To celebrate the release of his new EP The Spaces Between, which came out on 27 June, pianist and composer Vivian Roost created a unique video showcasing the sound of three of his favourite ribbon microphones, including the Sontronics APOLLO 2, on his 1909 Pleyel upright piano.
Vivian's previous album, From Home, has reached over 100 million streams worldwide. The record received praise from artists such as Nils Frahm (Pianoday), helping establish Vivian as a leading voice in the neoclassical scene. He has also released music through Pianoramix and the world-renowned classical label Deutsche Grammophon.
Crafting a Sound That Feels Like Home
Based in Paris, Vivian works from a studio he built himself, featuring an SSL Matrix desk, a Shadow Hills summing mixer and a carefully selected range of analogue equipment. But at the core of his sound is a deep connection to the piano and a desire to capture it as naturally as possible.
“I’m a composer, producer and former sound engineer,” Vivian explains. “My music brings together neoclassical, ambient and electronic elements. I wanted a space where I could explore that freely.”
His search for the right recording tools led him to ribbon microphones. “Once I got my Pleyel piano, I started testing mics to find the sound that truly suited it. Ribbon mics stood out immediately. They’re especially good for acoustic instruments, and they still deliver a beautiful tone even in untreated rooms.”
Discovering the APOLLO 2
Among the microphones he tried, the Sontronics APOLLO 2 quickly became a favourite.
“I found it through two artists I really admire; Angus MacRae and Tony Anderson,” says Vivian. “They both used the APOLLO 2 for room sound, and I was struck by how emotional and rich it felt. I had to try it for myself.”
The APOLLO 2 is now a core part of his setup. Vivian uses eight microphones when recording piano, arranged in four stereo pairs. Three of these are ribbon microphones, with the APOLLO 2 chosen for capturing the room’s tone.
“What I love about it is how neutral and balanced it is,” he says. “There’s a lovely low end, and it gives me a very natural sound. I’ve tried it in many different positions, and it works beautifully, especially placed behind the piano in the centre of the room.”
A Creative Approach to Ribbon Tone
The video accompanying The Spaces Between was born from Vivian’s own journey in learning how to record piano.
“When I started looking for mics, I couldn’t find any clear comparisons recorded in the same space on the same instrument,” he says. “A lot of musicians have asked me for advice since then, so I decided to create this video as a resource.”
The concept was simple. Three pairs of ribbon microphones, recorded on the same piece, in the same space, with no added effects. Each mic was run through the same six Shadow Hills Gama preamps and a Prism Sound converter to ensure consistency.
“This setup wasn’t about perfect positioning, but about giving people a real-world comparison,” Vivian explains. “Recording piano can be difficult. It depends on the piece, the piano itself, the microphone placement and the room acoustics. My approach always starts with the emotion I want to express.”
Capturing Emotion in The Spaces Between
Vivian’s new EP is a collection of six gentle, introspective pieces written for solo piano. He wanted the recordings to feel close and personal, using the same microphones across all tracks to keep the sound unified.
“The EP is about embracing silence, uncertainty and the emotions that connect each moment,” he says. “The spaces between the notes are where the meaning is found. That’s what I wanted to capture.”
To help bring the final mixes to life, Vivian worked with Grammy-winning engineer Antonio Pulli on four tracks (Embrace, The Spaces Between, Woven in Time and Éternelle) and brought in Zino Mikorey for mastering. Known for his work with Nils Frahm and other key figures in the genre, Zino helped shape the sound into something intimate and polished without losing its rawness.
“A microphone is like a camera for sound. It frames the moment,” Vivian says. “Using different mics lets me shift the atmosphere and highlight different parts of the piece. The APOLLO 2 lets the space itself become part of the music.”
Where to Hear More
Vivian Roost’s music is available on all streaming platforms, as well as on vinyl, CD and printed or digital sheet music through his official site.