How to Make Any Hi-Hats and Shakers Better

Making good shakers and hi-hats relies on two primary foundations: picking a good sample and making variations to avoid repetition.

• Timbre variation - ensure the sound is not always the same • Pattern variation - change the pattern to prevent monotony • Loudness control - vary the volume and length of each sound • Effects - add effects that imitate real drums with room, delay, and modulations

Understanding why each element matters is more important than simply achieving all of them.

The framework will be demonstrated through creating 16 hi-hats and other percussion elements from basic samples.

A small piece of an open hat sample is used as the base to create the 16 hi-hat.

• Duplicate the sample and create different alternatives to switch between them • Modulate the sound using detune options in the controls • Introduce an LFO mapped to the detune option with a rate of 16 for continuous variation • Add a random modifier to make timbre changes occur unpredictably

Map the drive option to an LFO with adjustable direction and amount to create additional timbre diversity and authentic character.

The combination of detune and drive modulation transforms the sound from boring and static to much more interesting and realistic.

Apply groove quantization from the groove library to humanize the pattern instead of keeping it mechanically static.

Use groove settings to adjust the positioning of notes and apply velocity changes that make the pattern feel more natural.

Modify the pattern to include rolls and slight adjustments that add movement and keep the sound engaging.

The combination of groove application and pattern rolls makes the 16 hi-hats progressively more interesting and lifelike.

• Import different samples with varying loudness levels • Modulate the loudness dynamically during playback • Adjust velocity values for each hit to control perceived volume

Use velocity controls to create realistic volume dynamics, with the option to import and quantize grooves to establish initial velocity patterns.

Manually adjust velocity levels across hits to create an increasing feel and more authentic humanized response.

The combination of sample variation and velocity adjustment produces a much more authentic and organic percussion sound.

• Adjust the ADSR envelope attack, decay, sustain, and release parameters • Modify the start and end points of the sample directly

Apply a fade-in to the sample attack while keeping it minimal to add subtlety without overwhelming the sound.

Adjust parameters based on the desired amount of change, adding only as much envelope modification as needed for authenticity.

Subtle envelope modifications contribute significantly to the overall authentic and polished character of the hi-hats.

Use auto pan to create movement in the stereo field, with adjustable shape (square or random) and amounts for spatial variety.

• Set the shape to control panning behavior (square wave or random variations) • Use rate values like 8, 16, or more random patterns • Adjust the amount to control intensity of the panning effect

Panning creates substantial difference in the overall sound, working together with all previous modifications to enhance authenticity.

External effects provide the final layer that imitates real drum room characteristics and spatial dimension.

Apply distortion with the drive modulated by an LFO to create varying distortion amounts that differ with each hit.

Create alternative hat samples with different lengths from the same source, allowing for pattern variation using different samples based on musical need.

Use MIDI channel pattern alterations to trigger different samples, creating simultaneous timbre and pattern variation.

Combine pattern alterations with consistent velocity changes to produce a cohesive and evolving hi-hat texture.

Employ a transient master plugin with a four-bar LFO to dynamically control the attack characteristics of the sound.

The LFO increases the attack of the sound as the four-bar loop progresses, making the hit sound progressively sharper and more defined.

This technique is valuable for other percussion sounds where perceived length adjustment during the track is beneficial.

Transient shaping adds subtle but noticeable evolution to the percussion throughout the musical phrase.

Use room reverb or plate reverb effects to add spatial dimension and simulate a real acoustic environment.

Room FX provides the necessary room feel that mimics natural percussion in a physical space.

Room reverb works alongside all other modifications to create a cohesive and professional-sounding drum element.

The combination of timbre, pattern, dynamics, and spatial effects creates authentic and compelling hi-hat and open hat textures.

Create timbre variation by taking different pieces of the shaker sample and panning them left and right to create stereo diversity.

• Layer multiple shaker samples with different timing and spacing • Create extra thumb bras or hit variations to build pattern complexity • Use extra shaker elements to provide comprehensive pattern layering

Keep the loudness of different shaker layers at different levels to maintain dynamic variation throughout the pattern.

Use different sample lengths and optionally apply transient master to add length variation across the shaker pattern.

Keep some processing parts minimal and simple to create a more comprehensive sounding high-end without over-processing.

Apply a small delay effect to create room reflections and add depth to the shaker texture.

Combine timbre variation, pattern layering, volume control, length modification, and effects to create the final shaker sound.

Compare the shaker sound with other drum patterns in the track to ensure it fits cohesively with the overall drum loop.

Always listen forward and backward to evaluate how the hi-hats and shakers fit with other patterns in the track.

Ensure the processed hi-hats and shakers work together harmoniously with all other drum elements.

Evaluate the significant difference that authentic hi-hats and shakers make to the overall drum loop quality and character.

Training files demonstrating these techniques are available on the instructor's Patreon for reference and further learning.