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!

[Brian Skalinder]

Superclamp:  Damn...that thing is slick!

[nickgregory]

it is not the lightest or smallest thing, but it is the most versatile clamp on the market today....not much it cant clamp too...and they are avail on ebay all the time...just have to buy the arm separately usually.

[greenone]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

The Rowi pics I've seen look a little big for my tastes but if that end thread piece can rotate all the way up to be parallel with the stand, it'd be nice to have an all-in-one solution rather than carting around a clamp and extender bar...

--Dave

[nickgregory]

dont let the pictures fool you...the clamp and the arm are not "unwieldly" in size...I keep them both in a crown royal bag in the bag pocket of my rakgear...

[tim in jersey]

my suggestion is use the Superclamp for railings, and the ENG

or Rowi 76a (the one on the left)for clamping onto stands. Put a couple Superclamps w/ full bodied mics on a stand and your just asking for it to fall over.

I carry the ENG and Superclamp at all times...

[nickgregory]

good point, the superclamp is definitely not something you can have more than one of on a stand without weight issues...thankfully, I clamp maybe 2-3 times a year.....with a majority being a railing, which is where the superclamp rocks....

[tim in jersey]

oh, yeah. the Rowi (any of them) probably isn't the best choice for a railing. Probably not big enough for most of the rails I've ever had to clamp to...

[Brian Skalinder]

or Rowi 76a (the one on the left)[img]

Hey Tim - a couple questions on the 76a, if you know:

[1]  Does the ball & socket head rotate through a complete 180º half-sphere with respect to the connection point to the shaft?  Or does it only rotate within a single plane?  (hope that makes sense)

[2]  How is the ball & socket head tightened/secured if it's placed at an angle relative to the rest of the clamp?

I'm looking at the 79BA, too, as it can be used as a small table tripod which I can see using on occasion (and currently have nothing which fits that purpose).

[John R]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

my gear is in telluride so i can't take any photo's, until after blues and brews, and, i doubt you can wait that long.  so, try to picture this:
 - clamp attached to surface with threads facing stage.
 - vert bar screwed on with top facing stage.
 - tubes oriented with threads of both at middle.
 - shockmounts attached, mic placed forward on back mount,  
   back on forward mount, caps equal distance from stage
angle them any way you want

jr

[F.O.Bean]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

my gear is in telluride so i can't take any photo's, until after blues and brews, and, i doubt you can wait that long.  so, try to picture this:
 - clamp attached to surface with threads facing stage.
 - vert bar screwed on with top facing stage.
 - tubes oriented with threads of both at middle.
 - shockmounts attached, mic placed forward on back mount,  
   back on forward mount, caps equal distance from stage
angle them any way you want

jr

what if ya have the shure vert bar???

[John R]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

my gear is in telluride so i can't take any photo's, until after blues and brews, and, i doubt you can wait that long.  so, try to picture this:
 - clamp attached to surface with threads facing stage.
 - vert bar screwed on with top facing stage.
 - tubes oriented with threads of both at middle.
 - shockmounts attached, mic placed forward on back mount,  
   back on forward mount, caps equal distance from stage
angle them any way you want

jr

what if ya have the shure vert bar???

bean, that is the vert bar.  more tubes?

jr

[F.O.Bean]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

my gear is in telluride so i can't take any photo's, until after blues and brews, and, i doubt you can wait that long.  so, try to picture this:
 - clamp attached to surface with threads facing stage.
 - vert bar screwed on with top facing stage.
 - tubes oriented with threads of both at middle.
 - shockmounts attached, mic placed forward on back mount,  
   back on forward mount, caps equal distance from stage
angle them any way you want

jr

what if ya have the shure vert bar???

bean, that is the vert bar.  more tubes?

jr

just cant picture it...i dunno, im sure it werks, but cannot picture it.... :Pi also have the sambra mounts

bean

[John R]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

my gear is in telluride so i can't take any photo's, until after blues and brews, and, i doubt you can wait that long.  so, try to picture this:
 - clamp attached to surface with threads facing stage.
 - vert bar screwed on with top facing stage.
 - tubes oriented with threads of both at middle.
 - shockmounts attached, mic placed forward on back mount,  
   back on forward mount, caps equal distance from stage
angle them any way you want

jr

what if ya have the shure vert bar???

bean, that is the vert bar.  more tubes?

