Is Amateur Piano Recording This Hard?

krabapple · May 5, 2023

Uh huh, I read it the first time, thanks. I guess you want me to defer to your resume? But it doesn't answer the question. Either you think multiple takes ('20' being a hypothetical number you pulled out of air) indicates pianistic 'drooling without skill', or you think it doesn't necessarily mean that. Spell it out for me.

Guermantes · May 5, 2023

PierreV said:
That's a Yamaha CLP 765. I have one (earlier model, in black).
I could simply load and fake what she plays on it.

In fact, I did that on occasions when I had contractors in the house. They were very impressed.

And, no, I won't record a video for you guys, as I definitely miss some essential misdirection material/fleshware!

View attachment 283650

Oh yes, that looks more like it! I stand corrected -- a completely digital piano and not a Disklavier. How's the keyboard compared to an acoustic?

thecheapseats · May 5, 2023

krabapple said:
Uh huh, I read it the first time, thanks. I guess you want me to defer to your resume? But it doesn't answer the question. Either you think multiple takes ('20' being a hypothetical number you pulled out of air) indicates pianistic 'drooling without skill', or you think it doesn't necessarily mean that. Spell it out for me.

it wasn't my number - it was another poster's number... read the complete thread starting with me helping amir understand what was going on in the video he posted... post #127... or don't read it - I don't care...

goat76 · May 5, 2023

krabapple said:
Uh huh, I read it the first time, thanks. I guess you want me to defer to your resume? But it doesn't answer the question. Either you think multiple takes ('20' being a hypothetical number you pulled out of air) indicates pianistic 'drooling without skill', or you think it doesn't necessarily mean that. Spell it out for me.

The “20 takes” were just me trying to explain that even if the woman in the video may have questionable piano-playing technique, I’m still convinced that she’s the person who played the piano on the recording. It doesn't seem to be any advanced songs, and there are ten of thousands of other piano players who can play those songs, so why not her?

Just because the video is of multiple takes and different angles, and not from the actual recording takes, doesn't mean the woman can’t play those songs.

Guermantes · May 5, 2023

Piano YouTuber and composer talks about learning how to mic up a grand piano. Lot's of comparisons.

earlevel · May 5, 2023

thecheapseats said:
the whole thing is fake utoob nonsense... believe what you want... you like fake stuff? - fine with me...
20 takes isn't playing the piano - it's drooling without skill...

Here's a "utoob" live performance with just two musicians—very impressive...for people who don't notice that the notes he's playing bear no resemblance to the notes heard.

(For those whom it's going by a little too fast, just watch the opening of the video, with his left hand climbing the keyboard while the melody is going the other direction.)

computer-audiophile · May 5, 2023

Guermantes said:
Piano YouTuber and composer talks about learning how to mic up a grand piano. Lot's of comparisons.

This is great! She has access to an instrument of my favourite grand piano maker 'Fazioli'

earlevel · May 5, 2023

amirm said:
I don't see any microphones. So is it recorded in far field?

For a real grand piano, the top is hinged, to fold back the front (necessary for the music stand when the lid is down, for instance, and to open up the sound). you can see the brass hinge and the many screws here:

Screenshot 2023-05-05 at 11.10.47 AM.png

With this digital piano, you don't need to open the lid to use the music stand, and it sits on a slab that would muffle the strings if there were strings. No need to fold back the front of the lid. The legs look pretty crude as well. you can see the power cord—she should have hidden it behind the leg.

Screenshot 2023-05-05 at 11.11.07 AM.png

PierreV · May 5, 2023

Guermantes said:
Oh yes, that looks more like it! I stand corrected -- a completely digital piano and not a Disklavier. How's the keyboard compared to an acoustic?

Ours is simply not great. We also have a Roland RD700NX and, even though it is older, it feels better. I wouldn't rather either of those as very realistic though (vs a real piano).
That being said, both brands always claim the feel of their keyboard has been improved whenever they release an updated model. It could be that the current Yamaha is better.

goat76 · May 5, 2023

computer-audiophile said:
This is great! She has access to an instrument of my favourite grand piano maker 'Fazioli'

It was a Fazioli Nick Cave used for his live record “Idiot Prayer” and he fall in love with that instrument. He called Fazioli to see if he could get hold of one for himself, but they didn't even know who he was.

A funny story...

☆ Nick Cave v. Fazioli Piano Forte ☆ Folio.YVR ☆ Issue 13 ☆ 2020 – Issuu

This story began with a simple question from Andrew and posted on The Red Hand Files and how it played out has become legendary in two diverse worlds of fans.

amp.issuu.com

Ifrit · May 5, 2023

Herbie Hancock plays nothing but the Fazioli. Love the sound.

computer-audiophile said:
The 'most beautiful' piano sound I know is from Fazioli or I also find the heavy sound of Bösendorfer quite good.

