How to Deal with a Loud Hihat and Cheap Cymbals - Overheads

For the free PDF guide go to: creativesoundlab.tv/solutions-for-loud-hihat-problems/

[@capturelightmedia]

I've been recording drums for quite some time now. After a while, it seems that it's easy to get caught in a pattern. Borderline laziness, so to speak. After watching this video, I felt motivated. I went into the live room and played around with mic positions for a couple hours. I am glad that I did. Waaaaay better sound now. Thank you, kind sir.

[@creativesoundlab]

+Jared Pennock Wow Jared, thanks for telling me your story and how it turned out.

[@Martin-kn6vc]

Interesting results with those overhead positions. I loved that hi-hat experiment you did - a real night and day difference! I did a session a couple of years ago where the drummer was using cheap AND cracked cymbals. It sounded absolutely terrible, but I used my Cascade Fathead IIs which tamed the high end quite considerably, so the sound was just about useable. Great content as always!

[@creativesoundlab]

+Martin Great story. Yeah, I think ribbons can really help mellow out cymbals, and allow the overheads to emphasize the drums as well, not just the cymbals. I didn't know what to expect from that hihat test, and to be honest it's something new for me too. Was cool it worked out.

[@robertsimpson5801]

Hi, Ryan! Do you usually record your signals direct in and reamp them through your preamps to see what flavor you want, or do you pick a flavor on the way in?

[@AdamRainStopper]

I love the live dramatic action-shot freeze-frame at 3:13. I'm half expecting to see a second one of you walk out in front of the kit, while the first you is still frozen in time behind the kit, and the second you points to the first you starts talking about "Ryan" in the third-person...... "So as we can see, Ryan has the ribbon mic just above the ride, aimed at the snare, and his hands are frozen in time."

[@creativesoundlab]

Yeah, that's what happens when you have too much talking compared to the footage you have. It's a timing issue. Now days I just shot a bunch of sexy shots of mics that visual fill the space while I'm talking.

[@alanduncan1980]

Sounds pretty sweet, man. Snare is sounding nice!

[@dbdrumcovers3423]

thank you so much for making this video! I am new to making covers and someone donated me top of the line mics and I had no idea how to use them!! I have watched your videos and am excited to record now!! THANK YOU!

[@creativesoundlab]

Nice, the easiest technique to try is the XY and have the snare in the middle of your image. Space all close mics 2 inches from the heads and you'll be off to a good start.

[@dbdrumcovers3423]

Thanks! I tried the Glyn Jons (not sure if I spelt that right) and absolutely loved it!!!

[@GrandNebSmada]

I really enjoy your snare sound!

[@niteshademusic5262]

thx awesome info man. id add that hi hat gap makes a difference. if u play double bass close up the gap so when its open its still touching n barely open. old heads hate my set up but sounds way better becouse normally you hold the hat open but not fully open...cant do that when double bassing.

[@JohnBassarcticsoundstudios]

I love your show keep up the great work

[@AdamRainStopper]

Are there simple and not too risky little modifications you can do to the hihat cymbals to make them quieter and maybe a bit brighter? Like maybe take a little off around the edges?

[@creativesoundlab]

Um, well I have taken a bandana and put it in the hihat before. You could also get someone to lathe it down perhaps. I know that thinner cymbals will down in pitch but be quieter (If I have that right). I pry would want a darker sound, rather than brighter.

[@AdamRainStopper]

creativesoundlab That sounds wrong, the thinner = darker part. I don't see how the physics would be any different in principle than with the relationship between diameter and pitch, but I reckon I ain't too bright so . . .

[@jonathanziegler5695]

Does that have rivets or any cracks?

[@sagecarter2368]

My only hi hats are Sabian B8s and they sound like CRAP, way too bright and clunky and when they’re even slightly open they sound like trash cans 😢 if you have any extra tips for dealing with these I would be forever grateful

[@ousiavazia]

6:48 genius

[@angeloboltinimusic]

What's that wavy looking crash cymbal you're using there?

[@creativesoundlab]

+Angelo Boltini Great question! It's called the "Crash of Doom" by Zildjian. 20 inch, never been polished. About 18 years old.