jr

just cant picture it...i dunno, im sure it werks, but cannot picture it.... :Pi also have the sambra mounts

bean

i'll photo next week

jr

[F.O.Bean]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

my gear is in telluride so i can't take any photo's, until after blues and brews, and, i doubt you can wait that long.  so, try to picture this:
 - clamp attached to surface with threads facing stage.
 - vert bar screwed on with top facing stage.
 - tubes oriented with threads of both at middle.
 - shockmounts attached, mic placed forward on back mount,  
   back on forward mount, caps equal distance from stage
angle them any way you want

jr

what if ya have the shure vert bar???

bean, that is the vert bar.  more tubes?

jr

just cant picture it...i dunno, im sure it werks, but cannot picture it.... :Pi also have the sambra mounts

bean

i'll photo next week

jr

thanks john, thatd be GREAT

bean

[greenone]

Definitely, thanks, John! I'm not in a rush - most of the places I'm taping this month are places that are known to be taper-friendly (and places where I'll likely be one of only a few tapers). This is mostly a "what if" for when I hit non-stand-friendly places...

And thanks to Tim for the info on Rowis not being the best for rails...looks like I'll be a superclampin' fool but we'll see.

--Dave

[Simp-Dawg]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

my gear is in telluride so i can't take any photo's, until after blues and brews, and, i doubt you can wait that long.  so, try to picture this:
 - clamp attached to surface with threads facing stage.
 - vert bar screwed on with top facing stage.
 - tubes oriented with threads of both at middle.
 - shockmounts attached, mic placed forward on back mount,  
   back on forward mount, caps equal distance from stage
angle them any way you want

jr

what if ya have the shure vert bar???

bean, that is the vert bar.  more tubes?

jr

just cant picture it...i dunno, im sure it werks, but cannot picture it.... :Pi also have the sambra mounts

bean

eh i don't think i can picture it either, but i'll trust ya...wish i could make it out to t-ride to see it in person!  and meet ya too john, of course!
bean aren't the sabra-soms the fuckin cheapest most fragile things in the world!!!  mine have busted on me mutilple times...superglue always fixes 'em tho, plus they do pack up pretty compact....

[F.O.Bean]

Aha...it was the little arm thing I was missing. +T for the clarifying pictures. So that clears up the Bogen superclamp question, because I can see where the arm fits in. And Brian, I know you have an extender bar...John, how do you do yours? Because from what I can tell, the thread is perpendicular to the stand that you'd clamp it on in that bad boy of a clamp.

my gear is in telluride so i can't take any photo's, until after blues and brews, and, i doubt you can wait that long.  so, try to picture this:
 - clamp attached to surface with threads facing stage.
 - vert bar screwed on with top facing stage.
 - tubes oriented with threads of both at middle.
 - shockmounts attached, mic placed forward on back mount,  
   back on forward mount, caps equal distance from stage
angle them any way you want

jr

what if ya have the shure vert bar???

bean, that is the vert bar.  more tubes?

jr

just cant picture it...i dunno, im sure it werks, but cannot picture it.... :Pi also have the sambra mounts

bean

eh i don't think i can picture it either, but i'll trust ya...wish i could make it out to t-ride to see it in person!  and meet ya too john, of course!
bean aren't the sabra-soms the fuckin cheapest most fragile things in the world!!!  mine have busted on me mutilple times...superglue always fixes 'em tho, plus they do pack up pretty compact....

i agree, i am soon getting the shures tho, supewr small and the dead used to used them, so i know theyre good....

[Brian Skalinder]

For the Rowi 76A:

[1]  Does the ball & socket head rotate through a complete 180º half-sphere with respect to the connection point to the shaft?  Or does it only rotate within a single plane?  (hope that makes sense)

[2]  How is the ball & socket head tightened/secured if it's placed at an angle relative to the rest of the clamp?

Anyone know the answer to these?

[tim in jersey]

Hey Tim - a couple questions on the 76a, if you know:

[1]  Does the ball & socket head rotate through a complete 180º half-sphere with respect to the connection point to the shaft?  Or does it only rotate within a single plane?  (hope that makes sense)

[2]  How is the ball & socket head tightened/secured if it's placed at an angle relative to the rest of the clamp?

I'm looking at the 79BA, too, as it can be used as a small table tripod which I can see using on occasion (and currently have nothing which fits that purpose).

[1] using the top of the clamp as the horizon (top being where the threaded stud you attach t-bar/STG ORTF bar etc.) the stud swings from parallel to the horizon to 90* w/ the horizon. In addition the stud swings 360* in relationship to the vertical plane. So when clamped to a stand, you can control any angle you need. Up/down, left/right, and even clockwise/counterclockwise.

