Death By Electric Piano

[fifthcircle]

Tubes will be your friend here... I use my ADL200 tube direct when this exact problem comes up and it works like a charm. Add a tube pre and you'll be even happier.

Then beyond that, a touch of EQ and a nice dense reverb (a la old Lexicon- I use my 300 for this) will help fill out the sound.

--Ben

[jazzbutcher]

Ben,

Thanks for the advice....I'm trying to find a decent DI box for this elec piano.... The resulting signal will go through a v72 pre...so maybe that will help.


thanks,

-dave

[fifthcircle]

v72 certainly can't hurt...

If you find some good tubes, you'll be stylin'

--Ben

[Remoteness]

Yeah, I love my Juice box tube DIs for keys and such...

Dave, How did the gig go?

[verystrange]

I don't do remote stuff (all though I am thinking about trying to set up a rig) but I know in the studio I leave a vox cambridge or AC15 set up at all times to reamp stuff through. Most of the time I use in on synths and electric pianos (makes all the difference in the world). I think a huge part of the sound is just having some air move... does it sound more like a real piano... no... but it sure as hell sounds a lot better than just the di signal.

Ben

[studjo]

oh another Vox Cambridge user
I thought I'm the only one using it for reamping and Rhodes

Jo

[verystrange]

The cambridge is my not so secret weapon... I love that amp!!! Nobody thinks that it is any good because it is after vox's heyday... but I love it.

The only problem with my idea is that you might be recording straight to two... and won't be able to reamp stuff... if that is the case i would try miking that keyboard players amp.

ben

[Berolzheimer]

Hey Dave,
Are you talking about something electro-mechanical like a Fender/Rhodes or Wurlitzer or a CP-70, or a synth that will be putting out a variety of sounds, or an electronic keyboard that's supposed to sound like an acoustic piano?

[jazzbutcher]

Berolzheimer,

Yes, it was a synth that is supposed to look/sound like a regular piano. I've never seen one like this before, but it was in the shape of a baby grand and had speakers where the strings/hammers would be . It looked like a toy when I first saw it.


Steve, Ben,

The gig ended up going quite well -- it was an amazing performance by everyone and the crowd was going wild (I kept having to turn down my audience mics as the evening went on!). It was a little exciting when 15 minutes before showtime the star of the show (a sax player) finally showed up and asked if he could use his own clip-on mic for his alto sax. I quickly hooked him up and also put a Coles out in front of him too.

I was able to get hold of a Tab-Funkenwerk v71 DI Box for use with the elec piano. I'm mighty impressed with this little box...god bless Oliver and his crew in Kansas. I'm sure most everyone has heard about this box by now, but for those that haven't seen it before, it's Oliver's solution for people who keep racking v72's just to have a great DI. Let me tell you, this thing definately made the electric piano sound mo' bettah and anything but thin. Once again, hats off to Oliver and Crew. Highly reccomended. Mighty Fine.

-dave

PS: This show made me think of some questions about grounding issues, so let me collect my thoughts and I'll post a question or two in a new thread soon.

[fifthcircle]

Originally posted by jazzbutcher
The gig ended up going quite well -- it was an amazing performance by everyone and the crowd was going wild (I kept having to turn down my audience mics as the evening went on!). It was a little exciting when 15 minutes before showtime the star of the show (a sax player) finally showed up and asked if he could use his own clip-on mic for his alto sax. I quickly hooked him up and also put a Coles out in front of him too.

Once again goes to show... In the end, the gear doesn't mean squat if the performance sux. The audience want (and responds to) a good show and in turn the performers feed off of that.

--Ben

(yes, I know that isn't a very slutty comment)

[Remoteness]

...and that is way I love live music recording.
There's nothing else like it.
Viva la real band!

[wyndrock]

HOOAH!!!