what mic would you put in front of the singer at the piano?

[RCM - Ronan]

Originally Posted by mikkelkiilerich

My question:
Would you guys choose RE20 or Neumann TLM 103 for the piano player? I'm asking because of the bleed..

If bleed is the concern, the RE20 is the clear answer. Much better rejection than the 103

[Preme Diesel]

RE20 obviously, or an SM7 if you've got one.

[alexevans917]

Originally Posted by Preme Diesel

RE20 obviously, or an SM7 if you've got one.

+1

[motone]

had the same situation (singer playing piano) quite often, THE best solution hands down is the Beyerdynamic M88 (or M88 TG) - literally no bleed, and much better sound than the SM7B, unless you have a punk or metal singer screaming at the piano ;-)
the SM7B sounds, well, like a dynamic mic .. a good dynamic, but still much closer to a SM58 than to a condenser ... same for the RE-20, though it's a little more open than the SM7B (and at least it doesn't require a 5000 bucks preamp or any cloudlifters etc to sound decent); the M88 just happens to have a much more open, less muffled sound, like a dynamic with a extended frequency range, and less midrange honk.
do yourself a favor and give it a try, you won't regret it.

[jmikeperkins]

EV RE-20 would be my first choice to control the bleed, no question about it. The SM7 is ok, so is Sennheiser 421 and 441, but the RE-20 will be the best because it is the most condenser like dynamic mic out there. You will get a great sound for the vocal and it will reject the piano as good as anything out there.

[motone]

Originally Posted by jmikeperkins

EV RE-20 would be my first choice to control the bleed, no question about it. The SM7 is ok, so is Sennheiser 421 and 441, but the RE-20 will be the best because it is the most condenser like dynamic mic out there. You will get a great sound for the vocal and it will reject the piano as good as anything out there.

sorry to disagree, but the Beyer M88 (hypercardioid) has better rejection than the RE-20 (cardioid), and to my ears also sounds more condenser like (clearer top, more bottom, less midrange honk) than the RE-20

[fastlanestoner]

The RE20 is spot on! Love that little guy, but if you have an SM7 you're made in the shade.

[audiotech]

If you're recording both audio and doing filming you need something that sounds great and looks good in relation to not covering the performers faces. If cameras were not involved, I would definitely go with the RE20. Since I wouldn't want any distractions to the performers faces, I would look into something a bit smaller in size similar to an M88, but being a hypercardiod, it's going to be hearing a lot from the back of the Beyer M88. Be sure to go with a cardioid pick-up pattern and not a hyper, super or figure eight. Recently I did a video production with a piano/vocalist using a Neumann KMS 104. It sounded great, looked fantastic and had a very good front to back ratio.

Dennis

[muziekschuur]

A gold one.... Allways better than a silver one... Blacks should not be considdered.

[foldback]

Use the mic that sounds best on the singer and don't worry about bleed.

Personally I think the TLM103 would be easier to blend in to the mix, it would have a bigger sound than the RE20.

If you place the mics relatively near the singers mouths then the piano should not be a problem if it's mic'd properly.

I've done several live video shoots of opera singers standing near a piano or organ, I use 414 microphones (set cardiod) on these recordings and they are similar to your TLM. No problem with mixing the vocals and piano at proper levels and getting incredible sound. I don't really like opera but I did a recording for a singer who keeps calling me back because she loves the sound I get for her and she keeps telling her friends.

I actually like a little bit of bleed between the mics, it's like room mics, it adds depth to the sound.

Good music to you!

[Matti]

Yes, that's what I would do

Matti

[mikkelkiilerich]

Originally Posted by RCM - Ronan

If bleed is the concern, the RE20 is the clear answer. Much better rejection than the 103

Sure, I know.
Maybe what I'm asking is also what you guys do (in general) when you have a pianoplayer singing.

BTW, I totally agree with the looks of the RE20: it somehow looks like a giant d**k..!

Thx for your time...
Mikkel

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by RCM - Ronan

If bleed is the concern, the RE20 is the clear answer. Much better rejection than the 103

Plus, you can get right up on an R-20 without undue proximity effect.

-R

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by mikkelkiilerich

Sure, I know.
Maybe what I'm asking is also what you guys do (in general) when you have a pianoplayer singing.

I usually stand a 2 x 4 foot sheet of absorbent foam or OC 703 horizontally and upright on the piano, just behind the music stand and in front of the raised lid to reduce bleed.

-R