Recording piano and choir

[travis16vp]

I’ve been asked to do a recording of a 10 member all girl singing group with piano accompaniment. I use a tascam 788. I’m guessing they’ll use a baby grand. All the mics that we have available are SM58’s. Now I was wondering:

1. Is the SM58 ok for recording the piano? How many should I use? What is the ideal mic placement for this?

2. In case they use an upright piano, how would I record it?


3. Can I use 1 mic for 2 people or 1 mic for 3 people?


4. There aren’t any sound booths or studios here so I have the option of recording on the auditorium stage of in the auditoriums small green room. Which would be a good place to record it.

Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks

[guitarfreak12]

the only good choir recording I ever got with 58's was when it was used WITH a condensor. I used a stereo bar and set the LDC in the center and two 58's on the outside, angled at bout 45 deg. from the center. I hard panned the 58's right and left. I set it back about 20 feet form teh choir, they were really spaced out wide. The only way I think you could really get a good recording with 58's only, would be to set it on a stereo bar, or close, and agle them at 90 deg, and hard panning them. Since they are dynamics you would probly have to set them up close not close enough to hear specific people, but close enough to get the best sound. It's a small group, so it'll be easier.
As for the piano, it's hard enough to get a good recording with a good condensor. I have no advice for that.

[IronFlippy]

An SDC works well with an upright piano. There are these piezo mics that you can tape to the underside of a Grand. When I assisted my friend, we tried using one, but it wasn't working.

[AGCurry]

Unfortunately, SM58 is very low on the desirability list for recording choirs or pianos.

The thing about a choir is that you're supposed to hear it as one multifaceted voice, not a collection of individual voices. This means that choirs are recorded from a distance, something the SM58 is not good for.

If they don't mind not sounding like a choir, you could close mic each pair of singers with one mic, and mix the result.

An upright piano is actually easier to record than a grand. You just stick a mic or a stereo pair pointing at the back of the piano, the place where the soundboard radiates.

Sorry we're not of much help...

[travis16vp]

Originally Posted by AGCurry

If they don't mind not sounding like a choir, you could close mic each pair of singers with one mic, and mix the result.

Would this have a satisfactory result? What about mic placement for 2 mics on a grand piano? thanks

[Alexbt]

How many mics and tracks are you able to work with? (Numbers, please!)

[travis16vp]

We have 4 Sm58's and we could probably borrow 2 more if needed..