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Piano & Grand Piano Microphones — Buy at SoundsGood
Piano microphones — SDC stereo pairs inside, LDC at a distance, boundary (PZM) for live. 88 keys, 27.5–4,186 Hz + overtones demand stereo to capture the full width. From Rode NT5 to Neumann U87. SoundsGood offers mics for any piano and scenario.
SDC, LDC, Boundary
Grand & upright
Grand & upright
Free shipping
Orders over ₴4,000
Orders over ₴4,000
Instalment payments
PrivatBank / monobank
PrivatBank / monobank
Expert advice
Matched to your piano
Matched to your piano
🎹 Challenges
🔊 Range
88 keys: 27.5–4,186 Hz + overtones to 10+ kHz. Widest of any acoustic instrument. Needs flat response (20–20 kHz). SDC or quality LDC.
📐 Stereo
Grand 1.5–2.7 m wide: bass left, treble right. Mono misses the width. Stereo pair essential: one on bass, one on treble.
🔊 Two Approaches
Close: pair inside (15–30 cm) — bright, detailed. Room: pair far (1–3 m) — full, ambient. Or blend both — max control.
🎹 Grand Close
📐 Placement
SDC pair inside, 15–30 cm from hammers. Bass + treble. AB 40–80 cm. Lid on short stick (half-stick).
🔊 Sound
Bright, detailed, "attacking". Less room. Pop, rock, R&B (clarity in the mix). Live (protected by lid).
🎯 Models
NT5 pair (value). C451 (bright). KM 184 (premium). DPA 4011 (reference). Omni (KM 183) — softer, more natural.
🎹 Grand Room
📐 Placement
LDC/SDC omni pair 1–3 m. Lid fully open. At or above piano level. ORTF/AB/XY. Room must be good.
🔊 Sound
Full, "big", ambient. Piano "breathes" with the hall. Classical, jazz, solo. Quiet room + good acoustics.
🎯 Models
LDC: U87, C414. SDC omni: KM 183, DPA 4006. Ribbon: R-121. Schoeps MK 2 (top).
🎹 Upright
📐 Above
SDC/LDC pair over open top lid, 30–50 cm. Bass + treble. Direct sound + soundboard reflections.
📐 Behind
Remove back panel: mics 30–60 cm. More body, less hammer. Fuller, warmer. Studio.
📐 Boundary (Live)
PZM on lid. SDC clipped inside. Invisible, no stands, closed lid = min spill. Crown PZM-30D, Beta 91A.
📎 Boundary / PZM
📐 How
Flat mic on a surface (lid, soundboard). Boundary effect: flatter response, boost. Condenser, half-cardioid/omni. 48V.
✅ Live
No stands. Closed lid = min spill & feedback. Church, live band, theatre, restaurant. Practicality over audiophilia.
🎯 Models
Crown PZM-30D (classic). Beta 91A (works). Bartlett Piano Mic (dedicated). Earthworks PM40 (premium system).
🎙️ SDC
📐 Why
Precise, fast transient (hammer), flat response, min proximity, compact. Cardioid — close. Omni — ambient.
📊 Cardioid vs Omni
Cardioid: isolation, live, close. Omni: flattest response, no proximity — classical, ambient. Good acoustics → omni.
🎯 Models
Cardioid: NT5, C451, KM 184, DPA 4011. Omni: KM 183, DPA 4006, Schoeps MK 2. Matched pair essential.
🎤 LDC
📐 Why
Room/ambient: warmer, fuller, "presence". Lower noise (some). Solo grand 1–3 m — LDC may beat SDC.
📊 Multi-Pattern
C414: cardioid/omni/figure-8 — most flexible. One mic, multiple approaches. For a studio with one piano mic — C414 is ideal.
🎯 Models
U87 (legend). C414 XLS (flexible). AT4050 (affordable). NT1 (budget, ultra-low noise). Ribbon: R-121, R84.
🎧 Stereo Techniques
📐 AB
Most popular for piano: 40–80 cm (close) or 1–2 m (room). Bass + treble. Wide stereo.
📐 XY / ORTF
XY: compact, mono-compatible. ORTF: wider. Both for close or room. Broadcast, video, live.
📐 Mid-Side
Cardioid + figure-8: width control in post. Perfect mono compatibility. Film, TV, broadcast.
