From the course: Audio Recording Techniques

Close miking a grand piano with two mics: Method one

From the course: Audio Recording Techniques

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Close miking a grand piano with two mics: Method one

A couple of advantages of using two mics to close mic a grand piano is that you get better coverage of all the strings, and you can record it in stereo as well. In this video I'll show you a basic method that works really well. The easiest way to get a stereo spread on the piano is to replace our single mic method in the previous movie, with the stereo pair in an X-Y configuration. Remember that you need identical mics for this to work. Place the mics about 18 inches over the place where the high and low strings cross. If you need a brighter sound, move the mics closer to the strings. If you need more body, move the mics up a bit. (music playing) If you're not hearing all the high and low notes evenly, spread the angle of the mics out a bit or move both mics left or right on the soundboard. (music playing) So that's the way to use two mics to mike a piano. Use two identical mics in an X-Y configuration placed over the center of the soundboard where the high and low strings meet. Spread the mics for a greater stereo image and raise or lower them for either more or less body. (music playing)

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