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Author Topic: budget piano microphones  (Read 9691 times)

Mike Tinsley

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budget piano microphones
« on: January 30, 2014, 12:14:51 PM »

Hello. Mike Tinsley here.
Couldn't find another post to answer this,
so please redirect...
Looking for couple of affordable mics
for upper/ lower range grand (Kawai 5') piano
for quartet live sound sm to med rooms.
I realize this is no place to cut corners
but the good mics (C414, OM1, U87,NT55) are
pricey considering I need two and just purchased
a dig. board. Know nothing in this arena.
Sterling ST51, Oktava MK 319, various XLM's
locally available but seem to be geared for vocals.
Anyone selling thru PSW optimal. please direct. thanks. M.
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Bradford "BJ" James

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2014, 12:23:04 PM »

Hello. Mike Tinsley here.
Couldn't find another post to answer this,
so please redirect...
Looking for couple of affordable mics
for upper/ lower range grand (Kawai 5') piano
for quartet live sound sm to med rooms.
I realize this is no place to cut corners
but the good mics (C414, OM1, U87,NT55) are
pricey considering I need two and just purchased
a dig. board. Know nothing in this arena.
Sterling ST51, Oktava MK 319, various XLM's
locally available but seem to be geared for vocals.
Anyone selling thru PSW optimal. please direct. thanks. M.

I just brought a APEX 185 2 pack to try on Grand Piano at a recent gig. They sounded good enough that I didn't bother putting up anything better. Real good value at around $100 for the pair.
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Mike Tinsley

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2014, 03:05:50 PM »

I just brought a APEX 185 2 pack to try on Grand Piano at a recent gig. They sounded good enough that I didn't bother putting up anything better. Real good value at around $100 for the pair.

Thanks BJ. since i'm placing one each over the base end of the soundboard for bass frequencies and one at the upper end for treble, did you get full response and dynamics in the mix?
 
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Mike Tinsley

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2014, 04:37:23 PM »

Hello. Mike Tinsley here.
Couldn't find another post to answer this,
so please redirect...
Looking for couple of affordable mics
for upper/ lower range grand (Kawai 5') piano
for quartet live sound sm to med rooms.
I realize this is no place to cut corners
but the good mics (C414, OM1, U87,NT55) are
pricey considering I need two and just purchased
a dig. board. Know nothing in this arena.
Sterling ST51, Oktava MK 319, various XLM's
locally available but seem to be geared for vocals.
Anyone selling thru PSW optimal. please direct. thanks. M.

Also- would the  Rode NT1A- altho a vocal mic by design,
be applicable for piano?
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g'bye, Dick Rees

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2014, 05:49:15 PM »

Hello. Mike Tinsley here.
Couldn't find another post to answer this,
so please redirect...
Looking for couple of affordable mics
for upper/ lower range grand (Kawai 5') piano
for quartet live sound sm to med rooms.
I realize this is no place to cut corners
but the good mics (C414, OM1, U87,NT55) are
pricey considering I need two and just purchased
a dig. board. Know nothing in this arena.
Sterling ST51, Oktava MK 319, various XLM's
locally available but seem to be geared for vocals.
Anyone selling thru PSW optimal. please direct. thanks. M.

Hi, Mike...

Do a search for "grand piano" and you'll get more information quicker. 

IMO, positioning is more important than the actual mic choice (there are so many good ones), not only for what and how the sound is picked up but equally important...what is NOT picked up.

No matter what mics are on the strings, I always put a "57 in the hole" to fulfill the principle of "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it".  An SM57 pointed directly into one of the holes in the lyre of the grand will give you a ton of usable sound with almost ZERO bleed.  It'll also let you put the piano in the monitor if needed without fouling things up and feeding back.

Using a carefully balanced blend of a couple of properly placed SDC's backed by the 57 in the hole will give you a very nice palette of sound from which to work.
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Mike Tinsley

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2014, 06:36:24 PM »

Hi, Mike...

Do a search for "grand piano" and you'll get more information quicker. 

IMO, positioning is more important than the actual mic choice (there are so many good ones), not only for what and how the sound is picked up but equally important...what is NOT picked up.

No matter what mics are on the strings, I always put a "57 in the hole" to fulfill the principle of "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it".  An SM57 pointed directly into one of the holes in the lyre of the grand will give you a ton of usable sound with almost ZERO bleed.  It'll also let you put the piano in the monitor if needed without fouling things up and feeding back.

Using a carefully balanced blend of a couple of properly placed SDC's backed by the 57 in the hole will give you a very nice palette of sound from which to work.

Thanks DR.
Didn't want to assume a 57 was the ultimate band aid especially
if this guy's used to hi end NY sound types. Did my first show for
them and used a (muffling motion over the mouth) couple of
Audix D12/ D10 placed over lo/ hi string registers. Fortunately
he (award winning NY concert pianist) din pay any attention
to them and several people raved about the piano/ overall mix
which I wrote off to blind luck and resigned myself to do it right
the next time in May after being told I am THE contracted a/v
provider for all subsequent bookings- two so far.
Since you chimed in and have the expertise: SDC's- suggestions?
Previously mentioned Apex 185's? Stagg PGT60's? BluePerception220?
Sterling Audio ST51? Or order/ wait forever for LineAudio OM1&C3?
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Brian Adams

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2014, 06:50:14 PM »

I use two Crown PCC160's, one gaff taped to the lid on the low side aimed across the low strings and one taped to the curve facing down and a little toward the hammers. Placement is critical, of course, and it takes a little midrange EQ, but I can get a really natural piano sound out of them.

This only works with the lid closed, obviously.

PCC160's can be found used but in perfect condition for under $100 each on ebay.
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Brian Adams
Adams Production Services
Vermillion, SD
adamsproductionservices.com

g'bye, Dick Rees

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2014, 07:16:30 PM »


Since you chimed in and have the expertise: SDC's- suggestions?


Not for cheap.  Shure KSM141

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=Shure+KSM141&Go=Search
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Cailen Waddell

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2014, 08:29:20 PM »

We use a pair of akg c430s, which are IMHO reasonably priced.  They sit on a piece of foam in the crook of the piano doing an XY stereo thing.  It sounds nice to me, another sound guy who is our primary engineer came up with it.
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Darin Ulmer

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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2014, 09:57:11 PM »

+1 on the KSM141.  A very nice mic.
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Re: budget piano microphones
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2014, 09:57:11 PM »


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