Waves Smack Attack Transient Shaper

US Plug-in aims to add smack and bite to drums, loops, synth hits and percussive sounds 02/05/17

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Waves Audio is now shipping the Smack Attack transient shaper plugin, which they say adds smack and bite to drums, loops, synth hits and all percussive sounds, by designing the level, shape and duration of their transients' attack and sustain – from surgical tweaks to savage effects. A spokesperson had this to say about it...

"Smack Attack can control the exact level, shape and duration of transients, giving your tracks the perfect tightness and dynamics they need. You can unleash or tame kicks, snares, claps, drum samples, or any other drum or percussion instrument – but also guitar and bass plucks, quick piano arpeggios, synth stabs, or even your entire mix.

Unlike traditional transient shapers, Smack Attack has not only the standard Attack and Sustain level controls; it also gives you pinpoint control over the transients' shape and duration. You can make a kick tighter than you'd ever imagined – or give your snares that extra crack. You also have a Sensitivity control for selective transient shaping: you can process all your transients, only the loudest ones, or anything in between.

Smack Attack also features a user-friendly GUI with real-time graphic waves display; a limiter/clipper for driving your sound to the limit; and a Wet/Dry mix control for parallel processing. Smack Attack is also MIDI-control-assignable.
Smack Attack will let you go sensitive or aggressive on your transients, design the perfect pulse in your tracks, and make every hit count."

This video shows how to get punchier drums and percussive sounds with the Smack Attack Transient Shaper: