What microphone do you use?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Some time in the eventful future, I plan to do some recordings.  So I need a microphone.

I don't want one of those cheap ones that you get as a toy from a kids meal at McDonalds, or the ones that you find in cereal boxes.  But at the same time, I'm not recording for Deutsche Grammophon.  So lets say my budget is like a couple hundred dollars or something.

I'll be playing on a 9 foot concert grand in an auditorium.  So given these conditions what would be a good microphone?  The ones that stick inside the piano look pretty badass, except I don't know if those are actually good.

So please,  my mentors at Pianostreet, show me the way!

[quantum]

I started this thread a couple years ago when searching for mics, you may find the info useful:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=10124.0

Piano recording recipe:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,9818.0.html

Rachfan has posted detailed descriptions of his setup.


Generally classical music recordings use mics placed far from the sound source.  Popular music and live sound reinforcement will tend to use mics placed close to the sound source.  Mic placement is about creating the flavor of the sound you want. 

I've seen some classical music concerts close miced with PZM's (boundary mics), under or even inside the piano.  On the whole, a majority of classical music recordings are done with mics at a distance from the instrument.  Pop/jazz music recording has different goals, as often the piano is part of a band.  Mics are placed closer to capture more attack and to isolate the piano mic from picking up the other instruments in the band. 


There are a lot of options for several hundred dollars.  Start looking at Large Diaphragm Condensers as well as Small Diaphragm Condensers.  It will help if you familiarize yourself with some general equipment lingo. 

Don't forget the mic is only part of the signal chain.  You need a mic (2 for stereo), a pre-amp, something to record what is captured, and cables to connect it all together. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I started this thread a couple years ago when searching for mics, you may find the info useful:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=10124.0

Piano recording recipe:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,9818.0.html

Rachfan has posted detailed descriptions of his setup.


Generally classical music recordings use mics placed far from the sound source.  Popular music and live sound reinforcement will tend to use mics placed close to the sound source.  Mic placement is about creating the flavor of the sound you want. 

I've seen some classical music concerts close miced with PZM's (boundary mics), under or even inside the piano.  On the whole, a majority of classical music recordings are done with mics at a distance from the instrument.  Pop/jazz music recording has different goals, as often the piano is part of a band.  Mics are placed closer to capture more attack and to isolate the piano mic from picking up the other instruments in the band. 


There are a lot of options for several hundred dollars.  Start looking at Large Diaphragm Condensers as well as Small Diaphragm Condensers.  It will help if you familiarize yourself with some general equipment lingo. 

Don't forget the mic is only part of the signal chain.  You need a mic (2 for stereo), a pre-amp, something to record what is captured, and cables to connect it all together. 

Thanks!

[indianajo]

I'm on a severe budget but have great ears, so I picked up a Shure SM87 for $80 last month.  I don't have an ambient noise problem, as this is an area mike set up across the room.  Until I find another I can afford I'm using a cheap Sony dynamic mike for the room ambient (stereo). My Steinway console has holes and projects the best sound out towards the player.   Since I bought it I see this mike a lot on television for whole-band pickup on shows like Jubilee, Woodsongs, Bluegrass Underground etc.  It is used where a lot of people are singing and playing into one mike.  For a single player alone in a house it seems to be fine.  
I asked this question on diyaudio.com, and a recording engineer said at the budget end of sessions he used two Audiotechnica 4050s taped on the bottom of the (grand) piano soundboard. Probably this was in studio environment with a band or multitrack recording. AT's are oriental import and violate my purchasing regime for supporting my neighbors in an emergency, but do what you want.    At 4050's are going for about $350 used in Nashville anyway, and who knows if a used session mike would be reliable.  
I've got a used Peavey Unity mixer which has the phantom power (DC) necessary for the condensor SM87, and can adjust to the entirely different level of the dynamic mike.  Still working out the recording part of the project though. My reel to reel deck I used to use for the electronic keyboard has problems with deteriorated rubber parts and nobody can listen to that format anymore anyway.  

[unholeee]

I bought a q3 zoom since it records and i can see the hand movement too. I think the quality of the microphone is nice, but not top notch professional. It set me back around 150 on ebay

[chopin2015]

A microphone or some microphones? I would try a omnidirectional microphone, where the sound does not bend around the diaphragm to avoid any sound from the back or the sides or what have you, an omni mic will pick up all sound, and you could put that a couple feet behind you, or if you can, Ideally I would just hang it really high above the piano, in front of you, after the hammers, above the harp. I would try that first, if it sounds awkward, I would just keep it somewhere on the stage. Even better, put it on a really high stand right in front of the stage, but I do not like the idea of favoring a side of the piano, even though low frequency waves are omnidirectional too, keeping the mic close to the high octaves will sound different than what you hear, so I would hang it above. I wouldn't close mic unless you will be adjusting the levels between the left channel and right channel, aka automating the levels of your right hand melody, studio cheats like that.