MILFORD, NH – Whether Bruce Hornsby is performing solo, with Christian McBride and Jack DeJohnette as The Bruce Hornsby Trio, or with his band, the Noisemakers, the pianists' mixing and recording engineer Wayne Pooley uses Earthworks' PM40 PianoMic System to capture the artist's sound.
Pooley has served as Hornsby's recording/mixing engineer and producer since 1991. He handles everything from engineering in the studio to mixing FOH (front of house) when on tour.
"Miking a piano can be very difficult," Pooley acknowledged. "The point of origin for the instrument's sound is very broad, so any microphone is challenged by the fact that some of that sound is direct while some of it is off axis. The instrument's sound reaches the microphone's capsule from all directions and this further contributes to the complexity of the process.
"Reflective sound and proximity effect play huge roles in the overall miked piano sound," Pooley added. "While small diaphragm condenser mics frequently have good transient response, many lack a full bodied character. By contrast, large diaphragm condenser microphones may offer greater fullness, but they frequently lack the presence, or clarity, of a small diaphragm condenser mic."
"What's so unique about the PM40," Pooley continued, "is that it exhibits excellent transient response for a more articulate sound from the piano's top end while also possessing the warmth and full bodied character of a large diaphragm condenser mic. Just as important, you don't get that overly ‘boomy' proximity effect typical of many large condenser microphones. The PM40 is a very well balanced microphone that does an excellent job of accurately presenting the piano's acoustic footprint."
When he first encountered the Earthworks PM40 in the fall of 2009, Pooley was initially looking to improve the piano sound for Bruce Hornsby's studio efforts, but quickly discovered its potential for the touring side of their efforts.
"Miking a piano for a recording project is very different from live performance," Pooley said. "In the studio, the piano lid is usually open, whereas in live performance, the lid is more frequently closed as a means of better isolating the instrument's sounds from its surroundings. The PM40 strikes a great balance between both studio and live applications, so I envision us using it-or more likely, the new PM40T touring version-on many of our future projects, both live and studio."
Pooley emphasized one of the PM40's advantages in live sound applications. "Bruce frequently appears on early morning TV shows or other programs where there's very little time to prepare the piano. For events such as an NBA game, where he performs the National Anthem, we frequently have less than a minute to be ready. By having the PM40 installed inside the piano, we can roll the piano into place, make the cable connections and be ready to go. If we had to place microphones on stands, we'd never make it. Having the microphones pre-positioned is a huge benefit that ensures we'll get the sound we want."
Pooley noted that he had been using an Earthworks M30 High Definition Measurement Microphone for several years and credited Earthworks national sales manager Mike Hurwitz in introducing him to the PM40. "In my opinion, Earthworks has another winner on its hands," Pooley concluded, after using the newer mic.
For more information, please visit www.earthworksaudio.com.
