| LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Microphones for a grand piano | |
| Scot -- 04/02/2005, 16:30:34 -- #12408 | |
| Ok, so in another six weeks or so my new grand piano will be arriving. Once again thanks to all those who have donated some of their hard earned cash to the cause! You don't knwo how much I appreciate it, big or small, because this baby is going to cost (already is!) Once I have it, I'm going to get serious about a solo piano recording project I have in mind. It's all original material and goes over well. The question is, what mics you folks like to use, or have heard of people using, to get a good grand piano sound? I'd love to spend $2000 on a nice mic, but I want to keep it reasonable, you know? So mics that cost in the neighborhood of $200-$400 are more in my ballpark. Maybe a little bit more, because they are investments that will pay for themselves (I already have pianists in town who want to record when I get my piano, cool eh?). Thanks for any info you guys might have. | |
| 7 -- 04/02/2005, 17:01:49 -- #12411 | |
| Why not call a few recording studios and ask for advice? Or better yet, go to EXPERT FORUMS and post your question there. The knowledgable and friendly experts will be able to answer your question quickly and efficiently. (Kinda like here). The following link takes you to an expert from EQ magazine. The moderator is a sound engineer and the forum I've directed you to precisely targets the type of recording situation you have in mind. http://www.musicplayer.com//ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum&f=27&submit=Go | |
| MoJazz -- 04/02/2005, 23:40:52 -- #12418 | |
| Scot, you can also visit the Keyboard Corner Forum. You'll get some good advice there. BTW, we have some very good discussions on Jazz - playing, theory, anecdotes, etc. The newest threats have concerned - *jazz education* and *playing over the ii, V7, I changes*. Lots of...ahem...opinions and such. It would be great to have some other qualified knowledge over there - i.e. 7, Barry, Dr. Whack, Mike, Albetan and others. http://www.musicplayer.com//ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum&f=18&submit=Go | |
| Scot -- 04/03/2005, 06:20:19 -- #12421 | |
| Well, honestly, I think everyone from the keyboard corner forum should come here instead :) I personally don't have time to visit more than this forum, and I often don't even have time for that unfortunately... | |
| Seb -- 04/03/2005, 14:03:25 -- #12425 | |
| Hi Scot, I'm curious to know what model of piano you're gonna get. | |
| Dr. Whack -- 04/03/2005, 15:19:49 -- #12427 | |
| I asked the guy that did my CD...here's what he said: "...two Oktava MC-012 mics, DO NOT waste money on the "matched pair" that's a joke. Also, sometimes the model is referred to as an MK-012 it's the same mic. " | |
| 7 -- 04/03/2005, 16:10:13 -- #12429 | |
| I found out long ago that I don't have time to deal with more than one forum. That's why I hang here with the "A Team". | |
| 7 -- 04/03/2005, 16:19:21 -- #12430 | |
| Oh, and as far as micing up a piano is concerned, I've always had the best luck by making sure that the mic is in contact with the sound board. In the case of an upright I jam the mic between the slats, and with a grand I tape it underneath. By having the mic in contact with the sound board, the resonances seem to balance themselves and there is no impression of the "airy" sound and all the dead spots you get when the mic is suspended on a stand pointing towards one region or other of the piano. The two mic solution can result in phase cancellation. If the "contact mic" method introduces mechanical noises into the recording - THEN USE SOME WD40 on your pedal! LOL I've only used this is live situations, and I have to assume than any extraneous noises (if they exist) are masked by the volume of the other instruments in the combo. | |
| Dr. Whack -- 04/03/2005, 18:29:59 -- #12436 | |
| No offense, but every session I've ever done using a grand piano used a pair of condensor mics very carefully placed...as you said, if you stick em on the soundboard you'll get lots of unwanted noise and probably miss out on all the wonderful things that take place in the case of the piano...but if you don't know what you are doing you will get phase cancelation...(I'm on an album that features a very badly phased out Steinway Grand that sounds like a saloon upright- yuck)~just my thoughts (I'm no expert) | |
| MoJazz -- 04/03/2005, 18:47:59 -- #12437 | |
| Without equivocation, this is my favorite and most valuable site for learning more about jazz piano. I know that many musicians (not only pianists) have greatly benefited from this site. I've somewhat promoted this site at the Keyboard Corner and I know at least 3 or 4 new members have come aboard. I'll continue to do so, albeit, being discrete and respectful of not "spamming". Scot, thanks for this site and to all the major contributors here! Now, back to the Microphone discussion... | |
| pringe -- 04/04/2005, 11:53:26 -- #12444 | |
| there's been some good advice so far, but a couple of things: - i have always seen the stereo pair of condensors (usually large diaphragm) used to mic it up. Depending on the room (and dont forget how important this is!) the lid may be half open, or not on at all. Careful mic placement will avoid phase issues, and as you will permenantly have the piano to experiement with, you will have lots of time to fine-tune your positioning. - The 'dont buy matched pair' idea - this is only progressively true as you go to the higher end of the microphone market. Manufaturer tolerances are smaller at this level, so the mics are more likely to be even in polar and fequency response. But for your amount of spending, a matched pair would be better as the manufacturers (often from the chinese market at this price) have relatively wide tolerances. visit http://www.soundonsound.com/forum and http://www.prosoundweb.com for some excellent advice. Hope this helps, Steve | |
| Scot -- 04/04/2005, 14:22:45 -- #12452 | |
| Lots of good information here! I've got another month to go before the new baby arrives (the new concert, that is :) and it's been going pretty slow... I went on a piano shop tour of the Vancouver BC area on saturday. Found this one piano shop that really was magical. About a 100 uprights, and maybe 50 grands. He carries Estonia, Pramberton (sp?), and some other names I didn't recognize. I wandered around a bit, played a few notes here and there, and then the owner realized I sort of knew what I was doing, so he set me down at a piano and said, "Play this one, tell me what you think." After a few minutes, I gave him my "review", then he moved me over to another piano for the same thing. As time went on he told me that the things I said about the pianos I played there were the same things that the most of the "pro" players say when they come in. I finally settled on my favorite- an 8' (or so) Pramberton which had a very small "sweet" spot, but once you get into the piano, it sang for you. I liked it better than the two giant concert grands, more than other more expensive instruments, it was just perfect and the more I played it the better it sounded. If you live in teh northwest, give this place a visit. The pianos are great and the guy understands piano players. Reminds me of that book, The Piano Shop on the Left Bank HERITAGE PIANOS 10604 King George Hwy SURREY, BC CANADA 1-888-667-9400 (TOLL FREE) Store Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm (PACIFIC) Or by Appointment | |
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