Hi-Hat Drum Samples - Effective Use
The hi-hat drum samples of today are as varied as they are underappreciated. Think about your favorite songs for a moment. You can probably hear the kick and snare working away in memory, but it can be very hard to keep track of the hi-hat. The truth is, most hi-hats (hats for short) are just supporting acts to the snare and kick combinations that dominate our attention, but they are nevertheless an essential part of most music production projects, so underestimate them at your peril!
The two 'mistakes' of hi-hat hip hop samples we're about to look into are no the domain of the beat making novice, but are committed nearly just as much by so-called professionals these days.
The first mistake we need to address is the volume. Hip hop drum samples need to be loud, we all understand that there is a loudness war, but the hi-hat is one exception. It is said by some biology and evolutionary experts that many thousands of years ago aerial predators were attacking us that made noises that have similar frequencies like those in hi-hats and cymbals. We simply have a tendency to hear these sounds more than others, so lowering them a few DB below where you think they should go is a smart move.
A good way to go about combating this incongruity is to mix the hat to the point where you think it sounds just about right, and lower it about two decibels further. Any listener will still be able to pick it up due to our superior perception of this sound, so don't worry about 'mixing it out' these drum samples.
The second mistake that we're going to look at is a pretty big one. Most of us are in the music production game to really make something that sounds good, but if you're trying to achieve authenticity with your drum samples, there are certain things you really need to avoid and be wary of. With hi-hats, certain physical limitations prevent rhythmic operations that are perceived in a lot of rap songs. For instance, having a consistent hi-hat pattern playing one hit every 16th is all good, as that can be achieved. But coupling it with a cymbal hit or open hi-hat once a bar and not stopping the hi-hat? Physically impossible for most drum-sets, especially if the snare and toms also hit at the same point. How many arms does your drummer have? If you want to have a believable drum track, you must really pay attention here. If you produce dance music or other music where it is understood that the sample track is not supposed to be realistic, you can do whatever sounds good.
If you can manage to get your hands on professional programs likle BFD ('Big F'n Drums') or Toontrack's EZ Drummer, you can learn a great deal when it comes to organizing and sequencing drums properly for use in live settings, like those for rock and metal songs, for example. Then make note of what appeals to you and what you could implement. - 18780
The two 'mistakes' of hi-hat hip hop samples we're about to look into are no the domain of the beat making novice, but are committed nearly just as much by so-called professionals these days.
The first mistake we need to address is the volume. Hip hop drum samples need to be loud, we all understand that there is a loudness war, but the hi-hat is one exception. It is said by some biology and evolutionary experts that many thousands of years ago aerial predators were attacking us that made noises that have similar frequencies like those in hi-hats and cymbals. We simply have a tendency to hear these sounds more than others, so lowering them a few DB below where you think they should go is a smart move.
A good way to go about combating this incongruity is to mix the hat to the point where you think it sounds just about right, and lower it about two decibels further. Any listener will still be able to pick it up due to our superior perception of this sound, so don't worry about 'mixing it out' these drum samples.
The second mistake that we're going to look at is a pretty big one. Most of us are in the music production game to really make something that sounds good, but if you're trying to achieve authenticity with your drum samples, there are certain things you really need to avoid and be wary of. With hi-hats, certain physical limitations prevent rhythmic operations that are perceived in a lot of rap songs. For instance, having a consistent hi-hat pattern playing one hit every 16th is all good, as that can be achieved. But coupling it with a cymbal hit or open hi-hat once a bar and not stopping the hi-hat? Physically impossible for most drum-sets, especially if the snare and toms also hit at the same point. How many arms does your drummer have? If you want to have a believable drum track, you must really pay attention here. If you produce dance music or other music where it is understood that the sample track is not supposed to be realistic, you can do whatever sounds good.
If you can manage to get your hands on professional programs likle BFD ('Big F'n Drums') or Toontrack's EZ Drummer, you can learn a great deal when it comes to organizing and sequencing drums properly for use in live settings, like those for rock and metal songs, for example. Then make note of what appeals to you and what you could implement. - 18780
About the Author:
Want to find out more about drum samples? Then visit the web's number one hip hop samples portal for all your needs.
posted by X - Men at
4:37 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home