Topic: Clamp recommendations?

[greenone]

Looking for some recommendations on clamps, not necessarily for clamping to other mic stands but for clamping to rails and other locations where mic stands might not be permitted. I've mostly seen people recommend the Bogen clamp but have also heard the Rowi clamp recommended. I'm more interested in flexibility and usefulness rather than price but at the same time want something I can just throw in a bag and forget about until it's needed rather than an unwieldy thing that I might have to make a judgment call on whether to pack it or not.

So...let me have it.

--Dave

[John R]

this is the one i use.  big, but bomber, and has 3" jaw capacity.  will clamp to and hold onto anything

http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/2mmicmoun.html

jr

[Brian Skalinder]

I don't have one, but the Bogen SuperClamp comes highly recommended.  I've been happy with my SignalFlex MH10, same one as seen on the Sonic Sense site - it's rare I can't clamp onto something with it, something like a 2-1/2" jaw capacity.

[nickgregory]

the bogen super clamp rocks...if you get that and the extension arm there is nothing that you cant clamp onto..from stands to balconies to ledges...you name it...worth every penny and made solid as well.

[greenone]

Ok...stupid clamp question - once you're clamped on with one of these things, how do you mount the mics on it? The only thread extensions I've seen are off to the side or ball joints on the end. Say I've got a Shure vert bar that I mount my mics on - how does that connect to the clamp to orient it correctly?

[nickgregory]

you would clamp on using whatever mount you use on your normal stand...and akg bar, a shure bar..whatever...

[John R]

Ok...stupid clamp question - once you're clamped on with one of these things, how do you mount the mics on it? The only thread extensions I've seen are off to the side or ball joints on the end. Say I've got a Shure vert bar that I mount my mics on - how does that connect to the clamp to orient it correctly?

your mic/shock mounts pivot 90*, no?

jr

[greenone]

The shock mounts do, but with the vert bar now a horizontal bar, wouldn't the mics need to be in the same plane that the vert bar is in? I'm guessing this would limit you to DIN/NOS because the bar would be in the middle of your mics, correct?

  ()     <-- mic stand
\\||//  <-- right mic
 ^  ^
 |   |___clamp/bar
 |___left mic


i.e. there's no way to make a vertical bar vertical so you can have the mics cross in the front?

Now that I think about it, if I'm clamping to a rail, I can just have the end stick up so I can mount right to it, but clamping to something vertical is still confusing me.

[nickgregory]

ok, in trying to write a response, I realized I did not even make sense to me...so here are some pictures of the bogen super clamp in action...

First - Bogen clamp and arm on a stand

[nickgregory]

another view on the stand

[nickgregory]

a view of the clamp minus the arm clamped to a bed endboard like it would on a balcony rail

[nickgregory]

another view of the balcony clamp config

[nickgregory]

and lastly all the parts that make up the clamp (minus the 3/8-5/8 adapter and shure bar).  Basically the clamp comes with the mini stud and you have to buy the arm separately.  I got the clamp on ebay for around $15 and bought the arm I think for another $15 from micsupply.com.

Hope this helps, questions, let me know.

[Brian Skalinder]

and i will be damned why I cant take a focused picture with this camera..guess I should lay off the pre game beers

Your camera probably has a macro mode which will help for fairly close up shots like those.

[nickgregory]

good call Brian...adjusted it, new photos posted...thanks!