Agree on both points, I also like the Steingraeber sound a lot. And well maintained/voiced Steinway is not bad either. Shigeru Kawai can have its moments, I know a few lovely nine-footers.

computer-audiophile said:
In general, Yamaha also builds very large grand pianos, some of which sound quite wonderful.

CFX and CF3 are excellent pianos. They really upped their game when bought Bösendorfer.

computer-audiophile · May 5, 2023

Ifrit said:
Herbie Hancock plays nothing but the Fazioli. Love the sound.

Agree on both points, I also like the Steingraeber sound a lot. And well maintained/voiced Steinway is not bad either. Shigeru Kawai can have its moments, I know a few lovely nine-footers.

CFX and CF3 are excellent pianos. They really upped their game when bought Bösendorfer.

Thanks for the confirmation! As for Steingraeber I still have an educational gap, I'm not aware if I've ever heard such a one. The photo of a Fazioli I made in a small chamber music hall in our city, they have one there. If I were a rich man ...

CtheArgie · May 5, 2023

amirm said:
You can do so much better relative to what I post in the OP. Here is an example:

The interesting thing about Lang Lang is that he is insufferable live. We went to see him at Disney Hall playing Rachmaninov #2 and his sense of timing was ridiculous. My wife plays the piano quite well and she was becoming very impatient. During play, in quite a few instances, Dudamel turned around from conducting and gave him a very inquisitive look, as saying "dude, what re you doing?" Dudamel is very expressive and we have seen him countless times. Lang Lang? never again. Oh, and we have a very pretty sounding piano at home but also helped by the big open room. I don't play, I just melt when she plays....

Ifrit · May 5, 2023

computer-audiophile said:
As for Steingraeber I still have an educational gap, I'm not aware if I've ever heard such a one.

Lovely instruments from family business in Bayreuth.

CtheArgie said:
We went to see him at Disney Hall playing Rachmaninov #2

CtheArgie said:
Dudamel

My condolences...

Ricardus · May 5, 2023

Audio is an afterthought for most videographers, from what it looks like from where I sit. Some have actually told me this. A significant percentage of youtube videos suffer from poor audio. It IS a separate skillset from video and most people just don't do a good job with it.

If you just hang an X/Y of decent mics halfway over the soundboard you will do so much better than iphone recordings.

eric-c · May 5, 2023

amirm said:
Wanted to mention channels like this before as they do make excellent recordings. I must have watched every review he did before purchasing my digital piano.

I am fortunate that I live in the Greater Toronto Area where Merriam has their stores. And yes I bought a Grand from them about 2 years ago. I started a thread about room acoustics and evaluating a grand piano and the folks on this forum were most helpful.

amirm · May 6, 2023

To clarify my OP, it wasn't that I was looking for great recordings of the piano. But that I was hope to not hear extreme distortion, compression, modulation, etc. I am watching these videos as inspiration while I am learning to play the piano. But just can't stand it when they sound so terrible.

nsfgp · May 6, 2023

@amirm Very cool you are learning to play the piano.
You may be interested to check out her channels:

Love her material and the recording/mixing is definitely not bad.

amirm · May 6, 2023

nsfgp said:
@amirm Very cool you are learning to play the piano.
You may be interested to check out her channels:

Love her material and the recording/mixing is definitely not bad.

Very cool. I had not seen her channel. I went through a lot of youtube channels and even signed up for one of their classes (pianonote). Then ran into a channel that was hosted by a local teacher, emphasizing good posture, fingering, etc. I reached out to him and after mutual interview, decided to go with him and I am so glad I did. I have only had two lessons so far but seems far more effective than just watching online videos/classes.

I am concerned if at this age I have it in me to memorize all that is needed and the effort it might take to become even modestly proficient to play what these youtubers are doing. But with the Kawai (C701) piano now taking a good chunk of space in the living room and my wife's encouragements, I don't seemingly have a choice!

I practice at midnights hoping to get over the massive initial hump. If it ever happens, it would be a childhood dream come true!

Doodski · May 6, 2023

I thoroughly enjoy listening to a good piano player. I have some piano piece bookmarks. I will pick out the better sounding stuff and stuff of historical importance for you. I applaud you learning the keyboard and piano because it is a very healthy thing to do for your mental health and physical learning too. Here goes a bunch of links to some decent piano tracks. I hope some of these are useful and give you some new ideas.

Is Amateur Piano Recording This Hard?

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