by Mat Dirjish

Helpinstill Designs, a developer of magnetic sensing systems for acoustic pianos, is offering an educational guide examining the methods in use to amplify acoustic pianos in a wide range of live performance scenarios. The guide addresses the common challenge of incorporating an acoustic piano into a sound system while several instruments, speakers, and stage monitors are operating simultaneously.

Depending on their position, microphones near or inside a piano also capture drums, amplifiers, monitors, vocals, and sound reflected throughout the venue, an effect known as microphone bleed. The effect varies based on stage volume, room acoustics, microphone selection, microphone placement, and the position of the piano lid. The Helpinstill guide compares microphone-based amplification with magnetic piano sensing, a method that detects the movement of piano strings rather than relying on airborne sound.

A magnetic piano sensor detects movement within the piano’s strings and converts that movement into a signal that’s transmittable to a mixing console, amplifier, recording system, or stage monitor. Microphones suit productions requiring the capture of both acoustic piano and ambient sound. Magnetic sensing suits settings where separation between the piano and nearby instruments is important. Other productions combine both methods, whereby a magnetic sensor can provide a direct piano channel, while microphones capture the sound of the piano within the room.

The Helpinstill guide identifies several factors to consider when planning an acoustic piano setup, These include:

• Type and size of the piano.
• Number of instruments sharing the stage.
• Location of speakers and stage monitors.
• Overall stage volume.
• Room acoustics.
• Position of the piano lid.
• Recording or livestreaming requirements.
• Number of available mixer channels.
• Amount of setup time available.

No single amplification method is appropriate for every performance. For more details and data, visit the Helpinstill Designs website.

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