| Author |
Message |
anon
Guest
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 Posted:
Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:24 am Post subject:
piano recording |
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i posted a few times about problems recording a grand piano in an apartment
i finally solved the problem at least getting a decent recording. everything
was too bassy and muddy, i switched to a mackie preamp (intentially trying
to thin things out) with the highs boosted about 4 db, the lows rolled off
about 8 db or more. then used a low shelf on the masterlink at 100 hz at -15
db. this is pretty drastic eq, but at least it sounds good to my ears on
tape.
the problem now is how do i determine whether all of this is caused by the
room. if it is i guess i would need to spend a fair amount on room
treatment. is it possible to get all that bass out of the room, or will i
still need to eq.
another problem is that the bassiness gets worse on humid days, so at least
part of this is the piano. specifically i think it is the soundboard arcing.
or maybe it is interaction between the soundboard and the room. i would like
to get a decent sound while i'm playing so what's the next step.
i'm wondering if i need a different piano or if i just use alot of eq and
just be tormented while i play.
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Eric K. Weber
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:25 am Post subject:
Re: piano recording |
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Is the excessive bass the recording or your monitoring setup?
What type of piano, where were the mic's and what type?
What are the room dimensions and where is the piano located?
Rgds:
Eric
"anon" <anonymousm@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:LP7wd.84902$Vk6.56761@twister.nyc.rr.com...
| Quote: | i posted a few times about problems recording a grand piano in an
apartment
i finally solved the problem at least getting a decent recording.
everything
was too bassy and muddy, i switched to a mackie preamp (intentially trying
to thin things out) with the highs boosted about 4 db, the lows rolled off
about 8 db or more. then used a low shelf on the masterlink at 100 hz
at -15
db. this is pretty drastic eq, but at least it sounds good to my ears on
tape.
the problem now is how do i determine whether all of this is caused by the
room. if it is i guess i would need to spend a fair amount on room
treatment. is it possible to get all that bass out of the room, or will i
still need to eq.
another problem is that the bassiness gets worse on humid days, so at
least
part of this is the piano. specifically i think it is the soundboard
arcing.
or maybe it is interaction between the soundboard and the room. i would
like
to get a decent sound while i'm playing so what's the next step.
i'm wondering if i need a different piano or if i just use alot of eq and
just be tormented while i play.
|
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| Back to top |
|
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**bg**
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:22 pm Post subject:
Re: piano recording |
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Throw some blankets over it, baffle/isolate it from the room. Record and
see if yer problem still exists.
Better still, get a Kawai MP 9000 stage piano.
Soft and loud pedals; excellent, variable action/touch; great sampled
sounds.
DI into your system, clean as a whistle.
Pick up an external sound module for more sounds.
Problem solved.
-rj-
www.thelittlecanadaheadphoneband.ca www.lchb.ca
"anon" <anonymousm@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:LP7wd.84902$Vk6.56761@twister.nyc.rr.com...
| Quote: | i posted a few times about problems recording a grand piano in an
apartment
i finally solved the problem at least getting a decent recording.
everything
was too bassy and muddy, i switched to a mackie preamp (intentially trying
to thin things out) with the highs boosted about 4 db, the lows rolled off
about 8 db or more. then used a low shelf on the masterlink at 100 hz
at -15
db. this is pretty drastic eq, but at least it sounds good to my ears on
tape.
the problem now is how do i determine whether all of this is caused by the
room. if it is i guess i would need to spend a fair amount on room
treatment. is it possible to get all that bass out of the room, or will i
still need to eq.
another problem is that the bassiness gets worse on humid days, so at
least
part of this is the piano. specifically i think it is the soundboard
arcing.
or maybe it is interaction between the soundboard and the room. i would
like
to get a decent sound while i'm playing so what's the next step.
i'm wondering if i need a different piano or if i just use alot of eq and
just be tormented while i play.
|
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| Back to top |
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Scott Dorsey
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Dec 16, 2004 6:23 pm Post subject:
Re: piano recording |
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|
anon <anonymousm@nyc.rr.com> wrote:
| Quote: | i posted a few times about problems recording a grand piano in an apartment
i finally solved the problem at least getting a decent recording. everything
was too bassy and muddy, i switched to a mackie preamp (intentially trying
to thin things out) with the highs boosted about 4 db, the lows rolled off
about 8 db or more. then used a low shelf on the masterlink at 100 hz at -15
db. this is pretty drastic eq, but at least it sounds good to my ears on
tape.
|
Well, that's fine, then.
| Quote: | the problem now is how do i determine whether all of this is caused by the
room. if it is i guess i would need to spend a fair amount on room
treatment. is it possible to get all that bass out of the room, or will i
still need to eq.
|
Well, look at your chain. It can be caused by the room, the piano, the
mike, the mike placement, the recording process (probably the least likely
of the set) or the monitoring.
| Quote: | another problem is that the bassiness gets worse on humid days, so at least
part of this is the piano. specifically i think it is the soundboard arcing.
or maybe it is interaction between the soundboard and the room. i would like
to get a decent sound while i'm playing so what's the next step.
|
Well, what does the piano sound like in the room if you walk around? It
can help to put a finger in one ear and listen only with the other. Get
someone else to play while you wander around. If it sounds bad in the
room, it will sound bad on tape.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
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Scott Dorsey
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 23, 2004 8:33 am Post subject:
Re: piano recording |
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anon <anonymousm@nyc.rr.com> wrote:
| Quote: | the piano sounds tubby like a tuba in the room with or without recording. if
i roll of 100hz drastically to -15 then the recorded sound is ok. celings
are 11 feet, floor is hardwood. putting the lid all the way down makes
things alot worse. closing the lid completely over the piano i can still
hear the tubbiness.
|
Yes, this is typical.
| Quote: | humidity makes the tuba worse. dryness better, but it's not good for the
piano.
not sure what can be done to the soundboard by a tech. resetting the
bearing?
|
Maybe, but I bet you have a room problem from that description. Have a tech
come in, and a REAL tech and not just a piano tuner, and see what he can do.
Even if you have a room problem, a good tech can voice the piano to compensate
for it.
| Quote: | i never used an altec mic, but a mackie preamp helped things alot by
thinning the sound out.
|
That sure isn't a good sign.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
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