The ORIGINAL Felt Piano

[@AiMR]

That studio room sounds absolutely incredible! Hey, may I suggest you get a gimbal stabilizer for your camera? It would make the video so much smoother.

[@TheCrowHillCo]

Eric Veritas Blair thanks for this suggestion, I have tried many solutions regarding this but there’s a couple of reasons why I don’t. The first is all the gimbals I have tried add a degree of complexity to shooting that makes run and gun episodes like this less spontaneous. Whether it be having to turn the thing on and wait for it to calibrate, running out of power even simply locking a shot, by adding time it simply gets in the way of me working, adds contrivance or simply means I’m less inclined to shoot or a miss something. Even with the sturdiest gimbals there’s a fragility that would mean I’m buying a new one every month. This camera really gets thrown around, strapped to my suitcase and shoved in overhead bins on planes finally this mic is heavy! I have already developed quite nasty tendinitis holding it arm stretched away from me for nearly two years, if it got any heavy I think I’d need surgery. So apologies for the rough ride occasionally I think the solution is to lock off more often the lense is so wide it’s almost 180 degrees anyway. Thanks for your kind words I hope my explanation accounts for my less than meticulous camera work!

[@wowkocka88]

@@TheCrowHillCo I'm sure you were aware of the mobile phone solutions when choosing your rig, but the video shooting got much easier and better in the recent past, I think of the new phones like the S10 and the Huawei P30 Pro from the top of my head. It would ease your work in many ways, I'm sure, and the quality wouldn't suffer much.

[@TheCrowHillCo]

Gyula Kovács they would but the sound on them is sooooooo awful! Believe me I have tried and continue to to try every option. Every the latest Sony run and gun has an awful mic with no alt mic jack... so it’s wobbly fish eye for now I’m afraid!

[@jeremiahis]

@@TheCrowHillCo I’m guessing you looked at a Gopro Hero 7 with it’s Hypersmooth? Certainly a lot smaller to lug around at least. Thanks for the excellent videos!

[@joecantdance494]

Soft piano is just the most gorgeous sounding instrument. I love playing it

[@bartni]

I can imagine the smell of that place just looking at it.

[@wphmusic]

Thanks for the comparison of the mic setups. I can surely hear why the "Barlow" setup is so desirable. Gives me goosebumps.

[@ryanbarryaudio]

I did NOT expect the beauty of those stingray mics... Holy shit.

[@fivewattworld]

How could this possibly keep a guitar player like me interested throughout? Mic geek am I? No. Fascinated by the process I am. Thanks for this surprisingly engaging vid Christian.

[@615ccchc]

why u talking like yoda dork

[@615ccchc]

@@fivewattworld how'd you know my legal name was mcdickweed

[@DexWilliamsMusic]

I love this piano... Especially as I wrote a cue with it as the main instrument the other day and it went through the fastest approval and acceptance I've seen so far... 2 hours max!... Might use it again :)

[@nikht0]

FYI regarding the "Stingray" mics (aka PZM/Boundary Mic), from a Sound on Sound article that explains in part why these mics sound good. "PZM and Boundary mics - what's the difference?": "When a sound wave reaches a fixed surface boundary - such as a wall - there is a pressure maximum (and velocity minimum) at the surface. Placing the microphone in this zone of pressure maxima gives a 'free' boost in sensitivity of 6dB, which is handy. Perhaps of more significance is the reduction in comb-filtering effects. If you consider a mic placed above a reflective surface like a wooden floor, the mic will 'hear' both the direct sound from the source and a reflected version of it, as it bounces off the floor and back into the mic. The extra distance travelled to the floor and back will delay that reflected sound relative to the direct sound and hence cause some coloration because of the comb-filtering effects. Placing the microphone flush with the reflective boundary ensures that those reflections can no longer interfere with the direct sound, and the sound quality improves as a result."

[@phillystax]

So beautiful! And those stingray PZM mics were a pleasant surprise! Still, the 4038s are just butter. I'm so glad people are still going to great lengths to capture beautiful instruments in fantastic rooms with gorgeous gear. There is hope for musical humanity yet!!!

