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David French 21 May 2006

Hi guys, miss me?

So I hadn't done any recording in a while, but last night I recorded a talented young lady playing a concert of some difficult material. Hoping to build on my [="http://recording.org/ftopicp-252336.html#252336"]previous experiences[/]="http://recording.or…"]previous experiences[/], I took that approach and modified it per Spearritt's suggestions.

[[url=http://="http://dmfrench2.iw…"]Excerpt from Vivace of Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 6[/]="http://dmfrench2.iw…"]Excerpt from Vivace of Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 6[/]

I used a pair of R-122 in Blumlein 8' from the piano and 4' high and a pair of CMC62 in AB spaced 2.5' apart, 7' from the piano, and 7' high. In retrospect this may have been too close (you tell me), but I had no soundcheck this time, so oh well. The Royers were mixed in at about -4dB relative to the Schoeps.

I liked the tone I had on the last recording, aside from being a little bottom heavy, but it had no image definition. This one has more image and I think better tone, but I'm still not thrilled. Any suggestions for building on this next time?

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Comments

JoeH Wed, 05/31/2006 - 10:27

I agree with aracu's comments, which I read only AFTER listening to the clips.

What a wonderful recording, instrument, and artist. (not nec. in that order! ;-) )

Wonderful job, David. To me, this is a definitive piano recording, a perfect example of what is possible with today's technology. And it makes me all the more eager to own my own SF24 - instead of borrowing/renting an SF12 here.

BTW: if I can get permission, I'll post the very same Chopin Etude (I think it's #10 in C??) that I have here, with Cameron Carpenter performing it on Organ at the Kimmel Center here. Same music; VERY different approach.

DavidSpearritt Wed, 05/31/2006 - 14:32

Yes, young Jayson is a very talented man, he tossed off the entire Chopin Opus 10 Etudes, one after the other, without blinking and all from memory of course.

Looking at my notes from the second example with the Schoeps, here are the dimensions.

1. Piano was parallel with stage, (concert position), tail not towed around.
2. SF24, on centreline, 2250mm from front leg, 2380mm high
3. MK21's on one stand, on centreline, 3180mm from front leg, 3200mm high, separated 400mm

I liked the results from both these recording sessions, the first is softer and sounded wonderful in the Bach and Ligeti pieces, the second recording is harder with more brass, and I preferred it for the Chopin Etudes.

There is still more experimenting to do, and some things need to be improved, but I am converging on a good technique I think. The MP3's do not do the recording justice, its quite exciting in full res.

The second session was done with synched video as well and DVD's were made for international auditions. This was the reason for the outriggers on one stand, we didn't want any mics or stands in the video frame.

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