Zoom H4n recording thumb piano

For our final test, we recorded an instrument that's difficult to capture: an African thumb piano (also known also as a Kalimba). On the first recording, you'll hear the H4n's stereo microphones using no compression, and with the mic capsules flipped inward at a more focused 90-degree angle. The second recording brings in the sound of two piezo contact mics mounted on the sides of the instrument and panned to the left and right. There's some extra handling noise in the second recording because of the mics being jostled, but the difference in tone and depth is remarkable, and the stereo effect of panning the piezo mics adds an interesting dimension.

Thumb piano (stereo mics only with no compression, 90-degree mic pattern) Listen now:
Thumb piano (stereo mics with no compression, 90-degree mic pattern, stereo piezo mics with compression, 4-channels) Listen now: