How do you treat your overheads?

frist44 · 24th March 2004

I've got some good sounding drum tracks and during mixing, I'm having a little trouble dealing with the overheads. I like them out in front, but they're a little uneven. I tried to do a stereo compression with the rnc, but i didn't like what it did to the high end. I can drop them down in the track, but they're still kinda splotchy; good level during the crash hits, and then die down during the hi hat riding. I guess that's why some individually mic the cymbals, but if you don't, what can i do to get aroudn it?

when you're mixing tracks, what do you do to the o/h's?

Brandon

djui5 · 24th March 2004

You could either ride the faders with automation or compress then EQ after the compression to bring a little life back in.....those are my thoughts..

imacgreg · 25th March 2004

Yeah, compress, then maybe EQ after. Make sure your attack isn't too fast on your comp. It will darken the cymbals if it's too fast. Maybe a medium to slow release?? I believe the problem is caused by too distant cymbal micing, BUT don't mic the cymbals too close, you run into a different set of problems. I would almost rather have cymbals miced too distant rather than too close, but I'm biased because I'm currently mixing a song where I miced too close. No fun. I'm just starting to figure out where the middle of the road is.

Ian

natpub · 25th March 2004

Agree with the slowing the attack time. Let the transients pass, maybe reduce ratio and threshold. The RNC has a tendency to crunch and distort with too much reduction (esp if rapid), and it definately eats the highs. Also, try NOT using SuperNice mode, since it is reportedly acting like 3 compressors in a row. That may be OK for moderate sources, or for effect, but not for huge, transparent gain reduc.

What mics are you using? I would avoid medding with EQ if at all possible. Experiment with mic selection and placement.

K

Jules · 25th March 2004

Make a copy or 'mult' of them and feed one set into a compressed drum group. Then have the other set ready to feed into the mix buss uncompressed. This will 'even them out' for ya and should, in a perfect world, compliment the other drums.

24th March 2004	#1
frist44 Gear addict Joined: Oct 2003 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 491 Thread Starter	How do you treat your overheads? I've got some good sounding drum tracks and during mixing, I'm having a little trouble dealing with the overheads. I like them out in front, but they're a little uneven. I tried to do a stereo compression with the rnc, but i didn't like what it did to the high end. I can drop them down in the track, but they're still kinda splotchy; good level during the crash hits, and then die down during the hi hat riding. I guess that's why some individually mic the cymbals, but if you don't, what can i do to get aroudn it? when you're mixing tracks, what do you do to the o/h's? Brandon __________________ www.bigbluesound.com

24th March 2004	#2
djui5 Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 6,664	You could either ride the faders with automation or compress then EQ after the compression to bring a little life back in.....those are my thoughts.. __________________ _________________ "What is a crossfire hurricane & why wasn't I born in one?" Randy Wright

25th March 2004	#3
imacgreg Gear addict Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Echo Park, Los Angeles Posts: 444	Yeah, compress, then maybe EQ after. Make sure your attack isn't too fast on your comp. It will darken the cymbals if it's too fast. Maybe a medium to slow release?? I believe the problem is caused by too distant cymbal micing, BUT don't mic the cymbals too close, you run into a different set of problems. I would almost rather have cymbals miced too distant rather than too close, but I'm biased because I'm currently mixing a song where I miced too close. No fun. I'm just starting to figure out where the middle of the road is. Ian __________________ ---------- Ian MacGregor http://twitter.com/#!/blackwatchsound www.standard-audio.com - Home of the Level-Or, 500 series Level-loc inspired limiter Visit Standard Audio on Facebook

25th March 2004	#4
natpub More cowbell! Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,171 2 Reviews written	Agree with the slowing the attack time. Let the transients pass, maybe reduce ratio and threshold. The RNC has a tendency to crunch and distort with too much reduction (esp if rapid), and it definately eats the highs. Also, try NOT using SuperNice mode, since it is reportedly acting like 3 compressors in a row. That may be OK for moderate sources, or for effect, but not for huge, transparent gain reduc. What mics are you using? I would avoid medding with EQ if at all possible. Experiment with mic selection and placement. K __________________ Sonic Sorcery Austin, Texas

25th March 2004	#5
Jules Gearslutz.com admin Joined: Apr 2002 Location: A Yank in London, UK Posts: 17,808 1 Review written	Make a copy or 'mult' of them and feed one set into a compressed drum group. Then have the other set ready to feed into the mix buss uncompressed. This will 'even them out' for ya and should, in a perfect world, compliment the other drums. __________________ Jules Add your reviews to the new reviews area! Gearslutz on Facebook Follow my GS picks on Twitter

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