[@dwaynewyatt3]

Dear god this sounds incredible. My favorite piano sound BY FAR! And that piece you’re playing is absolutely stunning. Sheesh, what a fun time to make music.

[@westhave]

That comparison was so good and the piece you play is really touching!

[@stephenj4638]

The gallery mic absolutely breaks your heart. My favorite was Coles. Thanks so much for these behind the scenes videos! Keep up the great work.

[@alexplaysplaysplays]

Amazing! The stingrays!!! So interesting and informative and inspiring. Can't wait for the mystery project's release!

[@scottdavidson3108]

Great stuff, really enjoyed listening to the different mic versions, especially the tree and stingray versions, but jake's mic mix was just gorgeous. A really good insight into what a good engineer brings to the table.

[@ZoranVranjican]

Dear Christian, you don't know how much value you have brought me so far! I am learning all the tips n tricks from you! Also alredy own some Spitfire Samples, which to my taste, are the most amazing! thank you so much!

[@thedutchdjentleman]

I loved the barlow and tree mics

[@JoshuaBatch]

Oh my, something about the Stingray and Barlow. Not a Take That fan but Barlow knows his stuff.

[@GrantStinnett]

Wow... Love the immediacy of the stingrays. Very close sounding, but also not as volatile or tumultuous as the mics in the traditional close positions. As though they're close, but smoothed out somehow.

[@gonzales2174]

Beautiful sound and sound. Great!

[@danielrobinson72]

Awe those stingrays sounded lovely.

[@morayonkeys]

Love the Stingrays! I'm not normally a fan of really distant mics but the Galleries created a really nice effect. The tails are dying to be turned into a pad!

[@jimsanger]

That's one beautiful sounding piano, struggling to pick my favourite mic but the stingray does sound original

[@carlstephenkoto619]

I've said before how much I love films from inside Air and this one is an embarrassment of riches! The stingrays and Barlows were eye opening IMHO. Thanks so much for letting us look over your shoulder in this and all your other films CH. Makes KZbin worth every penny (ha-ha).

[@jamesryanceballos9309]

For something that is free, this has to be one of the most beautiful piano sample. It's really mellow and is perfect for something somber or emotional

[@EmaBerkova]

Soft and nice sound! 👌🏻🎶

[@moodmusik]

Coles, Schoeps, and Stingray voicings were my favourites. This was really educational. As always, thank you Christian!

[@ruxiwang9571]

but there's no such options in the soft piano. Do you know how to use them?

[@sasquatch_life]

Every mic setup is great! I can imagine a blend of the options you've covered will give a huge amount of creative choice. Also, the sound of the piano in that room.... SMDH!

[@tonya7591]

The best channel on KZbin! So informative!

[@markramsay6399]

As someone else said below - these videos by Christian are so rewarding. Thanks !

[@jordychandra1027]

gonna buy this when release !

[@Nullllus]

Love the ambience in the studio.

[@nischalbhandari7535]

You are very inspiring .

[@ulrichgamingandmusic]

what a great sound

[@jaredfoldy2139]

cannot believe how good the stringrays sound!

[@daleturner]

Those mic options at the end are INSANE!!!! More IS more, for this one!!!! Amazing.

[@diegofotuche]

Amazing

[@yuggothproductions]

Watching this all I can think of is setting up my drums in there and laying down a slow groove! What a great sounding space!

[@junkheadrooster]

You are a gift to music, my friend.

[@MechSquirrel]

So amazing!

[@TheJoba75]

I get so much out of watching you work Christian, both knowledge and inspiration. Thank you as always. interested in your thoughts on the best "cheap" mics to record and/or sample Piano. Always look forward to your next video.

[@QuincyIQ]

Dude you’re a hero!

[@kseniaignatenko]

This sounds incredible, especially with acoustics and echoes!!!

[@TheMountainHowl]

Stingrays are gorgeous!

[@AlexNiedt]

Gorgeous. Very excited for this

[@chrismassa5891]

Attention to detail. Love this, Brilliant.

[@BitDeff]

This is so awesome! Love the setup!

[@TonyAndersonMusic]

Christian, I love you. This is so exciting.

