The Transient module is especially useful for shaping percussive sounds. For example, it can be used to emphasize the stick attack of a snare drum sound, while de-emphasizing its body or room sound. Careful use of the Transient module can help a wide range different material sit differently in a mix, making it a powerful sound-shaping tool for any style of music.
The Transient module will analyze the incoming audio in real-time and split all transients into their two components: the initial ‘Attack’ and peak of each transient, and the ‘Sustain’ as the transient is fading down. This process happens very quickly in order to accurately account for each Transient’s Attack and Sustain components. With the available Time controls however, the Transient modules response and behavior with respect to each transient can be fine tuned.
If you are working with audio that has multiple elements with frequency dependent transient activity such as drum tracks, working in Multi-band mode will give you better sounding results.
Key Features:
• Emphasize or de-emphasize transients
• Control over initial attack and sustained portion of sounds with gain and time controls for each
• Emphasis Meters show the effect of the process on audio.
• Single and Multiband operation
Attack (Gain) – Putting the control above zero makes the attack portion of the transient louder, below zero the attack is de-emphasized and quieter.
Attack Time – This affects how long (in milliseconds) of a portion of the Attack part of the transient will be affected by the Attack Gain. It also influences how Alloy will detect transient, in order to correspond with the material you are working with.
In general, use shorter Attack times for very quick and percussive material and to sharply accentuate the initial transient. Longer attack times will give a more rounded transient shaping and be better suited towards material with larger, less percussive transients.
Sustain (Gain) – works similarly to the Attack Gain, but shapes the second half of the transient.
Sustain Time – Affects how long of a portion of audio the Sustain Gain effects after the initial attack of the transient. Similar to the Attack time, this also controls how Alloy will process the incoming audio in order to split each transient up into Attack and Sustain.
Longer sustain times can often provide a more gentle and pumping sound when accentuated, or a transient gating effect when diminished. Shorter sustain times can be used for very quick percussive material as a way of shaping the tail end of these transients.
Emphasis Meters
The Emphasis Meters how much the attack and sustain portions of the transient are being affected by the Attack and Sustain settings. When the level is being raised, the meter is yellow and extends above the center point; when the level is being lowered, the meter is blue and extends below the center point.
Multiband Operation
Switching the Transient module to multiband mode lets you apply the transient shaping process to multiple frequencies independently.
You may want to switch to multiband mode if you are working with audio that has multiple elements that sit in different frequency ranges such as a mixed drum track. For example, the low band could be used to emphasize the attack of the kick drum, while the middle band could emphasize the body and room tone of the snare. Multiband mode can also be useful for careful shaping of sounds like picked acoustic guitar or even voice (it can help control popped p or b sounds for example).