I have a Yamaha GA1 small grand piano. I want to know which microphones are used to record grand pianos. I imagine there are specific microphones, as well as general microphones used by the industry.

I want information so I can decide what to buy, get professional quality, and not regret it.

The piano sounds very nice; it's obviously lacking a bit of bass, but the mids and highs are excellent.

P.S. If you'd like to share your ideal piano channel (compressors, preamps, equalizers, etc.), you're welcome.

P.S. 2: I was told the MXL-603s are highly recommended, right? Thanks.

Thank you.

 

Neumann KM 184 - Top-class small-diaphragm microphone - €879.00
or a little cheaper
Rode NT-5 - Matched Pair Mikrofon-Set - 319 €

 

Last edited: Jul 22, 2025 at 10:16 AM

Really depends on the repertoire, room, player, and of course: budget. At GearSpace they already talked in length about micing piano's, for instance in the 'Remote Possibilities..' -forum. Over there, searching for 'piano' will result in topics like these:
https://gearspace.com/board/remote-possibilities-in-recording-amp-production/1381150-can-we-talk-about-micing-grand-piano-again-2.html?highlight=piano
https://gearspace.com/board/remote-...378817-micing-piano-bass.html?highlight=piano

There's also this great article in SOS, together with audiosamples: https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/piano-recording

 

My favourite recording setup has been a pair of Neumann km184 AB quite wide at hammer position, a pair of Schoeps MK2 XY (same position) and a Neumann U87 cardioid pattern, bass roll off filter, near the last hole of the harp, at the end. Sometimes I had a Sure Beta58 in the middle. All going through a TL Audio M1F mixer, the tubes works at very high voltage (180-200 V) that makes the sound very clean. I would track all this separetely plus a stereo mix with a Neve 33609J. I'd use the Neve just on the KM184 some other times. This on a nice toned Yamaha C3 L.
I tried the DPA 4006 on the side but never liked them much. I like the sound of the piano to be quite intimate.
I think it depends a lot on the genre of music you're recording and on the sound of the instrument (I know, I am stating the obvious). I found, for a quick pop setup on a bright Bosendorfer, that using 3 U87, 2 AB pair and one omni in the mid-low end side, was good enough to get a good result to mix.

 

Definetely small diaphragm microphones. Either Neumann, DPA or Microtech-Gefell.

 

The LDC m930 is a great choice as the cardoid polar pattern is incredibly uncolored, and as well with as the OP intones, that the smaller Yamaha's strength is not in the lower frequencies, and the m930 can be brought forward to the soundboard and tuned to augment what is there by judicious mic placement.

 

From being in a LOT of studios over the years I can only comment on what I know for sure were used...

AKG and Neumann's were the most popular pick.
In home studios, due to the above being expensive, people seem to go for a variety from Rode, Shure SM57 and Sennheiser.

Each to their own.

 

Two omni SDCs in an A-B configuration is probably the most common choice for anyone recording at home or in a smaller studio. DPA 4006, 4007 and 4041, as well as Schoeps Colette mics are very common choices, but they are more high-end mics. I simply use my trusty Oktava MK-012 stereo set, but if I have access to a pair of KM184, DPA 4006/4007 or Schoeps MK2 I would most likely use those. If you can't afford some of the more expensive options, the Oktava MK-012 stereo set is a good budget choice.