Boom "arm" VS boom "pole"

[Lee Saxon]

Major noob question:

I see that mic stands with boom "arms" (separately or in a kit) and boom "poles" with mic/light stand holders are in two completely separate categories on B&H.

What's the difference?

 

[sjcampbell]

One is a Mic stand with a built in boom arm (Boom arm usually 30inches or so)

The other is a a stand (with something lie a boom buddy attached) you can put your boom pole in. This gives you a longer reach, however you will need sandbags depending on length of boom.

 

[Lee Saxon]

Is there any difference between a built in boom arm and a boom pole in one of these "holsters" (besides, obviously, that you can remove it)? Are there other reasons to use one or the other?

 

[unclebob6958]

Mic stand booms used in the studio are made of steel, so are quite heavy if you have to hold it over your head for hours at a time. Production sound boom poles are made of light weight materials - aluminum, carbon fiber, and graphite fiber composites - so can be held overhead for long periods of time. Since these boom poles are what is used 99% of the time on film sets it is more convenient to use a holster on a "C" stand that is also commonly found on film sets. It makes a lot more sense to have a holster in your kit than carrying a heavy, bulky studio boom in your kit on the off chance you'll need it once or twice a month.

 

[Steve House]

A boom arm on a mic stand gives you a horizontal reach of about 30-45 inches away from the vertical stand. A boom pole held in a boom buddy on something like a C-stand gives you 8 to 12 FEET of horizontal reach so it's easier to locate the stand itself out of frame and where it won't cast shadows. C-stands also extend vertically higher than most mic stands.

 

[Hxd Ped]

Mic stands have more locking options for the angle of the boom. You can have a boom arm lock at any crazy angle to stick it in wierd and difficult places. If you attach a small boom arm (12 inches or so) to a normal boom arm, you can pretty much do anything you need to do, like make it go around corners. Also, most boom arms have a much smaller diamater then boom poles because they aren't telescoping in the same way boom poles are.