6 Best Piano Microphones – Capture The True Sound of Your Piano

The Beyerdynamic MC 930 is a condenser cardioid mic with everything you need to make it your piano microphone. Its frequency response ranges between 40 Hz and 20 kHz, and the maximum sound pressure level that it can handle is 125 dB. But you can increase that to 140 dB if you use it with a pad. The mic has an output impedance of 180 ohms, and its signal-to-noise ratio is 71 dB with a noise of 16 dB. With a low-cut filter of 250 Hz, you can connect it using an XLR connector. It only weighs around 0.25 lbs.

You must capture the right sound with a mic from your piano. This microphone excels on loud piano sounds as it can handle high sound pressure levels. And the best thing is you can use this overhead mic and other acoustic instruments. This mic has a durable construction; you can see it will stand the test of time just by holding it in your hand.

You don’t even have to use EQ to make any adjustments. This mic can reproduce natural sounds, making it an ideal option for various users. For example, you can use it to record your piano sounds or acoustic instruments like drums or guitar. These piano mics are a pretty good option for recording vocals. You can use them for stereo or recording percussion and Mixpre-based field recording. You will get a pretty nice upfront tone. The sound might feel a bit warm, but it will have plenty of detail, even for your orchestras.

What makes this mic so unique is its versatility. We have noticed this mic works very well in every scenario. Irrespective of your recording purpose, this mic will do the job for you. We will highly recommend these microphones if you record a lot of acoustics.

Still, you need to be a bit more careful when using this mic as your piano microphone. This mic has a very wide pattern, so it won’t work well if you are recording vocals with your piano or any other instrument. If you playback your recording, you will notice the vocals tend to blend into the piano tunes and won’t sound too well. The sounds will feel muddy in the low mids, with some noticeable drops around 100 Hz. And This is where you will have to work with your EQ to get better results.

Moreover, you can use those switchable pads and bass-roll filters to make them sound even better. The pickup patterns of this mic can reject any outside sounds.

What stands out?

• Comes with a pad to handle maximum sound pressure levels better.
  
• Wide frequency response rate.
  
• Higher output impedance.
  
• Lightweight design.
  

What cons did we manage to find?

• Not for recording vocals.

The Neumann KM 184 is a condenser cardioid mic with a stereo pair. Its frequency response ranges from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and the sound pressure level tops at 138 dB. With an output impedance of 50 ohms and signal to noise ratio of 81 dB, this mic is a good choice for recording your piano tunes with great detail.

If you are looking for a microphone for specialized applications like recording cymbals, brass instruments, or percussion, this is the best option. It can also handle high sound pressure levels from the piano at ease thanks to its max SPL of 138 dB and very low background noise. Its signal-to-noise ratio is 81 dB, so it can handle those soft sounds pretty well.

These piano mics are a standard fixture in any mic collection because it’s essential for other small diaphragm mics that look to achieve the same. It will bring out the natural shimmer and presence of all sounds. Therefore, this mic is an excellent option for home recording studios. You won’t find a reason to touch your EQ if you are in a decent room.

The feature that makes it unique will provide an airy feel even if you have dead space. If you have a pair of great room mics to go with it, this mic will outshine anything that is there on the market. So, if you can get your hands on a couple of these, we highly recommend you go for it, and you won’t regret it.

You will notice that this mic comes in a cardboard box. So, you won’t get any bags with it. This is because we concluded that Neumann thought this mic would go into a studio locker, and a bag is unnecessary. But, Neumann is a quality brand, and nothing about them is cheap, so a bag or a carrying case would have only increased the cost. Hence, you are getting this mic at a relatively decent price, especially if you look at its quality and performance.

What are its best features?

• Low self-noise and high SNR.
  
• High maximum sound pressure level for handling low sounds.
  
• Wide-ranging frequency response.
  
• Lightweight construction.
  

What could be improved?

• Comes in a cardboard box, so there is no carrying case or bag.

Want to go for premium quality performance in your studio or on stage? Consider buying the Shure KSM 141. This small diaphragm condenser mic comes with a gold layered mylar diaphragm for an excellent transient response. It features a transformerless preamp to ensure better audio reproduction that is super-transparent. It comes with a 3-point high pass filter and 3-position pad so it can handle various sounds from your piano.

This mic has a superior construction quality that ensures durability and high-quality sound. Its super thin (2.5 micrometers) diaphragm has a 24 karat gold layer to guarantee a better transient response. We loved its almost zero crossover distortion, low intermodulation, and harmonic distortion. Consequently, you will always get that clarity in your recordings no matter what types of tunes you are playing on your piano.

These piano mics have two different polar patterns. You can toggle between their consistent cardioid pattern and true omnidirectional polar pattern to tackle different applications. That is why it is a great option for studio and live performances. Apart from that, this mic comes with an inbuilt subsonic filter that can deal with low-frequency rumbles below 17 Hz due to mechanical vibration.

What makes it unique is its two different polar patterns that enable you to use this mic in various applications both on stage and in the studio. To handle mechanical vibrations and a 3-point pad that can deal with high-SPL sources, it comes with a subsonic filter. It has a high-pass filter with proximity effects and can reduce stand vibration.

The sound clarity of this mic might be low, especially if you compare it with the likes of KM 184 by Neumann. However, a built pad makes it ideal for multiple applications. You will notice a slight metallic sheen on the result, but you can deal with that if you have a quality preamp.

So, if you want the best results possible, we would highly recommend using a quality preamp with this mic, and you will be blown away by the results that it can produce. The sound quality on itself of this mic is slightly metallic, but for the price, it certainly does the job. However, with a good preamp on hand, this mic is a good option for studio and live applications.

