Chopin Etude Opus 10, No. 3

[ninjapianist]

Ive been working on this piece for a few months, and I'd like some feedback.  I seem to be constantly finding things I could improve on.....sigh.....But isn't there always something?

Also, Im wondering if I'm putting the recorder in the wrong place in relation to the piano, because this recording came out sounding kind of mellow and muffled for some reason.  Any ideas of where I should put the recorder? 

[pianisten1989]

Hi, well played

Though, I'd play it a bit slower, and a bit more rubato. Have you played one voice at the time?
1. Melody
2. Rh comp
3. Lh comp

I did that on the op 27/7, and it's much easier to phrase and stuff like that.. Though, that's just my opinion. Im sure some ppl would find this more in their taste.

And as I said, it's very good already.

[scottmcc]

I agree with your observation about the muffled sound.  are you using much pedal?  I've seen various accounts of this that call for very minimal pedaling, so that the cross rhythms and accents remain clear.  I think it's probably a technical matter relating to the recording though, as I was quite impressed with your playing.  I think the only real area that I would mention would be to create more contrast between the A and B section.  perhaps by slowing down the A ever so slightly, but keeping the B the way it is, or maybe with a little more bite in the B?  that theme to me is supposed to have some tension, to contrast with the wistful beauty of the first theme.  again, it's very good already, and you've clearly put a lot of work into it--these are small observations.  I look forward to hearing more of your work.

[ninjapianist]

Thanks for the replies, Its always so good to get a new perspective.

I think the recorder was on the floor, about 5 feet from the piano.  (no other reason then thats were an outlet was), and I just read something on another thread that your never supposed to record on the floor.   hmmmm.... maybe thats my problem.

[ihavetoleave]

I think the first part should be slower and you should place your recorder at the same level of the keyboard.

[rachfan]

Hi ninja,

Other than the muffled sound, I think your work on this etude is paying you dividends now.  You have a good overall grasp of the piece, your intentions and execution are thoughtful and effective and include some very nice nuances in the lyrical sections too.  I enjoyed listening.

To help you on alleviating the muffled sound if possible, we'll need more information.  The sound is boxy, dull, overly mellow and muffled.  Are you playing a grand or upright, and what brand/model?  If a grand, a baby grand, medium grand or larger parlor grand?  Approximate length?  Did you have the lid closed, raised on the short prop, or up on the full prop?  If an upright did you open the top?  What kind of recorder do you use (name and model)?  Is it mono or does it have onboard stereo mics?  If the latter, are the mics separated and parallel or crossed in XY configuration?  Where did you place the recorder exactly--inside the piano, on the closed lid, in front of the piano and if so at what approximate distance? Does your recorder have a "limiter switch"?  If yes, was it switched to on or off?  What kind of room did you play in--home living room, school practice room, teacher's studio, other?  Is that room large/small; does it reverberate or have more of a dull acoustic?  Did you do any kind of editing of the outtake to change the properties of the original playback sound?  

There are many factors in evaluating a sound problem.  Without this additional information, it would be impossible for anyone to make an informed recommendation.

  

    

[ninjapianist]

The piece was recorded on a Steinway baby grand propped on the short stick, and I used my H2 Zoom recorder.  The recorder was sitting about 10 feet away on the ground.  It was recorded in my teachers studio, which is pretty small, and heavily carpeted.  (Im thinking maybe that had a lot to do with the muffled sound.)

As far as the mic settings go, It was on medium gain setting.  As far as I know, there wasn't any limiter switch turned on, but then again Im not all that tech-savvy when It comes to microphones