Comments on: Earthworks PianoMic System http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/ Worship Leader, Pianist, Producer, Blogger Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fred McKinnon http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/comment-page-1/#comment-44101 Fred McKinnon Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:49:09 +0000 http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/#comment-44101 Hey Michael, and gang - We are loving them. I'll say right away, though, that setup wasn't as easy as I thought .. I mean, it was easy to setup, but it took quite a few weeks and moving around to get them sounding the way we wanted. For one thing, they don't really want the telescopic pole to be fixed to the "bend" .. but with a small baby grand like we have, it was nearly impossible to stay away from the bend. As a result, we just couldn't seem to get the pole to fit as snug as we'd like. Finally, we flipped it around the other way, and bent the mics back over the pole (easy to do w/ the gooseneck) and it made a big difference. I suppose the thing that surprised me the most (this is the good and the bad) is how sensitive the mics are. In a live application, they are picking up a LOT of the bass and other stage sounds, even with the lid completely closed (including the music rest). I assume that having two dual 18" subwoofers in the stage contributes to vibrating, and those vibrations are also vibrating the piano and sound board! All in all, it's been a great setup, though, and the piano sounds very natural ... I'm happy to have them. Fred Hey Michael, and gang -

We are loving them. I’ll say right away, though, that setup wasn’t as easy as I thought .. I mean, it was easy to setup, but it took quite a few weeks and moving around to get them sounding the way we wanted.

For one thing, they don’t really want the telescopic pole to be fixed to the “bend” .. but with a small baby grand like we have, it was nearly impossible to stay away from the bend. As a result, we just couldn’t seem to get the pole to fit as snug as we’d like.

Finally, we flipped it around the other way, and bent the mics back over the pole (easy to do w/ the gooseneck) and it made a big difference.

I suppose the thing that surprised me the most (this is the good and the bad) is how sensitive the mics are. In a live application, they are picking up a LOT of the bass and other stage sounds, even with the lid completely closed (including the music rest). I assume that having two dual 18″ subwoofers in the stage contributes to vibrating, and those vibrations are also vibrating the piano and sound board!

All in all, it’s been a great setup, though, and the piano sounds very natural … I’m happy to have them.

Fred

]]> By: Michael http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/comment-page-1/#comment-44050 Michael Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:23:10 +0000 http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/#comment-44050 Fred, What's the verdict on the PianoMic? Fred,
What’s the verdict on the PianoMic?

]]> By: FredMcKinnon.Com » Blog Archive » So, let's see ... http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/comment-page-1/#comment-43592 FredMcKinnon.Com » Blog Archive » So, let's see ... Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:37:34 +0000 http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/#comment-43592 [...] Earthworks PianoMic system arrived about 30 minutes ago via [...] [...] Earthworks PianoMic system arrived about 30 minutes ago via [...]

]]> By: Fred McKinnon http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/comment-page-1/#comment-43566 Fred McKinnon Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:23:29 +0000 http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/#comment-43566 Woo-Hoo ... I was told "no way" to the expense, but 24 hours later, it appears someone made a gracious donation to cover the cost - so I have been given the green light to order the Earthworks PianoMic system for our piano first thing Monday morning! HOORAY! Woo-Hoo … I was told “no way” to the expense, but 24 hours later, it appears someone made a gracious donation to cover the cost – so I have been given the green light to order the Earthworks PianoMic system for our piano first thing Monday morning! HOORAY!

