Recording A Piano - Roland CD-2e Manual Book

Recording a piano

Try diff erent locations to
capture the sound you want
The sound of a piano comes from the vibration of
the entire instrument, including the vibration of the
strings after they've been struck by the hammers, and
the vibration of the sounding board as it resonates
with the string vibrations. In general, emphasizing
the sound from the strings will produce greater clar-
ity, while emphasizing the overall resonance will pro-
duce greater richness. Moving the mic closer to the
instrument will also make the sound brighter, while
moving the mic away from the instrument will pro-
duce a sound that's richer and more mellow. Try dif-
ferent locations to get the sound you want to record.
To record a clear sound
Place the CD-2e on top of
the instrument if you want
to emphasize the attacks.
This position will emphasize
the vibration of the strings,
producing a clear-sound-
ing recording.
To record
a rich sound
Place the CD-2e beside the
performer if you want to
record a rich sound. This
position will emphasize the
resonances of the sounding
board and the body, pro-
ducing a deep and rich-
sounding recording.
8
Use the CD-2e for daily practice
or to create lesson materials
The CD-2e is a wonderful tool, not only for recording
"real" performances, such as recitals, but also for daily
practice. For example, you can record yourself prac-
ticing and then play it back immediately, so you can
more objectively evaluate how you sound. This can
help you improve your abilities.
If you're a piano teacher, you can create a "model CD"
of your own playing, or give the student a "practice CD. "
The CD-2e makes it easy to create lesson material.
To record
a well-balanced sound
Brightness Brightness
Richness Richness
Change the height to adjust
the attack and resonance
You can view the piano's lid as
a sort of dividing line; placing
the mics higher than it will
emphasize the vibration of the
strings, while placing them
lower will emphasize the body
resonances.
Vibration of the strings Vibration of the strings
Body resonances Body resonances
Recording the best sound
from an upright piano
An upright piano will have a slightly
muffl ed sound. In order to record a
sparkling sound similar to that of a
grand piano, open the top lid and
place the CD-2e about 40–80 inches
(1–2 meters) away.