⚖️ Live vs Studio
🎸 Live
Boundary PZM on lid. Or SDC close inside (lid half-stick). HPF 80–100 Hz. Cardioid. Min feedback.
🎹 Studio
Close SDC + room LDC/SDC omni = max control. Blend. Classical: omni ambient. Pop: SDC close bright.
🎯 Choice
Church → boundary. Live band → SDC close. Studio pop → SDC close. Classical → SDC omni ambient. Concert → LDC/SDC room.
🔌 Connection
🔌 Stereo Pair
2×XLR → mixer (48V). Two channels, matched gain. Pan L/R. HPF 60–100 Hz. Matched pair.
📐 Close + Room
4 channels: 2 close + 2 room. Separate EQ. Blend. Check phase between close and room.
📎 Boundary
1–2×XLR (48V). One = mono (enough for live). Two = stereo. Mount: tape, magnet or holder.
📊 Comparison
| Approach | Type | Distance | Sound | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand close | SDC pair | 15–30 cm | Bright | Pop, rock, live |
| Grand room | LDC/SDC omni | 1–3 m | Full, ambient | Classical, jazz |
| Close+room | SDC+LDC (4) | 15–30 cm + 1–3 m | Full control | Studio (blend) |
| Upright above | SDC/LDC pair | 30–50 cm | Balanced | Studio, church |
| Boundary | PZM | On lid | Practical | Live, church |
| Model | Type | Pattern | Approach | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rode NT5 | SDC | Cardioid | Close | Value |
| AKG C451 B | SDC | Cardioid | Close (bright) | Standard |
| Neumann KM 184 | SDC | Cardioid | Close/ambient | Premium |
| Neumann KM 183 | SDC | Omni | Ambient, classical | Premium |
| DPA 4006 | SDC | Omni | Ambient (ref.) | Reference |
| Neumann U87 | LDC | Multi | Room, solo | Legend |
| AKG C414 | LDC | Multi | Close/room | Standard |
| Crown PZM-30D | Boundary | Half-omni | Live | Live standard |
🎯 How to Choose
🎹 Grand Pop/Rock
SDC close pair: NT5 (budget), C451 (bright), KM 184 (premium). AB 40–60 cm, 15–30 cm. Lid half-stick.
🎹 Grand Classical
SDC omni ambient: KM 183, DPA 4006. Or LDC (U87, C414) room 1–3 m. Lid open. Quiet room.
🎹 Grand Full Studio
Close SDC (KM 184) + room LDC (C414/U87). 4 mics. Blend. Phase!
🎹 Grand Live
Boundary PZM on lid. Or SDC close (NT5) inside, lid half-stick. HPF 100 Hz.
🎹 Upright Studio
SDC pair above 30–50 cm: NT5, KM 184. Or behind. LDC (C414) for warmth.
🎹 Upright Live
Boundary on soundboard/lid. Or SDC above. HPF. Cardioid. PZM — simplest.
🎵 Concert
SDC omni (DPA 4006, KM 183) 2–4 m. Lid open. ORTF/AB. Minimal processing.
💰 Budget
NT5 pair (close). M5 pair (ultra-budget). NT1 pair (room). PZM-30D (live).
❓ FAQ
How many?
Stereo pair (2) standard. Studio: 4 (close+room). Live: 1–2 (boundary/SDC).
SDC / LDC?
SDC — close. LDC — room. Omni SDC — classical. C414 — flexible.
Placement?
Close: 15–30 cm inside. Room: 1–3 m. Upright: above 30–50 cm. Live: boundary.
Boundary?
PZM on lid. No stands. Min feedback. Live, church.
Grand / upright?
Grand: inside/outside. Upright: above/behind. Different approaches.
Matched pair?
Essential. ±1 dB. NT5-MP, KM 184 set, C414 matched.
🏆 Why SoundsGood
Grand & Upright
SDC, LDC, boundary
Free Shipping
Orders over ₴4,000
Instalment Payments
PrivatBank & monobank
Expert Advice
Matched to your piano
Leading Brands
Neumann, DPA, AKG, Rode, Schoeps
Kyiv Showroom
Olzhycha 15
Fast Dispatch
Before 3 pm
📞 Contacts
✉️ Email
📍 Address
15 Olzhycha St., Kyiv, 04116
Metro: Dorohozhychi
🕐 Hours
Mon–Fri: 11:00–18:00
Sat–Sun: closed