drummers! how do I get this hihat sound??

[Stan_T]

I think you want compression, and tape saturation,

To duplicate the sound of simply hitting a hi-hat on it's edge? That sounds like a lot of shit to go through to get a sound that comes naturally to the instrument. Now that I think about it, BFD has some samples like that. They're listed as "shank" I think, because you're hitting the hats with the shank of the stick rather than the tip.

[tw1nstates]

It sounds like BFD

[hacktheplanet]

Easy.

Grab your laptop, your bus powered audio interface, and your microphone, and take that shit to Guitar Center. Then you can sample to your heart's content.

[nbinder]

What's different in your recordings?

Have you been playing with:
- different hats -> thick ones vs thin ones
- different sticks -> full wood, no plastic caps
- microphone position
- foot pressure (how open the hat actually is)
- playing position of the stick
- EQ, compression, deesser

Perhaps we could help more if you uploaded your attempt to recreate this.

[Stan_T]

Regarding the point that you need real hi-hats to sound like real hi-hats: I've played e-drums and acoustics for thirty years so I can back you up on that. But, to duplicate the sound in the LCD track, you could do that with samples if you wanted. The_planet had the best suggestion of any of us. Go to GC (with or without your gear ) and play the hats on display. The heavier, rock/metal models won't get as close to that sound. The medium, general purpose models will. Zildjian, Sabians, or Paiste would be interchangeable for this purpose.

[Ball Sack]

Thin Zildjian hats 67% copper-nickel alloy 15" diameter played with nylon-tipped Canadian hickory heavy sticks. Recorded with a Neuman U84 into a Neve 1073 PreAmp into a Helios desk, compressed with a UREI 1176 revision F in all-buttons mode onto a Studer 16-track with Ampex tape 19 Ips.

You're almost describing BFD2 there

[tw1nstates]

just get BFD, it's easier

[Smellhound]

thanks for all the suggestions.....here are loops that are the closest I've come to that sound: http://www.divshare.com/download/6979390-474

I don't doubt with the right samples something very similar could be programmed...I just haven't found the right samples and/or set of hihats to record with. I guess i'll have to try BFD.

[Smellhound]

I should mention I recently bought a couple pairs at Guitar Center, recorded them, and returned them. But GC seems to have a policy of making their employees sniff out people who do that...the guy wouldn't let me leave without me promising I was planning on keeping them (which made returning them to the same dude tons of fun).

[thefinger]

I should mention I recently bought a couple pairs at Guitar Center, recorded them, and returned them. But GC seems to have a policy of making their employees sniff out people who do that...the guy wouldn't let me leave without me promising I was planning on keeping them (which made returning them to the same dude tons of fun).

lol. it's not really a policy thing. more of a getting-negative-commission-on-returns thing. the guy's probably been burned before by the return policy (every salesman has, really) and for some reason thinks he can pressure you into not returning it. don't fall for it, the return policy clearly states 30 days.