[@keiththeodosiou]

Another amazing video from Christian and the guys. Some of those mic sounded pretty awesome. Watching paint dry can sometimes be therapeutic lol. Great video!

[@rickblackdog]

Can you just release a video of you just playing that for a few hours, I'd listen to that all day

[@balluse]

The library can be found at: www.pianobook.co.uk/library/spring-piano. Add the exs files to the folder music/audio music apps/sampler instruments and open Logic and add an instance of EXS24. You'll find the instruments in the menu above the cutoff knob.

[@Damianthelovetour2024]

Love this

[@TaffmanGuyo]

Fascinating journey, thanks in anticipation.

[@TonyAndersonMusic]

The Barlow 😭😭😭

[@patjackmanesq]

I love your videos. I miss that life sometimes...

[@thomasmcgill6918]

Wow, Jake Jackson lost some weight. Looking good. As always, love all of your videos. Incredible amount of content.

[@PrimeMusic322]

Christian, would love to hear Jack Jackson's, Paul's and your thoughts which Mic Pre Amps you all like for different use cases. You show a ton of mix info but there seems to be so much tracking expertise that you all have, it could be super enlightening!

[@progfoxmusic]

Amazing stuff my man

[@bhavearth]

stingrays & barlow !!!! ouuuffff !!!

[@Yarckmusic]

I'm trying out the chamois leather now, it's great, thank you for the tip!! Just bought a super nice piano which they hoisted to the first floor. Going to record a piano EP now with my own compositions/impros.

[@WillyJunior]

Damn, the Barlow sounded great

[@felixsmittick9128]

I am a fan of the Stingray placement.

[@matthewmachanda9390]

LOVED the stingrays. Goodness gracious... Also, thank you for the soft piano sample!!

[@jode_steele]

Stingrays!! Oosh. 👍🏻

[@pierregac]

What a nice idea !!! I've just discoverd this very interesting video. The dream sound for a sound engineer ( i am )

[@edmasters4454]

Very cool, Christian - thanks for sharing the process. Really interesting to see the mic'ing approach and thoughts. What patience to sample each note, pedal up/down, etc.

[@benjaminaustnesnarum3900]

You really love your Satie, don't you? Good man.

[@trioutj]

Arbroath smokies yaas!

[@jacoblavallee5228]

Ok I must know, when on you guys planning for the full release on this? It's going to sound fantastic!

[@GranulatedStuff]

holy moley the stingrays !

[@aleksandrkarlshoffer-ruden6291]

Music Forether🎼🎼🎼🎶🎶🎶🎹🎹🎹

[@dafingaz]

Nice!

[@Byronic19134]

Wow those stingrays really stole the show.

[@0tto777]

I am in love with that stingray sound in this studio! When/where can we get access to that library?

[@TheCrowHillCo]

its being made, subscribe!

[@Gedagnors]

16:23 =( So beautiful!!!!!!!!

[@roberthunt1540]

M 49s. M 50s. 44s. . . . and on and on. Current value of said gear: more than my house and car combined. Kidding aside, wonderful sound.

[@mattslaven5523]

Christian, I am incredibly excited for whatever "project" this piano might be going into! I love the conversation around this incredible piano! I myself have a Yamaha U7 in my studio, it's very interesting, it has an upgraded soundboard and action from the U3 and the cabinet is made from solid teak! I am planning to sample it just as you have done to compare with your samples (I have a really similar mic setup to the Barlow). Can you please tell me the piece you are playing for the mixing? I'd love to learn that and mix mine using the same piece! Cheers and thanks for the Vlogs!

[@benoithd]

This is such a wonderful and dreamy sound, I'm curious to know, do you have to time align all the microphones by hand? or you use a software? Thanks a lot!! Beautiful sound.

[@simonrobinson1317]

Beautiful! What is the piece of music you play at the end, please? 🙏🏻

[@thorpe8138]

I’m from Arbroath 😁

[@asirus]

Swooning over Stingray!

[@anpcm]

It takes a lot of microphones to capture the sounds that a pair of human ears hear.

