M160 on Grand Piano..

[Jim Easton]

Wondering if anyone has used a pair M160's to mic a grand piano in a live recording?

Did you like them and are they conducive for jazz piano?

Are there Mp3's of anyone playing with this set up?

Thanks very much
Jim

[Remoteness]

I never used M160s on piano. I tend to use my M160s for drum overheads and such... percussion, etc.

As you may already know, they are hyper cardioid mics so you don't want to get them to close (to any one string) inside the piano sound board.

Are you going for a warm sound that you can get from a ribbon mic? I bet they could sound very nice. I have used 4038s on piano with differing results. One time they made this bright piano sound wonderful. Another time it made the piano sound dark.

[Matt@Curbside]

I've used mine for this application, and it works well as a spaced pair in the right place on the piano. As Steve said, you have to watch your distance from the sound board, which bring isolation issues into play. Always liked them on quiet ensembles though, espescially with the piano on full stick. If in doubt, use them and use a second micing setup that you're used to using.

[Jim Easton]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

I never used M160s on piano. I tend to use my M160s for drum overheads and such... percussion, etc.

As you may already know, they are hyper cardioid mics so you don't want to get them to close (to any one string) inside the piano sound board.

Are you going for a warm sound that you can get from a ribbon mic? I bet they could sound very nice. I have used 4038s on piano with differing results. One time they made this bright piano sound wonderful. Another time it made the piano sound dark.

Steve, I tried the m160 as drum overheads...WOW I can never go back to c480. The rich tone and fullness brought the drums forward in a Very pleasing way, in a jazz context. What is your favorite kick drum mic?

thanks
-jim

[T.RayBullard]

Yes, I have used them as part of a M/S pair, Jim. They are wonderful in that context imo..they are a bit brighter than a lot of ribbons, but still have that ribbon flavor..if you are finding that you dont like the tone ever, Steven Sank does a wonderful modification on them that replaces the stock ribbons with RCA ribbons.

Ive sold my beyers, and now use Coles 4040, which are breathtakingly beautiful. I do miss the beyers though, and will definitely be buying more of them when I get back stateside, and get things in order.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by 2db

Steve, I tried the m160 as drum overheads...WOW I can never go back to c480. The rich tone and fullness brought the drums forward in a Very pleasing way, in a jazz context. What is your favorite kick drum mic?

thanks
-jim

Yes Jim,

They have been my secret weapon for two decades...

Did I mention how much I love those mics on drum overheads?

[Douglas Whates]

Originally Posted by T.RayBullard

Ive sold my beyers, and now use Coles 4040, which are breathtakingly beautiful.

So you've tried these on piano? How did they sound?

[leddy]

I'm using a M160/M130 M/S set up for drum OH. Looking forward to trying it on piano.

[T.RayBullard]

Originally Posted by naturalstudio

So you've tried these on piano? How did they sound?

Absolutely gorgeous, Douglas. For a matter of record, I have yet to find ANYTHING that these do not sound orgasmic on.....thanks for the reccomendation, btw. thumbsup

[Phil Cibley]

I've tried M-160s on piano and have liked the sound of 414s
a little better due to the increased amount of reverberant sound
and depth they had. The position for both sets of mics was
about 2 feet over the strings with one on the high end and the other
on the low end each about 1/3 of the way in from the sides.

[Douglas Whates]

Originally Posted by T.RayBullard

Absolutely gorgeous, Douglas. For a matter of record, I have yet to find ANYTHING that these do not sound orgasmic on.....thanks for the reccomendation, btw. thumbsup

That's good to know. I've got a solo piano project coming up in the new year and I'm hoping to use the 4040s. I reckon Coles should endorse me - he he!