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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: sunjan on February 18, 2009, 10:57:23 AM
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I wonder if there's any FAQ or buying guide for picking up your first mic stand?
Basically:
Which kind of build is useful? Just a lighting stand with vertical pillar, or horizontal boom studio mic style?
What height is good to get (6'/8'/10', even taller?)
What's a good size folded?
Which weight is bearable to lug around with?
Which brands are preferred in the taper community?
Any particular models that are more suitable for particular mics?
Besides the actual stand, what other parts do I need to get everything going?
Is it worthwhile to pick up el cheapo Asian brands like these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170302176834
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170302176834
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I'm pleased with the Smith-Victor RS75 Raven. At times, I would like it to go higher but its extremely light and very small closed. Check out the footprint--28"
It seems like a lot of people like Bogen ones that around around 8-9 feet tall and weight considerably more and cost a lot more. Bogen/Manfrotto makes great products and I have quite a few of theirs so I may invest in a larger light stand one day, OR I may get a taller Smith-Victor one since I'm pleased with this one.
I would buy the smith-v over site Ebay ones but that's just me.
good luck!
edit:
Just wanted to link to the stand I own.
Smith-Victor RS75 Raven Aluminum Stand, Black - 7' 6" (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/250416-REG/Smith_Victor_401290_RS75_Black_Light_Stand.html)
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I wonder if there's any FAQ or buying guide for picking up your first mic stand?
No FAQ's that I know of.
Basically:
Which kind of build is useful? Just a lighting stand with vertical pillar, or horizontal boom studio mic style?
Lighting stand with vertical telescoping extension is the best. Boom style are bulky and clunky, and don't extend nearly high enough anyway.
The problem with lighting stands though is that the hardware on the top doesn't usually mate up with mic mounts (5/8 inch female), so you need to buy interfacing hardware for the top of the stand. Suggestions provided below.
Pay attention to the footprint of the stand. While it's not necessarily bad to have a really wide footprint, I'm not necessarily sure I'd go for the most narrow footprint either. Something in the middle is best because it gives the best support without being so wide that everyone will trip over it...but so narrow that the stand will teeter in the wind.
What height is good to get (6'/8'/10', even taller?)
For me, 8 feet is not tall enough. 10 feet or taller is fine. You want taller because it gives you options for raising mics up high when needed. For example, last year at an outdoor festival, I had to get mics up to 12' when a storm threatened to blow in and the festival organizers raised a tarp that started flapping. The flapping noise would have ruined my recordings, except I was able to get the mics up much hjigher still.
What's a good size folded?
Between 2 to 3 feet is what you should be looking at for a good stand.
Which weight is bearable to lug around with?
Weight isn't that big a factor to me. I don't think many stands will weigh so much that it would be a deciding factor one way or the other.
Which brands are preferred in the taper community?
Bogen is the most popular. Search B&H Photo for 'Basic Light Stand' and you'll find a variety to choose from.
Any particular models that are more suitable for particular mics?
No. A mic stand is a mic stand is a mic stand...other than the quality you want. IOW, there's nothing Shoeps-y or DPA-ish about a stand, for example.
Besides the actual stand, what other parts do I need to get everything going?
It depends on your mic mount. Some people use a windtech clamp that clamps to the pole of the stand. Then the other end of the windtech somehow mates with your mic mounting hardare.
Other people use an adapter (search B&H for the term '1/4 > 5/8 adapter') which fits onto the top of the stand. That adapter then screws directly into the 5/8 female on your mic mounts.
You just need to pay attention to the hardware that comes on the top of the stand and then buy the proper hardware that will enable it to fit your mount.
There are lots of history threads that provide links to various places for specific hardware solutions for mic stands.
If you need specifics, PM me with the stand you decide on and your specific mic mounting hardware and I can help you further from there to find the hardware you need.
Is it worthwhile to pick up el cheapo Asian brands like these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170302176834
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170302176834
Depends on what you want. I have both cheap stands and the bogen. I ALWAYS take the bogen and it's worth $60 or $70. That's not much money to give you peace of mind that your mics are well supported in a club environment! Why save $20 or $30 in that case??
