Vintage Fender Rhodes Piano voicing
What is voicing?
Voicing is the process of adjusting the level and tonal qualities
of each note. Unlike the acoustic piano, where most of the voicing
is performed around the hammer felt, the Rhodes piano has many
voicing points: The hammertip hardness, the relationship between
the tine and the pickup, the strength of the magnetic field
around the pickup and the pre processing of the sound in Suitcase
models pre-amps.
The Tools
[1] Original Rhodes Pre Amp
[2] Reference Studio Monitors
[3] Spectrum Analyzer
[4] Piano Tuner
Voicing Environment
Studio reference environment is essential for voicing the
Rhodes piano. The voicing room needs to be acoustically balanced,
free of acoustic coloring, reflections and external noise.
A room that enhances or weakens frequencies will deceive the
voicing technician and will result in inconsistent voicing.
Voicing Monitors
Great reference monitors are necessary to hear the full range
of frequencies the Rhodes piano generates. High monitor resolution
enables accurate voicing by revealing many subtleties that low
end speaker mask.
Accurate voicing needs to be compatible and sound great
over all reproduction formats and amplification methods: in
a studio, on stage, through the original Rhodes amplification
system or directly from the harp.
Voicing methods
There are different methodologies of voicing the Rhodes piano.
In general, it can be bright, dark, balanced or custom (for
example: modified lower octave for super low bass). The art
of deciding how each note will sound, the harmonic relationships
between notes and ranges is a process we documented with digital
tools over 10 years in order to achieve optimum voicing for
for the year and model, consistently.
Spectrum Analyzer
The human factor
The psycho acoustic challenge in voicing the Rhodes piano
is the fact that the human ear gets tired quickly when listening
to repetitive sounds. Digital tools like the Spectrum Analyzer
help assure accuracy of sound pressure levels as well as correct
harmonic relationships between notes and ranges.
A good Rhodes voicing technician needs to have deep understanding
of the Rhodes' mechanical and electrical systems in order
to point out abnormal voicing issues, understand audio frequencies
and be comfortable working in a reference environment. The
ability to play the piano is essential. A voicing
technician that can play will usually make more musical voicing
decisions that result in a Rhodes piano that plays in its
optimal range.
Pre-Post voicing
The Rhodes piano needs to be tuned before and after voicing
because the pitch changes according to the position of the
tine in relationship to the pickup.
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