[2] in the above photo, the thumbscrew on the right tightens/loosens the balljoint.

hope this helps...

[Brian Skalinder]

Hey Tim - a couple questions on the 76a, if you know:

[1]  Does the ball & socket head rotate through a complete 180º half-sphere with respect to the connection point to the shaft?  Or does it only rotate within a single plane?  (hope that makes sense)

[2]  How is the ball & socket head tightened/secured if it's placed at an angle relative to the rest of the clamp?

I'm looking at the 79BA, too, as it can be used as a small table tripod which I can see using on occasion (and currently have nothing which fits that purpose).

[1] using the top of the clamp as the horizon (top being where the threaded stud you attach t-bar/STG ORTF bar etc.) the stud swings from parallel to the horizon to 90* w/ the horizon. In addition the stud swings 360* in relationship to the vertical plane. So when clamped to a stand, you can control any angle you need. Up/down, left/right, and even clockwise/counterclockwise.

[2] in the above photo, the thumbscrew on the right tightens/loosens the balljoint.

hope this helps...

Excellent, that's exactly what I wanted to know.  Thanks, Tim!

[F.O.Bean]

that thing loks like the rolls royce of clamps.....

[wbrisette]

One last suggestion is the (OK don't everybody sigh at once) Sabra-som Magic Clamp. I own a set and I have to tell you they are some of the most versatile clamps I've owned. I find them very useful for clamping my mics onto the same mic stand as the performers mic stand.

You can view them at:

http://www.sabrasom.com.br/ing/SMC@ING.htm

However with your requirements I'm not sure I would recommend them for one reason. They are a bit bulky, they come with several lengths of metal rods for adjustments, and since you're probably going to want all of those in your bag, that might be a hassle. Anyhow, still one of the best clamps I've owned (and I've owned 4 of them now).

Wayne

[nickgregory]

would the sabra-som clamps have any issue holding the weight of a shure vert bar, a pair of 8410 mounts and full bodied mics?  The clamp just appears that this may be alot on it....just curious...

[wbrisette]

It wouldn't be too much for the clamp itself, however I would worry a bit about that much weight on one of the metal bars if one of the longer lengths are used. However, if it's one of the short lengths of bar, then I wouldn't worry about it.

Wayne

[nickgregory]

interesting....maybe I can catch one of these setups in person....

[Erick del Valle]

I'm using for years a PSC fleximount, it's have a 2" clamp, 1' flexible arm and 3/8", I'm very happy with it.

[Erick del Valle]

Another pic

[F.O.Bean]

+T thats phatty

[macroint]

I like the looks of this clamp:

http://www.professionalsound.com/catalog/fleximount.htm

PSC Flexi Mounts™ are available with either a 3/8" - 16 or 1/4" - 20 thread.

I'm getting Studio Projects C4's: http://www.studioprojectsusa.com/c4.html

How do I figure out which thread I need? Does the mic thread on the clamp or would I need to get a mount?

Thanks,

Jeff

[greenone]

You'll need a mount that screws onto the thread on the clamp - I'd recommend going as light as possible, like an AKG T-bar or something similar. I ended up going with the Rowi clamp, which is fine, but a Shure vert bar makes it a bit wobbly because it's so heavy...

[dnsacks]

greenone -- re shure vert bar and rowi clamp -- what worked great for me was running the shure vert bar upside-down.  I.E. turning it over so it hangs down from the clamp rather than "rise up" from the clamp.  This seemed to reduce the sheer force on the clamp. 

[F.O.Bean]

greenone -- re shure vert bar and rowi clamp -- what worked great for me was running the shure vert bar upside-down.  I.E. turning it over so it hangs down from the clamp rather than "rise up" from the clamp.  This seemed to reduce the sheer force on the clamp. 

agreed, i do that when space is tight sometimes too, the rowi can hold that stuff pretty well, and i like the wooden screw that comes w/ it too so you could screw it into the wood if need be and ui tested it and it held 480's + at 8415 mounts

[greenone]

Interesting. It would seem to me that weight is weight and torque is torque, but I might have to try that. Thanks!

[John R]

Interesting. It would seem to me that weight is weight and torque is torque, but I might have to try that. Thanks!

gravity is gravity


i had to...

[fozzy]

fwiw. I run my vert bar/8410's/481's on my windtech clamp upside down all the time.  It seems much more stable than right side up.