taming cymbal/HH from OH !!!

[vudoo]

What do you guys recommand for smoothing out some of the highs from HH coming from OH mics ?? I'm using Shoeps into my Daking for OH, i get an nice open tone and the overall kit sounds great, just that the HH is a bit piercing to my taste.
Anyway i like to smooth it out a tad without sacrifying the overall sound of the Kit ??? I thought of maybe trying a Ribon ( like Coles 4038 ) or something like a Fatso maybe Hedd ???

[jbuntz]

I've done Shoeps into a Daking with no problem before. Sounds like it's the HH, room or mic placement, especially since the shoeps aren't as hype-y as a lot of mics people use as overheads. Try de-essing the HH side.

4038's are definately darker.

[cgarges]

I've used the Dakings on overheads before and to me, they border on being a little bright for some situations. I imagine they'd be a great match for a pair of darker overheads like 4038s or M160s. I've mixed stuff recorded with KM184s through the Dakings that I just had to low pass.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[vudoo]

I don't have much experience with Ribon mics...when you guys say darker, do you refer mostly to the top end or the overall sound ??? I definitely still want a nice open sound as oppose to a boxy sounding kit. The trick for me is to smooth out the HH a tad as the rest of the kit sounds great.

Chris, what pre have you used for overhead that you dig ?? Thanks

[warhead]

Maybe a little too simple a question but, have you swapped out the hats for different sound? Sounds like they're not jiving with the kit and I doubt a preamp is going to fix this.

War

[vudoo]

Nah, tried 4 different pair of Hats...still a tad too brittle for my taste.

[cgarges]

Ribbon mics are generally rolled-off in the top end, some more than others.

What sort of mic positioning are you using?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[theom]

If you are talking about tracks already recorded.... it's too late.

But if you are still tracking.....


Tell the drummer to back off on the hats.
This is assuming you have tried re positioning mics. room placement of the kit. etc.

I am sure this is obvious to you but sometimes we get caught up in the gear and forget the people performing.

Is the drummer experienced in the studio? If he is, you can ask him/her to do dynamic adjustments like this and most probably respond well if you play him a take.

If the drummer is green, you may have to do some more explaining to about how the tracking will affect the mixing etc.