hhhusher

As many of you know, Hi Hat bleed is the result of the hi hat's piercing sound spilling into other microphones, mainly the snare drum microphone. This dense metallic wash masks the upper harmonic content of the snare drum and often becomes too predominant during the mixing process as the snare drum is being equalized and compressed.

Hi hat bleed doesn't have an ON/OFF switch. It is always there and varies according to drummer technique and microphone positioning. Hi Hat Bleed has been a problem in the studio for many years and strangely, no company has made its purpose to offer a definitive solution until now…

Why the HHHusher?

Drum companies build drums, Drummers play drums and Recording engineers record drums. Traditionally it has been the recording Engineer’s job to manage the recording process. To prevent hi hat bleed they go to what they know and can control i.e. Microphones (Microphone positioning and microphone isolation).

The HHHusher’s approach to the problem is the other way around: instead of isolating the snare microphone from the hi hats, it isolates the whole hi hats from the snare microphone? This simple idea was at the base of the Patent we received.

Is the HHHusher only useful in the recording studio?

The HHHusher is useful any time you put microphones on a drum. This means Live concerts when there is a P.A. system, and during broadcast events.

• The HHHusher fits the common Hi Hat setups which are: Hi hat sizes ranging from​ 14” to 16” and Hi hat stand posts of diameters 0.5” to 1.0”

• The HHHusher will only work if placed LEFT of the drummer's point of view. A left-handed model will be coming as demand justifies it.

• The HHHusher will not hold on tapered posts The HHHusher was designed to hold on a tubular post. If your Hi Hat stand has a tapered post such as this, the HHHusher will not hold well in place..

Will the HHHusher get in the way of my playing?

A lot of work went into finding the right balance between stopping the bleed and staying out of the Drummer’s way. In order to do it's job, the HHHusher needs to extend past the hi hat cymbal's edge to effectively block the bleed. Some Drummers like to place their hi hats far from the snare, others like the hi hats closer, and some like the hi hats to be so close that it actually comes over the snare. Those in the last category will run the risk of having the HHHusher get in the way of their playing. In this case, the drummer has two choices: A) accept to move the hi hats away a bit in order to benefit from the HHHusher's hi hat bleed rejection and enhanced making possibilities or B) Do not use the HHHusher and live with the bleed..

Much care went into preventing any adverse effects to the quality of the sound of the hi hat. The shape of the enclosure and the damping materials were carefully chosen to deliver the most transparent hi hat sound through the overhead microphones.

Good deduction! Yes actually, the HHHusher works both ways: it also attenuates the snare bleeding into the hi hat microphone.

Installing the HHHusher on a hi hat stands takes about 35 seconds.

One of the biggest challenges while designing the HHHusher, was to find a “one size fits all” configuration. We quickly realized that no two drummers place the elements around him the same way. Some like the hi hat closer some like it farther, higher, lower etc.. So we went for a modular approach consisting of neoprene sheets which can be positioned to fit most drumming positions and microphone setups. Held-on by Velcro, the neoprene sheets can be extended, retracted and even cut with scissors to best fit the drummer's position.

The main neoprene pieces are called Underlips.

The HHHusher comes with two underlips: The Medium Underlip and the Jumbo Underlip.

They are designed to extend the reach of the HHHusher sound barrier in cases where you place the hi hat far from the snare, or if you want extra bleed protection.

The Medium Underlip is held by Velcro under the main lip and extends the reach of the HHHusher by three inches.

The Jumbo underlip is for added bleed protection in case you need to isolate the snare even more. That would be the case when you want to really compress the snare during the mix or if you are recording a song in which you are bashing the hi hat. The Jumbo lip is usually clipped to the side of the HHHusher but can also be held by Velcro along the lower part of the HHHusher.

The Jumbo lip and the medium underlip are bigger than they should really be. This is because they are meant to be cut with scissors to precisely fit the drummer’s position. Replacement Underlips can be bought at the HHHusher's website.

15 db of on axis bleed reduction at the source.

Works the other way around: The HHHusher acts as a barrier which diminishes snare bleed into the hi hat mic.

Your snare sound will be more defined and punchier in the mix, its harmonic content and character will be more perceivable.

More liberty when positioning the snare microphone.

More liberty when choosing the snare microphones.

More freedom and latitude when EQing and compressing in the mix.

Even if the drummer bashes the hi hat, the snare drum will punch through the mix.

The drummer can easily install and set up the HHHusher to fit his or her playing style (takes about 35 seconds)

No need for “Drum Replacement” techniques, unless for artistic reasons, enjoy the sound of your drums in all their glory.

No need to record your hi hat separately (overdubbing), which can sometimes kill the groove.

Using a Condenser Microphone on the snare is now a valid option.

Ghost notes: Less hi hat bleed means less gating at the mix, less gating means less muted ghost notes.

Improved Stereo Imaging: When the hi hat bleeds in the snare (heard center) it collapses the stereo image of the drums. The hi hat should be heard to the side of the stereo image to be coherent with the Stereo Overhead mics. The HHHusher rids the snare mic from the Hi Hat, therefore restituting a coherent stereo image.

You will never ever have to worry about hi hat bleed ruining a mix.

Spend more time on getting a killer mix instead of fixing hi hat bleed.

Go to bed earlier.

Be proud of your drum sound.