M160 on Grand Piano..

2db · 1st December 2005, 03:42 AM

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** · 1st December 2005, 03:34 PM

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 · 6th December 2005, 03:40 AM

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.

2db · 5th November 2006, 07:15 PM

Quote:

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 · 5th November 2006, 07:42 PM

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** · 5th November 2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

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?

naturalstudio · 6th November 2006, 02:58 AM

Quote:

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 · 6th November 2006, 04:12 PM

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

T.RayBullard · 6th November 2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

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.

Phil Cibley · 6th November 2006, 05:12 PM

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.

naturalstudio · 21st November 2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

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.

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!

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1st December 2005, 03:42 AM	#1
2db Gear nut Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Central Pa Posts: 110	M160 on Grand Piano.. 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

1st December 2005, 03:34 PM	#2
Remoteness Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 4,880	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 Remote AuraSonicLtd.com the home of ASL Mobile & Location Production Remoteness on the Linkedin Network Remoteness on Myspace

6th December 2005, 03:40 AM	#3
Matt@Curbside Gear interested Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 7	Re: M160s on piano... 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. __________________ -Matt Malikowski Chief Engineer, Curbside Recording http://www.curbside-recording.com Newton, MA

5th November 2006, 07:42 PM	#5
T.RayBullard Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Columbus County, North Carolina Posts: 2,431	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. __________________ I think it is wrong to make everything equidistant from the listener with too many mics. The pasting-on effects end up like bad Photoshop work on graphics & photos - too unbelievable.-Tony Faulkner http://www.last.fm/user/TeddyBullard/

6th November 2006, 04:12 PM	#8
leddy Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 224	I'm using a M160/M130 M/S set up for drum OH. Looking forward to trying it on piano.

6th November 2006, 05:12 PM	#10
Phil Cibley Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: New York, NY Posts: 464	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.

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