:-)

All recordings made with just 2 mics and no headphones (for the musicians, that is !).

Classical musicians very often DON'T use headphones. Thay hate this! And if they do, it is most probably for a movie score, where they need to follow cues.

I completely agree with your assessment, Luc.  If you note the excessive number of microphones in this photo, this particular session is not for a performance of classical music repertoire.  This is either movie score material (with click track), background music of an advertisement, or making a track for Yanni or music of that ilk -- that requires no conductor.  The supposed additions of "expression" and reverb will be post processed at a later time in Pro Tools.

Aside:  Look at the general lack of musical expression on the faces of these performers as they "saw" away on their instruments.  Look at the brick wall within 10 or 20 feet of the performers -- further evidence of reverb and soundstage panning to be subsequently convolved into the music.  Look at the discomfort of the cellist, at the far right of the photograph, in terms of the way he positioned the uncomfortable 'phones on his head.  Ahh, music making at its finest!

Cheers,

Joe

A little subject change now...

Why classical musicians record (play for recording) using headphones?

If that helps each one to heard better what they are playing (let's supose), would also help in a formal presentation?

Speaking of "classical" ... Would this be considered a classic case of thread hijacking ?

Why classical musicians record (play for recording) using headphones?

If that helps each one to heard better what they are playing (let's supose), would also help in a formal presentation?

Interesting how a Baby Grand piano sound less powerful, to the player perspective, than a upright.
Indeed the soundboard of a upright it's larger in area than one of a baby Grand.

The future of digital piano sound system it's in transducer activated soundboard.

I also think that soundbords have a huge potential for DPs. The Kawai CA95/CS10 have this, and that makes a big difference, but I was somewhat skeptical (couldn't gather enough actual information about this) how well it could work together with an external sound source like Pianoteq.  (I could test this with a predecessor model, a CA93 , that sounded not very convincing.) So I decided to go for a CA65 with external monitors to have a more distributed sound source.

I have also a very nice, tall old upright, with a wonderful full and rich sound. Playing it is a superb experience. The sound is much fuller, than what my previous baby grand had (August Förster).

The future of digital piano sound system it's in transducer activated soundboard.

By the Way... Steinway created a new brand, Essex,, and they clain that have increased the soundboard área, compared to another grand piano of the same length, to improve the sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFmQ70l-0I8

Do people around complain about the sound, while you use such sound monitors, in the same way they would complain if you have a grand piano in home?

I read with interest your post about the Australian Monitor ST50P speakers.  I have (among other dp's) a Kawai MP4 for gigs but have been struggling to get a good sound  out of them.  I actually purchased a Bose L1 Compact but have not been entirely happy with the sound with a digital piano.

I tried to get hold of ST50P's in response to your post, but AM don't make them anymore, but make the AMPAV30 and AMPAV40.  Their catalogue refers to an AMPAV50, but I have confirmed that this is a typo and the 40 watt is the highest.  I obtained a demo pair and tried them out.  I liked the sound very much but am concerned that 40watt won't be enough for a small, noisy venue.

I would very much like to know what your experience has been using the ST50P's for gigs and whether they have enough power, and whether you think the AMPAV40 might have sufficient power.

I was also interested to see that you previously tried the Yamaha Stagepas system.  I actually have a Yamaha Stagepas 300.  The digital piano doesn't sound bad through them in my opinion, but I would like to know your view as to how the Stagepas compares to the ST50P's in terms ofdigital piano sound. 

I would also like to use Pianoteq through the sound system.

Thank you in anticipation.

Tony