What Mic would you recomend for a Grand piano

[tangerine]

I've been given the job of recording some choral music, Oboe, vocals and piano, I have got a decent seperation in sound from the vocals and the Oboe but I am not sure about the piano, I,ve tried different mic placings using two CK's at either end of the piano but I'm looking for something that does this beautiful instrument justice, any ideas are welcomed. Cheers

 

[rory]

I would check out the matched Audix SCX-25 mics. They are excellent sounding and are perfectly suited for piano. They sell a matched pair with piano mounts I believe.
Rory

 

[XLR]

I've got an alternative suggestion.

Musicians in a setting like this should be balancing themselves during performance. If they do that well, listen during a reheasal and find a place in the room that sounds good. Put a pair of small diaphragm mic's in XY or ORTF config there. (603s, SP C4's or the like) That might end up being a better sound than you can get by mixing spot mic's. But do the spot mic'ing at the same time so you can mix them if you need to fill in an istrument that's weaker than you'd like.

Tim

 

[tangerine]

I've got an alternative suggestion.

Musicians in a setting like this should be balancing themselves during performance. If they do that well, listen during a reheasal and find a place in the room that sounds good. Put a pair of small diaphragm mic's in XY or ORTF config there. (603s, SP C4's or the like) That might end up being a better sound than you can get by mixing spot mic's. But do the spot mic'ing at the same time so you can mix them if you need to fill in an istrument that's weaker than you'd like.

Tim

I am recording this stuff on a mobile studio in a 12 ft X 12 ft front room, so far the recordings sound ok but to get acoustic instrument balanced in that space can be difficult especially when they want to play ensamble.

 

[XLR]

Ahhhh.

I understand the limitation.

I guess I imagined it was taking place in a hall, since it's choral music.

Tim

 

[northsiderap]

Piano

I've just used a GTAM62 Alesis with good results...

 

[Chris F]

I've been enjoying the sound I've been getting with two M-Audio Lunas in an x/y configuration on a 6'3" grand. The room is soundtreated, though.

 

[EleKtriKaz]

I just sat in on a grand piano recording where the piano was miked inside with a spaced pair of AKG 414s. Very close to the wires, each at about a 45 degree angle. I believe they were in omni. It sounded great.

 

[Dot]

Don't know anything about your budget, tangerine. ADK TL's and AKG 414's are excellent on grand piano. I've generally found that omni captures grand piano best, but there's no rules. If you're looking for something inexpensive, Behringer ECM 8000's would be an option.

I wouldn't worry about getting that much separation, just enough so you can control the sound. Throwing a moving blanket over the piano would be something to try and can help with isolation.

 

[tangerine]

Don't know anything about your budget, tangerine. ADK TL's and AKG 414's are excellent on grand piano. I've generally found that omni captures grand piano best, but there's no rules. If you're looking for something inexpensive, Behringer ECM 8000's would be an option.

I wouldn't worry about getting that much separation, just enough so you can control the sound. Throwing a moving blanket over the piano would be something to try and can help with isolation.

My budget is pretty good, it's for the arts college I work at. I will be checking them out. Cheers

 

[ljmaxx]

My budget is pretty good, it's for the arts college I work at. I will be checking them out. Cheers

Depending on how high a budget you have check out the Earthworks QTC1's. I have a pair and although I've never used them on piano they are outstanding on acoustic guitar. Earthworks also has a drum kit mic system that sounds very good on grand piano and are not as expensive. If you go to their web site there is an option to have them send you a cd that has the DKS mics in use on various instruments including grand piano. If the DKS mics were available when I bought the QTC1's I would have bought them. Here's a link for the mics. Good luck.

http://earthworksaudio.com/qtc1.html#

 

[JPS]

Here's a link to a Sound on Sound article which gave me some good ideas about recording a grand piano,

Piano Principles

 

[Dot]

My budget is pretty good, it's for the arts college I work at. I will be checking them out. Cheers

tangerine, I think a pair of AKG 414 B-XLS multi-pattern mics will give you the best in terms of sonics and versatility. The 414 has been a longtime industry standard for such applications as piano, acoustic guitar, drum OH's, and stereo miking. You can also use them for excellent stereo recordings of ensembles and choirs. They'll run about $899 each.

An excellent alternative to the 414's are a pair of ADK TL's which you can get into for about $1000 for a pair.

The sound of both the 414's and TL's are similar in that they're neutral with little coloration and have a bright top end.

Since it's for a school, I'd caution you in buying any mic that's only single pattern – whether cardioid-only or omni-only. You'll get much more use and life out of a pair of multi-pattern mics.

I'd also add that I don't know what kind of mic pres you're using, but a good pair of mic pres will make a real difference in the performance of any mics you use for recording in the type of situations you mentioned.