Prosound News - April 2008 - (Page 51)

[51] soundInnovations: the manufacturer’s view Revisiting the Technology of Piano Miking Earthworks PianoMic System S by Larry Blakely ound contractors informed us that they needed a “special piano microphone for churches.” They said that this piano microphone needed 1) a better balance between low strings and high strings (a uniform level of all strings as you do a full chromatic run on the keyboard); 2) a better overall piano sound; 3) more gain before feedback; 4) minimal pick up of sounds from surrounding instruments outside the piano; 5) the microphone cannot be visible from outside the piano (i.e., no stands or mic booms); and 6) it needs to sound great with either the piano lid open or completely closed. This was a very tall order, and we quickly realized that such a piano microphone would be ideal for virtually all live sound and recording applications. The Earthworks engineers accepted the challenge and took a long look at conventional miking practices and microphones typically used for miking pianos. They also investigated what sound waves are actually doing inside a piano. The inside of a piano is a “diffuse sound field,” defined as an area where there are multiple sound sources and multiple reflections (with reflections sometimes as loud as the (continued on page 58) Road Warrior Sony PCM-D50 Linear PCM Recorder O by Christopher Walsh n my third trip to India, I was finally equipped with a good field-recording device. With a Sony PCM-D50 Linear PCM Recorder on loan from the manufacturer, I was able to capture high-resolution audio in addition to my now-sizable inventory of digital video and still photographs. Introduced at the 123rd AES Convention, the PCM-D50 is jammed with highquality features, yet at a $599.95 list, is priced well below its cousin, the PCM-D1. Compact and lightweight, yet very solid, the PCM-D50 is ideal for many situations, from live performance and rehearsal capture to field recording and newsgathering. It can also serve as a personal music player, allowing digital recording from external devices and MP3 playback. The PCM-D50’s unidirectional microphones, safely behind a protective steel grille, can be changed from X-Y to 90- or 120-degree configuration. Microphone attenuation, low cut filter and limiter switches allow setting the recorder according to a particular situation. On either side of the unit are recording level and volume dials, partially enclosed to protect against errant knocks. Peak level lamps aid in accurate setting of recording levels. The PCM-D50 also allows recording with an external microphone or from external equipment through a line input jack. The recorder requires four AA batteries or AC via adapter. After many hours of use in the field, battery power had barely diminished. Even better, though I recorded several hours of “keeper” tracks at 16bit/44.1 kHz, the display indicated that more than one hour remained on the PCMD50’s 4 GB built-in memory. If that isn’t enough, the PCM-D50 allows use of a Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo for additional storage. The transport buttons and display are easy to understand and can likely be inthefield grasped without consulting the manual. Recordings are stored in one of 10 folders, each storing up to 99 files. Another cool feature on the PCM-D50 is the pre-record function, allowing an up to 5-second buffer prior to pressing the record button. Shortly before departing New York, I brought the PCM-D50 to my recording/rehearsal studio to record a band rehearsal. Though it was difficult to capture the complete ensemble given the circular arrangement—drums were bright and clear, while the PA’s loudspeakers, flown behind the recorder’s position, were, not surprisingly, weaker—the PCM-D50 provided a serviceable reference in this environment. (continued on page 52) April 2008 prosoundnews.com http://prosoundnews.com http://www.asl-inter.com http://www.asl-inter.com http://www.asl-usa.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Prosound News - April 2008

Prosound News - April 2008 Sound Business Contents Sound Retail Mojo’s Working at NY Noise Studio Showcase: Jungle Room Studios Software Tech Tracks Sessions Nomad Takes Root TCB at NYC’s JSM SoundScreen White Space Turning Gray Audio for Video and Broadcast Field Reports:Sony PCM-D50 Linear PCM Recorder; Holophone H4 SuperMINI Surround Microphone Sound Innovations: Earthworks Audio PianoMic System Frozen Liquid Live Sound Showcase: Jill Scott Centerstage Soundcheck Sound People View From the Top Product Spotlight Advertiser Index Company Index Classifieds Music, Etc.

Prosound News - April 2008

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