piano from “all of me” by john legend | ToneDB
all of me
john legend
piano
Tone Profile
The piano sound is intimate and warm, providing a soulful and clear tone that supports Legend's vocal performance. It's a clean, well-recorded piano with a touch of reverb to give it space without sounding washed out.
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The Story
John Legend's piano sound on "All Of Me" was recorded using a Yamaha CFIIIS grand piano captured with Neumann U87 microphones. The recording features close-miking techniques to emphasize the piano's direct sound while maintaining its natural warmth and dynamic range. The final sound includes gentle compression and a touch of reverb to create the intimate, clear tone that supports the vocal performance.
Production Credits
Producer: Unknown
Engineer: Unknown
Recorded at: Unknown
Signal Chain
Instrument: Yamaha CFIIISShop on Reverb
Microphone: Neumann U87Shop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a high-quality grand piano sample or virtual instrument, preferably one modeled after a Yamaha CFIIIS or similar concert grand.
- Use a clean, transparent microphone preamp to capture the piano's natural tone without adding unwanted coloration.
- Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot that captures the piano's warmth and clarity.
- Apply gentle compression to even out the dynamics and increase sustain.
- Add a touch of plate reverb to create a sense of space and depth.
- Use EQ to shape the piano's tone, paying attention to the low-end warmth and high-end clarity.
Original Gear
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- Yamaha CFIIISShop on Reverb(keyboard)
- Neumann U87Shop on Reverb(mic)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Yamaha CFIIIS grand piano
Sampled from a vintage German concert grand with similar warmth and intimacy, perfect for recreating that close, personal piano sound
Alternative to: Neumann U87 microphone
Large diaphragm condenser with warm character and smooth frequency response ideal for capturing piano's natural tone
Alternative to: Yamaha CFIIIS grand piano
Features multiple concert grands including Yamaha samples with extensive velocity layers for authentic dynamics
Alternative to: Professional studio recording chain
High-quality preamps and built-in UAD processing for transparent piano recording with vintage compression and reverb plugins
Alternative to: Neumann U87 microphone
Tube condenser microphone that adds subtle warmth while maintaining clarity, great for intimate piano recording
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