When it comes to piano miking, miniature mics mounted in the piano are a popular option, such as the DPA d:vote CORE 4099 pair pictured here. But it’s also definitely plausible to capture a piano nicely with a single mic. You’ll want a really wide cardioid pattern or even omnidirectional — pianos are physically wide compared to almost all other instruments, so in order to capture the entire span of notes, a tighter pattern just won’t do. Additionally, the mic will need to be pulled back a bit. Even an omni pattern will slightly over-represent the part of the piano’s range to which it is placed most closely. An omni or wide cardioid pulled back a couple of feet (or more) can deliver a nice signal.
From “Sound Sanctuary” by John McJunkin, FRONT of HOUSE, February 2024, page 35
