• Universal Audio 2108
    Dual Channel Solid State Microphone & Instrument Preamplifier
  • Great River ME-1NV
    Microphone & Instrument Preamplifier
  • Digidesign Digi 002
  • Pro Tools running on an Apple MacBook Pro with 17 inch display. 2.16 Ghz Intel Core Duo and 2GB 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM.
  • LaCie hard drive (behind the laptop)

mobile Pro Tools piano recording session at Biola

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Photography by Brian Petersen at www.brianapetersen.com
Email Brian Petersen for licenses or to purchase this image.

Steinway grand piano recording session at Crowell Hall located on the Biola campus in La Mirada, CA. The tracks are to be used as an interlude for a Christian worship album that will be released by Grace Evangelical Free Church.

See other session pictures of the piano and mic placement by clicking below
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/1557851495
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/1557850539
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/1558727898
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/1558727168
flickr.com/photos/bpbp/1557849919

Session signal path
Neumann M 149 Tube microphone into a Great River ME-1NV preamplifier
Studio Projects LSD-2 stereo microphone into a Universal Audio 2108 preamplifier
Both pres are run into three channels on a Digidesign 002 Pro Tools interface running on a 17 inch Macbook Pro

Neumann M 149 Tube microphone
“The universal high-end tube microphone with a unique sound and a comprehensive selection of settings, including 15 directional characteristics and a 7-level low-cut filter! The capsule is derived from that of the legendary U 47 and M 49.
The M 149 Tube is a variable dual-diaphragm microphone. The K 49 capsule – well-known from the legendary U 47 and M 49 microphones – is followed by a tube functioning as an impedance converter. In contrast to earlier concepts – utilizing a transformer – the tube is complemented with a transformerless output circuit design. The M 149 Tube can thus feed long microphone cables without any coloration.
Two slide switches are located below the large, acoustically very open headgrille. The switch at the front allows selection one of nine directional patterns. The slide switch at the rear operates a seven-step high pass filter. It allows a very fine adjustment of the cut-off frequency.”
www.neumann.com/?lang=en&id=current_microphones&c...

Great River ME-1NV
Microphone & Instrument Preamplifier
“The ME-1NV (single channel mic preamp) greatly modernizes and improves classic British design. This desktop (and rackable) preamp offers the same definitive sonic fidelity and expert craftsmanship as all Great River products, with the ability to fine-tune gain effects like 1970's-era 1073's. Transparency and vintage harmonic structure are both achieved with NV-Series preamps.
The ME-1NV achieves new classic performance status with two discrete Class-A gain stages (the dual gain-stage meters are a Great River exclusive), a front-panel DI input jack which is routed via FET through the input transformer (also unique to Great River preamps) for must-hear-to-believe sound from all Hi-Z instruments, and a discrete high-current Class-A "big iron" transformer-coupled output amplifier. The ME-1NV is a fundamentally important audio tool that brings out the best in every microphone and instrument.”
www.greatriverelectronics.com/

Studio Projects LSD-2
“The LSD-2 is comprised of two separate dual-membrane solid state microphones contained within a single housing. Its capsules are mounted in close proximity on a vertical axis - the upper capsule assembly having the ability to rotate 270 degrees horizontally, relative to the lower capsule. Two C&K three-way switches control the polar response, high pass filtering and -10dB pad for each capsule (The switches on the front of the body correspond to the lower fixed capsule, while the switches 180° opposite on the back of the mic control the rotating upper capsule). It is the combination of capsule articulation and independent pattern switching which allows a user of the LSD2 to achieve all manner of coincident pair stereophonic recording techniques. Due to the close proximity of the capsules, there is no phase cancellation resulting from time delay between the two signals. This translates into excellent mono compatibility.
The inner workings of the LSD-2 are essentially that of two Studio Projects Model C3 microphones. The capsules are 1.06” (27mm) diameter, dual membrane, Braunmuhl-Weber design. These are independently coupled through low-noise amplifiers based on FET driven discrete balanced output stages. The outer housing is plated brass with a single layer brass wire mesh grill surrounding the capsules.”
www.studioprojects.com/lsd2.html

Universal Audio 2108
Dual Channel Solid State Microphone & Instrument Preamplifier
“The Universal Audio 2108 is our two-channel discrete, Class A solid state microphone preamplifier, based on the legendary Universal Audio 1108 preamplifier.
The 1108 was a modular, single stage preamplifier designed by Bill Putnam Sr. in the early sixties. Its characteristic design later became the basis of the 1176LN Limiting Amplifier, the most celebrated solid-state peak limiter of all time. The 1176LN and 2108 share identical output amplifier circuits and components, including the custom transformer, which is a critical element to the cherished trademark sound.
Our heritage in analog innovation gave birth to a classic solid state microphone preamplifier with the same sonic character of the original 1176LN. Universal Audio's current analog design specialists added a multi-impedance J-FET input stage which allows for a harmonic enriched soft saturation of the input signal if desired. Never before has such a wide range of distinctive tones been available in a solid state preamplifier.
As with all UA products, the quality and selection of components is without compromise; we use metal polypropylene coupling capacitors instead of less expensive (and commonly used) electrolytic capacitors, and metal film rather than carbon-composition resistors. Painstaking attention to detail is hand-built into every unit.
When you hear the 2108, you will hear the same magic that compels many pros to leave their Universal Audio limiters in the signal chain at all times, even without applying any limiting. You'll hear the obvious benefit to starting your signal chain with the undeniably musical sound of the 2108.”
www.uaudio.com/products/analog/2108/index.html

  1. soundweavers 68 months ago | reply

    fantastic photo and EXCELLENT text about the session. I also have a Macbook Pro Tools LE 003r powered mobile recording studio, check out these live recording stints:

    Live recording of a blues concert

    Live recording of baby grand piano

  2. kdfromhb [deleted] 64 months ago | reply

    nice toys

  3. earsaregood 58 months ago | reply

    I would like to invite you to submit this pic to.....
    www.flickr.com/groups/locationaudio/

  4. D.L. Downey 53 months ago | reply

    Wow! That Great River preamp is nice! I wish I had one.

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