what to chose? Studio with not so good piano, or great piano external recording?

[Nikolas]

Well...

I intend to record some classical works for piano (my own works), so I'm aiming for a rather 'classical piano sound'. The norm would be to find a Steinway in a recording studio, or rent a concert hall and do the recording there, but unfortunately this particular choice doesn't appear to be here.

So my choices (according to where the pianist live as well) come down to the following two:

a. Get her to a great studio, with a great engineer and a Yamaha baby grand in hopes that the engineer will overcome the limitations of the piano in the recording.
b. Get her to a remote place (perhaps a National Conservatory, to where I'd have access), and get my own gear and (non existant) knowledge to record the piano.

I know that it kinda seems like an abstract question, so let me clarify a little better...

I have some lovely Eartworks QTC40 and a GraceDesign preamp m201, so my gear is not half bad, it's the knowledge I'm missing. The piano in the remote location WILL be tuned, but again, I'm missing the knowledge and I'm also scared that I may end up doing more technical job, rather than watching for the recording and the music to go well...

In the studio, I'm somewhat confident that the engineer can do a very good job, but I'm also scared that the pianist might not like the piano, in which case it will be a disaster! Of course I wouldn't have to worry about anything technical, which is a huge plus for me!

A third option might be there: to grab the engineer and get him to my remote location... Hmmm something to consider perhaps, but something tells me that it's not a fully functional choice.

______________________

Pianist lives in Sofia, Bulgaria. I live in Athens Greece. Both the studio and the remote location are in Thessaloniki (half way for both of us), so this IS the only option, as far as travelling and expenses is concerned.

Thanks for reading and hope to hear from you guys soon...

Any advice is most welcome here!

[Matti]

Miss or hit but I would follow the second choise thinking of the acoustics?

Matti

[NorseHorse]

Why don't you get an engineer to come to you?

Just because you aren't in a studio doesn't mean you can't have a bona-fide engineer. (So... yes, go with Option #3.)

Good luck.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by Nikolas

A third option might be there: to grab the engineer and get him to my remote location... Hmmm something to consider perhaps, but something tells me that it's not a fully functional choice.

why not?

maybe that engineer at that studio is not the one, but plenty of engineers 'have gear/will travel' and do this exact thing all the time

We have a very nice Yamaha in the studio where I work, but I get a lot of calls to go to a hall where the piano and the acoustics better fit the performer's esthetic.

since you are the composer and the producer, I think you are wise to let the technical aspects be someone else's concern.

[johnsound]

Option 3 is by far the best choice: the best classical engineers (in the UK at least) travel to where the best acoustic for the recording is.

Regards,

John

[pkautzsch]

For a great classical recording, you need:
(1) a great piece of music
(2) a great artist
(3) a great instrument
(4) great acoustics
(5) a great engineer
...
...
...
(27) great gear.

So, it's Option 3, with an engineer who has done remote recording before.
Oh yeah, get a person who REALLY knows how to tune a piano, and have that person on stand-by during recording.

[Plush]

Always think of the source first. This makes your decision for you.

IN this case, always choosing the best possible piano. (Of course your pianist has to like the piano.)

[Nikolas]

Thank you people!

Now to see how to arrange for option 3 to happen... Without costing the earth!