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Hi. I need to record myself playing a grand piano. The repertoire is classical: chopin, beethoven, rachmaninov, etc.

It will be recorded both at home and also when I play live in a variety of concert halls.

Since I'm finding it very difficult to decide what to get, I was wondering if you could post extracts of recordings you did yourself of grand pianos classical concerts (post 30 seconds if you're worried about posting full recordings, that would be enough). You may need to post the link here to where the file is being hosted.

These are the mics I'm considering at the moment, so if you've got recordings of these or similar mics that would be ideal!

Large Diaphragm Condensers:
Behringer C1
Behringer C3
Samson C01
Samson C03
RODE NT1A

Small Diaphragm Condensers:
Behringer C2
Samson C02
RODE NT5
SE1

Thanks guys!

Comments

John Willett Thu, 04/23/2020 - 04:41

paulears, post: 463962, member: 47782 wrote: The directional effect at HF I've always assumed is simply the body of the mic being a barrier in some directions. Cable towards the audience, or noisier sound sources does work. Especially with pencil style omni designs.

This is correct - the larger the microphone, the more directional it becomes at higher frequencies. Hence measurement microphones and some studio omnis like the Gefell M221, DPA and Earthworks tapering towards the capsule to minimise the HF directivity. Tiny tie microphones can be truly omni as the mic. is so small that it's size is less than the wavelength of the highest frequency.

bouldersound Thu, 04/23/2020 - 10:25

John Willett, post: 463961, member: 47971 wrote: Angling omnis *does* actually do something.

Firstly - it increases the distance between the capsules, especially useful if you have a fixed stereo bar and want a wider spacing.

Secondly - most omnis get a bit directional at higher frequencies, so will accentuate this a bit.

Yes, I know they're slightly directional. I was just going for the general point. Very little useful effect will be gained by aiming the mics.

When I say angle, I mean rotate around an axis through the capsule. That would not change the spacing.

paulears Thu, 04/23/2020 - 11:44

I've come to the opinion that the exact microphone and technique used comes a very vital second to the piano. Some record well, some are just horrible - and the makers name seems to mean very, very little. I'm sure Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's home piano sounds lovely sitting behind it but it records like a dog!

pierluigi Wed, 04/29/2020 - 01:51

hi guyz. I was following the discussion.

OE1FEU, post: 462537, member: 51398 wrote: Here is a little update on the piano and my playing around with microphone placement.

This was done after an 8 hour session with my piano technician (who really has a love relationship with this piano - and it loves him back). He spent a whole day voicing the piano, i.e. fluffing up the felt of the hammers and re-shaping them by filing them into shape again. A vast improvement and by now I consider this piano as finished as can be and I am really happy with it:

wich microphone are you using in this video ?

w/e hi guyz. I was following the discussion. I am really surprised by the results of the OKM.I warn you, I'm not too experienced and actualli i use a bheringer b2pro. vey entry level. I wanted to ask you if you had a microphone (not in pairs) to recommend for recording a grand piano at home.
the room is not small and the piano is a beautiful bluthner 220 cm from 1890.
i was looking for Rode nt1 / Okm II or a Akg P420. unlukily i cant go over 200 $.