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Although the Helpinstill piano
pickups were originally developed for amplifying the piano in
live sound applications, they do present some useful advantages
in recording situations because they enable the piano to connect
directly to computers or mixers. The fact that they achieve total
isolation of the piano track, even in the midst of other instruments,
can be invaluable in live performance recordings. The standard
(mono) units such as the Model 120 or Model 180 can be expected
to meet or exceed the results of using microphones in a group
or ensemble arrangement where the piano is one of many instruments.
A certain amount of equalization and effects (such as reverb)
may be necessary to perfect the sound, but the result can be
completely natural. An isolated piano track with the degree of
presence the Helpinstill supplies can make blending the piano
considerably easier at mixdown. As far as the monophonic limitations,
mono tracking of guitars, horns, or other instruments is not
generally thought to be a handicap once the signal is panned
to the desired placement in the mix. Engineers have just gotten
used to the presence of more than one piano mic necessitated
by the process of obtaining all the notes on the piano. The Helpinstill
guarantees that all the notes will be equal, and does it in one
piano connector device.
In solo piano recordings, the
Stereo Model 185 really comes into its own. It is capable of
supplying a signal to the piano equal to almost any combination
of conventional mics. The eventual results depend on the quality
of the piano itself, and the care taken to assure that the pickup
is correctly balanced. I was recently present at recording sessions
at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest CA, and the quality sound
they achieved on their Yamaha C7 with the Model 185 was breathtaking.
Panning the outputs of the Helpinstill to about the 10 o'clock
position on the left and the 2 o'clock position on the right
gave a full feel to the piano that was similar to an XY configuration
with conventional mics.
Although the mono units are very
natural sounding, they present a very narrow, closed image in
a solo situation. Expanding the field to a full stereo panorama
results in a pronounced difference in drama and scope. The stereo
unit would, of course, be more versatile in ensemble recording
as well, although not a necessity.
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