Earthworks PM40

The Earthworks PM40 PianoMic System is a revolutionary solution for miking grand pianos with no mic stands or booms. It is capable of delivering pristine sound with the lid up or down, and is quick and simple to set up.

Performance

The Earthworks PM40 PianoMic provides the best of both worlds. A simple piano miking system that takes just minutes to setup and provides incredible results for live performances and studio recordings.

Engineered to allow open or closed lid miking, the PianoMic is ideal for a wide range of miking situations. In a recording studio with no other instruments, the PianoMic shines with the lid open. When in more crowded settings such as on a concert stage shared with other instruments, merely close the piano lid to isolate the piano and minimize leakage. In both scenarios the PianoMic will capture the piano with incredible detail.

At the heart of the PianoMic are two random incidence omnidirectional microphones, specifically designed for use inside of a piano, which is a diffuse sound field. This means that sound is coming at the microphones from multiple sources and multiple directions. A random-incidence microphone is designed to be placed within such a diffuse sound field and pick up sounds uniformly, whether they arrive at the front, the sides or the rear of the microphone. The PianoMic System achieves much of its remarkable performance through the use of specially designed, 40kHz random-incidence High Definition Microphones.

Because of the near-perfect omnidirectional polar response of the microphones and extraordinarily tight impulse response, the PianoMic picks up every note with consistently. So, the full range of the piano including the high and low strings will be reproduced with no hot spots.

In addition, the microphones exhibit no proximity effect, regardless of their distance from the piano strings or soundboard. The mics, when positioned close to the sound source, also provide incredible gain before feedback and can handle up to 148dB SPL.

Construction

Designed for minimal visibility, the Earthworks PM40 PianoMic system mounts within the piano. The telescoping bar allows the PianoMic to be quickly and easily installed in nearly all grand pianos and to place the microphones close to or away from the dampers and get the exact sound desired.

Set on flexible goosenecks, the microphone capsules can be easily repositioned for optimal microphone placement.

A separate output stage box features a 5-pin XLR input and two 3-pin XLR outputs. A leather case with a strap allows the box to be mounted onto a piano leg, so the microphone remains nearly invisible from outside the piano or with the lid closed.

The Earthworks PM40 PianoMic System was designed to revolutionize piano miking and achieve an incredible improvement in piano sound for live and recording applications with no mic stands or booms. There is more gain before feedback, significantly less leakage from surrounding instruments and the same pristine sound quality with the piano lid either up or down. At the heart of the system are two Random Incidence, omnidirectional, 40 kHz High Definition Microphones. With a frequency response of 9 Hz to 40 kHz, the mics deliver extraordinary impulse response and extremely short diaphragm settling times. In addition, the microphones exhibit no proximity effect, regardless of their distance from the piano strings or soundboard. The mics, when positioned close to the sound source, also provide incredible gain before feedback.

Random Incidence Omnis

The innovative PianoMic System required the design of unique high definition microphones. Virtually all microphones used for recording and sound reinforcement are “free field” microphones, designed to pick up sounds in front of them. In contrast, the microphones in the PianoMic System are actually placed within the sound field of the piano, where sound is coming at the microphones from multiple sources and multiple directions. Each string is a separate sound source and the soundboard is also a sound source.

In addition, there are multiple reflections of each sound source from the soundboard, piano sides and piano lid. These reflections, arriving from different angles, create what is known as a “diffuse sound field.” A “random-incidence” microphone is designed to be placed within such a diffuse sound field and pick up sounds uniformly, whether they arrive at the front, the sides or the rear of the microphone. The PianoMic System achieves much of its remarkable performance through the use of specially designed, 40kHz random-incidence High Definition Microphones.

Benefits

• High intelligibility
• More gain before feedback
• Near-perfect polar response
• Excellent off-axis rejection
• Uniform frequency response on or off-axis
• Wide pickup pattern, allowing performer to move about freely and still maintain pristine sound quality
• Far less sound in the microphone from your floor monitors
• Reliable performance

Earthworks directional microphones have patented near-perfect polar patterns. The sound across the entire front hemisphere is remarkably uniform and is flatter at 90 degrees than most microphones are on-axis. Our live performance microphones also have an incredible transparent sound quality, offering near-perfect polar response and high rejection of sounds at the rear of the microphone, resulting in less leakage and more gain before feedback.

With a maximum sound press level of 145dB SPL, you don’t have to worry about overloading the microphone with loud attacks or strong plosives. While the microphones are able to capture your performance with incredible nuance and precision, they are also built to withstand the rigors of the road.

Features

• The original PianoMic System and winner of the 2008 TEC Award for Microphone Technology/Recording
• Cannot be seen from outside of the piano (needs no stands or mic booms)
• Superb sound with the piano lid either up or down
• Virtually no leakage from sounds outside the piano
• Incredible gain before feedback
• Recording studios can now record piano with other instruments in the same room
• Handles sound pressure levels up to 148dB
• Quick, Simple and Easy Setup
• 40kHz Random Incidence Omnis
• Hear the full range of the piano including the high and low strings with no hot spots
• The telescoping bar allows the PianoMic to be quickly and easily installed in nearly all grand pianos and to place the microphones close to or away from the dampers and get the exact sound desired

Technical Specifications:

• Frequency Response: 9Hz to 40kHz
• Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional (random incidence)
• Sensitivity: 15mV/Pa (-36dBV/Pa)
• Power Requirements: 48V Phantom, 10mA
• Max Acoustic Input: 148dB SPL
• Output: XLR-3 (pin 2+)
• Output Impedance: 65Ω balanced (between pins 2 & 3)
• Min Output Load: 600Ω between pins 2 & 3
• Noise: 22dB SPL equivalent (A weighted)
• 24.5dB SPL equivalent (Unweighted)
• Mic Gooseneck Length: 4.75 inches
• Dimensions: 64″ fully extended, 46″ fully collapsed
• Weight: Mic Assembly .75 lb. (350g)
• With External Electronics Box 1.5 lb. (700g)

Download User Manual for Earthworks PM40 Piano Miking System for Grand Pianos

Download Data Sheet for Earthworks PM40 Piano Miking System for Grand Pianos

Testimonials:

“The ease of installation is huge. The PM40’s ability to really capture the true nature of the piano is without equal.”
– Andrew McMahon, Pianist, Jack’s Mannequin

“The PM40 has taken our live piano sound, which was already pretty darn good, to new levels of accuracy and realism.”
– David Morgan, Front of House Magazine

“Live sound reinforcement on a piano has always been a challenge because there is always so much noise onstage and a lot of noise rolling off the P.A. back onto the stage. Once we started using the PM40, we found we were able to run with the volumes we wanted to run at; the tone was amazing and it sounded like a piano. We didn’t have to work to get it to sound that way–you just put the mic in the piano and go.”
– Brian Stanley, Front of House Engineer

“A lovely sounding microphone that maintains its integrity whether the piano is fully open, on a short stick or fully closed. This has helped maintain a level of consistency for the show in any situation we have found ourselves in. Be that indoors, outdoors or accompanied by other instruments.”
– Suneil Pusari, Engineer, Rufus Wainwright

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