use Transient Shaper on the Kick Drum?
The kick drum is the foundation of many genres of music, and a well-shaped kick sound can make a big difference in the overall impact and clarity of the mix. Here are some specific tips on how to use a transient shaper on a kick drum:
- Identify the problem areas
Start by listening to the kick drum in the context of the mix and identify the areas that need improvement. Is the kick lacking aggression, definition, or presence? Does it get lost in the mix, or is it too boomy?
- Boost the attack and reduce the sustain.
To add more punch to the kick drum, use the transient shaper to boost the attack. This will emphasize the initial “click” or “thump” of the kick drum, which can help it cut through the mix more effectively. Avoid over-processing; too much attack can make the kick sound too thin or harsh.
If the kick drum has too much sustain or a long decay, it can muddy up the mix and make it harder to distinguish other elements. Use the transient shaper to reduce the sustain, which will shorten the tail of the sound and make it more defined. This can help the kick drum sit better in the mix without taking up too much space.
- Experiment with the ratio/duration
Most transient shapers have a ratio control that determines the strength of the effect. Start with a low ratio and gradually increase it until you achieve the desired sound. Remember that a higher ratio will have a more noticeable effect on the sound but can also make it sound unnatural or overly processed.
In Smack Attack, you can adjust the Attack and Release sensitivity.
For example, in the Smack Attack by Waves, the Ratio can be set by selecting the shape or envelope of the attack/release, and you can set the duration to determine how fast or slow the processor acts. So duration to a transient processor is like what the attack time is to a compressor.
- Use a frequency analyzer.
A frequency analyzer can help you identify specific frequencies causing problems with the kick sound. For example, if the kick is too boomy, you might want to reduce the low frequencies using an EQ before applying the transient shaper.
Overall, the best way to use a transient shaper on a kick drum is to listen carefully to the sound and make subtle adjustments until you achieve the desired result. It’s important to keep the context of the mix in mind and avoid over-processing the sound, as this can make it sound artificial or disconnected from the rest of the elements.
Lastremembermind that the above steps are just guidelines and rules of t, not rules. You can tweak the entire process as per your sound and needs.
How to use Transient Shaper on the Snare Drum?
To use a transient shaper on a snare drum, identify the problem areas, such as lack of snap, definition, or presence. Boost the attack with the transient shaper to emphasize the initial “pop” of the snare drum, which can help it cut through the mix more effectively. Be mindful about not overdoing it, as too much attack can make the snare sound too thin or harsh.
Reduce the sustain to shorten the tail of the snare and make it more defined. Experiment with the ratio control and use a frequency analyzer to identify specific frequencies causing problems with the snare sound. Remember to listen carefully to the sound and make subtle adjustments until you achieve the desired result.
How to use Transient Shaper on the Hats?
When using a transient shaper on hi-hats, it’s important to start by pinpointing areas that require improvements, such as a lack of clarity or presence. To achieve a more defined sound, it’s recommended to boost the initial “chick” or “shh” sound of the hi-hat by adjusting the attack using the transient shaper.
However, avoiding overemphasizing the attack is crucial, as doing so can result in a harsh or brittle sound. Additionally, reducing the sustain can help shorten the hi-hat’s decay, leading to a more distinct and defined sound.
By experimenting with ratio control and using a frequency analyzer to identify problematic frequencies, it’s possible to achieve the desired outcome. Listening closely to the sound and making small adjustments until the perfect sound is achieved is crucial.
How to use Transient Shaper on the Drum Bus?
When using a transient shaper on a drum bus, the primary goal is typically to enhance the punch and impact of the drums in the mix. Here are some steps to follow to use a transient shaper on the drum bus effectively:
- Start with a balanced drum mix
Before adding any processing, ensure your drum mix sounds balanced (volume/level, pan, and frequency) and cohesive. This means adjusting the levels and EQ of each drum track so that they all sit well together in the mix.
- Insert the transient shaper on the drum bus.
Once you have a balanced mix, insert the transient shaper plugin on the drum bus. Most transient shapers allow you to adjust the attack and sustain of the sound, so start by experimenting with those controls.
Below is the Transient Shaper by Kilohearts, which is great for drum buses, as it allows you to shape the overall dynamics by adjusting the attack, sustain, and pump. In addition, it also has a visualizer that helps you visualize the shape of your drum bus transients. It also allows sidechaining, so you can apply it on the bass to the sidechain with a kick.
- Adjust the attack and sustain
To enhance the punch and impact of the drums, start by boosting the attack of the transient shaper. This will make the initial hit of each drum sound more pronounced and impactful. However, be careful not to overdo it, as too much attack can make the drums sound unnatural or even distorted.
Next, try reducing the sustain of the transient shaper. This will shorten the length of each drum sound, making them tighter and more focused. Again, be careful not to go too far, as too much sustain reduction can make the drums sound clipped or thin.
- Use a multiband transient shaper
If you want more control over the sound of each drum, consider using a multiband transient shaper. That allows you to apply different attack and sustain settings to different frequency ranges of the drums. For example, you could boost the kick drum’s attack in the low frequencies while reducing the sustain of the snare drum in the midrange.
One such plugin you can use for that purpose is the Nanopulse by United Plugins.
- A/B test
Finally, always A/B test your settings to ensure you’re improving the sound of the drums. Use your ears to decide whether your changes with the transient shaper have enhanced the drums’ punch and impact or made the drums sound worse.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a transient shaper is an audio processing tool that can modify the transient response of a sound and is often used on percussion or drum sounds. It can add energy, depth, and definition to individual drum sounds and the overall drum mix.
To use a transient shaper on drums, you must identify the drum track, listen to the sound, insert the transient shaper, adjust the attack and sustain, find the right balance, and repeat for other drums. For the kick drum specifically, you can boost the attack to add more punch, reduce the sustain to make it more defined, experiment with the ratio, and use a frequency analyzer to identify problematic frequencies.
Using a transient shaper on drums, you can shape the character of individual sounds and the overall mix to achieve a more powerful and impactful sound.
Lastly, numerous transient shaper plugins are available for audio production, and selecting the best one for your project depends on your specific requirements and personal preference. Some popular options include SPL Transient Designer, known for its simplicity and effectiveness in shaping the attack and sustain of sounds.
Waves Trans-X offers multiband processing and mix control, making it versatile. Sonnox Oxford TransMod allows precise control over transient response, making it ideal for more complex material. FabFilter Pro-MB is a multiband compressor with a powerful transient shaper that controls each frequency band’s attack and release times.
Native Instruments Transient Master is designed specifically for transient shaping, with intuitive controls and a range of presets. Experimenting with different options is essential to find the one that works best for you. I hope the article was of help. Thank you for reading.
Shaurya Bhatia, is an Indian Music Producer, Composer, Rapper & Performer, who goes by the stage name MC SNUB, and is also 1/2 of the Indian pop music duo, called “babyface”. A certified Audio Engineer & Music Producer, and a practicing musician & rapper for more than 6 years, Shaurya has worked on projects of various genres and has also been a teaching faculty at Spin Gurus DJ Academy.