]]> By: Kelly Ward http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/comment-page-1/#comment-43561 Kelly Ward Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:04:48 +0000 http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/#comment-43561 I have had the wonderful opportunity to use the PianoMic system from Earthworks on 2 different Pianos in 2 totally different situations in the same room, Olive Baptist Church Worship Center (3500 seats). First on our Yamaha C-7, on which we usually use 2 Barcus Berry pick-ups, The sound of the piano expanded incredibly, it tends to be a little thin, and the clarity was so pronounced that everyone on the platform commented on the difference. The second opportunity was with Ashley Brown and the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra in concert together on a 9' Steinway which sounded huge when it was needed but clean and light in the orchestra pieces where it was not the featured instrument. The PianoMic Sounds great and is very easy to instal and adjust. From me it is a great mic. I have had the wonderful opportunity to use the PianoMic system from Earthworks on 2 different Pianos in 2 totally different situations in the same room, Olive Baptist Church Worship Center (3500 seats).
First on our Yamaha C-7, on which we usually use 2 Barcus Berry pick-ups, The sound of the piano expanded incredibly, it tends to be a little thin, and the clarity was so pronounced that everyone on the platform commented on the difference.
The second opportunity was with Ashley Brown and the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra in concert together on a 9′ Steinway which sounded huge when it was needed but clean and light in the orchestra pieces where it was not the featured instrument.
The PianoMic Sounds great and is very easy to instal and adjust.
From me it is a great mic.

]]> By: Lucky Kelson http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/comment-page-1/#comment-43560 Lucky Kelson Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:44:30 +0000 http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/#comment-43560 I have mic'd my Yamaha G-3 Grand for several years in my studio with two Earthworks QTC40 microphones on booms. The sound is really incredible. I've also had a Earthworks PianoMic in my piano and it's just as incredible, only easier to use. Plus, no booms. It sounds just as good with the lid closed as it does open. Hardly any bleed from other instruments. The PianoMic uses the same 40kHz mic heads that are in my QTC40s, with flexes on the heads attached to an adjustable telescoping rod that lays into the piano behind the dampers. It takes all of 3 minutes to set up. My piano has never sounded better. In fact, it's so rich and full it's like I've got a 9' grand in the studio. Lucky Kelson LuckyK Recording Studio Pensacola, Florida www.luckykstudio.com I have mic’d my Yamaha G-3 Grand for several years in my studio with
two Earthworks QTC40 microphones on booms. The sound is really
incredible. I’ve also had a Earthworks PianoMic in my piano and it’s just as
incredible, only easier to use. Plus, no booms. It sounds just as
good with the lid closed as it does open. Hardly any bleed from other
instruments. The PianoMic uses the same 40kHz mic heads that are in
my QTC40s, with flexes on the heads attached to an adjustable
telescoping rod that lays into the piano behind the dampers. It takes
all of 3 minutes to set up. My piano has never sounded better. In
fact, it’s so rich and full it’s like I’ve got a 9′ grand in the studio.

Lucky Kelson
LuckyK Recording Studio
Pensacola, Florida
http://www.luckykstudio.com

]]> By: beth http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/comment-page-1/#comment-43550 beth Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:33:20 +0000 http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/#comment-43550 Not familiar with that particular mic; we have been using a Hempinstill (http://www.helpinstill.com/) for about three years and have been very pleased. Don't know about the cost, but as a pianist, I absolutely love the sound it gives us; very full. I'd recommend it again... Best of luck - I know you're really excited!!!! Not familiar with that particular mic; we have been using a Hempinstill (http://www.helpinstill.com/) for about three years and have been very pleased. Don’t know about the cost, but as a pianist, I absolutely love the sound it gives us; very full. I’d recommend it again…

Best of luck – I know you’re really excited!!!!

]]> By: Robert Pooley http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/comment-page-1/#comment-43548 Robert Pooley Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:56:21 +0000 http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/02/21/earthworks-pianomic-system/#comment-43548 Yeh, One of the guys in our church is a graphic designer who does, I think, most of their print material... and advertising. He is also an awesome musician... and he has been singing the praises of these mics. They also use them at Lucky Kelson's recording studio here in town where my friend Mike also does some session stuff. He swears that they are amazing. Yeh, One of the guys in our church is a graphic designer who does, I think, most of their print material… and advertising. He is also an awesome musician… and he has been singing the praises of these mics. They also use them at Lucky Kelson’s recording studio here in town where my friend Mike also does some session stuff. He swears that they are amazing.

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