keyboard instruments

.aa – week seven.

This weeks task was to record the piano. Since starting at the EMU it is something I have done regularly, but it was defiantly worth hearing the things that you pick up covered in class.

A good set of microphones to use for recording the piano are the Neumann KM-84s. Perhaps the KM-84s only drawback in this respect is that they lack a little in the lower end. Also where you place these microphones can have a huge impact on the sound. Having tried several position one that I liked was just behind (and above) the performer, in a spaced pair. I have provided below an example how the height of these microphones can change the sound:

KM-84 pair parallel to performers head | KM-84 pair raised 1.5 metres

The microphone stands were not moved between these recordings; only the height of the microphone was adjusted. I think you will agree that the second (raised) recording is preferable – something that seems to ring true most times I have used the KM-84s (that they like sit up and over the performer). The sound of these KM-84s can be added along with other microphones inside the piano, adding a nice clear attack, gorgeous top-end, and a dash of room ambience.

.mid-side.
The best piano recordings I have ever made employ the Mid-Side technique. This technique involves:
- place a pair of microphones parallel
- set one to figure 8 and the other to cardioid.
- once you have made the recording, duplicate the figure 8 track and invert it. Pan the two figure 8 tracks fully opposite.

The Mid-Side gives you a very warm rich sound, with a good sound for the full spectrum of the piano. It is also a very characteristic sound; I would be a little wary of when to use it, depending on genre and so on. If you are just after a realistic sound of the piano then it is defiantly the way to go, but I would not necessarily say that that’s what you want with most modern popular styles.

.recordings.
For these recordings we used the Neumann U87’s in the Mid Side configuration, and also added a room microphone - Rode NTV. As usual we just experimented, trailing different positions for the NTV. The place we ended up using was over in front of a window, quite a way from the piano. The cardioid microphone was faced to the widow, so was concentrated primarily on the reflections – this added a nice level of natural reverb. Anyway this collaboration of the spaced pair (KM84s), Mid Side (U87s) and room mic (NTV) could probably have used some mixing, but more on that next week.

Gymnopedia no .1 | X-Files Theme

.sources.

Grice, David 24.04.07, “Keyboard Instruments,” Tutorial presented in the Electronic Music Unit, Adelaide University.

Robjohns, Hugh 1999, Piano principles, Sound on Sound, viewed 27.04.07,
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may99/articles/recpiano.html