Transiant Shaping

I just installed a new shaper, and I'm wondering about application. I know they are really good on drums and bass to add punch? I'm wondering about applying on tracks/buses and or the mains?
 
I'm afraid the answer is, "it depends" and try it and see how it sounds... I'm just wondering if there are rules-of-thumb? Because I've never really used a TS before. (I got TransX)
 
And where does it go in the chain? i.e., I know the limiter goes last. What if you're using a compressor? Does the TS go before, or after the compressor?
 
Any advice is appreciated.
 
Thanks.

I've had some positive experiences using TS on acoustic guitar strumming.

Transient shaping can certainly tighten up a sound that might have a slight sloppy leading edge or start transient. But they are also great in the reverse situation as well. I had a snare that was recorded and tuned and everything too thin. It had a massive transient and not much energy. It made quite an unpleasant clicky type and very thin snare sound. It was loud but did not sound right.

Some transient shaping just softened the edge enough for the sound to get much fatter and hence not so high as well transient wise. I was able to boost up the rms level quite a bit making the snare fatter, louder and bigger sounding.

On the acoustic guitar there are two ways I think now to soften over fast and clicky transients. You can still use a compressor the right way to jump on the attack transient of a sound but a transient shaper is a newer thing and hence more complex in terms of what it does. It seems to work well.

Sound on Sound wrote some very good articles explaining the transient shaper inside Sonar a while back. There are quite a few controls and they all effect how it sounds while it is transient shaping.

I tend to use them on tracks but not sure about busses. If a buss contained a lot of similar types of transient sounds then it could work. I am not sure how it would handle a multitude of different sounds eg a mix or a buss that has many things on it. I think it is always a good attitute to have that all these things while they might do something good in one way, they might be degrading the signal in another way and maybe leave them off is the right answer if in doubt. But they can certainly save a track too.

Bristol_Jonesey


I've had a fair bit of success with Sonar's Transient tool, notably on Tom tracks, though I've never used it on a buss for the very reasons you're talking about Jeff.

Danny, I think maybe the reason we differ in our appreciation of the TS64 is one of intended use.

You mentioned that you use it for "allowing instruments to be more percussive" [attack] and "strings that you wanted to resonate a little longer" [sustain]

My usage has been at the opposite end of the spectrum where I've wanted to dull leading Transients, or to reign in eg. a ringing Tom.

For this type of work I've found the TS64 to be really useful, does what it says on the tin and is quite tweakable.

Oh yeah, make no mistake Jonesey...the Sonar version works...I'm just saying, when you compare it to the SPL, the Sonar version doesn't sound like that. I can make the SPL sound sort of like the Sonar version. Yeah the sustain thing also can remove ring/sustain as well. It's an amazing little tool. I would have loved to see the Sonar version be as potent as the SPL as the sonar version DOES give you a few other cool things that no one else has. I just seem to have an easier time getting whatever I need from the SPL without needing any of the extra bells and whistles. :) I'm with you though...it definitely curbs and controls transients quite well. :)
 
-Danny

I was at the Quick Trip today and when leaving saw a guy with a sign begging money at the light? And I encouraged him to do some jumping jacks? "Transiant Shaping?"

Removed

Watched the video, great stuff Danny.  Don't have the SPL, but I have a feeling I am going to dig out the Sonar TS and give it another shot.

No problem...glad you guys enjoyed it. At least it gives you a few ideas to mess with. :)

-Danny

Thanks Matt!
-Danny

paulo


Great vid Danny - thanks for taking the time and sharing that. Never even thought about using it on bass before. Always pays to listen to the Danziman !

You're welcome Paulo. :) Glad you feel that way, thank you. Yeah it's quite amazing all the things you can use that plug on. :)
 
-Danny

Don't forget this article on the Sonar Transient shaper that was in Sound on Sound back in 2008 and written by Craig Anderton too.

http://www.soundonsound.c...cles/sonarworkshop.htm

It might have some more info on how to use it.

(... oops wrong button)

Thanks Philip, glad you enjoyed it. :) I'm not having problems with any X1 bugs here brother. Don't let the negativity on the forum dictate your decision. Though there are legit problems (and some guys like ba_midi and Mike V were unable to use X1 until certain versions/patches were released) I've not had any show stoppers other than....the new way you have to work is a bit of a pain at first. But once you get used to it, 8.5 is sort of missing something. It all depends on how you use Sonar really. I still use both on this end but X1 is getting used more these days. :) 

-Danny

Danny, you should have a page on youtube where you put up instructive vids like this but you advertise/make people watch a short commercial before they see what you're teaching? I'm pretty sure you could make a pantload...

+1 on the vid/help!

THANKS
Kev