Basic Recording Techniques: The Piano

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  • Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
  • www.audio-techn...
    As far as acoustic instruments go, the piano is perhaps the most mechanically and sonically complex of them all. A grand piano can consist of over 7,000 parts and there are about 7,000 ways to mic one! Here are a few techniques to dial in the perfect piano sound.
    For more recording techniques from Audio-Technica visit: buff.ly/1HIIK6N

КОМЕНТАРІ • 85

  • @lachlanjames9320
    @lachlanjames9320 4 роки тому +91

    my god, how nice it is to see a comparison video where the instrumentalist is actually playing the same piece of music in each comparison.

  • @l.matthewblancett8031
    @l.matthewblancett8031 6 років тому +18

    Awesome information -- thank you very much.
    A minor note of correction - most of the sound of the piano is in the soundboard, not in the hammer/strings. A piano without a soundboard sounds very much like a cross between a guitar and a harpsichord -- the sound you hear is resonance within wood. So that changes target distance a little bit sometimes. However, you do have to beware of the 'striking' sound being closer to that sound source.

  • @GameAce6
    @GameAce6 8 років тому +80

    I'm actually a big fan of the first setup, mainly because it sounds so much warmer and full. I actually thought the stereo effect was a nice touch, but hearing the lower notes coming out the right side was a bit...strange. I would have never thought having it flipped would make it feel so weird to me.

    • @unfinishedideas2
      @unfinishedideas2 8 років тому +5

      I was just thinking the same thing. It's usually panned that way (bass notes on the left high on the right) because that's what people are used to hearing when actually playing the piano. What's funny is that it's actually opposite panning for drums. Most people don't hear the drivers seat so they pan it the other way around.

    • @andrelefebvre5453
      @andrelefebvre5453 4 роки тому +4

      That is why piano sampling libraries offer both an 'audience' perspective and a 'player' perspective. I personally much prefer the 'player' one, and obviously you do too. As a pianist, it is much more natural sounding to me, including the presence of the strings sympathetic resonance.

  • @carlotheatheist
    @carlotheatheist 3 роки тому +3

    you have so many instrument talent. you can drum, guitar and piano.

  • @MeatPopsycle
    @MeatPopsycle 6 років тому +4

    That first setup sounds amazing

  • @sebastian-benedictflore
    @sebastian-benedictflore 3 роки тому +13

    I was wondering why they were all audiotechnica mics xD

  • @keithkullberg716
    @keithkullberg716 4 роки тому +2

    The comparison in sound between the two setups was super helpful. Thanks!

  • @nottingham_ChrisAllison
    @nottingham_ChrisAllison 3 роки тому +6

    Great Video and LOADS of clarity here..I have watched a few now on micing the Piano and sound is wishy washy and disappointing on nearly all of them

  • @GrotrianSeiler
    @GrotrianSeiler 3 роки тому +1

    That was a great video. Really noticeable differences. My preference is 3,1,2.

  • @Taki_Music_TakuyaKimpara
    @Taki_Music_TakuyaKimpara 3 роки тому +1

    Thank you for this comparison!

  • @bearbarianphuket9404
    @bearbarianphuket9404 3 роки тому +2

    Thank you so much.

  • @modernmusicstudio303
    @modernmusicstudio303 3 роки тому +6

    Great video! I like how you explain how far away each mic should be from the other and the different sound you will get from each setup.

  • @tomyvrosales3535
    @tomyvrosales3535 2 роки тому

    Hi… thank you all for this great insight on how to mic a piano…

  • @badband4
    @badband4 6 років тому +12

    legit wondering what song he was pulling from

  • @AiMR
    @AiMR 10 місяців тому

    These setups are all great, but what sounds great in a solo piano recording is not the same as that same sound will sit in a mix. AT makes top notch gear 👍

  • @katk925
    @katk925 4 роки тому

    CHARLIE!!!!!! was not expecting to see you when I loaded this video!!!!

  • @LouisEmery
    @LouisEmery 4 роки тому +2

    BTW the sound is mostly emitted by the soundboard, but you knew that. ;)

  • @Sepharite
    @Sepharite 5 років тому +2

    I have the third setup microphone and it does not sound like this at all. I am wondering if it's my microphone

    • @AudioTechnicaUSA
      @AudioTechnicaUSA  5 років тому +3

      Hi there! Please contact our Audio Solutions Team for help. You can reach them at audio-solutions@atus.com. Thanks! - A-T USA

    • @OmariLiveHD
      @OmariLiveHD 3 роки тому

      There are a lot of factors that can make a difference. Such as the instrument itself and the room that the instrument is in.

  • @cameratadelvalle.argentina626
    @cameratadelvalle.argentina626 3 роки тому +1

    gracias

  • @langkuai6387
    @langkuai6387 7 років тому +1

    why the first sounds like leftside right? I usually hear the bass on the left side.

    • @protoman247
      @protoman247 5 років тому

      it's mastered as to reproduce the sound from the camera's perspective. As a right-handed drummer, I hate when the hi-hats are panned to the right.

