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Author Topic: micing a piano?  (Read 1586 times)

Offline bugoy

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micing a piano?
« on: May 28, 2006, 10:30:59 PM »
paani ni mi mic ang mga grand piano ? or yung mga normal na piano ?

Offline ioffendpeople

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micing a piano?
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2006, 11:00:39 PM »
From Ultimate-Guitar: "To record a piano, take a stereo pair of microphones (preferably condensers) spaced equally across the piano’s soundboard. For an upright, this will mean opening up the top and dipping them in to divide the piano into thirds with the mics being the dividers. For a grand, use the same technique across the much wider board. If you can hook up more mics, a grand can give you a gorgeous sound from all over. The point is to get a good stereo image of the piano. The range of pianos is such that you really should not attempt to do it with just one mic. If you have an electric piano or synth available, just take its headphone out or line out jack straight into your mixer."

Offline Sound Weavers

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micing a piano?
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2006, 10:30:23 AM »
with 1 mic. use a condenser with OMNI pattern and place just a little bit to the left of middle C piano key.

different positioning for different pianos and recording rooms.

Offline KitC

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micing a piano?
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2006, 11:02:10 AM »
Quote from: Sound Weavers
with 1 mic. use a condenser with OMNI pattern and place just a little bit to the left of middle C piano key.

different positioning for different pianos and recording rooms.


Gerry,

A few questions,

1. With omni's, don't you sacrifice a bit of low end and capture quite a bit of the piano's mechanism? I know the Earthworks mics are highly regarded for omnis, what do you use?

2. Has anyone ever used M-S mics to capture a grand? Or does the figure-8 'side' mic capture too much ambience/extraneous sound?

TIA.
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Offline Sound Weavers

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micing a piano?
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2006, 12:17:23 PM »
Quote from: KitC

1. With omni's, don't you sacrifice a bit of low end and capture quite a bit of the piano's mechanism? I know the Earthworks mics are highly regarded for omnis, what do you use?


there are general techniques but actual mic positioning and mic selection should depend on the sound quality of the piano instrument, the room, the type of music.

solo piano is different from piano as an accompaniment.

G


Offline Tarkuz Toccata

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micing a piano?
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2006, 05:33:35 PM »
Quote from: Shure Notes - Instrument Miking Made Simple
Grand Piano

Use two flat-response condenser microphones; one positioned 12 inches above the trebel and the other above the lower strings. Both mics should be about 8" from the hammers.

Shure Mic: PG81, SM81



Upright Piano

Open the lid and aim a condenser microphone just over the top, above the treble strings.



Shure Mic: PG81, SM81


http://www.shure.com/shurenotes/may2004/default.asp#keys
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