Seeking the most accurate recording of the master classes, evening concerts and semi-final and final rounds of the event, Canji, who specializes in chamber and orchestral music arranged a combination of DPA Microphones powered by Grace Design's m802 remote-controlled microphone preamplifier to do the job. He employed DPA's d:dicate 4006A Omnidirectional Microphones in stereo and surround setups, respectively. He also selected the company's d:facto Vocal Microphones for commentary during the series of events, which took place in the Griffin Concert Hall at the University Center for the Arts at Colorado State University.
"This is the first time in the IKOF's four-year history that the team decided to record the event, so my goal was far greater than to 'make a recording'. I wanted to capture the moment of the performance with such realism that when you listen to the recording you are transported to the concert hall for a visceral experience." says Canji. "I chose DPA because of its history, reputation, design, flexibility and, above all, incredible accuracy. The comments from those who heard the live recordings from the event ranged from a speechless gesture and 'spectacular' to 'the best piano recording I've ever heard.'"
One of the main challenges Canji had to account for during the festival was the constant shift of the acoustical environment due to changes between venues and piano positioning, among a number of other factors. "Any one of those changes had an impact on the sound of the piano," he explains. "In addition, the acoustics of the hall were sometimes adjusted to accommodate the artist's preference. This required me to frequently relocate the microphones, with minimal time for a sound check; so I had to rely on my experience, combined with the reliable and consistent sound of the DPAs. Only the finest microphones stand a chance under such sonic scrutiny."
When it came time to record the live performances, Canji used matched stereo pairs of d:dicate 4006A Omnidirectional Recording Microphones on shock mounts, which he complemented with a surround arrangement of five matched d:dicate 4006A Omnidirectional Recording Microphones. Using DPA's customizable S5 Surround Mount kit, the engineer arranged the five microphones in a distinct formation that he found to be best-suited for the recording.
Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, the IKOF is a non-profit organization that supports the exchange of keyboard students and faculty via scholarships and fellowships, conferences, workshops, master classes and performance opportunities around the world. While the main IKOF competition is hosted annually in the US, it is shared with music schools in countries around the world through a network of participating member associates. The IKOF in each member country hosts its own competition and festival under license of the U.S. headquarters, which provides a turnkey operation for distribution to member associates.
(Jim Evans)
