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Topic: Recorder question |
Allen
From:
Littleton, CO USA
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Posted 13 Nov 2001 3:28 pm |
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Ok, I have been doing my homework and have just about created my short list for a home recorder to record my steel work.
Now my wife brings a new wrinkle to the mix. When she did her piano CD it was done at a pro studio in the Denver area. They miked her grand piano with three mikes.
Now I wonder if that will work with the 8 and 16 track home recorders I have been looking at, Roland's, Tascam, Akai...
Have any of you used multiple mike setups for an acoustic instrument with the home type recorder? If so, what equipment did you use and how did you use it?
Still trying to learn about this stuff....
Thanks, Allen
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Allen Harry
Mullen D-10, 8 & 6
Nashville 1000
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 13 Nov 2001 5:41 pm
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Are you looking for maximum note separation and stereo (multichannel) effect in the finished product? If not...
Three mikes are grand (sorry for the pun  ) but you're only going to have two ears to hear it all with. Using multi mikes gives you the option of re-balancing the tracks later on, but for the average "home recording", I don't feel it it's necessary, or even beneficial. In the studio, you're paying dearly for time. But at home? If you're not "happy" with it, it's very inexpensive "to do it over"!  |
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Bob Carlson
From:
Surprise AZ.
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Posted 13 Nov 2001 7:46 pm
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I wonder if they were all pluged in?. You have a broad range of strings to cover on the piano would be the only advantage I can see.
Some of the home recorders will only record two tracks at a time. I would make sure you could record at least six at a time.
I have on early tascam that only records two tracks at a time and it still does a good job. Now days I use it mostly to record a rhythm track from the CD or tape, then I can record my steel on the other tracks to see how bad I sound. Or I use it to just play the rhythm track and play along with it.
BC |
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 13 Nov 2001 9:44 pm
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Allen,
My 'Recording Techniques' book recommends the following for grand piano recording:
CONCERT HALL
Use a Stereo Mic (or Pair) seven to nine feet away and same distance high - pointed toward the piano's open lid. (Need 2 inputs)
If you want to pick up background reverb to add to the mix, use a second 'Stereo Mic' about 25 feet away and pointed away from the piano. (Need two more inputs)
I have a Roland VS-840 with 4 input tracks. The VS-840 manual does not recommend more than two tracks be recorded simultaneously for the most common settings. However, with the four inputs, you could set the mix during recording, and record directly to two tracks.
CLOSE MIKING
A number of other techniques are provided for "close miking" (eg directly above the strings). In all cases two mics, or one stereo pair are considered. With this technique, 2 inputs would be used, and reverb, etc. could be added during mixdown. The onboard reverb effects of the VS-840 would be useful for this.
Good luck,
Tom
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Tom Gorr
From:
Three Hills, Alberta
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Posted 13 Nov 2001 9:52 pm
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Sorry Allen,
I just noticed that the VS-840 only limits to two track recording under the following scenarios:
a) when simultaneously "playing back" other tracks
b) when using the highest quality recording mode (MT1)
It appears that you can record 4 tracks simultaneously on the MT2 (and lower) settings provided that no tracks are being played back.
Tom |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 14 Nov 2001 4:10 am
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I've got a Fostex VF16 that I've been using lately. It will record up to 8 tracks at one time. Or if you move the recorded 8 tracks you can record an additional 8 tracks (playback the original 8 tracks and add 8 more tracks to it).
You do have to record in the "direct" mode to get all 8 separate tracks. If you use the bus than basically everything is mixed down to two tracks. |
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Larry Beck
From:
Pierre, SD
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Posted 14 Nov 2001 7:59 am
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| I just finished a Piano CD on my VF-16. It was miked with two Audio Technica condenser mikes, One 2" over the bass strings and the other over the treble on a baby Grand (4.5'. The music was pop, so I wanted some of the percusive hammer sound. If you get the two mikes too close, you can get an out of phase problem resulting in a kind of flanger/chorus type of sound. If you are doing classical music, don't mike this close as suggested above. |
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Allen
From:
Littleton, CO USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2001 11:38 am
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Great inputs from y'all. Looks like I may also need to give the Fostex another look.
Her music is what I call "Clazz", classical jazz. She does all her own compositions and they are somewhat in the Jim Brickman, George Winston, etc. genre.
I think her web still has some clips on it, check it out. "sandraberkley.com"
Again, thanks for the comments.
Allen
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Allen Harry
Mullen D-10, 8 & 6
Nashville 1000
[This message was edited by Allen on 14 November 2001 at 11:40 AM.] |
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