Mic stand thread sizes vs camera/tripod thread sizes?

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dishan

Well-known member
I have an old boom pole that met an early demise when the end broke off, taking the Audio Technica shock mount with it. Luckily the mic was salvaged and still works fine.

One day I hope to invest in some good replacement audio stands, but for now I'm looking to buy a cheap replacement shock mount that can attach to something else, such as a monopod or even a light stand or something since I have a few of those already available.

But I'm reading up on the specifications for various shock mounts, and I'm starting to get the impression that the thread sizes to attach audio gear might be different than those used for camera gear?

My monopod, tripods, and light stands all have the standard 1/4" diameter screw head. I know that underneath many tripod heads and on my slider there's sometimes the slightly larger 3/8ths thread size.
But the mounts I'm looking at specify 5/8" female thread hole. Is that a standard found only in audio? And can I easily find an adapter at my local hardware store?
 
eiker_ir said:
Mic stands usually have either 3/8-16 threaded holes or the larger 5/8-27 threaded holes.

I use these adapters to connect whatever is needed at the time. For microphones/shock mounts the most common size i use is 3/8-16.


http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Support-21600N-Threaded-Adapter/dp/B0006PXXR6/ref=pd_sim_e_6

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-Mou...6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324319557&sr=1-6
Click to expand...
Cool, thanks!

But those look like the opposite of what I'm trying to do- attach a 5/8" mic mount to a 1/4" monopod/tripod.
 
I only found them going the opposite direction too.

If you really want to go that way, you can probably get a small piece of metal and the correct size drill bits and tap, and drill and tap (thread) the hole in the metal to screw it onto the tripod, plus drill a hole to put a short 5/8" bolt through to attach the mic stand to it? You'd probably need a drill press to make a hole big enough for the 5/8" bolt to slde through, however, so you may or may not be equipped for that.

I still think you're better off just getting a cheap mic stand (or even just a boom arm) somewhere -- check www.musiciansfriend.com, they often have things like that on sale.
 
Specifically: Wind-Tech's M7

windtech_m-7_new_copyb_ksq0.jpg


Threaded adapter for lighting stands or camera tripods to convert from 1/4”-20 to standard microphone thread. 1/4”-20 female to 5/8”-27 male.​
 
dishan said:
I have an old boom pole that met an early demise when the end broke off, taking the Audio Technica shock mount with it. Luckily the mic was salvaged and still works fine.

One day I hope to invest in some good replacement audio stands, but for now I'm looking to buy a cheap replacement shock mount that can attach to something else, such as a monopod or even a light stand or something since I have a few of those already available.

But I'm reading up on the specifications for various shock mounts, and I'm starting to get the impression that the thread sizes to attach audio gear might be different than those used for camera gear?

My monopod, tripods, and light stands all have the standard 1/4" diameter screw head. I know that underneath many tripod heads and on my slider there's sometimes the slightly larger 3/8ths thread size.
But the mounts I'm looking at specify 5/8" female thread hole. Is that a standard found only in audio? And can I easily find an adapter at my local hardware store?
Click to expand...

The standard camera thread is 1/4"

The standard microphone thread is 3/8" Whitworth (though there is also a 1/2" thread used in some large stands and booms).

The 5/8" thread is a horrible American standard which really should be avoided - it has a very fine thread and is nasty to use.

Most microphone clamps have a 5/8" thread and come complete with an internal adaptor to convert to the standard 3/8" thread.

You can easily get an adaptor to convert 1/4" to 3/8".

I hope this helps.
 
A handy tip I was told as a young kid.

To avoid the possibilty of crossthreading, make one turn anticlockwise till you hear or feel a light click, that aligns the threads .. then clockwise to tighten it up.

Cheers.
 
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