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Waves Trans-X software guide page 2 of 8
Chapter 1 – Introduction and Overview
The Waves Trans-X transient processor is a special breed of dynamics
processor designed specifically for detecting and shaping the transient attacks
of audio signals. This is useful for adding or reducing the punch or pluck of a
certain instrument. Trans-X is also a great tool for shaping the impact of the
impulsive transients vs. the continuous and sustained components of the
sound.
While normal dynamics processors detect when the level goes over a certain
reference level, the Trans-X detects when gain rises faster than a certain
velocity reference; hence the signal can be low at times and higher at other
times or even fade out gradually, and the transient attacks will still be detected
and re-shaped as required.
Many times we face a situation where a sound doesn’t transparently cut
through the mix, although its frequency response and dynamic range are
satisfactory. Other times the opposite happens: we need to tame the impact of
the attacks of a certain instrument to focus its continuous and harmonic
properties and reduce its rhythmic or impulsive attacks. Classic examples
include a drum set that never sounds close enough and a bass drum track
that kicks nicely when soloed but disappears when the other instruments join
in. An acoustic guitar track usually presents a very distinct pluck or strum
versus its rich continuous harmonics. The Trans-X is perfect for making it
sound as if it were recorded with different microphone placements or pick
material. A bassline track can enhance its rhythmic drive or tame it to become
a “Virtual Fretless Bass” (see the factory presets).
To control the detection of transient attacks, Trans-X allows you to specify the
Duration of the attacks you want to detect, and the Sensitivity to the attacks’
amplitude. Only attacks shorter than Duration will be detected, and as the
Sensitivity is lower, only attacks with higher amplitude will be detected.
To control the shape of your transient attacks, Trans-X allows you to specify
the Range of gain adjustments, and the Release time for the gain to return to
unity after the attack has ended.
Shorter attacks naturally have more impact and longer ones have less punch.
It is necessary to adjust the Duration according to the program material and
the nature of the attacks that you want to shape.
The Trans-X comes in two flavors, wideband and multiband. The wideband
consumes fewer process resources than the multiband component. It detects
attacks in the total program energy so it is especially useful for processing a
certain single instrument or single track.