Although this recording technique is not very modern and is a bit controversial because its associated with hidden and subliminal messages, backmasking is still worthy to be included in this list. Jazz/pop piano is often recorded in a studio, with mics placed inside the piano, often right above the strings giving a very immediate sound. You now have an EQ that averages the profile of the two channels. Discussion in 'General' started by In-Flight Piano, Apr 16, 2011. An old-timey tack piano sound can be achieved by cutting the low- and high-end, boosting the percussive midrange, and recording to tape or tape-emulating plugins. Recording the piano often requires working underneath the lid, especially if the piano is being recorded as part of a band arrangement or a high degree of separation is required. Piano recording technique question: What is the technique called when a piano is given that very percussive sound? Are the felt covered hammers actually exchanged with hammers without felt that are all wood for example? To me, this seemed to sound the most natural. Another way is to tape the microphones to the lid of the piano and then close the lid, which is also a popular technique. If for any reason the X/Y placement doesnt work out for you, you can start spacing the microphones apart. The XY technique with microphones. Microphone Techniques Recording Upright Piano . In-Flight Piano New Member. When closemiking is necessary, a pair of condenser mics with a smooth offaxis response, positioned so that one is over the bass strings and one over the treble, will give the best results. George Shilling & Neil Pickles compare piano recording techniques March 2017 - We were at Rimshot Studios recording some production videos in our series for the site with musician Nigel. This does not restrict you to orthodox, phase-coherent stereo techniques designed to create a strong center image. Any input would be Step 4: If you want to use your piano sound, assign a desired sound program to a chosen MIDI channel. Virtual Piano Recorder allows you to play, record and share compositions online. I might offer a video course on this subject in the future because there is so much involved in recording the piano. First there is the issue of variation The piano is the same, the music piece may even be the same, but theres something totallydifferent! It is my intent on this site to explore piano recording techniques, piano music, and theremin designs an odd mix I know, but with some common elements. If you can, around 8 inches from the strings (where the sound is generated) will help you to get a clear recording. Consider the Type of Piano youre Recording.
Record in Stereo. The principle of work of proximity effect is When the vocalist come close to the mic level of bass frequency increases and when he goes away from the mic the bass frequency level decreases. The Piano Forums are an online community of piano lovers including piano industry professionals, concert artists, recording artists, technicians, dealers, manufacturers, and thousands of enthusiastic amateur pianist. With an upright piano, Today Im going to give you an overview of what the process is about. He strongly suggested the Samsung C01U USB condenser microphone. Miking a piano close to the hammers will give you a thinner, more percussive sound. There are no rules and you can create your own techniques and methods to record pianos. By Hugh Robjohns. As the name implies, backmasking records sound or message backward on to a track that is meant to be played forward. Check out some basic recording techniques to capture perfect piano sound. Cutting Through a Mix. This lets you capture the wide dynamic range of the piano. Second, rhythmic is more aggressive and percussive in nature. Walk around the piano and determine where the sound is best for the type of track that you are recording. Well, there are secrets they use to differentiate their piano playing from the usual. Login. Unlock the two channels, and invert the left EQ, so that it comes halfway toward the right. To start with, George Shilling used a pair of AKG 414 mics with and additional Neumann U87. Ken. If you are recording an acoustic piano then you should record from above in the center of the piano. Are they simply covered with something hard?
Piano recording and mixing techniques. This is an excerpt from the Audio Masterclass Multimedia Set 'Piano Recording Techniques' recorded at Abbey Road Studio 3. OR, is it an actual particular type of piano? In this short video we focused on recording piano for the track using the studios lovely Bechstein grand piano. There are so many piano recording techniques. Play on the tips of your fingers. I now have a Yamaha G baby grand in my home studio and this information will assist me greatly in trying different techniques to find the sound needed for different songs. Given that fact, we decided to set these two up in a Blumlein configuration to capture a stereo recording of the piano. 07-Jul-2016.
