Recording a piano

[Sabith]

Hello everyone..... I just would like 2 know the best way to record a piano... well mic placement is my main question buy any other tips would be great =)

 

[Shailat]

Grand or upright?

 

[BigKahuna]

What kind of mics do you have at your disposal?

 

[Sabith]

Hhahahahah ooops..... I knew I forgot something =)
I am recording for both grand and upright and I know that I deffinatly have 2 SM57's and probably an audio technica 4508(I think thats the number.... anyway it's a stereo condenser mic). I'm doing recordings for a couple of different people.... in their homes and 1 has an upright... the other has a grand so I would just like all the tips for both =)
thx for the help!!!!

 

[Shailat]

When you say stereo mic do you mean a bidirectional?.

AS for the Sm57's -you will usually get a sound thats a little edgey and less accurate in the transient with these.

You can try placing 1 mic behind the hammers aiming at the strings fom about 8-12 inchs centering the Treble strings and the 2 mic aim centering the bass strings. Play with distance.

For upright - remove the top and front panal and again center the mics over the treble and bass strings about 8-12 inchs.

 

[BigKahuna]

Here is a good link for Piano micing technique plus many other instruments too. Check it out.

http://www.dpamicrophones.com/9a.htm

 

[Recording Engineer]

Check-out the March issue of Electronic Musician Magazine.