You can apply expansion to the initial transient to give it more bite, and also apply compression to the transient's tail to tighten it up. For example, it can apply compression and expansion to the same transient at different points in time. Types of ProcessingĪ transient shaper is capable of applying mixed forms of dynamics processing to a single transient. At the end of this short guide I'll also explain when it's appropriate to use each type of device. However, there are a few key differences in the types of processing these devices can apply, and the way in which their controls function. With sample-based music, in which all of your drum hits are of the same amplitude, it would at first seem like a compressor is capable of applying the same type of processing as a transient shaper. This means that transient shapers are meant for input signals that are dynamic, such as the snare recording of a Jazz drummer. The main difference between transient shapers and compressors is that transient shapers are threshold-independent, while compressors are threshold-dependent.
