Which way to add shimmer to OHs

[HatewerK]

Guys, could you give me some tip on how to restore/add shimmer and "pro-sounding" hi freqs to my recorded overheads?

I've almost completed mixing my band's third record (thrash-death), out in November, but I'd like to add some glossiness and shimmer to my too-darkly recorded overheads. If I try to raise hi freqs with an EQ, it obviously brings up raw and edgy sounds, cause there's too little of them highs in the original recordings...

Which way could I add them back? Some sort of chorus, or multiband reverb, or..?

Give me some hint, thanks!

 

[gorath23]

I've heard that Exciters can bring back hi-end shimmer in OH's, personally I haven't had much luck with them though, but then I haven't spent too much time on it.

 

[Kazrog]

I've had very good luck with the UAD-1 Precision khz enhancer.

 

[HatewerK]

I've had very good luck with the UAD-1 Precision khz enhancer.

Thanks. Something less "professional", more VST-driven?

 

[Kazrog]

Thanks. Something less "professional", more VST-driven?

The UAD-1 powered plugins are available as VSTs and I run them in Cubase myself... but yeah it does require a PCI dongle...

That being said, you could always try (I can't believe I'm recommending this) the cheesy and readily "available" BBE Sonic Maximizer VST plugin. Perhaps put it on a buss and blend it with your original signal... and roll off the lows!

I even know a psychopath who puts the BBE on every track in his Sonar mixes for maximum LAWL factor. :hotjump:

 

[HatewerK]

The UAD-1 powered plugins are available as VSTs and I run them in Cubase myself... but yeah it does require a PCI dongle...

Whops, didn't know that - I'll look out for them, thanks!

 

[HatewerK]

I even know a psychopath who puts the BBE on every track in his Sonar mixes for maximum LAWL factor. :hotjump:

And who's that guy? DRAGON'S LAIR and SPACE ACE's soundtracks composer?

 

[Nathan@Slate]

What works for me is sending the cymbals to a parallel buss, cutting (shelf) out all the lows (up to 1-5k), dipping the mids a lot and boosting the high a shitload with a shelf around 10k. You basically want to isolate the highs where the shimmer is. Then compress the shit out of it so it's a constant shimmer without any fluctuation in volume. You want it sitting still. And then blend it in with the cymbals.

 

[HatewerK]

What works for me is sending the cymbals to a parallel buss, cutting (shelf) out all the lows (up to 1-5k), dipping the mids a lot and boosting the high a shitload with a shelf around 10k. You basically want to isolate the highs where the shimmer is. Then compress the shit out of it so it's a constant shimmer without any fluctuation in volume. You want it sitting still. And then blend it in with the cymbals.

But compressing a darkly recorded high section of the OHs would bring up what I'm trying to HIDE, I'm afraid... don't you think so?

What I'd need is the Photoshop equivalent of SURFACE BLUR to smoothen things up after I'm done with raising those highs...

 

[botus99]

Perhaps put it on a buss and blend it with your original signal... and roll off the lows!

Don't do it!

Sonic Maximizers mess with phase so if you blend it with the original you'll get some nasty phase cancellation.

I think it might just be the EQ you're using. Try a linear phase EQ or the EQ's from Stillwell Audio (1973 and Vibe EQ, both are awesome plugs)

 

[tarnationsauce2]

I would listen to botus's advice.

Stay away from the BBE. Find a nice EQ FIR / Linear Phase EQ. Try the Voxengo ESSEQ here:
http://www.voxengo.com/product/esseq/
I would mainly concentrate on the 12k slider. Maybe some of the 8k if needed. Nothing too drastic or it might sound too processed.

If you do want some king of harmonic exciter, I found the Overtone EQ on Voxengo's site, I've never used it. Maybe it's something to try out.
http://www.voxengo.com/product/overtonegeq/

 

[gorath23]

I believe the designer Antress has come up with at least 1 free exciter: http://antress.myweb.hinet.net/ It has a 'smooth' knob....er....

 

[Darkening]

Shimmer...

Compression - fast attack, fast release, moderate gain reduction

EQ - shelf OUT the highs with a parametric or whatever you have that will do it best, THEN after that add highs back in with a healthy boost using the nicest analog-ish sounding EQ you have.

You may need small cuts to reduce any ear piercing stuff... or cut out most of the mids... or high-pass the OH's... i don't know how you're treating it now...

Curious: what doe the EQ/compression signal chain on your OH's look like right now?

 

[Jaymz]

using the nicest analog-ish sounding EQ you have.

Will a SSL EQ do the job?

 

[Darkening]

Will a SSL EQ do the job?

Yeah, basically just use whicever EQ you have access to that sounds the best boosting highs. Some are really harsh, some are nice n' smooth.

I've used the SSL EQ before a while back. It's kind of hard, but I think it would work well for the shelf and the boost.

 

[AudioGeekZine]

I'd do parallel compression on just the high freqs.

send those overheads to a bus
roll off everything below 15kHz or where it's just the brightness.
Compress fairly heavily
blend in with your drum mix for controlled brightness.

 

[SpewChunks]

I've read in other forums Paris EQ vst (free) is really good for boosting highs http://www.hometracked.com/2007/05/09/download-the-paris-eq-vst/ could be worth a shot.

 

[Glenn Fricker]

Stillwell 1973... tons of shimmer there....


*edit* this thread should really go in the "production tips" section.

 

[HatewerK]

Stillwell 1973... tons of shimmer there....


*edit* this thread should really go in the "production tips" section.

You got a point dude

Thanks for the tips, I'm going back to my mixes tonight so I'll try them all and eventually will let you know which one worked best!

 

[gorath23]

Stillwell 1973... tons of shimmer there....


*edit* this thread should really go in the "production tips" section.

+1, my go-to EQ for adding hi-end to the OH's.