Tips to Improve the Audio Quality of Piano Videos

Introduction: Getting the Most Out of Your Performance on Video

Pianists of all skill levels today are frequently asked to share and create videos. For example, teachers using Piano Marvel can upload their own videos, and pianists of all ages can enter one of the Piano Marvel YouTube competitions.

Creating high-quality piano videos requires more than just a good performance; the audio quality is paramount. Poor sound can detract from even the best playing, making it essential to understand the intricacies of recording and producing exceptional audio.

To get the best quality recordings with a digital piano, you will want to connect your piano to an audio interface and record digital audio files (not MIDI) into a DAW (digital audio workstation) on your computer. The focus, however, of this article will be on recording acoustic pianos.

Whether you're a novice or an experienced recordist, these tips can help you capture the true essence of your piano performances.

Tip 1: Choose the Right Microphone

Selecting the appropriate microphone is critical for capturing the full range and nuances of a piano. Because of the piano’s broad frequency spectrum, starting at around 26Hz and extending beyond 20kHz, dynamic microphones are generally unsuitable due to their inability to capture delicate, high-frequency details.  Instead, condenser and ribbon microphones are preferred.

Because pianos are such large instruments, not all of the sound will arrive directly at the front of the mic. (This is true of both upright and grand pianos.) Therefore, how the mic handles incoming sound from the sides, otherwise known as its off-axis response, is particularly important when recording piano.

Omnidirectional microphones are often chosen for their consistent low-end frequency response and lack of proximity effect, making them ideal for close-miking. They also avoid the spotlighting effect of directional mics, providing a more balanced capture of the piano’s various sections. When using directional mics, ensure they can handle high sound pressure levels (SPL over 130 dB) to avoid distortion during intense playing.

The best condenser microphones for piano recording are precise capture, small-diaphragm condensers like the Neumann KM184, or large-diaphragm condensers like the AKG C414. Large-diaphragm condensers tend to have excellent low-frequency extension, bringing out the richness of the instrument. Small-diaphragm condensers are lauded for how they handle the complexity and varied textures in the piano’s sound.

If your budget is limited, to limit the problems of poor off-axis response, I would recommend getting a small diaphragm condenser pair or a large diaphragm condenser with figure-eight or omnipolar patterns. Avoid budget large-diaphragm condenser mics that record only in cardioid pattern as they tend to struggle with off-axis response.

Tip 2: Optimize Your Recording Environment

Creating an optimal recording environment is crucial for capturing the best audio quality. Room acoustics play a significant role; choosing a room with favorable acoustics can minimize unwanted reflections and resonances. Hard surfaces reflect sound waves, causing potential phase issues and muddied recordings. To address this, use acoustic treatments like foam panels, carpets, and curtains to absorb excess sound and reduce echoes.

Positioning the piano in the room is another critical factor. Avoid placing the piano against a wall or in a corner, as this can amplify low frequencies undesirably. Instead, position the piano away from walls to achieve a more balanced sound. For a natural sound, ambient miking techniques can be employed, capturing both the piano and the room’s acoustic character. However, this is typically more suited for classical recordings.

When recording an upright piano, accessing the strings by opening the top lid is necessary. Place microphones above the strings to capture a clear sound, and consider using coincident techniques to avoid phase issues and maintain a coherent stereo image. For grand pianos, placing mics inside the instrument near the hammers or strings can capture detailed and rich sound, while positioning mics outside the piano can yield a balanced blend of direct and ambient sound.

Additionally, controlling background noise is essential. Identify and eliminate noise sources such as air conditioners or outside traffic.  This ensures a clean recording environment, allowing the piano’s sound to shine through without unwanted distractions.

Tip 3: Choose a Suitable Recording Technique

Selecting the right recording technique is essential for capturing the piano’s true sound. This means you will either be miking the room for ambient effect or close miking the instrument. For classical music, ambient techniques are often preferred, recreating the experience of hearing the piano in a live setting.

For close-miking, positioning microphones inside the piano near the strings or hammers can yield a detailed and intimate sound.  Using spaced pairs of omni microphones can offer a broad stereo image, but be mindful of potential phase issues, which can be mitigated by adjusting the distance and angle between the mics.  Coincident pair techniques that use two directional mics angled apart in a crossed configuration, provide precise stereo imaging and are effective in maintaining phase coherence.

For jazz piano, a Mid/Side (M/S) configuration can be particularly effective. This involves using a cardioid microphone aimed at the piano strings and a bidirectional microphone to capture the room’s ambiance. This setup allows for adjustable stereo width during mixing, enhancing the flexibility of the recording.

When recording an upright piano, mic placement is crucial to avoid an overly honky-tonk sound. Consider removing the instrument’s top panel and using coincident techniques to achieve a balanced stereo image. Always test different mic positions and configurations to find the setup that best captures the desired sound, ensuring an even and natural representation of the piano.

Tip 4: Take Care when Syncing Audio with Video

Finally, you’ll need to sync the audio and video elements. To get the best audio for your piano video, you’ll want to record the audio and video separately. Start by recording a reference audio track using the built-in microphones on your camera or phone. This track will assist in aligning the high-quality audio recorded separately.

During the recording session, use a visual and audible cue, such as clapping hands, to create a synchronization point. This sharp sound, visible in the video and clearly detectable in both audio tracks, serves as a marker for syncing. Once you have your recordings, import both the reference and high-quality audio tracks into your video editing software.

Align the clapping sound on the reference track with the same point on the high-quality track to ensure precise synchronization.  Many video editing tools offer automatic synchronization features,  but manual adjustments might be necessary for perfect alignment.

After syncing, mute or delete the reference audio track, leaving only the high-quality audio. Pay close attention to the timing of key presses to confirm that the sync is accurate throughout the entire video.

After recording, prepare your audio with desired post-production enhancements such as noise reduction, EQ, compression, and reverb. If you have used more than one mic to record, pay close attention to any phasing issues by aligning waveforms in your DAW.

For video integration, extract the audio track, process it separately,  and then re-import it into your video editing software. (Some  DAWs, such as Logic Pro X, allow you to sync video directly from  the DAW software.) Separate processing of audio and video allows precise control over the audio enhancements and ensures the highest quality final product. Always use high-quality, well-mastered audio files to maintain fidelity during the final export.

Final checks should involve watching the video multiple times to ensure that there are no discrepancies between the audio and visual components.

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Ted Schmitz, also known as Wanderingted, is both a seasoned tech expert with over a decade of experience in the industry and a working songwriter and performer. He is the Editor of The Greatest Song, a blog about audio gear, audio production, and songwriting. Armed with music degrees from Northwestern University and the Manhattan School of Music, Ted’s reviews go beyond specs and features, connecting audio technology with the actual enjoyment and creation of music.