Author Topic: Usefulness of Shock Mounts (Read 7242 times)

Charlies · « **on:** October 21, 2003, 11:22:27 AM »

What do you guys think? How often do these really make a difference? (I've always run with mounts when on a stand.)

My shockmout/mount situation for my AKGcaps/JK is kind of flimsy (1 Schoeps a20s mount->Schoeps m100c miniature stereo mic bar) and am considering foregoing the a20s and just mounting the mount to the top of my stand. I tape the same kind of (generally loud) music as everyone else, except (s)moke

barren4 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2003, 01:10:43 PM »

Insurance. Not too long ago at KDTU, I was taping from seats. During the last song before encore, I'm standing w/ my eyes closed, head dancing, completely lost in the music. I don't know if the guy next to me slipped on the spilled beer wet floor or spazzed out or what, but he body slammed me so hard that I was knocked hard into my stand. I caught it, luckily, but knew that that was going to be recorded for posterity. Suprisingly, unless I'm studying it w/ headphones, I can't hear it.
Moke, I use 3>4" squares of 1/4" antifatigue floormat foam under my stand. It may help with vibes, is good for leveling on the sloped floor, and prevents slippage. Don't see anyone else doing it though.

Kevin · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2003, 01:36:44 PM »

thanks for the link, I think im going to pick a few of these up

Rick · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2003, 06:09:29 PM »

Quote from: Charlies on October 21, 2003, 11:22:27 AM

(1 Schoeps a20s mount->Schoeps m100c miniature stereo mic bar)

Could do the same thing with a Vark bar. (http://www.posthorn.com/Macvk_4.html) At a fraction of the cost, though clips for caps might be a problem

Chapper · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2003, 06:41:58 PM »

I've only used shock mounts a few times and can tell absolutely no difference. I've heard they help with the low end, but I don't hear it.

I'm not convinced they help if your stand get's bumped either...during a Modest Mouse show, out stand went over, we caught it about half way to the floor, can't hear it at all on the tapes (you'd think just from the movement you'd hear it..perhaps it was because it was so loud).

YMMV....
Chapper

DaryanLenz · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2003, 07:19:44 PM »

I have always used shocks and never heard one bump, and I mean ever! That's good enough reason to use them I think!

Daryan

busknuckle · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2003, 07:27:22 PM »

Quote from: Chapper on October 21, 2003, 06:41:58 PM

I've only used shock mounts a few times and can tell absolutely no difference. I've heard they help with the low end, but I don't hear it.

I'm not convinced they help if your stand get's bumped either...during a Modest Mouse show, out stand went over, we caught it about half way to the floor, can't hear it at all on the tapes (you'd think just from the movement you'd hear it..perhaps it was because it was so loud).

YMMV....
Chapper

Chapper,

what Modest Mouse show were you taping?

busknuckle · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2003, 07:28:08 PM »

Quote from: ihatetostealth on October 21, 2003, 06:09:29 PM

Quote from: Charlies on October 21, 2003, 11:22:27 AM
(1 Schoeps a20s mount->Schoeps m100c miniature stereo mic bar)

Could do the same thing with a Vark bar. (http://www.posthorn.com/Macvk_4.html) At a fraction of the cost, though clips for caps might be a problem

I'm liking the avatar ihatetostealth

Charlies · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2003, 10:37:41 AM »

Hey Chapper, that's what I'm thinking, depending of course on the venue. For example, for a gig in a sit-down music hall, where there's an elevated stage and hard-ass concrete under the seats, it seems to me that the need for shocks is little if any. That's the situation in which I'm considering going without shocks.

JAH · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2003, 11:32:33 AM »

CES, what is so flimsy in the a20s set up. Ya know shock mounts are a god sent from that one bump or little oopsy from someone walking by OR that drunk needing a hand hold to stablize themself. It insurance and I love 'em. If you need to be stealther than that's the trade off. Iffin' you on a stand then I'd recommend the mounts. Of course your call. The A20S are more than capable of supporting the jk/ck's rig.
I was taking my umbrella off at Bonnaroo and the damn thing had such fine threads that it took a long time and I was shaking the mounts through the effort to get the umbrella off and not a bump was heard...my other friend was way impressed, as he crimged at the sight of the movement. It's insurance.
If you aren't stealthing it you may elect not to use 'em (although I use 'em when fobing).

So whatsyagonnado?

peace
jah

Kevin · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2003, 03:26:50 PM »

last night at panic it was loud and my stand was set up on bleachers which moved when the crowd moved. If I didnt have shock mounts the recording would be moving back and fourth. IMO there crucial!!

BCostigan · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2003, 03:45:51 PM »

At RatDog the other night my stand was bumped several times. I was right next to the cattle grate by the soundboard and of course that's the best place for everyone to ditch extra clothes. Some people were actually pretty funny when putting stuff/or taking stuff from the other side of my stand as they had to get very close to it. Looking at me like I'm about to bite!!

Moral of the story...I didn't give a rats ass if they bumped the stand because of the shocks.

Kindguy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2003, 05:11:32 PM »

Go to a panic show when Sonny blows that digido (sp) the whole fuc~~n place shakes, Your mics included. In Gainesville my damn nose hairs were vibrating.

