I have just recently used this piece of equipment and I have to say I found it to be well worth the money. It is especially useful for hip-hop and pop music production to get that really clear sound you desire.

What the Transient Designer is:

The transient designer allows the user to shape the dynamic response of a sound. There are two parameters on each of the four channels and simply control the attack and sustain of the signal. These are the basic components of an envelope. SPL have decided not to bother the user with any controls for decay and release, making it as easy as they can for us to use.

What it does:

Lets take a kick drum sample for example. You're looking for a good kick sample for your track and you finally come across the right one...its perfect!!! (The exclamation marks are for dramatic effect. You know how excited you get when something goes right, because it doesn't happen often in the audio world). The only thing about the sample is you wish it had a bit more attack to it. Simply route it out of ProTools and into the transient designer, then back into Pro Tools. Turn the attack knob up until you get your desired sound and Bob's your uncle (please e-mail me if Bob is actually your uncle because he owes me $20).

From using it for the few hours I had it, I found that you can use it on almost anything. I used it on strings I recorded a while ago just to lengthen the sustain slightly. I also ran a kick and snare through it, and the result sounded great. What I found very nice about this piece of equipment was that because the processing does not pay any attention to the signal level but instead works off the sounds dynamic envelope, it sounds just as good on loud sounds as it does on soft sounds.

What is the price, I hear you say? You would be looking at just under $1000 ($1263 USD) for the 4 channel version although there is a 2 channel version you can pick up for cheaper.

In my opinion SPL have definitely done something good for the audio community in making this product. I would and will definitely spend the money to buy it when I save up enough. If you produce hip hop and are looking to polish up your sound, then this should definitely be in your rack of cool pieces of audio gear.

Specs:

Input & Output

* Instrumentation amplifier, electronically balanced (differential), transformerless

* Nominal input level: +6dB

* Input impedance: = 22kOhms

* Output impedance: < 600Ohms

* Max. input level : +24dBu

* Max. output level: +22,4dBu

* Minimum load ohms: 600Ohms

* Relay Hard Bypass

* Power Fail Safety

Measurements

* Frequency response: 20 Hz - 100 kHz

(100 kHz = -3 dB)

* CCMR (common mode rejection): - 80dBu @1kHz

* THD & N: 0,004% @1kHz

* S/N CCIR 468-3: -89dBu

* S/N A-weighted: -105dBu

Power Supply

* Torroidal transformer: 15VA

* Fuse: 315mA

* Ground-Lift switch

* Voltage selector

Dimensions

* Housing: Standard EIA 19"/1U, 482 x 44,45 x 237mm

* Weight: 3,4 kg

Note: 0dBu = 0.775V. Subject to change without notice.