Topic: Tired of my shockmounts, need suggestions

[Kush]

I'm going over a friend's place this weekend to test out the Rycote inv7.

[page]

ive got so much manfrotto gear at some shows that it looks like im about to film a porno...

 

Same here. like 95% of my setup gear is bogen based because I could standardize it without having to use anything except a rapid adaptor to finagle a connection. Actually, while I have some 5/8-27 adaptors, since I've tried to standardize all of my threads to 3/8-16 and get rid of anything else, I'm more likely to have adaptors down to 1/4-20 for my better half's camera gear (and thus justify more bogen accessories...)

[John Willett]

It's worth looking at THIS PDF article on suspensions published in "LineUp" last year.

[groovon]

Thanks John. A very good read. It addresses nicely what I'd been thinking about lately, i.e. the desirability of having a suspension system 'tuned' with regard to the mass of the particular microphone, rather than trusting in random configurations of rubber bands and hoping for the best.
Without wanting to give the Rycote company a coniption fit (or put you on the spot), what do you think of my idea of using the Rycote 'lyres' in a DIY mount? (I don't see any way to DIY the lyre units effectively, or I'd probably be ungracious enough to do so! And they're not unreasonably priced, at least by Rycote standards: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/629619-REG/Rycote_042212_042212_19_25mm_Lyre_Upgrade.html#features)

Dave

[John Willett]

Thanks John. A very good read. It addresses nicely what I'd been thinking about lately, i.e. the desirability of having a suspension system 'tuned' with regard to the mass of the particular microphone, rather than trusting in random configurations of rubber bands and hoping for the best.
Without wanting to give the Rycote company a coniption fit (or put you on the spot), what do you think of my idea of using the Rycote 'lyres' in a DIY mount? (I don't see any way to DIY the lyre units effectively, or I'd probably be ungracious enough to do so! And they're not unreasonably priced, at least by Rycote standards: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/629619-REG/Rycote_042212_042212_19_25mm_Lyre_Upgrade.html#features)

Dave

That upgrade kit is about the same price as a USM mount or two InVision mounts - I think the USM is $120 in the USA and the InVisions about half that.

So - going the DIY route will cause you lots of hassle and not much saving really.

The upgrade lyres are for the basket windshield and have little holes in the bottom to screw to the suspension bar.  So, in theory, you could use them to make your own SDC mounts.  But with all the time needed and the other bits ou will have to get, I don't really think you would save much at all.

[Shadow_7]

I did a DIY mount via a gooseneck, two plastic coat hangers, a couple OSP stereo bars and some tape and string.  Actually works quite well considering.  But the gooseneck gets a bit unruly when transporting from the parking lot to the venue.  If you don't keep the orientation to the ground, it flexes, the T-bars on strings slide to one side of the coat hangers and all hell breaks loose.  Plus it's pretty heavy.  But it does work.  Cost wise it adds up as I was using 4x OSP bars ($10-ish each).  String ($6-ish).  Gooseneck ($25-ish if you buy a new one at radio shack).  AT8410's, Inv6's, or those Avant ones look better IMO.  About the only advantage of the DIY is that the gooseneck let me flex just it and compensate for unlevel ground, or a source that wasn't at eye level.  Without ever having to touch the mics orientation to the stereo bar.

[groovon]

Thanks John. A very good read. It addresses nicely what I'd been thinking about lately, i.e. the desirability of having a suspension system 'tuned' with regard to the mass of the particular microphone, rather than trusting in random configurations of rubber bands and hoping for the best.
Without wanting to give the Rycote company a coniption fit (or put you on the spot), what do you think of my idea of using the Rycote 'lyres' in a DIY mount? (I don't see any way to DIY the lyre units effectively, or I'd probably be ungracious enough to do so! And they're not unreasonably priced, at least by Rycote standards: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/629619-REG/Rycote_042212_042212_19_25mm_Lyre_Upgrade.html#features)

Dave

That upgrade kit is about the same price as a USM mount or two InVision mounts - I think the USM is $120 in the USA and the InVisions about half that.

So - going the DIY route will cause you lots of hassle and not much saving really.

The upgrade lyres are for the basket windshield and have little holes in the bottom to screw to the suspension bar.  So, in theory, you could use them to make your own SDC mounts.  But with all the time needed and the other bits ou will have to get, I don't really think you would save much at all.

Appreciate the input John. It could however save quite a bit if you needed 4 or 5 mounts. For the price of the pack of 10 universal (19-25mm) 'lyres' and a $5 strip of aluminum, plus a couple of hours work, you would have 5 shock mounts. (Sorry, I was born w/ the DIY gene!)

Dave

[groovon]

I did a DIY mount via a gooseneck, two plastic coat hangers, a couple OSP stereo bars and some tape and string.  Actually works quite well considering.  But the gooseneck gets a bit unruly when transporting from the parking lot to the venue.  If you don't keep the orientation to the ground, it flexes, the T-bars on strings slide to one side of the coat hangers and all hell breaks loose.  Plus it's pretty heavy.  But it does work.  Cost wise it adds up as I was using 4x OSP bars ($10-ish each).  String ($6-ish).  Gooseneck ($25-ish if you buy a new one at radio shack).  AT8410's, Inv6's, or those Avant ones look better IMO.  About the only advantage of the DIY is that the gooseneck let me flex just it and compensate for unlevel ground, or a source that wasn't at eye level.  Without ever having to touch the mics orientation to the stereo bar.

