Recording a Piano Recital in An Auditorium

RedWallStudio · 27th December 2006

I've been asked to volunteer my time, gear and experience to record a piano recital (my daughter plays in it) at a local auditorium. Basically, it will be about 15-20 Yamaha Electrone Keyboards and a couple of grand pianos. From what I understand, the Electone's don't have line out or midi-out so I will be recording them from their dinky output speakers (they don't sound too bad). Anyhow, I was wondering if any of you sluts have recorded a live performance before and can give me some tips. Here is the particulars.

1) Auditorium a great sounding 500 seat theater.
2) 15 Yamaha Electones and 2 Yamaha Grands
3) They have a small house p.a. for Announcement purposes only..... but I may want to capture some of the announcer to enhance the "live" appeal.

What I have that I can transport with me....
6 API 312-c's and a Pair of racked Neve 33114s
Pro-Tools LE and a Rosetta 800 / Mac & Monitor
I can monitor via headphones
Mics = (2)AT4050, (1)Neuman M147, (2)AKG 451, Various 57s and 58s, A handful of Sennheiser E Series, EV-RE20 and a Royer R-121 Ribbon.

I would like to keep this fairly simple. Was thinking of a single 4050 in omni over each grand, a stereo pair of 451's high over the 15 Electones (about 15 feet up), a couple of 57s over the p.a. monitors to capture the announcers and the M147 pointed towards the crowd to get applause. How does that sound?

Thanks for the help!

NOCCA · 27th December 2006

Just for the heads up, in my experience API+Piano has never equaled a pleasant sound.

Oldone · 27th December 2006

I concur on the APIs. I just did some Christmas orchestras and used Neve Porticos with excellent results.

Re: The 4050s in omni, I would click them on Cardiod and point the active side of the mics at the pianos. There is a lot of room noise with kids tapping their feet at something like this as well as program shuffling of paper. You might want some rear rejection of the room. Use a high pass filter at around 80-100 to keep the stage from sounding too boomy as artists enter and leave the stage.

My 2 cents.

27th December 2006	#1
RedWallStudio Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 974 Thread Starter	Recording a Piano Recital in An Auditorium I've been asked to volunteer my time, gear and experience to record a piano recital (my daughter plays in it) at a local auditorium. Basically, it will be about 15-20 Yamaha Electrone Keyboards and a couple of grand pianos. From what I understand, the Electone's don't have line out or midi-out so I will be recording them from their dinky output speakers (they don't sound too bad). Anyhow, I was wondering if any of you sluts have recorded a live performance before and can give me some tips. Here is the particulars. 1) Auditorium a great sounding 500 seat theater. 2) 15 Yamaha Electones and 2 Yamaha Grands 3) They have a small house p.a. for Announcement purposes only..... but I may want to capture some of the announcer to enhance the "live" appeal. What I have that I can transport with me.... 6 API 312-c's and a Pair of racked Neve 33114s Pro-Tools LE and a Rosetta 800 / Mac & Monitor I can monitor via headphones Mics = (2)AT4050, (1)Neuman M147, (2)AKG 451, Various 57s and 58s, A handful of Sennheiser E Series, EV-RE20 and a Royer R-121 Ribbon. I would like to keep this fairly simple. Was thinking of a single 4050 in omni over each grand, a stereo pair of 451's high over the 15 Electones (about 15 feet up), a couple of 57s over the p.a. monitors to capture the announcers and the M147 pointed towards the crowd to get applause. How does that sound? Thanks for the help! __________________ "I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." Stephen Bishop

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27th December 2006	#2
NOCCA Gear maniac Joined: Feb 2006 Location: NOLA/NYC Posts: 198	Just for the heads up, in my experience API+Piano has never equaled a pleasant sound.

27th December 2006	#3
Oldone Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2002 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 1,181	I concur on the APIs. I just did some Christmas orchestras and used Neve Porticos with excellent results. Re: The 4050s in omni, I would click them on Cardiod and point the active side of the mics at the pianos. There is a lot of room noise with kids tapping their feet at something like this as well as program shuffling of paper. You might want some rear rejection of the room. Use a high pass filter at around 80-100 to keep the stage from sounding too boomy as artists enter and leave the stage. My 2 cents.