Pan for feel and space for a vibrant hi-hat sound By panning hi-hats to the sides, everything that’s left in the center will get more attention, simultaneously making the mix feel wider and more rhythmic. For hip-hop and electronic tracks, I like to pan hats 30–50% away from the center.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=N4WxkzIIl9M
In this post
Should hi-hats be mono or stereo?
The kick and the snare should be mono, the open-hats and the toms should be panned, and the closed hi-hats can be both panned and stereo.
How loud should hi-hats be in a mix?
If you absolutely must have a volume level for your hi hats, I would suggest -20 db. But this can vary depending on the artistic effect you’re going for as well as how high the average peak volume of your song is going to be.
Should I pan my drums?
Panning is one of the most crucial things you can use to make your drum sound fill the entire room. The kick drum, and in some cases the snare drum too, will usually be in the centre of sound, so it will not require panning.
Should I put reverb on hi-hats?
Adding some modulation or reverb to the white noise sample will improve high-end detail as well. Another trick to excite filtered hi-hats is to slap on some saturation or distortion.
Why does my hi-hat sound tinny?
If you push too hard on your hi-hat foot pedal, you will choke the cymbals, and this is a sure way to make even the best cymbals sound average.
How tight should hi-hat Clutch be?
A little loose gives a good “wash” too, when you want it. Rub your palms together…the looser you have the hats, the more of THAT action between the cymbals you get. The tighter the hats, the more the edges will stay in line with each other, and the result is more “clang” sound.
Is snare louder than 808?
Especially in hip hop, kick drums like the 808 tend to be the loudest instrument in a mix. Instead of dressing up an 808 with half-a-dozen signal processors, just try making it louder than the other instruments. Start with all your faders down.
How should you EQ hi-hats?
EQ (cut): The base frequencies of hi-hats are often somewhere in between 500Hz and 2kHz. Apply a HPF right before these frequencies to keep a clean mix. Hi-hats are important in defining the high frequencies of a song. Therefore, we add a LPF at the peak of their frequency range at around 20kHz.
What dB should kick be at?
Re: Recommended -dB of bass in relation to kick
I would recommend you average your levels around -18db or so and after that, while mixing, set your levels in relation to each other rather than the meter per se.
How do you make cymbals sound better?
However, there are a few things you can do that will make your current cymbals sound slightly better.
- Upgrade Your Hardware.
- Improve Your Technique.
- Keep Cymbals Clean.
- Making Your Cymbals Sound Brighter or Darker.
- Soundproofing Your Drum Room.
- Adding Things to the Cymbals.
- Getting Better Cymbals.
Can you use a hi-hat as a crash?
You can do whatever you want. I’ve heard of people using 2 16″ crashes as hihats, the only real problem with this is placement. Using one half of a hihat as a crash wouldn’t be too bad, as long as you like the sound.
What is a hi-hat supposed to sound like?
When struck closed or played with the pedal, the hi-hat gives a short, crisp, muted percussive sound, referred to as a “chick”. Adjusting the gap between the cymbals can alter the sound of the open hi-hat from a shimmering, sustained tone to something similar to a ride cymbal.
Should bass be panned?
Always pan the bass center
There is a reason behind this. If the bass comes from both stereo speakers, it can be louder than if it only comes from one. Also, in the days of vinyl records, there could be problems with mistracking on playback if the bass was panned all the way to one side.
Where should the snare sit in the mix?
You’ll see a bump at the lower end of the snare on the frequency spectrum, this is the body of the snare. In my example below it’s at 200Hz. Listen to the snare in the context of the whole mix and cut or boost it to sit perfectly in your mix.
What is best size for hi-hat cymbals?
If you are looking for a higher pitch, we recommend choosing a pair of 13” hi-hat cymbals. These hi-hats usually work well in gospel, fusion, and funk music. Alternatively, 15” or 16” hi-hats provide a much deeper sound with more sustain, which many people prefer when playing rock and jazz music.
What are the best hi-hat cymbals?
7 Best Hi-Hats for 2022
- 1 Paiste Formula 602 Modern Essentials Hi Hat Cymbals 15″: Best Hi-Hats for Versatility.
- 2 Paiste Signature Dark Crisp Hi-Hat Cymbals 14″: Best Hi Hats for Recording.
- 3 Zildjian A Avedis Hi Hat Cymbals 14″: Best Vintage Hi Hats.
- 4 Zildjian K Sweet Hi Hat Pair 14″: Best Hi Hats for Value.
How do you silence cymbals?
Tape placed near the center of the cymbal will help dampen the bow sound as well as the bell tone. Tape placed near the edges will dampen the sound when you crash on it.
What does a hi-hat drop clutch do?
A device used on some hi-hat stands to release/drop the upper hi-hat cymbal so that it sits against the lower hi-hat cymbal, even when the hi-hat pedal is not depressed by the drummer’s foot. Drop clutches may be activated with a drum stick or using a locking hi-hat pedal.
Why do my 808s sound muddy?
Often times, 808s ring out too long. This can cause them to trample over the groove of a track. The result? A boomy, muddy low end.
Should I make my kicks mono?
You should keep your individual drum hits in mono if possible, especially the kick drum, though you should also use stereo effects or panning decisions to create width and separation in your sound to add more variety to your mix.