@shadow: I know, I've made and bought all kinds of elastic-type shock mounts too, but this Rycote technical paper John pointed out has uprooted a lot of my assumptions about the relative effectiveness of shock mounts.
In particular, regarding the readiness of the mount to deflect in the appropriate axes relative to the plane of the capsule's diaphragm. In fact, my previous favorite, the AT8410-type of mount is, according to this theory, doing a horrible job, as it allows very little deflection where it is most required, and most deflection where less is required. So I'm actually rethinking all of this (and I had just ordered three more of the AT8410-style mounts!)

(edit) On second thought, the AT-style mounts may actually do a good job in the case of the capsules being mounted at right angles to the mic body, as in the case of AKG C460/CK6x's w/ A61 swivels(!)
Dave

[ArchivalAudio]

I use the Busman mounts  similar to the schoeps A20's very small light weicght and smaller than the joe meeks that I also own.

in a thread some where that they were actually NADY's
here:
http://www.nadypro.com/pd_ssm5.cfm

however you might check with busman and see what he would sell a pair for - I bet he could cut a better deal.

--Ian

http://www.busmanaudio.com/
or PM him here
but I think he may be at the KBOO Pickathon this weekend...

[SmokinJoe]

I use plastic "mic clips" (with no shock) most of the time with my AKG480s.  Same with my Earthworks, and Naks.   I've probably run that hundreds of times and I've never heard anything on a tape from someone kicking the stand, and I'm sure it's happened.  Some mics are sensitive to that kind of vibration (my 414's are, and AT853's seem to be), but many are not.  The main reason I use the mic clips was because (a) I have them, and (b) the AT8410's don't fit in my bag when it's full of other gear.  A t-bar with clips on it is much smaller.

Before you spend a bunch of money on new shock mounts, maybe try cheap plastic clips.

One of the links previously mentioned as the Windtech mounts which have a rubber strap that looks like a car muffler hanger.  Those work good, are pretty cheap, and you might find those in a typical music store downtown (the kind that sells trumpets and guitars to school kids).  Take your mics to the store and see if they fit OK.  I used them for a while, the only downside was the Naks I had at the time were a rather tight fit, but since 390's are smaller, it might be perfect.

[newplanet7]

I use plastic "mic clips" (with no shock) most of the time with my AKG480s.  Same with my Earthworks, and Naks.   I've probably run that hundreds of times and I've never heard anything on a tape from someone kicking the stand, and I'm sure it's happened.  Some mics are sensitive to that kind of vibration (my 414's are, and AT853's seem to be), but many are not.  The main reason I use the mic clips was because (a) I have them, and (b) the AT8410's don't fit in my bag when it's full of other gear.  A t-bar with clips on it is much smaller.

Before you spend a bunch of money on new shock mounts, maybe try cheap plastic clips.

One of the links previously mentioned as the Windtech mounts which have a rubber strap that looks like a car muffler hanger.  Those work good, are pretty cheap, and you might find those in a typical music store downtown (the kind that sells trumpets and guitars to school kids).  Take your mics to the store and see if they fit OK.  I used them for a while, the only downside was the Naks I had at the time were a rather tight fit, but since 390's are smaller, it might be perfect.

Same here. I use mic clips/holders with my AKG 460's 95% of the time. The ones from the manufacturer that came with the mics.
The other 5% I use the windtechs shocks because I forgot the mic clips.
The ones that Ziko linked you to are great and have metal threads on them.
I used them on my 39x series when I ran them. Snug.

EDIT:They are the ones I used in my avitar with cmc64's.

[Shadow_7]

Some mics have internal shockmounts of sorts.  For those type of mics you probably don't need a shock mount.

My Avenson STO-2's are not that sensitive to all things handling noise.  But with the aforementioned redneck shockmount I did notice a difference.  There's a certain clarity that you otherwise don't get.  And if you have to move the mic stand while recording it's noticeable.  It also keeps the cable when it slaps the stand from wind and other things from transmitting up the pole.  And other hands on the mic stand to brace against the wind or other concerns.  It basically helps to keep all those unwanted noises out. 

So if you're like me and put a pair of headphones on a headphone clamp on the mic stand and pick up and set them down often.  And pick up and set down the field recorder that's resting on the legs of the tripod based mic stand.  Maybe even put a second headphone clamp and your camcorder on a tabletop clamp on the headphone clamp, all of that action doesn't make the mix with shock mounts in use.  Plastic mic clips even very rubbery ones like those that come with my STO-2's don't do that for you.

[groovon]

So if you're like me and put a pair of headphones on a headphone clamp on the mic stand and pick up and set them down often.  And pick up and set down the field recorder that's resting on the legs of the tripod based mic stand.  Maybe even put a second headphone clamp and your camcorder on a tabletop clamp on the headphone clamp, all of that action doesn't make the mix with shock mounts in use.  Plastic mic clips even very rubbery ones like those that come with my STO-2's don't do that for you.

Dang! Hey don't forget the hook for the Coleman lamp, and one for the Igloo icebox, too! 

Sounds like you need a shock mount for your shock mount!

[Shadow_7]

Well, when the event lasts 3+ hours and/or you need to exist in the space of stadium seating...  Putting it all on one ONE stand saves a lot of headache.  Plus the camcorder on the mic stand allows that extra foot plus of height to get above all those people passing in front of your camcorder every 7.3 seconds.  Without that, you're holding the camcorder extra high so they can safely pass.  They don't, and the second you lower back to comfortable, that's the second the decide to pass in front of you.  Put it on the mic stand, raise up that flag pole and enjoy the show.  Granted that I probably need a more substantial mic stand than I'm currently using.  I've got to keep all of the segments at < 50% extension to minimize sway in the wind, or rackety bleachers.

But then again, if they made one of these that clamped onto a mic stand, I might partake.  It's all about the gadgets.

[groovon]

What's that, a hillbilly shock mount?