Bonus points if your piano is a little out of tune. Finally melodic piano, such as a lead part or solo is a combination of the two. Yes, you really can get away with using just one mic. In a rock context, some fast-attack, fast-release compression will give the part a rhythmic smack to poke through a wall of sound. Basic Recording Techniques: Capturing the Perfect Piano Sound Published May 1999. Condenser microphones are preferred for recording the piano. Again, the wide variety of pitches in the instrument offers a great chance to spread the instrument out in your mix. For a Song Where the Piano Is Featured Nearly all piano tracks will be recorded in stereo. Pianos offer certain challenges, to be sure. Check out some basic recording techniques to capture perfect piano sound. There are exclusive audio examples played by four pianists playing a Yamaha C6 Playing on the tips of your fingers will also help with playing 3rds, 6ths, octaves and chords. However, sometimes this can produce unwanted sounds, such as feeling too close or picking up too much of the sound of the hammers hitting the strings. Connect your Midi keyboard or use your mouse to play the piano in single or chord modes. The piano is a complex instrument with nearly endless possibilities. The Blumlein technique is similar to X-Y technique, except that it uses two figure-8 mics instead of two cardioid mics. Recording the piano is a very deep subject. Scale this curve down by 50%, so that it only brings the right halfway to where the left is. A professional singer uses this feature to add extra depth at some points of the vocal by coming close to the mic. Considering the range of pickup types (i.e., passive types such as magnetic and multi-transducer pickups, and active types including piezoelectric and optical pickups): Why are microphones the preferred method of studio piano recording rather than pickups? Tips For Recording Piano. My experiences in recording piano live & in studio have been with 1st, electric grands by Yamaha & Kawai and Steinway Concert Grand acoustic in Capricorn Studio. My experiences in recording piano live & in studio have been with 1st, electric grands by Yamaha & Kawai and Steinway Concert Grand acoustic in Capricorn Studio. How to record the acoustic piano - (Upright piano recording) My ideal technique, used in a large nicesounding room or hall, would be a coincident or nearcoincident pair of mics (typically cardioid or hypercardioid depending on the required image width of the instrument) placed about four metres back from the front of the piano and about two to three metres up, positioned to be just below an imaginary line extending along the axis of the http://www.audio-technica.comAs far as acoustic instruments go, the piano is perhaps the most mechanically and sonically complex of them all. But how you use this technique depends on the role of the piano in your track. Of course, there are hundreds of different recording techniques for pianos. After this, you can start recording. Following our easy MIDI Connectivity Guide. For example, place a pair of AT4051b microphones in X/Y position about three feet in But this method wont work all the time. The XY technique can be seen on the left, with the AB technique above. You can also use the M/S technique to great effect if youre recording piano at home. Raising the level of the side microphone will widen the stereo image, giving you great control of the stereo width during the mixing stage. Placing multiple Microphones close to the piano can help you gain a better control of the sound during the mixing process, and also gives you much better attack. In truth, there are countless techniques for wireless piano microphone placement to record the acoustic piano. Method 1: One microphone. The Piano recording paradox. If so, can it be done with a standard upright/grand? A few things to keep in mind when you recording piano are: Recording in mono with one mic or in stereo with two mics are both good options for recording piano. By. Apart from the thumbs, by playing on the tips, this will help you to play piano songs faster than you could if your fingers were flat. Watch leading recording engineers talking on camera about recording in the pro and home studio. There are nearly endless ways to record a piano, but most techniques fall into one of two general approaches: classical, and everything else (pop/jazz). Micing the Piano Directly. The AB Stereo Microphone Technique, XY Stereo Microphone Technique and the Mid-Side Microphone Technique could all work depending on what you want. Depending if youre recording a grand piano or upright piano, you will have to employ different miking techniques. We were joined by several leading recording engineers. The piano is a complex instrument with nearly endless possibilities. Piano lends itself nicely to stereo recording where two signals are split, traditionally with bass on the left and treble on the right, which is the way the pianist hears it. Microphone type: Condenser mic, small or large, depending on the piano model.
Audrey Martinovich has produced a detailed free tutorial on recording piano for different genres using different mic techniques including spaced Omni, mid-side, small capsule condensers in XY, ribbon mics in a Blumlein pair and large capsule condensers on the hammers. You'll need to login in order to save and share recordings with friends. To start with, George Shilling used a pair of AKG 414 mics with and additional Neumann U87. 3. Start your Daily Musical Workout! Recording the piano can be tricky, but it isn't as difficult as you may have been led to believe. Basic Recording Techniques: Capturing the Perfect Piano Sound Typically this is done with two mono tracks, one recording the bass frequencies and another taking on the higher frequencies. If you are recording with a microphone, the position of that microphone is vital to getting a high-quality recording. A decent condenser on a stand placed near the side of the grand piano and under the lid will capture a good sound.The best way to find the best position is to use your ears. Use it as We were joined by several leading recording engineers. But, well discuss two main ones here: X/Y placement and placement using the 3 to 1 rule. There are so many different piano techniques that pianists can learn. Step 3: Check that in MIDI IN settings of your software your digital piano is set as an input device. Microphones / Miking. The piano will have a more natural and ambient sound with this method. These secrets are in their technique. Here are some tips for achieving a superb piano recording. For example, you can record the piano and vocals at the same time from different mics. If you are recording with a microphone, the position of that microphone is vital to getting a high-quality recording. If you are recording an acoustic piano then you should record from above in the center of the piano. There are so many piano recording techniques. Since this session did not allow for extra time to experiment with the subtleties of various microphone placements, I went with something that was familiar. In this short video we focused on recording piano for the track using the studios lovely Bechstein grand piano. One of the best methods to record piano is the 7 mic technique. Learn their unique and special recording tips, learn how to record and mix better. As is typical for ribbon mics, these two have a figure-eight, or bidirectional, pickup pattern. Technique Filters: drums http://www.audio-technica.comAs far as acoustic instruments go, the piano is perhaps the most mechanically and sonically complex of them all.
Piano recording techniques with Clint Murphy . After going through various flute micing techniques, I ended up with the microphone (Neumann u87) elevated two feet or so behind the performer, aiming at the center of the instrument.