Just a short piano

Posted on Jan 11, 2007 08:22 pm
neoific
Idiot Kid
Member Since: Sep 27, 2006

Howdy, its on my profile.

I just made my *first* recording on my steinway :)

Its OK, not exactly where I want it, but I don't know Pianos that well so how do I get it to that "polished" professional sound?

Btw, I know the piano is out of tune a bit and has a few key clicks.

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Hue
Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004

Jan 11, 2007 10:16 pm

I really like the sound of that Steinway, and I was hoping that you'd have continued with the Beethoven, that piece always gets me .

The next steps in the polishing process(premastering) would be adding eq'ing, compression, and a bit of reverb to it . Go through those motions, and see what you can get out of it... experiment, I think you'll be surprised how close to 'pro' you could get .

I think that this is where 'ear-power' really needs to kick in, and critical listening can aquire an entirely new level . I think of it as kind of upping the bit depth rate of your listening attention . Because the idea is to make it sound better than it does... not necesarily different(maybe?), but 'more' of what it naturally is, is usually the case . At that point it becomes a balancing act between accurate documentaion of the instrument, with respect paid to the who, what, wheres, and whys that are to be preserved, while at the same time sculpting a nieghborhood for all the other instruments in which to coexist .

Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jan 11, 2007 10:42 pm

neo, had a quick listen tonight and will give a better louder listen tomorrow. But it sounded really good for a single mic take.

And your serious about the piano's age, 1830??? I am jealous to say the least. I have to use software for my grand piano's. Although I'm not complaining mind you, I use Native Instruments Acoustic Piano and they have a couple of very expensive piano's in there.
Anyway, I love the key clicks and such when recording piano. Don't ever worry about that when recording a real piano, that is what give them each their own character.

I'll comment more tomorrow after I get to listen to the piece again.

neoific
Idiot Kid
Member
Since: Sep 27, 2006

Jan 12, 2007 09:57 am

Alright :)

Yeah, Im going to just play it back a bunch and play with some EQ.

Today once I get home Ill play a few pieces, another more bluesy thingy that I wrote.

My micing technique was limited, I would have rather put about 4 condensor mics further away with 2 for the "room", but I dont have the mics to get that much, nor the cables (The room where my piano is in is about 60 feet away from my recording console).

The piano has been in my mothers side all its life, it needs to be "rebuilt" or whatever, a few keys have some whacky residue and the wood in a few places has some bumps. But comparing it to my buddies new steinway in his house, it sounds a LOT better. Aged to perfection?

Oh, and sorry if I'm not a keyboard wizz, Im just a highschooler and Piano is sort of a side deal for me.

Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jan 12, 2007 03:07 pm

Well the playing is not bad really at all. So no worries there.

Something to try for the next round is possibly refining the location of the mic. I will assume the lid was open for that recording. Try it with the mic approx. 24" above the string board and approx 36" back from the hammers. Have it centered somewhat and roll it so the diaphragm faces slightly more toward the higher strings, but only slightly. Next set the mic with the low end roll off on. Or it may just state low cut. This will help tone down some of the louder sounding bass notes. I suggest not using any EQ while recording so you get a more pure sound. Then EQ can be applied later if it is really needed.

The sound you got was not all that bad, maybe a little bottom heavy but that is partially the mic and partly the mic location.

As I stated, I prefer as do others to be able to hear some of the mechanic's of the piano at work. It is part of the natural sound they make. So don't really try to eliminate that.

Can't wait to hear more from you, and good luck.

Noize

neoific
Idiot Kid
Member
Since: Sep 27, 2006

Jan 12, 2007 04:59 pm

Yeah, I placed it right on the side. Normally I would have done a "cross fire" technique taught to me by a Jazz piano player, with one on either side facing across.

Ill go see what that sounds like, brb.