Choir and piano recording but piano is not centered - what to do? - Gearslutz.com Gearslutz.com
 


All Advertisers
Go Back   Gearslutz.com > The Forums > Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording

Tags: , , , ,

Choir and piano recording but piano is not centered - what to do?
New Reply New Reply Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 1st February 2010   #1
Lives for gear
 
Corran's Avatar
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: South Georgia
Posts: 2,939

Thread Starter
Send a message via AIM to Corran
Talking Choir and piano recording but piano is not centered - what to do?

I've got an important choral/piano session this week and just realized the piano will be to the far left. It is impossible to move (this is at a church and it's basically built into some alcove).

My plan of attack is to use a stereo ribbon for the choir, possibly with some outriggers, and spot mic the piano in stereo. However, if the piano is to the left in the mains how would you pan the spots? Should I go with a mono piano to be able to pan it more directly?

I've never recorded a choir with the piano in such a place so I'm a bit leery. I want to make sure everything is perfectly planned beforehand because I don't have much setup time.
__________________

www.oceanstarproductions.com
Corran is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 1st February 2010   #2
Lives for gear
 
NorseHorse's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: DC
Posts: 2,160
My Recordings/Credits

Arrow

If it's on the left for the concert, leave it left for the recording. Nothing wrong with that.

I might fill it in a little with the spots (panned L and C perhaps), since having a piano way off to the side can make it sound small and distant.

I would not try to make it sound centered though.
__________________
Recording Engineer, Arts Laureate
I-95, I-64, I-85
NorseHorse is online now  
Reply With Quote
Old 1st February 2010   #3
Lives for gear
 
The Listener's Avatar
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,673

I mixed a rather big jazz band where the piano was on the extreme left - I panned it hard C - L and it worked with the "ambient" stereo pair I also used for the whole band. It maintained the illusion of piano being on the left, but it was more "here" - not lost on the far left... It was a more "dry" situation though, not like choir + piano...
__________________
"The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason."

John Cage

http://worldhappinessmusic.bandcamp.com/
The Listener is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 1st February 2010   #4
Lives for gear
 
Corran's Avatar
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: South Georgia
Posts: 2,939

Thread Starter
Send a message via AIM to Corran
Ah I neglected to mention this is a recording session, not a concert. I really wish we could move the piano center, since that seems more traditional to me.

I guess if it's to the left, that's just the way it's gonna be. There is no way to isolate and have the choir still hear it. I mean, barring ridiculous headphone setups, etc.

Corran is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 2nd February 2010   #5
Lives for gear
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 994

If wanted, the piano could be beside/behind/in front of (lid closed that option) the conductor or some other place.

Don't try to move the piano by panning.
JEGG is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 3rd February 2010   #6
Lives for gear
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sweden
Posts: 4,131

My personal take is let go of the ideas of that this or that instrument should be at a specific point in the recorded soundstage. So I'm with NorseHorse, if the piano is on the left at the stage let it be there in the recording as well.

I've had nice results with a main pair and a left and right flank/spot mic on either side of the stage to add a little support to piano and other sources (choir, soloists) which was far out on the sides.

Most people don't listen to a proper stereo set up anyway and the idea of a soundstage and imaging in the recording have never crossed their minds.. :-)


/Peter
Audiop is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 3rd February 2010   #7
urumita
 
7rojo7's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Spoleto, Italy
Posts: 2,383

Quote:
Originally Posted by Audiop View Post
most people don't listen to a proper stereo set up anyway and the idea of a soundstage and imaging in the recording have never crossed their minds.. :-)


/Peter
This why I love mono
Wherever you leave it or put it, make sure that level works in mono also. If it's off to the left it will also be more isolated from the choir, I would personally use a mono spot (CCM21 about a foot out at the same angle as the lid pointed at the cross), OMD
__________________
love and light
7rojo7 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 3rd February 2010   #8
Lives for gear
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sweden
Posts: 4,131

Actually the flank/spots I mentioned above was Line Audio CM3 which has similar polar pattern as MK21.


/Peter
Audiop is offline  
Reply With Quote
New Reply New Reply Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook  Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter  Submit Thread to LinkedIn LinkedIn 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread Thread starter Forum Replies Last Post
Looking for a top end piano: anybody tried/bought the Roland V Piano? Elevteros High end 49 24th September 2012 06:37 AM
Modartt PianoTEQ, NI Akoustik Piano, Garritan Concert Grand Piano, Synthology Ivory Jake Holland Music Computers 51 26th January 2012 09:38 PM
On-location recording of choir and grand piano. Mic selection/placement help! dromedar Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording 4 9th January 2010 03:50 PM
motif xs concert grand piano vs piano software and hooking it up ayp Music Computers 5 21st August 2007 08:34 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:45 PM.

Home - Search Forum - Contact Us - Terms Of Use / Privacy Policy - Advertise on Gearslutz - All Advertisers - Top
 
 
Powered by vBulletin®
Gearslutz.com LTD - UK Company Number 7597610.
Registered Office - 35 Ballards Lane, London, N3 1XW.
Hosted by Nimbus Hosting.

By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies.

SEO by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.