BitterSweet Pro is the result of the improved algorithms found in Flux’s acclaimed transient processor freeware, BitterSweet that has been used by hundreds of thousands of users all over the world. One of the main features of BitterSweet Pro is the Frequency Dependent Transient algorithm that provides the ability to process only a certain part of the frequency spectrum. It makes it act like a dynamic equalizer driven by Transients and/or Sustain.
What is a Transient Designer?
A Transeint Designer is in its basic form a tool to manipulate the attack and/or sustain portion of a sound source. Originally designed by Rubin Tilgner for Sound Performance Labs, it makes use of combined VCA’s (voltage conrolled amplifiers) and Envelope Followers to increase or decrease amplitube at the transient stage or sustain/tail. This can create some exciting application control for drums, guitars, bass, vocals, and for use in mastering. It is considered a staple and essential unit in any professional studio.
Common Applications:
Drums:
Make your drums cut through the mix, sound punchy, alive and have energy to drive a song by increasing the amplitude of their transients directly on tracks or in parallel for ease of automation in sections. Soften transients to make a kit sound more roomy, dampen Snares (and their ring) or Toms by reducing their sustain whilst using the freqeucny range to fine tune tone processing.
Bass/Guitar:
As a compressor can effectively extend notes by raising lower level audio, so too can BitterSweet Pro by increaing sustain. But again, what’s great with this plug-in, is that you can set a frequency range to enact this process and say for example extend low-end in a Rock driven track, or in advanced use automate the frequency range for each note and sculpt the sound at the fundemental or harmonics, add exciment, beef up a guitar solo.
Room mics:
Flavour your room mics, increase the apparent size with sustain, enhance and excite the ambience with transient attack, and virtualise reflective materials at selective frequencies.
And lots more…!