Pianotech

  • 1.  Microphone tests and accompanying Violin in non-equal temperament

    Posted 04-18-2021 19:57
    On "Mic tests on speech and violin - dynamic and ribbon microphone shootout"
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    Mic tests on speech and violin - dynamic and ribbon microphone shootout
    Testing vintage and modern ribbon microphones
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    I put together some tests of different microphones recording violin whilst recording a concert to be put online in due course. Of modern mics for the violin the Nady RSM-2 was a candidate as were a 1950s vintage English and a contemporary Italian ribbon microphones. We chose ribbons to use the figure 8 response to cut out as much piano as possible, and I recorded the piano, heard at the end of the snippet, with a technique I've never used before, using an AKG D202 dynamic mic pointing towards the middle of the bass strings and another ribbon targeting the treble hammer area, again choosing the ribbon to cut the violin out of the piano recording. The AKG D224 is a tighter sound, like a capacitor mic, but the D202 brings more fruitiness to the bass.

    Perhaps the recording might be interesting as the piano tuning uses unqual temperament together with my High Definition twist which aligns harmonics. Both pianist and violinist were very delighted with the result and the violinist had no difficulty in the microtuning adjustments necessary from standard equal temperament. It is a tuning well able to withstand the rigour of the concert platform. Possibly one of the best recordings so far can anyone hear the tuning difference?

    Best wishes

    David P


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    David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
    Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
    +44 1342 850594
    "High Definition" Tuning
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  • 2.  RE: Microphone tests and accompanying Violin in non-equal temperament

    Posted 04-23-2021 15:50
    David, good quality recording.  And the blending with the piano sounds very good.  What non-equal temperament did you use?  With the emphasis on the violin, I would guess you chose a meantone temperament with its emphasis on thirds and sixths, rather than a well temperament favoring fifths and permitting modulation to different keys.  But I couldn't actually tell with that short passage.  Thanks.  Norman

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    Norman Brickman
    Potomac Piano Service
    Potomac, Maryland
    potomacpiano@verizon.net
    https://potomacpiano.com
    (301) 983.9321
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  • 3.  RE: Microphone tests and accompanying Violin in non-equal temperament

    Posted 04-23-2021 17:31
    Thanks. It's really great to know opinions on the recording quality. The violin was recorded with upgraded Geloso 416, the treble of the piano with Reslo RV http://www.gbaudio.co.uk/data/reslorv.htm and the bass of the piano with AKG D202.

    The temperament was my usual implementation of Kellner using 7 perfect fifths in what I call my "High Definition" formula. This brings nice purity to home keys which clearly you've picked up on.

    Ribbon mics were chosen for violin and top of the piano to enable rejection of the piano by the violin mic and rejection of the violin by the piano treble mic. Being ribbons, one has a choice of phase so the piano mics were recording out of phase which gives greater focus to the violin in the middle.
    https://youtu.be/wX-vLHn6EDM is a test mix of a different balance of the piano mics and putting both in phase.

    For anyone interested in recording currently with a 'cellist https://youtu.be/Fv5N4fpK9XY we are exploring different microphones, a project not entirely finished and which will be re-edited with the same piece as all the rest recorded on the Coles 4038 as well as a Lustraphone http://xaudia.com/shop_item/lustraphone-vr64-ribbon-microphone-x169/ and a Simon Cadenza http://russelltechnologies.co.uk/cadenza.html

    If anyone's interested in any of the other microphones, please give me a shout and I'll be able to give details of sources or pitfalls. Often the frequency responses are a guide but don't tell the whole story of how a microphone sounds.

    Thanks to Michael Gamble for introducing me to ribbons. Condenser mics achieved their purpose with treble boost on analogue ferrous tape. With digital sound they've given digital a bad name and people have looked at going back to analogue. In my opinion, ribbon mics solve some problems of which digital has been accused.

    Best wishes

    David P

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    David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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    +44 1342 850594



    Original Message