darken the sound of cymbals ? - Page 2

Vintageblue02 · 8th November 2009

1) Use thinner "K" styled cymbals. K Zildjian, Dream Bliss, etc.

2) Ribbon mic(s)

3) Room treatment? While something often overlooked, I don't know how much of a difference it might make...bad cymbals & band mics will still sound bad in a good room.

pan60 · 9th November 2009

i was looking for a darker more musical cymbal, when i heard the Zildjian Flat top now have i was happy.
also a fan of the mini bells as of late.

uncle duncan · 9th November 2009

If the cymbals are brand new, there's supposed to be a break-in period, after which they'll mellow a bit. Duct tape underneath also works wonders. I tried two 2" pieces opposite each other under a bright 18" Agop ride, about a third of the way in from the edge - this was for a recording session. The tape shortens the sustain, but it also calms some of the sizzle. You can also move the tape around, or try moongels or the felt pads, or a combination. A few minutes of experimentation could yield great results. The other day I picked up a 22" Zildian dry light ride over Craig's List, and it had residue underneath from a 6" piece of duct tape, so the practice is pretty common. (The cymbal's for sale, if anyone's interested. It's just too big and loud for my small recording room.)

If the tape doesn't do it for you and you can't return them or trade them in, you could check with Mike Skiba over at the Cymbalholic.com forum. He's an expert at modding cymbals. He could listen to an mp3 and give you an estimate, although it would probably be cheaper to just dump them and start over. There's also an active classified section over at the cymbalholic.com forum, but you have to get approved to register. From what I gather, it's a rather exclusive bunch. Coincidentally, it's the only forum I've ever seen with no flame wars.

**toolskid** · 9th November 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle duncan

From what I gather, it's a rather exclusive bunch. Coincidentally, it's the only forum I've ever seen with no flame wars.

if only that was true!!!

It is a great forum though!

GGreen · 9th November 2009

Just to add a different opinion.

Bosphorus Traditional and Masters series are 'dark' and lush imho.

Obviously youll need to find a good one like all cymbals play them to find the one that 'fits'

Hey Em

Cheers

gareth

biggator6 · 9th November 2009

I like Sabian HH for darker cymbals... thin or med-thin.. (This is the Sabian equivalent to the aforementioned Zildjian K dark cymbals).

9th November 2009	#32
pan60 500 series nutjob Joined: Nov 2004 Location: 500 series Guru SKANK! ; ) Posts: 10,940	i was looking for a darker more musical cymbal, when i heard the Zildjian Flat top now have i was happy. also a fan of the mini bells as of late. __________________ www.pan60.com Pan60 Facebook Page Pan's Facebook BLAST PAD Inventor just one invention among others. A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE 500 FORMAT, MAFIA it is easy to sound as though one was endowed with great intelligence, whilst speaking amongst a crowd of total morons

9th November 2009	#33
uncle duncan Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,710	If the cymbals are brand new, there's supposed to be a break-in period, after which they'll mellow a bit. Duct tape underneath also works wonders. I tried two 2" pieces opposite each other under a bright 18" Agop ride, about a third of the way in from the edge - this was for a recording session. The tape shortens the sustain, but it also calms some of the sizzle. You can also move the tape around, or try moongels or the felt pads, or a combination. A few minutes of experimentation could yield great results. The other day I picked up a 22" Zildian dry light ride over Craig's List, and it had residue underneath from a 6" piece of duct tape, so the practice is pretty common. (The cymbal's for sale, if anyone's interested. It's just too big and loud for my small recording room.) If the tape doesn't do it for you and you can't return them or trade them in, you could check with Mike Skiba over at the Cymbalholic.com forum. He's an expert at modding cymbals. He could listen to an mp3 and give you an estimate, although it would probably be cheaper to just dump them and start over. There's also an active classified section over at the cymbalholic.com forum, but you have to get approved to register. From what I gather, it's a rather exclusive bunch. Coincidentally, it's the only forum I've ever seen with no flame wars. __________________ "You're either with a native DAW, or you're with the terrorists." G.W. Busch Lite

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8th November 2009	#31
Vintageblue02 Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 238	1) Use thinner "K" styled cymbals. K Zildjian, Dream Bliss, etc. 2) Ribbon mic(s) 3) Room treatment? While something often overlooked, I don't know how much of a difference it might make...bad cymbals & band mics will still sound bad in a good room.

9th November 2009	#35
GGreen Gear addict Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 476	Just to add a different opinion. Bosphorus Traditional and Masters series are 'dark' and lush imho. Obviously youll need to find a good one like all cymbals play them to find the one that 'fits' Hey Em Cheers gareth

9th November 2009	#36
biggator6 Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,979	I like Sabian HH for darker cymbals... thin or med-thin.. (This is the Sabian equivalent to the aforementioned Zildjian K dark cymbals).