The humble hi-hat can add top-end shimmer, pace and personality to any groove you care to use it in, and is an essential rhythmic ingredient in modern music production.
We're celebrating this most sizzling of cymbals with a whopping collection of loops and hits. Download the collection below and find a hat that fits.
What you need to know
The ultimate hi-hat samples are divided into nine tempo-themed folders of loops and another of hits.
All the samples are supplied as WAV files so can be imported directly into your DAW or sampler of choice. Because they're royalty-free, you're welcome to use the samples in your music in any way you like - all we ask is that you don't re-distribute them.
The ultimate hi-hat samples are supplied in a zip file, so you'll need to extract them before you can see them. Enjoy!
Example sounds
Acoustic hats 95bpm
Electronic hats 110bpm
Acoustic hats 170bpm
Electronic hats 175bpm
Ultimate hi-hat samples: click to download
Ultimate hit-hat samples (150MB)
These samples originally appeared on Computer Music magazine's cover DVD. Check out the latest issue for many more.
Head over to the SampleRadar hub to download over 75,000 more free samples.
Tutorials
How to create the perfect hi-hats and cymbals
How to program authentic live disco hi-hats
How to program realistic-sounding hi-hat parts
How to shape hi-hats with distortion and transient effects
How to make noise-based hi-hats in Ableton Live
