Piano EQ settings

[cphollis]

I would use the EQ section to gently scoop out the muddy ranges. Just a few dB attenuation can really help.

[twofarmers]

On my NE6, I use the Royal 3D, bright filter and I like to roll off the midrange slightly at 470 Hz. I think the Royal 3D with bright filter sounds similar to the Bright Grand. But, if you are extremely picky like most piano players, it takes LOTS of time to fine tune the sound through the sound system you are using. I am using this setting on the EV EKX15/subs, single QSC K10 monitor. I'm running stereo to the board, stereo monitor sends to K10, in ear monitors linked to the stereo out on the K10. Since we run sound from stage most of the time (me), I can get started with the monitor and then put in the in ear monitors once things are set. It definitely does not work adjusting the tone at home with ear monitors and expecting it to translate to live performance. This has been a good starting point, but a little tweaking occurs every time..

[anotherscott]

I feel a bit difficult to find proper eq settings with my Electro 6 and White Grand. I have pair of Yamaha DXR8 as PA speakers. How do you set EQ when playing alone? With headphones everything is fine but with PA speakers the mid range is unclear.

I would use the EQ section to gently scoop out the muddy ranges.

Actually, I'm not sure this is the best advice here. Based on my experience with a Yamaha DXR, it already seemed a bit scooped in the mids, and that could be making it seem unclear, as in not cutting through. It might actually benefit from some judicious midrange boost, rather than cutting.

[Rusty Mike]

Be aware also that the sound you hear from 3 feet away is not what the audience hears. If you can, get a friend or fellow musician to play your setup while you're out in the room.

I used to feel that my sound was harsh through my QSC K8.2's until I was able to wander the room. Bass travels far better than treble and you should account for that as you select your piano models and EQ. You midrange may actually travel better into the room than you think, or the upper frequencies attenuate faster, allowing the mids to sing through.

[twofarmers]

I've definitely changed my tune on this topic after trying the EQ suggestions in this thread for live performance. I was cutting the mid range "honk" at 470 HZ and using the bright mode to cut through the clutter. I started this while playing the Yamaha S80/90 series keyboards for years and it just continued into my Nord years. I've found that I was killing off most of the great Nord piano sounds and adjusting the Nord to sound like a cheap keyboard. So last weekend, using the Royal 3D (my go to piano of choice), I turned off the bright filter, cut the bass a little to keep from walking on the bass player, added a slight mid boost at 1.8 KHz and a slight boost on the high EQ as needed. It worked great, cuts through the clutter without getting crazy loud and sounded like the real Nord piano I knew was hiding in there somewhere. Sounded great with my K10, but amazing with my in ear monitors in stereo. Thanks for all the input! Tony

[afroskully]

To Royal 3D players, do you hear the same metallic sound on one of the high D's that I hear? Do you do anything EQ wise that is able to diminish it? I've tried to love that piano, but that one or two notes with that 'ping' just drive me crazy.

[AlexNagel]

To Royal 3D players, do you hear the same metallic sound on one of the high D's that I hear? Do you do anything EQ wise that is able to diminish it? I've tried to love that piano, but that one or two notes with that 'ping' just drive me crazy.

I hear it too. It's only in the upper velocity layers when hitting the keys harder. Strange that Clavia didn't notice it. Although I love "real" sounding samples with quirks, this is a bit too much of it for my taste. So although I like the royal grand's overall character better, I find myself using the white grand more and more...

[Janatuinen]

The reason I sometimes roll off bass response is that (a) my stage amplification is beefy, and (b) the bass player gives me the stink eye when I step all over his parts. Treble boost is to be heard over guitars and cymbals. It's quite different when it's just me playing.

I feel a bit difficult to find proper eq settings with my Electro 6 and White Grand. I have pair of Yamaha DXR8 as PA speakers. How do you set EQ when playing alone? With headphones everything is fine but with PA speakers the mid range is unclear.

Still problems with the midrange, it’s muddy with DXR8s. I connected Nord from headphones’ connector to home theatre 2.1 with 8” sub and pianos are sounding better than with DXR8s! Can separate subwoofer have so big effect eventhough being as small as 8”? I can play big chords without getting muddy midrange sound. This is really weird because other Nord sounds and music from Spotify sound pretty good from DXR. Tested with the mixer and without the mixer. Headphone sound from the mixer is good as well.

Adding sub with DXRs or looking for other brands?

[docbop]

There are no one size fits all EQ settings, every room is different, the room itself will change as it fills. Learning to dial in a sound is as much a part of learning to play gigs as learning to play songs. Back in my day we'd try to get a friend with ears we trust to come hang out for a bit and listen and comment. Even better if your friend can play some keys and you can walk out into the room and listen for yourself. Today sound on cellphone is good enough you can record a bit and get a general idea of how things are sounding in that room, that night. Ideally you'll get a feel for you gear and have a basic EQ to use as a starting point for gigs.

[LeftyBass68]

I try not to EQ.Easy to thin out the top octaves too much.I add volume and turn down 'EQ' wherever possible.A little compression on White grand 'flat' works well in a band setting for me on the Stage2/88EX.About the same on a Stage3/88.
While the Stage3 EQ is handy,instant gratifications will not transmit these tones to 'FOH' correctly when a soundperson runs the dials.These ten year old Yorkville NX55P's were never that great,reasonably flat though,and a little less headroom than I prefer.Nothing more annoying to my ears than someone pounding with 'bright EQ' hammering eighth notes up top on Little Richard/Jerry Lee Lewis tunes,although they will pay me to do just that.Volume wars not really my thing.
IEM's will get the tone matched on FOH a lot easier than a blaring 'keep up to the band' EQ in my opinion.Nothing worse than 'no keys FOH' because the stage monitor is too loud!
Unless you are Jerry Doucette on guitar,turn the *uck down! Edit.......bad news today.Jerry Doucette passed away. Mama Let Him Play will live on as an iconic rock tune,he will be missed by his wife,family,and many friends and music fans.
That intro? It's JUST Jerry playing......