Recording Grand Piano With and Without a Lid

Many recording studios remove the lid of their grand pianos for easier mic placement and to achieve a more balanced sound. We'll do a direct comparison of what happens when the lid is removed and how that effects a few different mic'ing techniques.

[@iannie5012]

Your piano is better than my badly rebuilt Steinway in the studio. Great video! Learned much from this. Thank you!

[@ImpliedMusic]

super useful demo. i'm loving he omni's, lid off. i don't miss the bass, though i think you're right, and the increased evenness and transparency in the upper mid and highs are great.

[@TheArceusman]

When I do lid off I add a mic on the low end to compensate for the low end loss. Reference Nils Frahm’s album
Where he has a picture of the mic’d up piano on the cover. I’ve been experimenting with this technique for a while. There is an X-factor with the lid on that should be acknowledged. It’s a bit dryer/clearer with it off which I love but with it on the reflection creates a very cool note panning phenomenon which I also like. As you said there’s not a right /wrong. But very helpful video. Thanks

[@slossaudio]

I NEVER noticed the note panning thing... mind blow. thank you.

[@alvaromorello]

I really appreciate all of the time and effort you put into your videos. You've really stepped it up recently.

[@MillSounds]

Thanks!

[@DerekBVanguardAudioLabs]

this is awesome!

[@recordingonthego9651]

What is that adapter you use on the mic stand to bring down the mics down so close to the body?? The one with the round disk. I want to buy a pair!! 😅

[@DrGroove29]

I like the lid off. The lid colors the sound in a way I don’t like.

[@MillSounds]

That's kind of where I've landed as well. The lid has stayed off for almost a year now.