Transient detection auto-drops slice points at clear amplitude hits in a waveform

Transient detection (Threshold on MPC, Detect on Maschine, Transient on Push) analyzes the waveform and drops slice points at clear hit points — the sharp amplitude rises characteristic of drum hits. A sensitivity control governs how many transients are detected, so it must be tuned to the material: too sensitive and reverb tails or ghost hits create false splits; too insensitive and soft hits get merged into a neighbour. It is the best mode for cutting a drum loop into individual hits automatically.

Examples

Chopping an ‘Amen’ break on Maschine with Detect at medium sensitivity yields the individual drum hits; lowering sensitivity merges a kick-snare cluster onto one pad.

Assessment

Explain what transient detection does and what its sensitivity control trades off (missed soft hits vs false splits on tails).