Impact is a transient shaper from Surreal Machines that modifies the attack and body of a sound across one, two or three bands.
Impact at a glance
| Developer | Surreal Machines |
|---|---|
| Type | Effects / Transient Shaper |
| Formats | VST3, VST2, AU |
| Operating systems | Windows 8 or later, macOS 10.11 or later |
| Apple Silicon | Native |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| RAM | 4 GB or more |
| Free trial | Available |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €48.59 |
What Impact does
The plugin is a multi-channel processor that can be switched between one, two and three bands for transient modification, so the attack of a sound can be reshaped in the whole signal or separately per band. As part of its dynamic processing chain, Impact includes four switchable styles of analogue-modelled saturation. The developer states that the plugin is meant to shape transients exactly as wanted while adding some colour to the result. Impact is available as VST3, VST2 and AU for Windows and macOS, with native support for Apple Silicon listed.
Key features
- One, two and three band modes. The processor can be set to modify transients across a single band or be divided into two or three bands, each treated on its own.
- Four saturation styles. Four switchable styles of analogue-modelled saturation sit inside the dynamic processing chain.
- Transient shaping with colour. The plugin shapes transients as set and can add colour to the signal through the saturation stage.
Impact compared with similar plugins
Other transient shapers in the catalog include DS-10 Drum Shaper by XLN Audio, which is offered as VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone, and Transient Shaper by Softube, which is offered as VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and RTAS. Both are listed for Windows and macOS.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impact | Surreal Machines | Transient Shaper | VST3, VST2, AU | Windows, macOS | €48.59 |
| DS-10 Drum Shaper | XLN Audio | Transient Shaper | VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone | Windows, macOS | €58.51 |
| Transient Shaper | Softube | Transient Shaper | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €88.26 |
| Oxford TransMod | Sonnox | Transient Shaper | VST3, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €38.68 (regular €165.61) |
| Fosfat | Klevgrand | Transient Shaper | VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €34.71 |
Price and availability
Impact was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €48.59. A free trial is offered. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
Impact FAQ
Is there a working serial key or keygen for Impact?
A serial key is the string most often typed with the plugin name, and a keygen is the tool that usually accompanies a repacked release.