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Hello From Akron (portage lakes area). Hey I am Micing A grand piano in a very small room the acoustics suck, but cant be moved. I am going to use 2 sm58s close to the strings on each end and 2 ES973 Hypercardioid Condenser Microphones under the piano on the hardwood floor
its definitely budget recording..lol.. I like the tightness of close Micing though. Going to pad the hell outta the room. I listen to other grands that have been miced in big rooms with very high end mics and it just sounds week to me. its classical piano any thoughts

Comments

anonymous Mon, 01/12/2009 - 13:15

What other microphones do you have available?
How big is the room?
Is it solo piano, or accompanied, or is the accompaniment?

FWIW:
For a baby grand I have been using two SDCs. Lid open to the lower setting. One SDC above the cross of the bass and treble strings pointing at the hammers. (About straight back from middle C) One at the arch of the piano just outside pointing at the hammers near the top strings. This is in a large room, and the piano is part of a choir recording, so it might not work for what you are doing.

RemyRAD Mon, 01/12/2009 - 18:05

I don't put microphones underneath Grand pianos. There is no reason to. It's counterproductive.

I love SM58 but I really don't think it is what I would call a piano microphone. Although in a pinch, anything will work.

Small diaphragm condenser microphones over the hammers, lower strings, harp holes is the way to go.

Putting them underneath will make it sound like an upright! Don't do that. It sound like the room is already too live? There is nothing to be gained underneath a grant.

And if you do use your SM58's, just go ahead and unscrew the metalball. You get a slightly cleaner sound since you don't need the extra pop filtering.

Oy Vay
Ms. Remy Ann David

anonymous Tue, 01/13/2009 - 09:28

For starters Thank you very much......Yes it is a solo piano and the room is very live, a litte to much. I walk around the room to try and find the best spot and havnt really found one yet.. I also Have 2 CAD CM217 Condenser mics I tried, but the room noise was just to much. Thats why I am pading the room this time. Ya i agree after trying underneith, not a good sound, kinda hollow. Unscrewing the ball from the 58 is an excellent idea thank you...