What is your favorite transient shaper ?
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- Banned
- 1 posts since 29 Dec, 2023
Hello , Am new here on KVR . Am asking about what is the best transient shaper you got to work with ? 
- KVRAF
- 1777 posts since 3 May, 2023 from Norway
FL Studio 25 | AudioThing JULY - Deimos - U-he Filterscape - NI Kontour - Softube Model 80 - LUSH-2 - UAD Opal - WaveOSC
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- KVRAF
- 4081 posts since 22 Aug, 2012
I like the Kilohearts one which comes in their free Esssentials pack.
https://kilohearts.com/products/kilohearts_essentials
https://kilohearts.com/products/kilohearts_essentials
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- KVRian
- 1056 posts since 2 Sep, 2010
I often use a different one depending on the source, no real favourite.
Cubase EnvelopeShaper is likely the one I use the most, followed by SPL Transient Shaper and Stillwell Transient Monster (no Apple Silicon, so no use in the last year). I sometimes use Voxengo TransGainer and Elysia Nvelope. Softube's Transient Shaper never sounds as good as the others, for me at least, and end up never using it. MMultibandTransient also gets close to no use, sounds good, but I never need that degree of control.
Free: check out Flash, T-Puncher and Kilohearts Transient Shaper.
Cubase EnvelopeShaper is likely the one I use the most, followed by SPL Transient Shaper and Stillwell Transient Monster (no Apple Silicon, so no use in the last year). I sometimes use Voxengo TransGainer and Elysia Nvelope. Softube's Transient Shaper never sounds as good as the others, for me at least, and end up never using it. MMultibandTransient also gets close to no use, sounds good, but I never need that degree of control.
Free: check out Flash, T-Puncher and Kilohearts Transient Shaper.
- KVRAF
- 4561 posts since 12 Jan, 2019
A while ago, I grouped duplicates of transient shapers in Live, in order to make a splitter, and I ran through a bunch of transient shapers--free ones and ones I bought. I found that they all sound different, and I cannot say one is better than another for transient shaping. But for the splitter, I did think Transgressor had a nifty implementation, but maybe it was not as good; Melda worked pretty well; Physion was so-so; and Softube Transient Shaper got the closest to what I hoped for. I do wonder abut SplitEQ. Would it have the same results as Physion?
Last edited by Dirtgrain on Sun Jan 07, 2024 12:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Doing nothing is only fun when you have something you are supposed to do.
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- KVRian
- 751 posts since 9 Mar, 2001
Izotope's transient shaper is probably one of the best. It adds latency though...
I reach for cubase envelope shaper mostly. The detection algo isnt working on all materials though..
I find most env shapers too subtle and too few options/settings (Flash for instance).
Multiband shapers are weird to me.. unnatural.. few sounds/instruments have different transient for different bands...
I reach for cubase envelope shaper mostly. The detection algo isnt working on all materials though..
I find most env shapers too subtle and too few options/settings (Flash for instance).
Multiband shapers are weird to me.. unnatural.. few sounds/instruments have different transient for different bands...
Last edited by Freaqpeak on Sat Jan 06, 2024 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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concealed identity concealed identity https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=215821
- KVRian
- 1065 posts since 21 Sep, 2009
Was surprised to see this topic, as I was just looking at and testing out transient shapers earlier today.
I agree that they can sound pretty different from one another! So having more than one can sometimes be helpful if your usual one isn't giving you the results you want.
My personal favorite is Elysia Nvelope. SPL Transient Designer is a classic, but it's been replaced by Nvelope for me. I heard they were designed by the same person, so their similarity in sound makes sense.
In addition to the Kilohearts one and Transient already suggested, two very good simple free ones are TRAX by Analog Obsession and Crack by Surreal Machines.
I agree that they can sound pretty different from one another! So having more than one can sometimes be helpful if your usual one isn't giving you the results you want.
My personal favorite is Elysia Nvelope. SPL Transient Designer is a classic, but it's been replaced by Nvelope for me. I heard they were designed by the same person, so their similarity in sound makes sense.
In addition to the Kilohearts one and Transient already suggested, two very good simple free ones are TRAX by Analog Obsession and Crack by Surreal Machines.
- KVRian
- 599 posts since 1 Jan, 2021
Crack is the only one I'm using. Low on CPU, easy to dial, resizable, VST3...
https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2020/1 ... nes-crack/
BTW - reaction to post above: I like Analog Obsession plugins, but TRAX and few others like Sweetvoice (?) and Sweetdrum (?)... I don't know how to use, but can not tweak to sound I'd like.

https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2020/1 ... nes-crack/
BTW - reaction to post above: I like Analog Obsession plugins, but TRAX and few others like Sweetvoice (?) and Sweetdrum (?)... I don't know how to use, but can not tweak to sound I'd like.
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- KVRAF
- 1759 posts since 11 Nov, 2009 from Northern CA
Agreed. Although I haven't extensively compared transient shapers, this one struck me as the most musical and pleasant sounding.
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- KVRAF
- 4720 posts since 26 Nov, 2015 from Way Downunder
Flux Bittersweet Pro for the multi-band
- KVRAF
- 1583 posts since 26 Aug, 2019
I've evaluated a lot of transient shapers. I do not have a current favorite.
The Foresaken (Once used them):
[EDITED to update status of my eval]
The Foresaken (Once used them):
- NI Transient Master - Excellent sound (NOT TRUE), simple interface. NO RESIZE!
- Boz Transgressor 2 - Yeah but ROSETTA! NO RESIZE! Last release Nov 2019(!!)
- Audio Assault Multi Transient v2 - Decent multi-band. ROSETTA! Sep 2020(!) SILENTLY DEPRECATED!!
- Noiseworks Transplit - For separate Transient:Sustain effects chains.
- Wavegrove Utu - General purpose.
- Sonible Entropy EQ+ - Works well on certain material (vocals / voice... still evaluating), but not as easy to use or robust as others.
[EDITED to update status of my eval]
Last edited by kidslow on Tue Apr 02, 2024 1:48 am, edited 4 times in total.
- KVRist
- 311 posts since 5 Oct, 2004 from Brooklyn, NY.
I tend to use Newfangled Punctuate and Softube Transient Shaper the most. Been playing with Voxengo Peakbuster lately.