[@pedterson]

The stingrays sounded great, but the noise seemed very inconsistent. I wonder if that's a general problem or only in this snippet.

[@billypatron8133]

Incredible. Does anybody know which library this session was actually for? He says something about it being free on piano book but the title says originals felt but that library doesn’t use a Yamaha. In description it says “soft piano” but that doesn’t have mic options. Lol I’m really hoping whatever library this is allows the isolated stingray and Barlow. Those were some of the best piano sounds I’ve ever heard.

[@AleksandarStanojkovic]

This is great, dont get me wrong. But the thing that separates good from bad pianos (in the mix) is how well they work in mono, and how well is the sympathetic resonance done. I guess theres no sympathetic resonance, right? Coles sound great btw, and Im glad you didnt use low noise mics (such are measurement mics) to record it.

[@justlisa1599]

Maybe too late for this, but you went over the mics and their placement so quickly that it was hard to follow. Could you offer a more detailed list of the mics and where they were? What is "Barlow"? What does "flum flum" mean? Please and thanks! : )

[@BabakAzad]

Whats the name of the music you played in 16:25 ? it was Great song ...

[@TheCrowHillCo]

Just me noodling away!

[@WarrenPostma]

@@TheCrowHillCo super nice noodling.

[@MrPewPewCat]

Hey Christian, I find the piece you played beautiful. Does it have a name or is it just a "thing" you played? Thanks :))

[@TheCrowHillCo]

very strong boi it’s a noodle!

[@chandeleerjet5637]

Can somebody tell me the model number of the Schoeps? I really want to get a stereo pair like that in my studio. Can’t find anything that looks like what they have.

[@ionlywantto]

Anyone know the name of the piece Christian briefly plays at 03.03? I haven't heard it for a while and I've completely forgotten its name!

[@noisecode5867]

I know a few composers who will be getting this in their stockings at christmas. Any idea if it will be out in time?

[@donnykaraoke1]

So this is the felt Piano you can buy on spitfire and the 10 year recording is now called soft piano on labs?

[@TheCrowHillCo]

donnykaraoke no, the felt piano on LABS is my Schimmel. This hasn’t been released yet.

[@donnykaraoke1]

@@TheCrowHillCo oh I see, thanks Christian

[@tickscollector9029]

@@TheCrowHillCo Well Spitfire's site says differently: "LABS Soft Piano was recorded at Air Edel Studios by Chri on a Yamaha U3 piano." And that the Originals Felt Piano is material from the old Gwilym Simcock library. And who the F*** is Chri? :-)

[@paopereira1535]

In the video called "Product Feature- what is the Best Piano For drama ?" it is said that "Spitfire Felt Piano" became "Soft Piano" (u3 yamaha) and apparently the "pp004 Gwilym Simcock Felt Piano" became the "Originals Felt Piano" (Schimmel). If i'm wrong, I would like to have a clear explanation (never found anywhere).

[@Wilou-Music]

Irreal recording space

[@CalebMcLellan]

Pure magic. Gives me chicken skin!

[@112rorz]

Nice and well made video, but what's the obsession these days with felt piano. It sounds so muffled to me, I'm so used to hearing that sound while using the middle pedal for night time practice that I cant take it as a serious sound. I guess some people like it. I much prefer to hear the strings with no muffle.

[@aps-pictures9335]

There’s a special sound to it - it 100% makes you play differently too, due to the delayed hammer action and unique sound. It adds an extra ‘mechanical’ sound to the instrument, it’s very humanising - a very romantic and sentimental sound. Sounds very, very different to a dampener pedal - if you ever get a chance to play one or a great sampler!

[@lazymountain]

how many guys does it take to record a piano

[@jeremiahis]

That Jake Jackson mix was like I was in the room. So good.

[@torvblanchett]

What is the song you’re playing ? 😍

[@robertsteinberger5667]

What is the piano piece in the beginning of the video?

[@JohnDoe-rb4pq]

Whats the name of the piece in the beginning

[@markusquast]

Nice sound. What song is it that Christian starts playing at 3:03 for a couple of seconds?

[@daangraanbanaan]

Erik Satie - Gnossiennes no. 1 🤓