How to make hi-hats sound human, not programmed

Hi-hats sound like a machine gun when every hit has exactly the same velocity. A drummer never hits twice the same. Make the hits on the beat louder and the ones in between softer, and add a little random variation on top.

How to do it

1. Open the hi-hat pattern in the piano roll and show velocities.
2. Set the hits on the beat to around 100 to 110.
3. Set the in-between hits to around 60 to 80.
4. Add a little random variation (± 5 to 10) so no two hits are identical.
5. Use a sample with round-robins, or alternate two hat samples, if it still sounds stiff.

Why it works

Our ears hear accents as rhythm. A pattern of loud and soft hits tells your brain where the beat is, which is what makes it groove.