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.
Topic: Getting my first stand - buying guide? (Read 5849 times)