Think about it, when you listen to or play any song, one of the sounds that you hear the most is the Hi-hat!
From electronic to rock or jazz, the hi-hat is constantly there to keep the beat and is probably the most important part of your drum kit. Well, along with you bass and snare!
Here’s the thing. Many people think it is enough to just mic the snare since the hi-hat is close by. The problem is that the snare is so sharp that much of the clarity of the hi-hat sound gets lost if you solely rely on a snare mic.
For these reasons, you need to seriously consider getting a microphone specifically for your hi-hat. The benefit of this is that you can pick up the full range of sound.
Not only will your hi-hat sounds come out clearer, but you can limit the range on the snare mic as well so everything sounds sharper.
This is honestly the best of the best. The price alone costs more than a lot of complete kits! The Neumann is the very top of microphone design.
These microphones have the best sound range quality out of anything of the market. It definitely is an investment, but one that will pay for itself down the road with its functionality and durability.
The Neumann KM 184 features everything I mention in what to look for in a great hi hat microphone.
Although it isn’t particularly great for picking up your deep notes, it is fantastic at getting the high ones which is why it is well-suited as hi hat mic.
(Best Hi Hat Mic Under $300)
This is another very solid microphone and definitely better suited to the midrange buyer. The dynamic range and intelligibility of this microphone is truly out of this world.
Not only this, it performs well in a range of environments, not just the studio but even out and about. This microphone records high fidelity audio and is useful for a range of uses as well.
Audio Technica has a great reputation and although it doesn’t have quite as many features, most users will barely notice the difference!
Considered a universal mic, it can get a host of jobs done. It also has a “hum-buck” cable that blocks out interference quite well. It also has really small dimensions which makes it great for positioning.
For a small range microphone, it has some exceptional smooth pick up of low frequencies. But it really shines with dynamics and this is what sets it apart from even higher priced microphones.
This mic is also one of my pick for the best mics for toms.
Best of all, it is part of a series of microphones that fit a whole range of uses so you can create packages that your whole band can use!
You can’t beat this one on price. This is the best sound you can get for the best value.
Although not quite as crisp as the other microphones on this list, it’s value it pretty unbeatable. Coming from Audio-Technica, you also know that you are getting a solid product even if it is in the lower price spectrum.
Good for a range of uses from guitar to drums, Audio-Technica delivered a very good product capable of producing a very decent sound.. It actually hard to find bad reviews of this mic.
It doesn’t quite have the sound quality of other high-end mics, but other than that it delivers on size, durability and overall quality.
So if you’re on a budget or just setting up your this home studio this is a no brainer.
Other than that, it is by far the best budget mic on the market!
Not all mics are created the same. You can’t just put a microphone next your cymbal and expect to get good results. What you need is a small-diaphragm condenser mic. This sounds complicated, but it is not too hard.
There are just a few things that you need to look for.
Basically microphones are all about size. Smaller-diaphragm means it hones in a smaller area so that the sound is more targeted. Along with this you want to look for the phrase, “cardioid pickup pattern”.
Again another complicated word but it just means the way the microphone pickups up sound.
Think about the sound a cymbal makes, it radiates outward and these sound waves are what this type of microphone can pick up.
YouTube is going to be most helpful here. There are some great videos on how to place and set up your hi hat mic, but here are some quick tips so that you can follow along with any of these tutorials that you might watch.
Now that you know what to look for in a hi hat mic and how to position, now you need to make sure you know what makes a good mic. Just like any other microphone, sound quality is determined a lot by its components and style.
As mentioned you are looking for a small-diaphragm microphone.
The other thing you have to consider is the sound a hi hat makes. It is really designed for a mid to high range frequency so you need to make sure you have a microphone that is well calibrated for this.
Different mics are going to “hear” things differently so you need to watch some different videos and play around in your local shop to find the one that suits you best.
Yes, you can use a Shure SM57 to mic a hi-hat, although it may not be the first choice for many engineers for this specific purpose. The SM57 is a dynamic microphone that is highly versatile and is commonly used for snare drums and guitar amplifiers. It has a cardioid pattern, which helps isolate the source it’s pointed at, and it can handle high sound pressure levels (SPL).
However, hi-hats often benefit from condenser microphones, which offer a more detailed frequency response. That said, the SM57 can work for a hi-hat if you are on a budget or if you’re looking for a slightly “darker” sound profile. Adjust the microphone positioning to tailor the sound to your liking.
The most commonly recommended type of microphone for recording cymbals or a hi-hat is a small-diaphragm condenser microphone. These mics are known for their ability to capture the full range of frequencies that cymbals and hi-hats produce, from the “sizzle” to the “ping” and the “wash.” They are also sensitive to transients, which makes them ideal for capturing the nuanced performances often required with hi-hats and cymbals.
Brands like Neumann, Shure, AKG, and Audio-Technica offer specialized small-diaphragm condenser mics that are well-suited for hi-hats. Some popular options include the Neumann KM 184 and Shure SM81.
The need for a dedicated hi-hat mic depends on the specific needs of your recording or live sound setup. In many professional recording settings, a dedicated hi-hat mic is used to capture the hi-hat sound with precision. This allows for more control during mixing, letting you dial in just the right amount of hi-hat presence in relation to other instruments.
However, in simpler setups or live situations, the hi-hat might be adequately captured by overhead mics or even a snare mic. This can work well if the acoustics of the room are good and the performance is balanced.
If you’re looking to create professional-grade recordings and have the budget for additional microphones, a dedicated hi-hat mic can be a valuable addition to your microphone arsenal.
Here are seven great hi-hat mics that can work for any price point. Overall, we have to choose Beyerdyanmic as the best combination of price and quality, but all of the mics on the list can do the job of getting your Hi-Hat crisp and clear with good brightnes.
Off course when you go down in price the overall quality tends to decline, but we’ve just covered some decent affordable options that will definetly get the job done. Just don’t expect to use the Audix on a high end professional recording studio.
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Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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