Mic stands

Peter C.

Peter C.

Veteran
I've recently had a number of jobs where I need to boom a mic for singers. I have a decent mic stand with a boom but it's infuriating the boom arm is always slipping and often ruins a take by getting into the frame and then I tape a counter weight to it. I have c-stands but I find them too cumbersome to take on jobs. Any recommendations on mic stands with boom arms that can hold? Don't understand why they cant have teeth so the arm won't slip.
 
Locks are usually weighed down to prevent them from loosening...are you saying that's not working or just a hassle?

Some expensive solutions...

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1393109-REG/triad_orbit_sb_1_starbird_super_boom_stand.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1059340-REG/latch_lake_mk2200bk_micking_2200_boom.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...lake_mk3300bk_ml3300bk_micking_3300_boom.html

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If there is only one singer and it's a tight shot without movement, consider a frame they step into where you have a microphone hanging down vertically (not swinging around on a cable but on an arm holding it that can be adjusted for height).

The frames are surprisingly cheap, but of course you have to set them up.

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And cumbersome is what will most likely solve this issue...C-stands pretty much solve everything, ha.
 
NorBro said:
Locks are usually weighed down to prevent them from loosening...are you saying that's not working or just a hassle?

Some expensive solutions...

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1393109-REG/triad_orbit_sb_1_starbird_super_boom_stand.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1059340-REG/latch_lake_mk2200bk_micking_2200_boom.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...lake_mk3300bk_ml3300bk_micking_3300_boom.html

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If there is only one singer and it's a tight shot without movement, consider a frame they step into where you have a microphone hanging down vertically (not swinging around on a cable but on an arm holding it that can be adjusted for height).

The frames are surprisingly cheap, but of course you have to set them up.

___

And cumbersome is what will most likely solve this issue...C-stands pretty much solve everything, ha.
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Those aren't portable. I want something that I can put in a tripod bag.

Mic stand I have has no easy way to attach a counter weight I resort to ad hock using gaffer tape something I have on hand but it looks unprofessional and I waste my time while I'm trying to improvise something. The c-stands are not only very heavy, they're awkward, can't fit into a bag, causing you to have to make multiple trips out to the car.
 
Which one do you have now?

At some point, I think we have to be reasonable and consider physics. Nothing too small and weak and lightweight is going to hold out a microphone 5-8-10' out in front of itself without eventually dipping (or sliding down).

There are ways to solve this but it sounds like you would like an easy way out without doing much work...which I do too so maybe we'll learn something today.

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Also, I'm assuming you're not hanging any mini sand bags at the opposite end of the mic as it sounds like it might be too weak, but that's one of the most practical and simple solutions used in the world (on the tightening knobs as well).
 
It seems to me that you need to sort your counter mass. WIth perfect balance there will be no need to have a top joint that can sustain torque (rotional) forces.

Get a clamp to attach your counter mass and get perfect balance before you elevate the stand. Perfect balance.

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I have Cstand where the feet come off.. they are less cumbersome. Do your feet come off?

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Ultimately there is a limit to how small and light you want a stand to be when you are booming over members of the public. Also using it without at sandbad or two could be asking for it. Some jobs cannot be done with a backpack kit.
 
Just watched a video that used a steel light stand + C-stand grip head + boom holder + boom. This would avoid a c-stand but hell look at all the time it takes him to set it up. Best part of the video is watching his wife who doesn't look too pleased to be there https://youtu.be/iSL651M4f1c

Watching this and thinking about it. I do have a manfortto light boom which I could attach a mic to. It's also a little awkward because it doesn't fold up as small as a light stand or tripod so I need to get special bag to carry it.

Yeah I coming to the realization booming mics is a pain. I usually am able to avoid it by using a lav mic but I don't like lavs for singers.

My c-stand base doesn't detach. Even if they did it's still be a pain to transport.

I saw something like this. https://www.adorama.com/fplsb13.htm...6gJbXa0QRoCujUQAvD_BwE&utm_source=adl-gbase-p

I like the idea of being to boom a mic in a couple of minutes.
 
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The Adorama one looks ok, but the head clamp seems like it is custom to that light stand and maybe won't adapt to other stands. That's ok, but you have to use their light stand. For $70 I might expect the tubes are pretty thin and will dent/bend fairly easily on the legs. Hey, I'm cheap, I know about cheap light stands.

I don't like the Auray (fishing pole support in the first video) because if you have to boom out a long way and you put a lot of counter weight on it, then you have a small point of contact on the pole. I'm not a fan of that.

