Too much stereo spread on drums and piano?

[Washington]

I could rant my share about 10-meters wide drums, pianos or guitar, but it's been done very well and it's just one other subjective choices among a milllion others we have to make on a daily basis. I never lliked that on my stuff, but then again, I heard it very well done on other genres. Left alone the idea of panning a drumset from the drummer's perspective, it beats me. Still... Our job, whether it be as a musician, FOH or studio engineer, is just to tell little stories, right? We're entitled to tell them any old way we want, and then stand proud under a cold rain of opinions and I-wouldn't-have-done-it-this-way.

Great useful welcome constructive voicing, Washington.

Well, I'm getting into this because no sooner than today, I did some drums using for the first time an M/S overhead. What a revelation (most notably on cymbals)! A very beautiful image, neither big nor squeezed, and completely possible to tailor afterwhile... process only the sides? Send only one of the channels to a nice plate? It felt like one of those "if only I had checked that before" moments.

[DSD_Mastering]

Every single jazz album that we've recorded/mastered has been like that. That's the way the producers/audiophiles like it.
These pianos were closed mic'd using 2-4 mics (producers choice) and they usually want it from a front prospective instead of a players prospective. I don't like it either, but its what we get paid to do (just like making it LOUD)!


Regards,

[NorseHorse]

I play both drums and piano, so wide panning actually sounds more natural to me. I say go for it. Just be careful with those super lame, spread-out tom fills. Actually makes the drums seem empty instead of more full.

[Corran]

I do it too, usually.

I tried it once with a "stereo-esque" piano to the left and the same for drums on the right, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

But anyways, this thread is ancient so I'll shut up since it probably doesn't matter much anymore!