batsbrew


 i knew you'd understand...
i just wanted to make it clear.

i agree with you, tho, the fancier (smarter) plugins like transient shaper are better tools, they were designed just for that kind of duty.


i still think, especially for beginner and aspiring mixers, that learning how to use a basic tool like a basic compressor, to do these kinds of things, gives you a much broader understanding of exactly what it is you are doing to the signal.


i have an unusual distaste for the 'One Knob' style approach, but heck, if it works, it works.

i just think some knowledge is lost in that process, tho.

And I agree with you also. No worries man, I know you know what you're talking about. I'd never try to go against your advice....I just figured this guy would probably have an easier time with the TS over a compressor. :) Learning the art of compression in all aspects is super important and should be one of the first things people try to grasp. The thing that makes it hard though is, when someone doesn't know what to listen for like you or I would, a compressor can drive them insane...especially when they are trying to use it for effect purposes instead of leveling or tightening up a signal, know what I mean? :)
 
I too am against the one knob plugs and won't even touch the Waves 1 knob plugs that I have. I don't like the sound of them at all and I like a lot more control for everything. But that said, I sincerely feel it's just as you said. A tool like the TS is just made for that thing the OP is looking for and for the most part, though I'd not condone just the "one knob" attack being used, it's amazing how that does exactly what he's looking for just by adjusting that one knob. LOL!
 
It's kinda good he posted in this thread because it made me revisit the TS which I have pretty much given up on because I like the SPL version so much better. My problem was I wasn't using the threshold knob correctly on the TS and once you turn it counter-clockwise, the thing totally comes to life in a good way. I don't know how much experience you have with that thing man, but give it a shot sometime. It's quite amazing and cuts out the time it would take even guys like us to dial the same thing in with a compressor. And the best part about it, it hits harder than a compressor would transient wise. I was experimenting with trying to cop the same sound with a few compressors as what I was able to get with the TS. Though the compressors were darned close, if I really wanted something to crack out on me, the TS smoked the compressor every time for that sort of thing.
 
I also agree with you on the knowledge thing being lost. I try to teach my students the art of compression first so they sort of have a background on it...then I'll introduce them to the transient type plugs. It's kinda like in the 50's, we had to use a tire iron to take off lugs where now we have air-guns. The principal is the same but the new way is much faster. The key thing I also try to stress is a transient plug shouldn't be the substitute for a compressor...but in my humble opinion for getting more pop/crack or relaxing an instrument, I feel these actually do a better job. At least they have for me. :)
 
-Danny

The trick with a shaper is reducing the initial transient (the stick), which might be only 3-4ms in duration, without attenuating the main body of the attack. A conventional compressor won't do the job. You need something that specifically detects transients, such as Waves' Trans-X. I know that particular plugin can accomplish what you're after because I've used it for just that purpose. I've not had much success with SONAR's transient shaper, even though it looks like it should be able to manage it.

You might possibly get away with using a multi-band compressor and only using the top band with the fastest attack and release times it can provide. The Sonitus might be up to the task, I don't know. It's worth a try.

You could split out the tom hits to clips and bring the fade in thingy up to soften the initial smack. Of course, unless you wanna use all that other fancy stuff:)

*bookmarked*

timidi


You could split out the tom hits to clips and bring the fade in thingy up to soften the initial smack. Of course, unless you wanna use all that other fancy stuff:)

nice...

You need something that specifically detects transients, such as Waves' Trans-X. 

bit, that's what i use.


LOL
at least for general transient shaping....




but when i'm mixing my drums  these days, i use the transient tool built into the superior mixer designed by sonalksis

when i'm mixing my drums  these days, i use the transient tool built into the superior mixer designed by sonalksis

Ditto. It's the best of the bundled effects in SD2. But still not great for the OP's mission, which is to soften the stick. Do that with a conventional shaper like the one in Superior and you just lose all the attack rather than just the initial transient. The nice thing about Trans-X is that you can attenuate just the first few milliseconds and leave the rest of the envelope alone.

what i find, more often than not, is that i after i go after all the fixin's, get all the tricks lined, up, just for fun, i'll strip it all off to the most basic unaffected sample that i started with, and i almost always like it better.


LOL

sad, but true

Thanks for the replies. I tried the Transient Shaper and Percussion Strip, they work well, but also cause latency issues. Is there a a way around this?

CarvinAbuser


Thanks for the replies. I tried the Transient Shaper and Percussion Strip, they work well, but also cause latency issues. Is there a a way around this?

It depends on your gear. You haven't given any system/soundcard specs.
The simple answer is:" lower your latency", but if your soundcard and it's drivers can't do it, then it doesn't help.
You can always bounce to tracks, of course.