Apparatus for manipulating an audio signal comprising a transient event, comprising: a signal processor for processing a transient reduced audio signal in which a first time portion comprising the transient event is removed, or for processing the audio signal comprising the transient event, to obtain a processed audio signal; a signal inserter for inserting a second time portion into the processed audio signal at a signal location, where the first time portion was removed or where the transient event is to be replaced in the processed audio signal, wherein the second time portion comprises the transient event not influenced by the processing performed by the signal processor so that a manipulated audio signal is obtained, wherein the signal processor performs a stretching of the transient-reduced audio signal by which the first time portion is stretched to the second time portion, the second time portion being longer in time than the first time portion, and wherein the signal inserter is configured to copy a portion of the audio signal comprising the transient event and a signal portion before or after the transient event so that the signal portion before or after the transient event has, together with the first time portion, the duration of the second time portion, and to insert an unmodified copy into the processed audio signal or to insert a copy of the audio signal comprising the transient event in which only a start portion or an end portion has been modified. a signal processor for processing a transient reduced audio signal in which a first time portion comprising the transient event is removed, or for processing the audio signal comprising the transient event, to obtain a processed audio signal; a signal inserter for inserting a second time portion into the processed audio signal at a signal location, where the first time portion was removed or where the transient event is to be replaced in the processed audio signal, wherein the second time portion comprises the transient event not influenced by the processing performed by the signal processor so that a manipulated audio signal is obtained, wherein the signal processor performs a stretching of the transient-reduced audio signal by which the first time portion is stretched to the second time portion, the second time portion being longer in time than the first time portion, and wherein the signal inserter is configured to copy a portion of the audio signal comprising the transient event and a signal portion before or after the transient event so that the signal portion before or after the transient event has, together with the first time portion, the duration of the second time portion, and to insert an unmodified copy into the processed audio signal or to insert a copy of the audio signal comprising the transient event in which only a start portion or an end portion has been modified. to copy a portion of the audio signal comprising the transient event and a signal portion before or after the transient event so that the signal portion before or after the transient event has, together with the first time portion, the duration of the second time portion, and to insert an unmodified copy into the processed audio signal or to insert a copy of the audio signal comprising the transient event in which only a start portion or an end portion has been modified.