Another way to look at it is if you mics start swaying around 10 feet in the air, you might get some phasing going on.
Good solid mic support is worth spending just a little bit of money on, but it also doesn't have to be an industrial grade piece of equipment either.
My opinion.
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I'm certainly no expert on stands. I have an Adorama 11' stand that is very light but tends to sway if there is a breeze. I don't know how normal this is since its the only stand I've ever had. I'm also not crazy about the way it is constructed and am not confident about its longevity. I got it cheap off eBay. I'm planning on trying to find something a bit more rugged and solid eventually. I plan on looking at other people's stands at festivals to see if I can nail down a model that appeals to me.
One of these makes mounting mics a lot easier:
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/BarnDoor-Lighting-Outfitters__W0QQ_sidZ4264330?_nkw=rapid&submit=Search
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Amvona is a decent knock off brand readily available on ebay. Check em out. You can get a plenty useful stand for a fraction of the cost of a Bogen...
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Bogen stands are nice, I used to use a 9' stand and then switched to 11' (368b) and love that one even more. It's pretty compact, with a small footprint and very sturdy.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546528-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_368B_368B_Basic_Black_Light.html (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546528-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_368B_368B_Basic_Black_Light.html)
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Bogen stands are nice, I used to use a 9' stand and then switched to 11' (368b) and love that one even more. It's pretty compact, with a small footprint and very sturdy.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546528-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_368B_368B_Basic_Black_Light.html (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546528-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_368B_368B_Basic_Black_Light.html)
Thanks for the link! That actually does have a pretty good footprint size yet it gets plenty high!
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I have one of those A.E.A. 15' stands and it is fantastic, but heavy. I believe that Sonic Sense carries them, but they also pop up used occasionally. Still is my "go-to" stand for virtually all situations, except when I travel, so I bought a smaller and cheaper stand for when I do.
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I'm certainly no expert on stands. I have an Adorama 11' stand that is very light but tends to sway if there is a breeze.
Probably can't eliminate sway totally when there's a hefty breeze, especially if there's rain in the forecast and you've got an umbrella duct taped to the top.
But I did want to say that some stands do better than ohters in terms of how many spots they have available at ground level to hook stakes around for securing the stand to the ground. It's worth keeping that in mind when you're looking at a stand. Those that have the center supports that can run all the way to the ground...similar to that Bogen stand in the picture that someone else linked to on the B&H site...are really good for staking to the ground because they can be staked in like...4 to 6 separate spots and they're REALLY secure to the ground that way.
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ive got a cheap vocal - boom style mic stand that ive used for over a year, and it works fine for everything i need. it goes up to 12 feet, and comfortably holds 2 LD mics at that height. some people dont like them for our purpose, but its done me fine.
i paid $25 for it.
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I used a standard boom-type stand for years and although it was not as tall as I would have liked, it worked very well, especially for angling the mic array up or down (for amphitheater/lawn type taping for example).
However, my favorite is the Shure S15. It is rock solid, does not sway, and reaches 15'. Some complain the at it is a bit on the heavy side (it is), but the trade off is a heavy duty piece of gear that will NOT sway and last a lifetime. Check it out.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S15A/
The description claims that the height it 14', but I could have sworn it hit 15', as in S15 :)
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However, my favorite is the Shure S15. It is rock solid, does not sway, and reaches 15'.
Thanks all! Still soaking it up, lots to learn here!
Regarding Shure: is there any difference between models that are labeled as "microphone stands" proper vs. "lighting stands". Different connector at the top? Other benefits?
Tonedeaf (or anyone): do you have a photo of the center spots where you stake the tripod to the ground? Just trying to visualize what I should look for.
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At the suggestion of fellow TS'er gutbucket I bought a tent stake that looks like a large corkscrew. Once you screw that into the ground and use a webbed strap to cinch it to the center of the stand (the mast, not the legs), it is safe from all but the most determined wookie. I'm not worried about wind, if its that strong I wont be recording anyway. I worry about the crap some folks throw around at festivals. I don't want my stand falling over and bonking somebody on the head!