Or how about STS9 at B'roo? Crazy bass!

You need shocks for things like that.

If your tight on cash. You can pick up a pair of www.tensimounts.com for under 30 bucks shipped. Thats what I'm using at the moment to get by.

gonads · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2003, 05:17:51 PM »

it really does help clean up the bass, tightens things up a bit for sure!

Rick · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2003, 05:21:34 PM »

One word, well maybe two..... Beach Balls

My stand always seem to be magnets for beach balls. Not once can you tell that I've been hit on my tapes

If you got them, use them.

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #15 on:** October 22, 2003, 05:48:30 PM »

Quote from: Moke on October 22, 2003, 05:25:12 PM

When shockmounts might not help

miss ya Goo!

we miss ya goo, come back soon........

Simp-Dawg · « **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2003, 06:11:13 PM »

Quote from: ihatetostealth on October 22, 2003, 05:21:34 PM

One word, well maybe two..... Beach Balls

My stand always seem to be magnets for beach balls. Not once can you tell that I've been hit on my tapes

If you got them, use them.

unless they hit on the mic itself though....

but i agree, shock mounts are a necessity at almost any show where there's a remote chance something can bump your stand, which is, almost any show.

Kindguy · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2003, 09:44:38 PM »

haha I love that pic! T+ to Goo....hope he's doing OK

John R · « **Reply #18 on:** October 25, 2003, 02:49:50 PM »

shockmounts, always.

jr

Chapper · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2003, 04:32:44 PM »

Quote

Chapper,

what Modest Mouse show were you taping?

Quote

9/10/00 at the Gothic

Chapper · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2003, 04:35:18 PM »

Quote from: Charlies on October 22, 2003, 10:37:41 AM

Hey Chapper, that's what I'm thinking, depending of course on the venue. For example, for a gig in a sit-down music hall, where there's an elevated stage and hard-ass concrete under the seats, it seems to me that the need for shocks is little if any. That's the situation in which I'm considering going without shocks.

Throwrag recently did two nights in Denver, first night I ran my Neumann STH mount in a Schoeps A20 (I think) shockmount. 2nd night I didn't use it. I can hear no audible difference.
A lot of folks swear by them, not me though....I don't have the A20 anymore, don't think I'll be buying another either.

greenone · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2003, 05:17:31 PM »

Quote from: ihatetostealth on October 22, 2003, 05:21:34 PM

One word, well maybe two..... Beach Balls

Haha...ah, memories. I think I killed at least a half-dozen beach balls at Red Rocks this summer over two days. :splat:

Of course, that didn't stop the idiots from having marshmallow fights and pelting the FOH area with them during the filming of a DVD...

marc0789 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 31, 2003, 02:33:24 PM »

they don't do jackshit, imo. I kicked down 68 bucks for an Schoeps A20S to mount my dpa cmxo in. I had a couple of stand bumps during los/del and hear 'em the same as I think I would have without the mount. Waste of cash. For acoustic music, won't help at all, and for loud as shit electric music, you probably won't hear it anyway unless the shit is totally fallen into. At McPanic 4/12 during blackout a beachball full on hit the mbhos clamped onto my stand, just missing the dpas and moving the stand. You can barely hear it with phones, and if you didn't know where it was, you couldn't find it. That was with the dpa bar screwed right onto a low pro running about 5'10".

Arglebargle · « **Reply #23 on:** November 01, 2003, 05:00:34 PM »

So far I've been lucky and only once did I have to catch my falling mic stand, and about three others at the same time, and I cannot hear where it happened in mine with shock mounts, the guy running DPAs without shockmounts has a little audio souvinier(sp!!!) of that encounter so I've been told, but does preventing one small glitch in three years of taping justify the expense I'm not so sure.

Jason B · « **Reply #24 on:** November 01, 2003, 07:16:28 PM »

Quote from: marc0789 on October 31, 2003, 02:33:24 PM

That was with the dpa bar screwed right onto a low pro running about 5'10".

Well, that DPA XY/ORTF bar is basically a shockmount though with the rubber "floating" rings that support the mic. Right?

-JB

Brian · « **Reply #25 on:** November 03, 2003, 10:27:15 PM »

hey guys,
a fellow taper told me last night that shockmounts are called shockmounts because they prevent electro-static "shocks" to your microphone by suspending them in rubber. removing sounds because of your stand getting bumped is a secondary goal.

what do you all think? seems to make sense to me. wouldn't want some static electricity ruin a sweet pair of mics like Schoeps or DPAs if i owned them.

the AT mounts rule!

Brian

Kevin · « **Reply #26 on:** November 04, 2003, 09:30:46 AM »

just thought id share another useful reason for shocks. This weekend in New york we were on bleachers, like columbia, at least behind the board and some stupid w00k knocked my stand but because of the shocks the tapes are fine

marc0789 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 04, 2003, 11:47:01 AM »

cmxo doesn't float the caps, the rubber rings just secure them into the mount slots.

Author Topic: Usefulness of Shock Mounts (Read 7242 times)

DaryanLenz

busknuckle

busknuckle

marc0789

Jason B

marc0789