Comments on: Tips for Recording an Acoustic Piano (Part I)

By: Big Picture: Don’t Sprint The Track

Big Picture: Don’t Sprint The Track — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:43:33 +0000

[...] arrangement – drum kit, bass, electric and acoustic guitars, maybe strings or horns, maybe some keys, lots of vocals – you’re going to track most of these elements differently than if you were [...]

By: Being a Great Producer/Engineer on a Budget

Being a Great Producer/Engineer on a Budget — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 03:56:32 +0000

[...] your piano [...]

By: Matthew Weiss

Matthew Weiss — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:43:55 +0000

I agree – I seem to get the same results. It almost sounds like a synthesizer, but with realistic dynamics. Tons of tone – which is great – but little depth, which makes the instrument sound a bit artificial. However, I hear it done all the time, and I’ve done it myself a number of times as well.

I’ve been working with a couple of really heavy world class piano cats recently, we’ve been going through some material and agreed that a lot of the tight under the lid stuff has been flying. We’re going for a sound with a more centered (less artificial) stereo image, with a more whollistic sound of the piano. Probably something like #5 that you mentioned.

By: Charles Szczepanek

Charles Szczepanek — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:01:14 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Matt!

I’ve personally never had a great experience with the technique you mention, and therefore decided not to share it. I’ve seen it plenty of times, but it never really captured the instrument in the way I like… always felt like there wasn’t enough depth of sound. The bass strings also sound further away… makes the instrument feel a bit strange to someone who is used to hearing the sound from the bench. But if you like it and it works for you, then by all means, go for it!

Yes, Clarke is a great guy, friend, and wonderful engineer. He and I just caught up a bit this past weekend. If you’re in town for longer, I’d love to grab a coffee or bite to eat if you’re free –

–Charles

By: Matthew Weiss

Matthew Weiss — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 21:46:58 +0000

Really great post Charles! Recording piano can be extremely daunting – because the options are so limitless and the tracking is so permanent. You basically have to have exactly the sound you want going in or it never really gets there in the mix.

I’m curious as to your experience using the Hi-Lo technique over the sounding holes. Usually the Hi is the lower super-treble hole, and the lo is the middle or lower treble hole. It’s pretty standard fair for an under-the-lid technique, but not mentioned in your article.

PS – I’m in your neighborhood, making a visit. Apparently Clark Rigsby and I share a mutual friend.

-Matt