Cymbals Swinging to much...

[Joshua Wickman]

I just tracked this China and it sounds like its phasing in and out at times. The China is swinging around a bit to much I'm thinking that is the problem. I tried moving the mic around a few times and got it better but never 100% perfect. Its not real bad but i can hear phase it and it really bugs me, I'm sitting here thinking about it now hours later. I'm thinking since the drums are tracked for this album and I'm editing I may just sample the china again and just replace it on the album.

So here is my questions.....

Do you ever even have this problem much?

Do you guys really tighten down cymbals so they don't swing much to help keep this kind of thing from happening?

 

[AudioPhile777]

Chinas, yes.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Yeah with chinas, I want them to barely move.

 

[wlkr]

I do with chinas, but beware that the extra tension makes them more likely to crack.

 

[lolzgreg]

If youre having a big swinging issue with chinas, try to change the way they're mounter. If you DON'T invert it, so that it is placed like a traditional cymbal (bell north, bow declines to the outside), it will be less likely to move around like crazy. Different sized felts can make a difference. You can also angle them when they ARE inverted at a 20 degree angle or so and get a bit more tension on the lug.

 

[ahjteam]

have you miced them from the top so that it poitns to the center of the cymbal which doesn't swing?

 

[crosstalk]

I just stick an extra felt or two on mine so there's still plenty of give, but no craziness in movement. Playing a china that moves around a lot isn't fun to play on for me.

Drummers that tighten their ride down so it's practically rigid drive me crazy. Chokes any life out of it.

 

[DaWolf]

I have my my ride fairly tight. The sustain is incredibly long otherwise and can be barely tamed even when I touch it. Also I don`t like loose/washy sounding rides.

 

[Where She Wept]

move the mic further away, i think the best part of the china sound is the trashy attack. you don't need any body for it.

 

[Metaltastic]

move the mic further away, i think the best part of the china sound is the trashy attack. you don't need any body for it.

Good point!

 

[brianhood]

I do with chinas, but beware that the extra tension makes them more likely to crack.

+1

 

[brianhood]

I do with chinas, but beware that the extra tension makes them more likely to crack.

+1

Tighten it down a fair amount, but make sure it has some give when the drummer hits it.

 

[MattLambdinArt]

see where the drummer hits on the cymbal, and place your mic at a 45 degree angle from that.

 

[Osse]

Some good tips here, try to adapt all of them a little for most neutral result.

Obviously your drummer has a bad technique, trick him not to hit cymbals to hard by increasing OH/cymbal mics volume in his headphones a lot while tracking next time, without telling him what you're doing.

As for now, you are FUCKED

Nah, did you mic the china separately? not too much bleed? then replacement might be a solution, otherwise you have to experiment with the tools you have to make it sound more neutral.

 

[Erkan]

Swinging cymbals is a pain in the ass but the drummer can also help against this problem by playing very lightly inbetween the strong hits, just enough to stop the cymbal from going ape shit. Tightening too much is strongly NOT recommended, it'll fuck the cymbal up in no time. Bigger felt pads on the bottom will do the trick!

 

[drew_drummer]

If you've spot mic'd the china, and also got overheads going on... I'd use a transient designer to emphasis the attack of the direct mic, and de-emphasis the tail... and rely on the overheads for the tail of the china.