HoRNet Spikes

HoRNet Spikes 1.1.0 is available, this update is free for owners of our transient shaper / processor plugin and includes:

• Added Apple Silicon native support

Transient shaper for peak control

HoRNet Spikes is a powerful and versatile transient shaper/processor designed to give audio engineers, producers, and musicians precise control over the dynamics of their sound. Its standout feature is its intelligent automatic settings, which allow users to manipulate the transients of an audio signal using just one knob. This streamlined approach makes it incredibly easy to enhance or tame peaks in your mix, without diving into a sea of parameters. However, for those who prefer more detailed customization, all settings remain fully accessible and can be fine-tuned with ease.

When dealing with audio processing, one of the most common challenges is balancing the peaks and the body of a sound. Traditional compressors require the user to set a fixed threshold, which demands careful monitoring of the input level to achieve the desired result. In contrast, HoRNet Spikes uses a relative threshold, which automatically adjusts based on the input signal. This approach eliminates the need for constant attention to levels, making it faster and more intuitive to use.

Transient shaper faster than your peaks

What sets HoRNet Spikes apart is its ability to respond to fast transients, such as those created by a snare drum, acoustic guitar, or any percussive instrument, even faster than the peaks themselves. This is achieved by using an envelope follower system that compares two different envelopes—one with a fast attack and another with a slow attack. The difference between these two envelopes indicates the presence and strength of transients. This difference signal is then fed into a gain stage, which dynamically adjusts the volume of the signal according to the “spike level” you set.

Thanks to this clever design, you can enhance the transients for a sharper, snappier sound, or reduce them to create a rounder, fuller tone. Whether you’re working on drums, vocals, acoustic instruments, or even synths, HoRNet Spikes adapts to the material and gives you precise control.

At the heart of the plugin lies its transient detection algorithm. While the default settings are optimized to perform well in a wide variety of contexts, users who desire more control will find that HoRNet Spikes offers several parameters for customization. You can adjust both the peak length and the release time, which determine how quickly or slowly the plugin reacts to dynamic changes in the audio signal.

One particularly helpful feature is the auto-release mode, which is synchronized to the tempo of your project. This ensures that the transient processing remains musically natural, regardless of the speed or rhythm of the track. This is especially useful when working with rhythmic material, as it keeps the processing transparent and in time with the groove.

In addition to these features, HoRNet Spikes includes a high-pass filter with a 12dB/oct slope positioned before the transient detector. This filter is crucial for reducing the impact of low-frequency content, such as the sub-bass of a kick drum or the deep tones of a bass guitar, which can otherwise interfere with the accuracy of transient detection. By filtering out these frequencies, the plugin focuses on the transient energy in the mid and high frequencies, where it is most relevant.

The central control in HoRNet Spikes is the “spikes level” knob, which lets you adjust the amount of gain applied to detected transients. Turning this knob up increases the prominence of transients, giving your audio a crisper, punchier quality. Turning it down suppresses transients, resulting in a smoother, more consistent sound. Since this adjustment affects the output volume, the plugin also includes an auto-output gain compensation option to maintain a consistent output level, preventing your mix from getting unexpectedly louder or quieter.

To help you keep track of what’s happening under the hood, HoRNet Spikes features a real-time gain meter that displays how much gain is being added or reduced. If the amount of gain being applied is too drastic, the plugin provides gain limit sliders that allow you to set both upper and lower bounds for the gain range. This way, you can avoid over-processing and keep your signal within a desired dynamic window.

In summary, HoRNet Spikes is a smart, efficient, and user-friendly tool for transient shaping. Whether you’re looking to add punch to your drums, smooth out vocals, or control the dynamics of any other instrument, this plugin offers both simplicity and depth. Its relative threshold, tempo-synced release, high-pass filtering, and auto gain compensation all contribute to making it one of the most effective transient shapers available today.

If you’re seeking a tool that reacts faster than your peaks, gives you precise control, and still manages to keep things intuitive, HoRNet Spikes might just become your go-to solution for dynamic enhancement.