In my latest video I test out 2 different omnidirectional microphones. Can budget microphones really compete against more expensive mics when it comes to recording piano? Read on to find out in this piano microphone test.
Earlier this year I visited the Hard Day’s Night Hotel, a Beatles themed Hotel in Liverpool, England. I was lucky enough to stay in the John Lennon suite which boasts a beautiful white baby grand piano. So I thought, why not take advantage of that? Let’s do a piano microphone test!
The two microphones I compared are both Omnidirectional. Firstly, I used a pair of Sennheiser MKH 8020’s. Secondly I tried the budget EM272, Clippy Microphones which you can find at Mic Booster.Com
Watch the video to see the results.
So what did I think? The Sennheiser MKH 8020s are quality microphones. They’ve got a lovely balanced sound, very even, and they have a lovely warmth to the low end. However, they are quite neutral. So if it’s something with more character that you want than perhaps try the Clippy EM272s.
I’ve used these microphones for recording natural ambience in the past and this is something they excel at. Check out my video on recording the sounds of nature. They are very good at recording quiet sounds and have very low noise levels. They certainly have a bit more character and they are generally brighter in comparison to the Sennheiser MKH8020s.
While they may not be best suited for louder sounds, in my opinion they hold their own against the more expensive Sennheiser mics.
Remember, you can download a free version of my ‘Imagine Piano’ Kontakt instrument, which I created after sampling the piano in the video. Click Here to find out more.