Need help mixing/snare

transient design, eq, multiband compress, clipper.

I like to start out with cubase's envelope shaper > cubase's stock EQ > waves C4 > GVST Gclip
Sometimes a mid cut on the channel EQ and depending on the sample stereo widening.
 
transient design, eq, multiband compress, clipper.

I like to start out with cubase's envelope shaper > cubase's stock EQ > waves C4 > GVST Gclip
Sometimes a mid cut on the channel EQ and depending on the sample stereo widening.

I'll probably sound like a noob but what exactly transient plugins do? I use reaper and I have Gclip so I can do pretty much everything here.
 
The transient is the very beginning of the note. Transient designing is targeted at affecting that beginning, which makes it great for drums. With a transient designer you can make the beginning of the hit harder or softer, and depending on which designer you use you can affect the end of the note/hit as well, making it longer or shorter. Often when you bump up the attack of the hit it'll make it jump way into the red on the faders, so thats why you clip after it, keeps it where you want it.