Sound Devices USBPre 2

[su6oxone]

http://mixguides.com/microphones/tips_and_techniques/audio_recording_piano_november_2/

Cool article, especially like hearing from Jim Dickinson (father of Luther and Cody from NMAS, who died last year). 

[ghellquist]

One disagreement I have with Richard King is that he records the treble (high notes) of the piano on the left side of the stereo image, which I think is contrary to human psychology and experience --- and drives piano players nuts!

Well, this is how the audience will hear a grand piano when it is played on a stage with open lid. Your choice might be different.

// Gunnar

[dogmusic]

One disagreement I have with Richard King is that he records the treble (high notes) of the piano on the left side of the stereo image, which I think is contrary to human psychology and experience --- and drives piano players nuts!

Well, this is how the audience will hear a grand piano when it is played on a stage with open lid. Your choice might be different.

// Gunnar

Even very close to the stage, and even in a chamber music setting, you are pretty much hearing in mono.

On the other hand, our ears tend to prefer higher frequency sounds on the right. Furthermore, given the number of people who listen to CD's who have had some experience of playing the piano, IMHO I think piano recordings made from the player's perspective are preferable.

Phillip

[ghellquist]

On the other hand, our ears tend to prefer higher frequency sounds on the right.

Hmm? So it is all wrong in concert hall when the violins sit to the left and basses to the right?  Sorry I have to totally disagree with that statement. It would be one thing if you said that you as one person preferr it this way. In order to make a statement like that I believe you should have a statistically larger sample than 1.

But as very often, it is a question about taste, and we all have one but not necessarily the same.

To be clear, I respect your taste in this respect and by all means follow your own taste when recording, but I have a different taste and follow mine.

// Gunnar

[andromedanwarmachine]

I have rarely seen such diplomacy!!

[SClassical]

Richard records CDs for the fan/audience listeners - the audience usually receive more treble on the left side. But if a CD was made for a pianist (only) there will be a situation where an engineer might position the mics behind the pianist. In this situation the left mics will be closer to the bass section of the piano. So it's really the producers/engineer/artists that determine how they will like to be sound. Most commercial CDs are made for the audience not for the pianist. Another thing you might realize when recording a grand piano is that the hammer/keyboard side of the piano sounds more boomy than the tail end the piano when you position the stereo pair about 6 feet away. So actually the sound from the right mics will sound a little more sparkle than the left mics.

[dogmusic]

On the other hand, our ears tend to prefer higher frequency sounds on the right.

Hmm? So it is all wrong in concert hall when the violins sit to the left and basses to the right?  Sorry I have to totally disagree with that statement. It would be one thing if you said that you as one person preferr it this way. In order to make a statement like that I believe you should have a statistically larger sample than 1.

But as very often, it is a question about taste, and we all have one but not necessarily the same.

To be clear, I respect your taste in this respect and by all means follow your own taste when recording, but I have a different taste and follow mine.

// Gunnar

Hi Gunnar,

I won't blame you if you don't believe me, but I recently read that fact about human preference on the web somewhere. Of course I can't find it now,  and unfortunately I can't spend any more time this morning trying. If I come across the site, I'll PM you.

Your point was that the audience hears a piano with the treble on the left and the bass on the right. But for 90% of the audience at a piano recital, they are too far away to hear anything but mono. Even standing in the curve of the grand piano, you are hearing the full length of the bass strings. So you won't hear only the treble on the left. It will be a mix of bass and treble strings.

If a producer truly wants to record the way the audience hears, he/she should use a kunstkopf and make a binaural recording.

And then have two people on either side of the kunstkopf, fidgeting and coughing....

[vibrato]

Back to topic - sort of  -

NicStage are you still checking out this thread?

Will external clocking improve the ability to use two of these with a Mac?  Specifically would you be able to avoid the Resample function when trying to aggregate them in Core Audio?  I guess I should contact SD directly...

[andromedanwarmachine]

Hey vibrato...

what do you mean? would you link the two together digitally and then link one to the Mac through USB??

[vibrato]

I was thinking of externally clocking two USBPre2 units so the samples would be in sync, and then using a USB port for each unit into the Mac and then use the Core Audio Aggregate function.  I'm trying to avoid the scary sounding resampling feature, although I don't even know if the resampling hurts the audio quality or reliability.

[duch]

My guess is that the audio aggregate function will resample anyway and won't care if the clock are synced or not. This question is more related to Mac OSX than SD USBPre 2.

[kirk97132]

I don't know the program but suspect that the resampling will be a function of the program not the SD units.  As for what "bad" things can happen, I don't really know but in a perfect world we are after a bit perfect signal chain. 

[kirk97132]

Mine will be shipped TODAY!

[WiFiJeff]

Jerry Bruck called me yesterday to say he heard from SD that these have just started shipping, I should have mine Friday or next week.

I can't imagine anyone wanting to tape a piano from behind the pianist.  When I've had to sit in that location, the acoustic is unacceptable.  When a pianist conducts from the piano and has it turned so he can face the orchestra, with the keyboard out to the audience, the result is beyond dreadful, even with louvres over the soundboard to try to project the sound out.  I've never seen anyone try to mic a piano there. 

Jeff

[kirk97132]

Since someone else asked, I thought I'd also post it here.  I can get Zaolla Silverline cable for just above cost.  He inquired about a SPDIF cable for his new pre. 

From their solid silver core Silverline cables....
part#:ZDRA-101.5 S/PDIF CABLE
Length:1.5FT 
MSRP: new price sheet on way.  Zaolla had a price increase imagine that.   

your cost: please PM includes shipping.  I would have to order it, Kirk

The same cable is $37 plus shipping at Pro audio Toys.  I can get any of the Zaolla cables just drop me a line if you need info.