Loud cymbals

[NCdan]

Well, I'm beginning to work on the mix for my instrument tracks, and it appears I accidentally turned the cymbals up a bit too high. Unfortunately, I recorded with electronic drums in stereo, so I can't adjust individual drum voices. The largest problem seems to be that the cymbals are drowning out the snare a bit. I'm not really an EQ expert on drums, so if I could get some suggestions as to how I might tone the cymbals down while affecting the snare and other voices minimally, I will be quite grateful. From the limited experience I have with drums and EQ, it seems to me that cymbals power tends to be around 4 KHz and 8KHz, and the higher frequencies control the shimmer. I'm basically just fishing for suggestions on how I can work the EQ or even...... multiband compression (gasp). Thanks.

[hueseph]

I think multiband would probably work for you here. Unfortunately if the cymbals and snare coincide there will still be noticeable compression I think. But, it's worth a shot. I don't think EQ will be any less destructive.

[Davedog]

Do I unerstand you right in assuming that the drums are a stereo pair and the cymbals are a separate track from the drums?


Then if this so, you must EQ out everything below 2K on the cymbals and start from there. Use the multiband compression as a last result and then only for control of overs.

[NCdan]

Hi, Davedog, actually, the entire drum set is in stereo, cymbals included. This is mostly due to the fact that A. I don't want to buy a sound board, B. I only have one physical compressor, and C. I lose the ability to monitor through my headphones when I route the individual voices out. However, all the drum voices, including the cymbals, are on one stereo audio track. Also, it isn't like the cymbals are ridiculously loud, they just need to be toned down a bit, so I don't think any drastic changes will be necessary, just enough to let the snare come through more.

[RecorderMan]

recut the drums...

[hueseph]

recut the drums...

That just makes too much sense.

[RemyRAD]

A Simple broadband limiter with a side chain high-frequency preemphasis in the detector, will yield a gentle high-frequency limiter. This can easily be accomplished in software such as Cool Edit, Adobe Audition, etc.. It's a Band-Aid. For Boo boos.

Splashy stopper
Ms. Remy Ann David

[NCdan]

OK, this is what I'm getting here: .................. limiter ........................ high-frequency limiter .............. This can easily be accomplished in software such as Cool Edit, Adobe Audition, etc.. It's a Band-Aid. For Boo boos.

Any clarification (a step by step explanation and how to guide) will be greatly appreciated :D ! Thanks for the responses everyone.

[hueseph]

Please correct me if I'm wrong here. The idea is to duplicate the drums, Put a high pass filter on one of them and the side chaining limiter on the main drum track. Send the high freq emphasized track to the limiter side chain via pre fader aux and that will trigger the limiter when the highs on the emphasized track exceeds your set threshold. I'm getting confused with software and hardware here I'm sure. Somebody unjumble this mess?

[bent]

I don't want to buy a sound board

My smartass answer: Buy a sound board.


I know lots of folks on here do without, but I can't imagine recording without one - they're not just for live sound, ya know...

Or at the very least get an 8 input ADC and route the drums accordingly.

Kik - Snr - TomL - TomR - OHL - OHR

Etc...

As far as lowering the highs on what you've already recorded:
Hi Shelf cut starting around 6k, find a point around 2-3k, probably 3.5k, (narrow bandwidth) and boost it until the snare cuts through.