Incredible Audiophile Imaging -- at a Concert!

Was the piano a real instrument, or an electronic keyboard?

If it was a real instrument, most likely the vibrating strings inside it were arranged in a fairly complex pattern, with the low note strings running diagonally under the midrange strings.  In other words, the acoustic, unamplified instrument does not arrange for low notes to be on the left

Was it a concert grand piano, or an upright?  If a concert grand, was the soundboard (lid) closed, open or removed completely?  Was there just one microphone for the piano, or two, or a whole array?

Most likely the sound engineers electronically panned the piano sound based on frequency.  Incredible sound.  Unbelievable sound.  Indeed, but I for one prefer believable sound

For years, I worked along side the electric unions that set up sound for a ton of shows.  Most of the time, the act sent people to check out the venues and then plan out every inch of cable and every watt. The Rolling Stones put up a really elaborate show in many sports domes and it was amazing how most of them really sounded great!

It’s a science!

So the piano was a grand, possibly a concert grand, opened. It was heavily mic'ed, at least 3 close to the keyboard and 1 or 2 for ambience. My belief is that it was very carefully mixed and panned based on microphones, but not panned based on frequency. It was super clean sounding, and did not have the digital hash which is the hallmark of most DSP systems.

Again, this was more of a gestalt thing. You could listen to the sound holistically without hearing this L to R pan effect, but if you focused on the L to R aspect of the keyboard, you got that clearly. My friends did not notice this. Maybe my hearing is just very visual. I only got it when I listened with my eyes closed.

I guess I am strange in that, if the sound is clean and deliberate, I am inclined to like the presentation. I assume it's what the artist wanted. Not everything has to sound like Jazz at the Pawnshop to be enjoyed. I do enjoy great imaging, but I can also enjoy a manufactured soundstage as well. I won't refuse to listen to music that does not meet some uncompromising ideal of recording standards. 

I understand @ghdprentice 's lamentations with DSP messing up the sound at the symphony, and completely sympathize. I hate artificial sound. But when it appears to be what the artist wants, and is very clean (again, telegraphing intent), then I enjoy it as the artist intends...

What is a shame is that an symphonic orchestra in a good orchestra hall can create sounds at the limit of hearing all the way to well over 100db... crescendos would frequently be louder than I would ever choose to listen... for effect. So the symphony was the place that was natural and amplification was completely unnecessary. 

Rock concerts, plays, other, sure. 

+100 @ghdprentice