  • @BaritoneDeLaTorre
    @BaritoneDeLaTorre 3 роки тому +2

    The two AT4060 sound outstanding but either I pay the rent for 3 months or I buy the mics :(

  • @StevenAH20
    @StevenAH20 5 років тому

    Thank you, sir.

  • @revokdaryl1
    @revokdaryl1 4 роки тому

    At 3:00, the pianist looks very... stoic.

  • @notscience5581
    @notscience5581 4 роки тому +5

    2:18 peanist

  • @waltertomaszewski1083
    @waltertomaszewski1083 4 роки тому

    Are AT4040s and AT4021s also good for recording piano?

    • @ewcho8995
      @ewcho8995 4 роки тому

      yeah they are both quality microphones. I personally would choose the AT4021 since its more detailed

  • @LiebJohnson
    @LiebJohnson 5 років тому

    was that Reign of Kindo's Breath Again?

  • @christianhurtado1978
    @christianhurtado1978 4 роки тому +1

    I like the first

  • @ivak4eto
    @ivak4eto 8 років тому +1

    What was the name of this tune?

    • @moabl2020
      @moabl2020 7 років тому +2

      you make me smile by Dave Koz

    • @ivak4eto
      @ivak4eto 7 років тому

      Papo Reto Thank you!

    • @chibuezengozi
      @chibuezengozi 4 роки тому

      I am not my hair - India Arie

  • @alexoldroyd770
    @alexoldroyd770 7 років тому +4

    Spaced LDC 1:26
    XY SDC 2:24
    Mono 3:20

  • @studentjohn35
    @studentjohn35 6 років тому +2

    In this fellow;s mind, omnidirectional microphones don't even exist.

  • @ValentineGoloubev
    @ValentineGoloubev 6 років тому +1

    It depends..

  • @barneycurran5774
    @barneycurran5774 7 років тому +6

    One mic - mono track, that's how to do it.

  • @pianistjustforfun
    @pianistjustforfun 7 років тому +2

    above all, i hear a detuned piano which is in bad shape. this would be fine for me, if somebody is playing a piano cover at his home, but as a product video, i don´t know...

    • @mellowords
      @mellowords 6 років тому

      pianistjustforfun I don't know, it sounds like it was probably tuned within a month or so. Are you a big Yamaha C7 guy or something?

    • @danhetzelvideo3502
      @danhetzelvideo3502 6 років тому

      He's right - listen again at 2:00 and a few other spots.

    • @anonymusum
      @anonymusum 6 років тому

      True - but at the same time the sound is very flat. Every mic setting produced a pop sound.

  • @mehrschwein7378
    @mehrschwein7378 9 років тому +2

    I don't like the first recoding technique. I can always hear, that its recorded with 2 mic's. Doesn't sound good that way

    • @សេរ៉ាហ្វ
      @សេរ៉ាហ្វ 8 років тому

      +mehr schwein That's a matter of personal taste.^^ Also, you can set the recorded audio to mono, so you don't hear it ;)

  • @TheBroadcastStudio365
    @TheBroadcastStudio365 7 років тому +1

    It's sound not as good in my ears.

  • @hh-dr4db
    @hh-dr4db 3 роки тому +3

    Wow this piano sounds like crap. I can't believe this is the same Yamaha that makes the CFX.

  • @ekstrapolatoraproksymujacy412

    you have no idea how piano produces sound lol

  • @OE1FEU
    @OE1FEU 6 років тому +6

    Wow. That's an exceptionally badly maintained and tuned instrument. Just perfect for crappy recording examples that gives you trebles on the left.
    Kudos for calling this a professional presentation of what I thought was a respectable company.

    • @qingshanli7511
      @qingshanli7511 5 років тому

      Agreed. Wish they could have found a better pianist, too.

  • @GarySchmidtPianist
    @GarySchmidtPianist 7 років тому +1

    too the piano is not in tune but helpful video

  • @emreon3160
    @emreon3160 4 роки тому +8

    The first set up was incredible. Real as i have 2 ears.

  • @sidthebassist89
    @sidthebassist89 4 роки тому +4

    I love that you guys covered the AT2020. I got one when I bought pencil condensers for use as drum overheads and haven't used it for anything, now I know it sounds good

  • @markerworksstudio5322
    @markerworksstudio5322 7 років тому +5

    Thanks a lot for this video. :D It helped a lot. Finally I know how does that At2020 sounds. :)

  • @lucase3047
    @lucase3047 6 років тому +4

    Often i like an XY setup best, AB always makes the low notes obviously go through 1 mic more and to me feel slightly unbalanced.

  • @LuiGiSotres
    @LuiGiSotres 4 роки тому +3

    Excelente, muchas gracias por los ejemplos!

  • @kevinchen6075
    @kevinchen6075 3 роки тому +3

    Do you have any recommendations on recording the grand piano in a room with quite a bit of background noise? There are three fan openings in my room and when I play my recordings at loud volumes, the background noise becomes very noticeable.

    • @AudioTechnicaUSA
      @AudioTechnicaUSA  3 роки тому +1

      Hi Kevin! Please contact our Audio Solutions Team for help. You can reach them at audio-solutions@atus.com. Thanks! - A-T USA

  • @bortonbob
    @bortonbob 4 роки тому +6

    Great techniques! You initial comment about pianos being he most complex (more than 7,000 parts) of all acoustic instruments is flawed...the piano must take second place. The pipe organ is FAR more complex in a myriad of ways. Whereas a piano has only 88 keys and only 3 foot controls, a typical 3-manual theatre pipe organ has 215 keys, and 183 of those keys have two depths of depression (second touch) to produce a second sound from the same keys that effectively gives the organist 198 key strokes. The feet generally have a dozen controls, but the hands must manipulate hundreds of stop switches. And it's worth mentioning that a particular key can have nearly an infinite possibility of sounds not to mention a variety of different octaves produced from the same key; whereas, a piano key will always produce only one sound at one frequency. A brief research of the Atlantic City Midmer-Losh pipe organ shows it has 33,114 pipes that speak from 7 chambers into an auditorium of nearly 7 acres housed in 5.5 million cubic feet of airspace. There are 449 different sounding pipe ranks, and the largest pipe is 64' 9" and produces a zero distortion frequency of 8 cycles per second (about 1 octave above an earthquake), and it was crafted out of an Oregon fir tree that was 785 years old. The shortest pipe is 1/4" and produces a frequency of 17K cycles per second. There are 1,235 stop tab switches to control the infinite sound possibilities using the 510 keys from both hands and feet. The organ has 7 manual keyboards for the hands, four 5-octave, two 6-octave, and one 88-key manual...again, the second touch adds even more key action. It has more than 450 relay bars that electrically connect the pipe ranks to any of the keyboards. How much wire to connect up this instrument? The wire is so long that you could wrap all of them around the equator 2 1/2 times!! I could go on, but a piano has only 88 keys and 3 pedals to control sound. That said, thanks for sharing a great way to mic grand pianos!

  • @wesleycox5335
    @wesleycox5335 5 років тому +3

    1st is amazing.

  • @Littlecadent
    @Littlecadent 6 років тому +2

    What if your recording upright piano?

    • @AudioTechnicaUSA
      @AudioTechnicaUSA  6 років тому +1

      Hi there! Please contact our Audio Solutions Team for help. You can reach them at audio-solutions@atus.com. Thanks! - A-T USA

  • @swingsetsounds7983
    @swingsetsounds7983 3 роки тому +1

    i really liked the first option but when i tried it, the LDC's kept sagging. Are your stands counter weighted? If so, can you provide a link? I haven't been able to find any.

    • @AudioTechnicaUSA
      @AudioTechnicaUSA  3 роки тому

      Hi there! Please contact our Audio Solutions Team for help. You can reach them at audio-solutions@atus.com. Thanks! - A-T USA

    • @giuseppepulella
      @giuseppepulella Рік тому

      How did you solve it?

  • @billmcentire9923
    @billmcentire9923 4 роки тому +2

    I gotta ask what's the name of the song?

    • @chibuezengozi
      @chibuezengozi 4 роки тому +3

      I am not my hair - India Arie

    • @josephkyle6271
      @josephkyle6271 3 роки тому +1

      @@chibuezengozi I WAS LIKE BRUHH I KNOW THIS SONG!!!!

  • @GrantPmusic
    @GrantPmusic 5 років тому +1

    Trying to save money here. Thinking about getting 2 AT2020 mics to record my baby grand. Would I get a full frequency range (nice lows, crispy highs) doing this? Thanks.

    • @AudioTechnicaUSA
      @AudioTechnicaUSA  5 років тому

      Hi there! Please contact our Audio Solutions Team for help. You can reach them at audio-solutions@atus.com. Thanks! - A-T USA

    • @GrantPmusic
      @GrantPmusic 5 років тому +4

      @@AudioTechnicaUSA - Thanks but I could have easily did a google search for audio-technica technical support for that info. I was hoping for a yes or no or perhaps it has good lows as well as highs... or maybe even an honest welllllll it's a little short in the lows but the highs are crisp. Whatever. A cut and paste response doesn't gain my confidence in any customer support if I actually did buy a few of these.

    • @AudioTechnicaUSA
      @AudioTechnicaUSA  5 років тому +1

      @@GrantPmusic Hi there! We appreciate your continued interest in A-T, the Audio Solutions team is the best point of contact for product recommendations. - A-T USA

    • @MrRyancangri
      @MrRyancangri 4 роки тому +1

      Absolutely Grant. They sound great.

    • @GrantPmusic
      @GrantPmusic 4 роки тому +1

      @@MrRyancangri - Thanks Ryan!

  • @stevesmith1493
    @stevesmith1493 2 роки тому

    Take the lid off

  • @youfang232
    @youfang232 4 роки тому

    can i use itt on normal piano but not a grand piano ?