I record all of my drums using an electronic kit via MIDI into Steven Slate vst.  I would like to improve my recordings by using a real high hat so I will be needing a close and overhead mics.  I am considering a Shure SM81 for close and have an Audio Technica 4033 that I might could use for an overhead.  Any suggestions?
 
RESULTS:
Below is the result of a Sabian HHX 14" Evolution hi hat mixed with e-drum sample.  Recorded using an Audio Technica AT4033a placed about 12" over the hi hat and the rest of the kit is a Steven Slate sample.  A tad of Breverb "small drum room" added to the HH to blend with the kit atmosphere.
 
Convincing?
 
http://soundcloud.com/bret575b/bretb-drum-solo-1-060913

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HH's are another source of confusion!
 
Most of the time the SSD samples are great.  Just hard to do any real complicated work on some projects.

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Lot's of good reasons to add real Hi Hats, They might just be the most overlooked piece in a kit. People put way to much effort into Kick drums and snares. When I do sound I always go for the Hi Hat up front. It drives the real groove of a complicated pattern. And unless your digital kit is top end you just don't get the pedal action right. 

I find that just about any mike that is accurate will work if the hat's are good to begin with, I've even used a SM 57. Try what you have first before you spend money on a new mike. Spend your money on the right set of hats first. 

mike_mccue


SM81 is a ok choice.

It is what I have on my hi hats at the moment... I wouldn't say it's the best choice... and I wouldn't say that I know what the best choice is.

I think it's far more important to select and use a good sounding set of hi hats.

If you get that part right I think what ever mic(s) you select will seem good.


best regards,
mike

Mike is right on. Get good hats if you're going down this road. Then, it really depends on what your music is like. If you are doing cool patterns that need be articulated, a small diaphragm condenser is the way to go. Your 81 is fine really. If you feel the real need to get a better mic, the AKG 451 series are good and so is the Neumann KM184. I've personally gotten very good results with an AT4041, and they are only $299.


Here's a link to a discussion on the topic: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-end/604883-lets-talk-hi-hat-mics.html

Thanks for the link to the discussion on Gearslutz.  Based on the many comments of not close miking the hi hats, I might swing for a set of Sabian HHX Evolution Series hats and see how they sound with just my Audio Technica 4033 or even a SM58.  I could save $300-400 on the mic I was thinking.

Hi Bret,

If you're just wanting to mic an acoustic hi-hat (not drums), then you don't need a close mic on the hit-hat.
With a good pair of overhead mics, you'll have plenty of articulation... and you'll have the freedom to EQ specifically for the hi-hat (no drums to worry about).

For this particular purpose, I'd want a pair of small diaphragm condensers.

• KM84
• SM81
• Rode NT5
• AT 4041

All would do a pretty good job.
Make sure to use a high-pass filter... as there's nothing on the low end that you'd want from the high-hat.

My usual response is that I throw a somewhat cool small diaphragm condenser mic on them and then leave that mic out of the mix.  The reason being that it saves a question and answer session between me and the drummer as to why I don't have a mic on the Hihat.  

I use Superior Drummer now so I gave my kit away anyhow.  (I've got a TrapKat drum controller.)

This is going to be weird....but I prefer dynamics on hats. I like the EV 635a a lot. The 57s ok. i5 is a bit better, but I like the 635as the best. Hi hats can get piercing highs really easily, but dynamics have a tendency to naturally smoothen them out.