is there a way to use audio snap to clean up and separate the cymbals in the OH track? i ve tried a gate and i can't quite get separation. the problem i am having is by the time i compress the track signals 3 or 4 times at 2db a pop nice and gradual like... by the time it gets to the mastering stage, 2 of my tracks a very "WISHY" sounding. doesn't seem to be coming from the snare or kick, i ve got great separation there. it's the over head mics for sure.  seems like audio snap screen would allow me to first clone then separate the cymbals through cut n paste. then slowly mix in the dry signal again. so my question is does anyone have a sonar x3 trick for this problem of RIDE cymbal over taking a mix?
 
win7 64,i7, 16 gig, 2b,3tb external, studio capture, sonar x3 pro, blue cat, blue tube, sonar, pro ch. upgrades,sound forge 9, cd architect

possible fixes that i can think of.......
 
a. raise cymbals
b. gate
c. record the ride cymbal 2nd, after the drums are recorded
d. use snap audio screen
e. foam around 57 drum mics
f. don't try to compress as much as the professionals? lol
 

Are you using any high pass filtering EQ on the cymbals? I ten to be very aggressive with EQ on a crowded mix and roll off as high as 900 to 1k to keep the cymbals from causing the compressors to pump.
 
 

Are your drum tracks audio or Midi?

Maybe this will help: http://therecordingrevolu...&mc_eid=84085a4630

tracks are audio. use high pass filters on all tracks except bass and kick until much later in the process, then all hpf. but wouldn't it be a low pass filter also to separate the cymbals from over heads. hpf the cymbals, then lpf the drums? i ll check out those links guys.

Compression ratios are additive, so even if you're taking off 2 dB at each stage, 3 compressors doing that will result in 6 dB attenuation. With makeup gain you could be raising the cymbal tails by 12 dB, hence your "swishy" sound. (I gather a classic Ringo cymbal wash isn't what you're after.)
 
You could try a multi-band compressor, but more compression probably isn't what you need. A dynamic equalizer such as MDynamicEQ or Pro-MB might be able to contain the cymbals enough that they're not being squashed so hard by your broadband compressor. 

Or is this a classic phasing issue? If the mikes were not properly positioned you could be having phasing issues. Solo each track and see how much leakage there is. I've even had way to much leak into the kick mike and that really causes grief with phasing.  I always end up replacing the kick with MIDI anyhow. But cymbals are hard to use audio snap on because of the never ending sustain. 

johnny, checked the phase first off. all waves running the same pattern. i kind of figured audio snap was a no go because of exactly what you said. long sustain. man the rest of the drums on the cd(10 tracks total) are great. the only difference is the way he uses the ride cymbal so much on those two song. the other songs are straight up back beat like, and arn't smothered in cymbal. if you ever notice,when they give you tatoruals to compress drums, it's always a really easy type drum beat, with not much cymbal all over the top of it. i ve never seen anyone show me how to mix and compress drums when it was non stop ride cymbal action going on.lol
 
thankx bit, i'll give that a try tonight when i get in that studio. i try to make sure i don't gain anymore than i compress. usually 1.5 or 2 db at a time. it's all relative, but usually it seems like i can compress it a few more times than these two tracks i am having trouble with. i ll try a multiband. i don't own either of the 2 you've suggested but i've been watching your post on here for years man and i value your input. thank you so much bitflipper.

I would definitely start with EQ on the overheads to see if you can take away any problem frequencies

Other things that may be worth a try...

Clone the OH and try to EQ out the ride as much as possible

Then work on the other track to correct the ride and blend the 2 tracks together


Parallel compression may also be worth a try so you can blend the original and the compressed track to strike a balance


Transient shaper? - perhaps taking some of the sustain out of the ride will clean it up


The "right" answer is probably a small mix of everything that has been suggested - the challenge is finding the right balance!!

Good luck