I am looking to purchase a pair of pencil condenser mics to record grand and upright piano mainly in a Jazz style. My budget is around $300-$500 per mic. I am interested in the Shure SM81 and KSM137 which I hear are good for piano. Also I am interested in the AKG C451B which is a little more money, but is it worth the extra cost? Let me know your thoughts. Many Thanks
Which mics for piano recording?
- Thread starter sigale
- Start date
John Willett
Circle Sound Services
Is the piano an upright or a grand?
For recording piano I always use SDC omnis as the piano can go very low and an omni has a full octave in the bottom end that is missing from a directional mic.
My preferences are the Gefell M221, Sennheiser MKH 20 & 8020 and the Neumann KM131-D/A.
These are above your budget, though.
Keeping the price down, look at the Røde NT55, or the NT5 + optional omni heads. The Sontronics STC-1 + optional omni head is also worth considering at a budget price.
For recording piano I always use SDC omnis as the piano can go very low and an omni has a full octave in the bottom end that is missing from a directional mic.
My preferences are the Gefell M221, Sennheiser MKH 20 & 8020 and the Neumann KM131-D/A.
These are above your budget, though.
Keeping the price down, look at the Røde NT55, or the NT5 + optional omni heads. The Sontronics STC-1 + optional omni head is also worth considering at a budget price.