[@lucianomanfrinato5481]

I just subscribed. Thanks for the info!

[@creativesoundlab]

Thanks!

[@AdamRainStopper]

My hat is pretty loud, but I still very much prefer the second (above the snare) position, both for the ride and the snare.

[@creativesoundlab]

Nice!

[@bavarianmonkey8326]

That snare sounds killer! What's the manufacturer/type/heads? :)

[@creativesoundlab]

+BavarianMonkey Thanks man. It's a 14x5.5 deep mahogany snare. It's a Premiere Olympic, with Remo coated ambassador head on the top, thin snare head on bottom. Bottom is tuned very high, top head is just a little above the pitch of the high tom.

[@bavarianmonkey8326]

creativesoundlab thanks a lot. You provide such inspiring content, it is a shame that you don't have more subscribers... and yes, my adblock is OFF. :)

[@rafrecording]

many thanks! very helpful!

[@ACKEBRACKE]

Awesome video and you my friend, have a great drumface :)

[@creativesoundlab]

Haha, thanks!

[@AndrewBeveridge461]

I was admiring that heavy duty boom stand until I saw it bobbing up and down at 10:34.

[@Manofmanytallets]

Is there anyway to make the mono overhead sound stereo without phase problems?

[@creativesoundlab]

+Manofmanytallets Like making it into a fake stereo sound for a mix? or are you asking how to add a second mic without phase problems?

[@Manofmanytallets]

+creativesoundlab yeah so like one mic but fake stereo! I only have one overhead and I want a stereo sound, I have used sample delay before but has phase issues. Currently working on bussing it to a reverb then having reverb on one side and actually OH on the other but like a really tight sounding reverb

[@creativesoundlab]

+Manofmanytallets The best way I use a mono overhead is to have other mics in the room (Room mics, Guitar amp mics, vocal mics, ect) that I can use to get a more stereo sound. The overhead stays centered and in mono, while other mics give me a wider sound out to the sides. If you have two guitars for example, and you can pan each one out to the side, then the bleed of the drums into the guitar amp mics will give you a stereo sound. Try delaying the guitar tracks by 20 ms for more drum bleed to poke through the mix. Even a 57 can work great as a pair of room mics if you have them, just place them 5 feet from the front of the kit, and point them away from the drums. The only other way is to take one of your studio monitors, and play the mono overhead into your room, and record that as a stereo recording. Not the best, but I think it's way better than using delay or something. It's kind of your your reverb idea actually.

[@Manofmanytallets]

Thanks !! Will give it a try!!

[@Samos12]

What's that thing on top of the tone beast?

[@creativesoundlab]

+Samos12 That would be the inputs and outputs for my DAW. It's a MOTU 24io. Way old, but it works great...or I should say it's reliable. I'm sure there are advances in the sound of the digital conversion by this point.

[@LandonTyner]

Thanks dude!

[@Samos12]

GK Audio UltraPhones? I can't record with anything else! Great video... I just stuck a cymbal in between my overhead and my hi hat, we'll see how that works... :-)

[@creativesoundlab]

+Samos12 Actually those ear muffs are just the standard ear muffs and I stuffed them with a set of ear phones that broke. The cord for the ear phones hangs out the bottom, but everyone loves them. I think I remember they had a pair of these with 7506s in them, but those are kind of bright.

[@Samos12]

+creativesoundlab - They're fantastic. Really accurate and very isolating and comfortable... Absolutely no bleed while recording quieter tracks, vocals, etc... Maybe its the extra isolation, but they actually sound better to me than my 7506s do, even though they are the same driver...

[@JB-zg1ub]

+creativesoundlab First off, best resource for recording drum sounds on the web! Would like to see a video on how you made your isolation headphones for those of us who can’t afford the gk ultra phones. Isolation headphones are a great tool for mic placement

[@roonbare2769]

Or..... Throw high hats and cymbals in the garbage, because they make any track annoying as hell. Only sound more annoying is a cowbell.

[@creativesoundlab]

That's a great idea if all you record are jungle beats, or your name is Peter Gabriel in 1982.

[@danadrian2752]

Adam Bradley I’m honestly interested in what types of music you listen to, please enlighten me.