C7e Microphone Owners Manual

Piano

You can achieve outstanding results using the C7e on acoustic piano. Several placement approaches can be used

depending on the size of the piano, and the type of sound you are looking to record. When miking a Grand Piano, (for

an ambient sound like that used in a classical recital), a single C7e can be positioned directly in front of the instrument.

Open the lid to the full position and place the microphone five to twelve feet in front of the instrument. For a more

contemporary sound with better isolation, place two C7e’s inside the piano positioning one over the low strings and

the other over the high strings. To achieve a more realistic sound, it’s a good idea to leave some space between the

instrument and the microphone, especially if you are recording a solo instrument. Also, keep in mind how the track

ultimately needs to fit into the mix. For example, if you are recording a solo performance of Chopin, you would likely

want a very even response and you’d want to capture the left hand sostenuto. However, if you are recording rock and

roll or pop music, you may want the piano to sit within the track in a specific frequency range where less bass is desired.

Nashville engineers, and other good ones from all over the planet, are famous for building the mix as they track, starting

with the microphone placement. You can also try the XY or ORTF stereo mic set-ups described in the following section,

“Stereo Miking Techniques”.

Applications Guide