Well, I recorded solo piano track, what effects?

[sengle1013]

Hi All, I finished my first piano piece and am pleased with the outcome. I have done no compression or eq'ing or anything to it but want to get it on cd. My question is, is there a pattern of eq'ing that lots of people do on straight piano sounds? What about reverb? There are so many to choose from In Sonar Home Studio 4 that I am using. Compression? Just looking for basic pointers on what people add to their piano tracks to make them sparkle nicely. To me, it sounds kinda flat, but on eq at least, I do have it flat... Thanks for any pointers. I tried a preset on Sonar 4 HS called movie sound track but thought it was a little much. Thanks

 

[Dr Biscuits]

Hey - well, as everyone here will tell you, unfortunately there's no 'magic presets' for anything... the best thing to do is to really listen to your track, even compare it to a commercially recorded CD that has a piano sound you really like and see where, if anywhere, it is lacking.
One tip is rather than adding EQ to the frequencies that need enhancing, try subtracting from the frequencies that are too dominant. And be gentle with it - too much EQ adjustment can make your recording (especially something like piano) sound fake or harsh. Always A/B what you're doing with the original to make sure you're not doing more harm than good.
As far as compression, unless you've got a real problem with dynamics I'd probably stay away from it (especially if you're not really sure what you're doing with those knobs )
If you do decide you want to play with compression Southside Glen has a great free tutorial you can download on this BBS, just do a search for it, its got lots of great info.
Good luck!

 

[fraserhutch]

A little flange into some overdrive, all fed into a nice fat chorus.

There ya go, you can thank me later.

 

[sengle1013]

thanks dr biscuits.
starsky and hutch, do you use garble effect on your piano songs as well as the crunch?

 

[fraserhutch]

thanks dr biscuits.
starsky and hutch, do you use garble effect on your piano songs as well as the crunch?

Ooooooh!!!! oooooh! I haven't heard THAT one before!!!!

I don't need to add a garble effect - that comes through fine in my playing.

Now as to a serious answer to your question, you add what needs to be added - there is no cookbook method. My earlier reply is as valid as any you're gonna get. That was the point.

It's all what it needs. Learning to tell what it needs is what experience is all about.

 

[sengle1013]

ok thanks, fair enough, was just curious what others did but i suppose every case is different.