This one fits in a grip head and has nice support of the pole but the same problem as the Auray in that you can't clamp the boom to the holder.https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1384772-REG/airo_abh1_boom_holder_1.html. Apparently it's not very good from the reviews, but I like the better support.

I made one up and lined it with moleskin so you can rotate the pole without scratching it. It folds up to make it compact. I spread the supports out to reduce the strain on the pole. Of course, mine has the same issue of no clamping of the boom.

Boom holder.jpg
 
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Peter C. said:
https://youtu.be/iSL651M4f1c.
Click to expand...

What a moron. His wife understands that. She rocks.

You can tell he has no clue when he clamps the lead to the first element of the boom pole ensuring that he cannot extend the boom pole later without a wire fungle. He should have extended the thin section by 8 in and clamped the wire to that.

His rig is unbalanced missing a counter mass on the boom pole - which should be a clapmped on metal mass not a sandbag that swings like gandpas ballsack.

The sandbag on the bottom should be on the side countering the mic in an unbalanced rig like this. Not that I approve of unbablanced rigs but they are OK for 4 foot I guess.

Sandbags really work on Cstands - a stand like that needs a boa shot thingy wrapped around the centre pole
 
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I reckon the manfrotto is quite a good thing. It has the rigid countermass?? Better than the adorama swinger.

If you have the correct griphead that manfrotto will go on any stand with a baby pin.

1 load and extend
2 find balance point
3 move griphead to balance point
4 attach griphead to stand
5 elevate
6 bring in wife
 
Ahh, Morgan. You are just too good. Beers to you. I noticed that after I posted it and wondered if anyone would notice. It's not that obvious because the high side of the pole is usually the mic side. You really have to look at the pole and the way it rests in the holder to realize I put the holder in backwards.
 
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Maybe I'm missing the point, but I use boom pole on a C-Stand with a boom cradle for literally all of my projects. The multiple trips to the car thing I totally get but I got a cheap cart (Was cheaper when I got it lol; Now they have multiple versions too) with a grip n gaff bag. Total life saver for me on my projects as I work out of a car too. The last projects I did would have been a total nightmare to do solo without it.
 
PeopleCanFly said:
Maybe I'm missing the point, but I use boom pole on a C-Stand with a boom cradle for literally all of my projects. The multiple trips to the car thing I totally get but I got a cheap cart (Was cheaper when I got it lol; Now they have multiple versions too) with a grip n gaff bag. Total life saver for me on my projects as I work out of a car too. The last projects I did would have been a total nightmare to do solo without it.
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Yes, this seems to be getting way too involved and over-thought for what is pretty simple. You need 1) a C-stand(or any decently sturdy stand) with a grip head, 2) some type of cradle for a boom pole, 3) a decent boom pole(designed for booming a mic, not a boom arm designed for lighting/grip) and 4) a sand/shot bag for the stand. There should be no real reason to need to counterbalance a boom pole designed for "booming" if we're talking about reasonable extension distances(~10'). I've never had a grip head with a boom/mic and cradle slip, when properly tightened(and facing the correct direction).
 
The beefy baby is basically a C-stand with a different base. I have several that I replaced C-stands with for field use for the wider base. Which K-tek did you get? They have changed the design on their high-end carbon fiber poles. Roughly the same price, but MUCH beefier(and heavier[relatively speaking since we’re talking about CF poles]). I do like the new design on the mounting end, though. Super easy to change cables.
 
I purchased a used K-Tek KE-89CC Avalon in good condition for $50. For my purposes it's all I need because I'm only going to use if for static subjects such as interviews and singing. Funny thing the stand was more expensive than the boom $200.

Part of the problem with the c-stands is I don't have a carrying case, they don't fit easily into a car, and there isn't an easy way for me to load them on my cart without them falling off.
 
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That's not bad. Those poles go for about $185 new. As far as C-stands go, I always buy the turtle base versions(I do have two fixed base from my very early days) so you can pack them up in a case for "easy" transport. You can fit four to five(depending on how much of a glutton-for-punishment you are) in a Pelican 1750 with the bases and arms. Eat your Wheaties the morning you need to break that case out. I believe a few case/bag manufacturers actually make some soft bags for transporting turtle base C-stands. And I'll say this, too... Gear transportation is a continually evolving process. You get a system you "like" and it won't be long till you are looking for or have found a new "system". The best I've found so far, is having someone else carry everything for you. ; )
 
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