What are its best features?

• Comes with an output impedance of 150 ohms.
  
• Dual polar patterns.
  
• Highly versatile for both studio and live applications.
  
• Wide range frequency response.
  

What could be improved?

• Has a metallic sheen on the final results (use a good quality preamp with it).

With Studio Projects C-4, you are getting two condenser mics for one. And you will get Omni, hyper-cardioid, and cardioid capsules here. This mic is a great option for various instruments such as horns, flutes, percussion, and piano. Its frequency response ranged from 40 Hz to 20 kHz with a max SPL of 150 dB. This mic comes with an SNR of 78 dB and self-noise of 16 dB with an output impedance of 200 ohms.

These piano mics come with interchangeable capsules, so you can use them for various applications. Omni patterns are preferred for ambiance for internet miking and overhead use, while cardioid and hypercardioid are great for studio and live performances. So, for versatility, we will give this mic 10/10 because we have found that there are not many options available for this price and this versatility.

This mic is a true allrounder because it works in almost all scenarios. You can use it on-stage, you can use it in a location or the open air, and you can use it in your studio for home recording. These mics have durable construction and come with a foam windscreen, mic clips, and a stereo bar.

Of course, these mics are way ahead of their competitors by offering three different polar patterns. This feature is unavailable in almost any other option in this price range. And to go with that, you are getting 2 mics for one. So, you can enhance your audio recording output straight out of the box.

Moreover, its output impedance is 200 ohms with a low self-noise. So, you won’t have to compromise on sound quality either. If you can pair these mics with a good quality preamp, you will notice you have a lethal combo available to get the best recording results.

We say that you need a good quality preamp with these piano mics because it has a slight metallic sheen on the output. The mic itself can deal with low and high-res sounds, but due to low SNR, you might notice a bit of distortion that you can fend away with a quality preamp.

Why is it special?

• Three different polar patterns.
  
• High output impedance.
  
• Decent SPL and self-noise.
  
• Two pads, -10 dB and -20 dB are included.
  

What are the flaws?

• Need quality preamp for the best results.

Audix SCX25A-PS are top-notch mics that come with a large diaphragm. As they come with a large diaphragm, you already have almost everything for most applications. They sound so natural and balanced for those high and low res sounds you can produce using your piano. You won’t have to go into labor to look for the right position to place your piano mics.

We loved that his mic can capture that well-balanced and single-dimensional sound in all your recordings. And that is not just limited to your studio. This mic can deliver smiler quality results when you are on the stage. We were blown away by their capability to reproduce every nuance and detail of each tune.

What makes them so unique is their ability to capture all the details when working with piano and a range of other sources such as vocals, drum overheads, choirs, orchestras, and so much more. You can use them on almost any acoustic instrument too. It’s all because they come with a large diaphragm, so they can deal with any sound and reproduce it just as it is supposed to be. These piano mics have a wide frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and 200 output impedance.

We have observed that these mics have low self-noise of just 14 dB, making them clear in whatever they reproduce. There isn’t much distortion you have to deal with no matter what sound source you are using them with. They come with a high signal-to-noise ratio of up to 80 dB, so you can connect them with any source, and there won’t be much distortion regardless of the lows and highs.

But you need to keep in mind that you might have to make a few adjustments with these clips as they won’t hold the rails inside the piano properly. You can use self-adhesive foam for a better grip on the clips. Apart from that, you won’t have to do much to set these mics up and get them going for your recording applications.

What makes it stand out?

• Condenser cardioid mic with stereo pair.
  
• Large-diaphragm size.
  
• High output impedance with better SNR and low self-noise.
  
• Complete mic kit specifically for your piano.
  

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Clips need reinforcement during installation.

Rode has garnered a lot of popularity in recent years due to its studio quality mics available at reasonable prices, making them accessible to everyone. Similar is the case with these condenser mics with small diaphragms. These piano mics are great for regarding a range of different instruments, including your piano. But these mikes are great for flutes, guitars, drums, saxophones, violins, and other instruments. These cardioid condenser mics have a frequency range of 20 Hz and 20 kHz with a max SPL of 143 dB and output impedance of 100 ohms.

It’s a stereo pair that comes at the price of a single condenser, so you will immediately get your money’s worth. Although apart from the front hat, you will also get windshields and clips along with the carrying case, you will be hard pressed to find a better deal than this, which is precisely why we have included these piano mics in our list. They have their capsules gold-sputtered and offer low-noise transformerless circuitry to ensure you always get natural sound no matter your source.

We have noticed that these mics come with pretty good overall sensitivity, better than most options on the market. And they work pretty well with most other sound sources, not just your pianos. The balanced reproduction of the sound of these mics is pretty amazing, given that these piano mics feature small diaphragms. It performs well when picking up those low frequencies.

Some of you might think these mics should have come with a ⅜ or ⅝ adapter, but it isn’t that big of a deal. They are at their best when you use them for the XY pattern on your piano or any other source, and you won’t need to correct your EQ either. Their sound is excellent, and you won’t have to deal with much background noise either.

We have noticed that these microphones tend to exaggerate high frequencies a bit at times. This is especially the case if you are in a small studio room. But we still think that this happens due to the conditions and it’s not the fault of these microphones directly. Some users have complained about these mics being overly bright on overheads. So, you must keep that in mind before going for these mics. You can tackle this issue by placing these mics slightly away from the source of the sound that comes in too hot, especially on high frequencies.

Why are we impressed?

• Pretty good deal for the price.
  
• Bright sound even for low frequencies.
  
• High sound pressure level.
  
• Wide frequency response range.
  

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Signal to noise ratio could be better.
  
• A bit too bright for some high frequencies at times.