Techniques for recording a Steinway D

[Larry Trischetta]

      Ric's recommendations are appropriate for all types of music. As long
as you are using unidirectional mics (picks up sound only in a frontal
pattern) rather than omnidirectional (picks up a full 360 degree pattern)
and place them closer to the front of the piano (a D is pretty long!), you
should be fine. (If you're using a mixing board and have good mixing
abilities, you can add some mics to the rear of the piano and MIX them with
the other 2 up front to get a more controlled sound, BUT... Once the mix is
recorded, that's that! There is no going back to change that mix after it is
recorded (unless you record all mics on separate channels in the Pro Tools
software). Also, if you place any mics UNDER the piano, then you must
reverse the phasing on those because they will be picking up the SB's
vibrations OPPOSITE of the mics above the SB. If you are interfacing with a
mixing board rather than directly into the sound card inputs, then the board
will usually have a phasing option on the input strip. Be sure to record the
raw sound, no EQ or compression enabled on the mixing board. The complex
frequencies of the piano are not so easily manipulated without undesirable
results... And you can do some great enhancements with Pro Tools that
include limited EQ or compression. Make sure you record in STEREO... This
will add so much more to the recording and make sure the left microphone is
in the bass!
I hope this helped somewhat.

Larry Trischetta


>>>In classical music in a big hall you very often find just 2 mikes placed
at a height about halfway between the top of the rim and the open lid
around 1 to 2 feet away from the instrument. Direction is a trial and
error game but often enough you are looking to point them at one
reflective point from the lid.  But really... there are lots of
techniques different sound technicians will employ.
 
Cheers
RicB
 
 
    I'm looking for suggestion on techniques for recording a Steinway D.
    Mike
    placement, type of mike, etc. Any ideas on methods to reduce damper
    swoosh
    and clunk would be appreciated as well. Pro Tools will be the recording
    software.
    Thanks in advance!
    Scott Rogers, RPT
 
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