upright piano - SUPRISE!

[Jimbo]

I'm recording a piano and harp tomorrow evening (on location), and I was just told that the piano might not be a grand, but rather, and upright.

The piece is fairly slow tempoed with the only instruments being the piano and harp. We'll add the vocals in December.

I was planning to record both instruments in stereo, and fold them to mono as needed. Before I found out that the piano was an upright, I was planning to record M/S with an Avenson STO2 as mid, and a 414 XLii as side.

Do you think this would work on an upright if I pull the piano out into the room (away from walls) and set the mics in back of the piano, behind the soundboard?

I might just go for it, and if the 414 doesn't work I'll still get some good mono tracks with the omni STO2.

Thanks,

- Jim

[Jimbo]

Another option would be to use a spaced pair or x/y with the STO2 mics, and use the 414 on the harp. If you're not familiar with the Avenson STO2, think Earthworks omnis.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Jimbo]

Any thoughts on the M/S of an upright piano?

I'm tracking this thing in 4.5 hours.

Thanks,

- Jim

[Remoteness]

I have only close miked Upright pianos so, I really cannot suggest anything that I have applied.

How about anyone else... Let's help this fellow GS!

The clock IS ticking...

[bradavenson]

I have used a single STO-2 over an upright piano with the top lid open with pretty good results, but I would say if you are liking the sound of the piano in the room go for it with the MS or omni pair.

[pkautzsch]

Behind the soundboard is a good idea. Done something similar with a rather crappy piano in a small church, two KM183 spaced ~5ft and back about 12 ft. nice reverberant sound, perfect for meditation music (and most of the crappy piano's crappiness got drowned in reverb).
nearest wall was at the player's back side, about 15 ft.

[Jimbo]

So, I get there, and not only is the room beautiful sounding, but the piano was neither a concert grand, nor an upright, but rather an amazing sounding studio grand.

The harp had a rattle and buzz which drove me crazy, so we scrapped it and went for the piano alone -- shame, because the player was very good, and the tone of the instrument was nice as well.

I used a STO2 (mid) and a 414xlii (side), and captured a great sound!

The player was top-notch, the room was top-notch, and the piano was top-notch. Man, my job was easy

Thanks for the suggestions folks, and thanks to Steve for the support.

- Jim

[Remoteness]

Sweet!

Good to hear everything was everything.