What kind of piano did Velvet Underground use on I'm Waiting for the Man?

The Velvet Underground used an upright piano for the recording. It was captured with close miking at Scepter Studios in New York, giving it that characteristic percussive attack and raw sound.

Why does the piano sound detuned on I'm Waiting for the Man?

The slightly detuned quality was likely inherent to the upright piano used in the recording, though it may have been intentionally left that way to enhance the song's gritty character. This was common for rock recordings of the era where perfect tuning wasn't always the priority.

How to get Velvet Underground piano tone?

Use an upright piano (or sampled version) with close microphone placement near the hammers to capture percussive attack. Keep the sound dry without reverb, and consider slight detuning for authenticity.

What microphone was used on Velvet Underground piano recordings?

Based on the recording notes, a Neumann U67 was likely used to capture the piano. The close miking technique focused on the hammers rather than a distant room sound, contributing to the direct, percussive character.

Where was I'm Waiting for the Man recorded?

The song was recorded at Scepter Studios in New York with producer Tom Wilson. The studio's relatively untreated acoustic environment contributed to the dry, direct piano sound heard on the track.

piano from "i'm waiting for the man" by the velvet underground

i'm waiting for the man

the velvet underground

piano

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Tone Profile

The piano tone is raw and slightly detuned, with a percussive attack that cuts through the mix. It possesses a stark, almost unsettling quality, fitting the song's gritty urban narrative.

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Upright Piano(instrument)
Neumann U67(microphone)

The Story

The piano on "I'm Waiting for the Man" was recorded during the Velvet Underground's sessions at Scepter Studios in New York with producer Tom Wilson. The recording features an upright piano captured with close miking, likely positioned near the hammers to emphasize the percussive attack. The piano appears slightly detuned and was recorded in a relatively dry acoustic environment, contributing to its stark, raw character that perfectly complements the song's urban narrative.

Production Credits

Producer: Tom Wilson

Engineer: Unknown

Recorded at: Scepter Studios, New York

Signal Chain

Instrument: Upright PianoShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U67Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Use an upright piano sample or recording for authenticity.
If using a sampled piano, consider slightly detuning it to match the original's character.
Use a close microphone position focused on the hammers to capture the percussive attack.
Avoid excessive reverb or effects to maintain the dry, direct sound.

Original Gear

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Upright PianoShop on Reverb(keyboard)
Neumann U67Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Warm Audio WA-67Shop on Reverb$900-$1000

Alternative to: Neumann U67 microphone

Faithful recreation of the U67's tube warmth and presence, perfect for capturing the same percussive piano attack with vintage character

Native Instruments The GentlemanPlugin Boutique$100-$130

Alternative to: Close-miked upright piano

Sampled upright piano with close mic positions and built-in detuning controls to recreate that slightly off-pitch, raw character

Electro-Voice RE20Shop on Reverb$450-$500

Alternative to: Upright piano recording setup

Dynamic mic that can handle the percussive transients while providing a dry, direct sound similar to the original recording approach

Keyscape by SpectrasonicsPlugin Boutique$400-$450

Alternative to: Detuned upright piano

Includes multiple upright piano samples with microtuning capabilities and close mic positions to match the original's percussive, slightly detuned character

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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piano from “i'm waiting for the man” by the velvet underground | ToneDB