Tip | Hi-Hats

For today’s tip we will discuss hi-hats. In my opinion, hi-hats aren’t nearly as intricate as something like chords or arpeggiators. However, there are a few things you can do to spice things up. If you aren’t using a pre-recorded hi-hat loop, it is up to you to create the rhythm and mood. Like almost all tips and ticks of music production, this first tip largely depends on what genre is being produced and also what feeling is desired. So as always, do not apply this or any other tip to every single track. These tips are simply to increase your options, knowledge, and creativity. Once you have recorded or programed a rhythm for your hi-hats, you can tweak the sound of the actual hi-hat. For example, you can adjust your ADSR envelope. If you lower your sustain parameter, the hi-hat itself will shorten and your overall pattern will sound tighter. If this is an adjustment that sounds good and your sustain parameter is all the way down already, you can also decrease the decay parameter for an even tighter sound. Another quick tip for hi-hats involves layering. Sometimes increasing the volume of a sound may make it louder but not fuller. Once you have added a hi-hat pattern, you can duplicate the track so there are two identical signals. Now, pan one of them all the way to the left and the other all the way to the right. This way it sounds like it is only one hi-hat except it sounds fuller. Also, you can even transpose one of them up or down a semitone or two, which adds another dimension to your hi-hats. These are rather simple tips but I hope they are helpful!