mic choice for grand piano

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jmorris

jmorris

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Here are my options for a grand piano. I'd like to use 2 mic's. What is recomended??
at4033
Rode NTV
SM81
C3000B
Rode NT 1

None of these are a great choice I dont think but I dont have a U47 or 87 so I have to deal with what I got! Thanks, Jim
 
I've had good results from the Rode mics. Sorry, I don't have a sound sample.

I think Rode mics are killer, and that they're still somewhat underrated. A buddy of mine has the NTK and it's absolutely amazing. VERY close to a U87 sound.
 
I'm not too familiar with your mics, but when playing on an album last month I saw the piano being captured with a LD (U87) over the highs and a SD (C451) over the lows.

(as far as I recall jazz history lessons the teach mentioned all these old jazz records having two U87s, one on top and one underneath, almost against the piano)


Herwig
 
What is the style? What is the recording situation? Will there be other instruments in the room? Or will the piano be the only sound source in the room? Is the room quite, or is there an EL train going by the window ever five minutes (in which case, you better learn the schedule of the train REAL well)? So you have a matched pair of any of those mics, or only one of each? What does the piano sound like? When was it last tuned?

What else can you tell me about the situation?

Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Light said:
What is the style? What is the recording situation? Will there be other instruments in the room? Or will the piano be the only sound source in the room? Is the room quite, or is there an EL train going by the window ever five minutes (in which case, you better learn the schedule of the train REAL well)? So you have a matched pair of any of those mics, or only one of each? What does the piano sound like? When was it last tuned?
Click to expand...

So, Light... your mic selection is dependent on how well tuned the piano is?
 
Funny how everyone has a different preference.

I'd choose the AT4033 (if you have two of them; one closer to the bridge of the piano (offset to avoid mechanical movement) and one set a little further back and closer to the high end).

If you only have one of each, use the AT4033 for the 'further back/high end' mic and the Rode NT1 for the bridge mic, but mess around with the placement. You might need to point it towards the back of the piano at a 90 degree angle, twisted 30 degrees or so. I've always found Rode's to be a bit touchy and less forgiving.
 
I've also used, in addition to the 81's, a pair of either akg c535 eb's or c1000's. mic placement is dependent on stage volume, music styles, and even the type of performer. If you're using two mics, be careful of phasing issues between them. I like to change pickup patterns on the akg's, rolling off the low end on one (on the mic's internal switch, leaving the other one flat) and rolling off some of the highs and mids on the other (using the board's eq), but you've got to be careful with that.
 
While the problems we encounter as home recordists largely stay the same over the years and answers to questions don't "age", per se, I might point out that this thread is 9? years old...
 
Greetings,

I would suggest that you think of the Piano as a "percussive" instrument and act accordingly. The grand piano has sound holes underneath it and I would suggest putting a dynamic like a 58 right up inside of it. I fully realize that this is counter intuitive but the piano is like a percussive vocal and the 58 is not a bad choice.

I didn't figure this out for myself but was doing a corporate gig for Intel and they hired some famous singer/songwriter to entertain them at dinnertime (I wish I could remember who he was) and I came prepared with all kinds of high dollar microphones and he just looked at me and said, "put a 58 right there!" so I did and it was perfect.
 
I have a very awkward setup now, but if I could do it all over again, I would use a pair of cardioid mics. The grand is a beast to mic compared to the upright IMO.
 
For a grand piano, omni mics are best - with a directional mic. you lose the bottom end.

I tend to use:- Sennheiser MKH 20 or MKH 8020, Neumann KM 131A/D, Gefell M221, etc., though these are not cheap.

At the more affordable end I would look at the Røde NT55 or the NT5 with the optional omni heads - this Røde omni head is much better than it ought to be for the price and would be a good budget omni mic.
 
Bane01 said:
I have a very awkward setup now, but if I could do it all over again, I would use a pair of cardioid mics. The grand is a beast to mic compared to the upright IMO.
Click to expand...

I would never use a cardioid on a grand, the bottom end gets quite thin in comparison with using an omni that will capture the complete register of the piano.

I have never had a problem with miking a grand and always use omnis.

My starting position is an omni pair about 20cm apart about 2m from the piano (in the direction of the audience) and at about ear heigh. I will adjust according to the room and the music - but where it sounds best to your ears is normally the best place to put the mics.

If space is tight, then a pair of boundary mics under the piano can work quite well.
 
From what I would have used 9 years ago wouldn't differ much from what I would use today.
With all things not equal - the amount of money that you have to spend would be the controlling factor. ;)
 
Right now, I'm using a hypercardioid to mic an upright from behind the soundboard. Ideally, you'd get a mic with switchable polar patterns: omni, cardioid, and fig 8. Then you do the tests to see what sounds best. I bet omni is really good with grands.

Whatever type you buy, plan on getting two! I found that out the hard way! ;)
 
I wouldn't know b/c I never spent a grand on a mic. I think ALL my mics combined might be worth a grand!
 
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