Topic: Is there a primer on stands/bars/mounting somewhere?

[sanaka]

I'm familiar with the geometry of the various stereo techniques, and I have accomplished some of these arrangements in my living room/studio with stage style mic stands and/or gaffer tape and/or my own constructions (I'm a woodworker/handyguy type dude) But I'd like to go ahead with an actual show-taper kind of rig with the tall mic stand and stereo mounting bar etc. But I'm lost as far as the nitty gritty on this kind of setup. Most of the discussion here on TS starts at a knowledge/jargon level that is over my head. So a sort of 101 course or tutorial/primer that goes over the super basics would be a huge help. Is there something around that I missed?

I'm looking for info like:

What makes a decent stand and what are good brands?

Same with stereo bar?

Same with shock mounts?

How does everything fasten together?

How is the alignment for the various stereo geometries accomplished?


Yup, basic stuff like that  Seems like this kind of info would have been compiled before?

Any help much appreciated.

Peace,
Sanaka

Edit: Hey, it's my 100th post!

[flipp]

not so much on stands/bars/mounting but the stickied first post of this section - http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,119057.0.html is a good place to start on mic geometries

and this one - http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,43044.0.html

The Shure link in the second is dead but Shure has more pages @ http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Resources/us_resources_microphones  On that page I recommend you start with http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Resources/HowToUse/us_how_to_use_stereomics

Those should get you started and don't be afraid to follow links in any of the articles, you might find just what you're looking for.


< the Sterophonic Zoom referenced in one of those links can now be found @ http://www.microphone-data.com/pdfs/Stereo%20zoom.pdf >

< DPA's Microphone University also has some good info on geometries - http://www.dpamicrophones.com/da/MikrofonUniversitet/Stereoteknikker.aspx  note docs are in English >

[sunjan]

What makes a decent stand and what are good brands?

I asked myself the same question not long ago. I don't really think this info was compiled yet!

There's a lot of FAQs about microphone patterns, but not much focusing on the stand and "hardware".
Here's what I got:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,117386.0.html

A few more:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,112895.0.html
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,2455.0.html

[sanaka]

Hey sunjan - Like 50 imaginary +T's to you dude!

Thank you so much!!!  That's exactly what I was looking for. I've been discovering more by just clicking and reading (like that a taper mic stand is a photographer lighting stand!), but that thread is some concentrated info.

Amvona seems possibly cool but their website is hideously annoying and it seems their tallest stand is ~8'. Might just go for Manfrotto. 'Avenger' looks good too: 12.5' for $75 (search it at B&H, whose website is down for maintenance right now).

Peace,
Sanaka

[su6oxone]

Definitely I would go with a Bogen stand.  They have up to 11' stands that have a very small footprint size, and taller ones with bigger footprints.  They are really easy to use, and worth the money.  Just put on a Bogen rapid adapter on the top, along with a 3/8>5/8 adapter piece, and then your T-bar on top of that and you'll be all set.

[newplanet7]

After you find a stand this is the easiest
set-up that I have come across.
This is a bogen rapid adapter, 3/8~> 5/8 thread adapter,
and an AKG stereo bar which swivels to get spacing/different angles.
Easy as pie.

1) Rapid Adapter:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5357-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3102_5_8_Stud_to_3_8_.html

2) 3/8" female~> 5/8" male thread adapter:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/286147-REG/AKG_KM217_3_8_Female_to_5_8_.html

3) Swivel stereo bar:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/286149-REG/AKG_KM235_1_KM235_1_Stereo_Microphone_Bar.html
It comes together visually like this:


To get one mic above another for different configurations
I use two of these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/47070-REG/Sennheiser_MZA216_Sennheiser_MZA_216_Thread_Adapter.html

[sanaka]

Thanks for the tip and the photo 

A little confusion however. A 5/8" threaded stud seems common on a lot of light stands, and the rapid adaptor is 5/8" x 3/8". Then the other adaptor is 3/8" x 5/8". Is the 5/8" for light stands a different thread pitch or something than the 5/8" for mics? Otherwise the stereo bar would screw straight on to the light stand, right?

Peace

[flipp]

Thanks for the tip and the photo 

A little confusion however. A 5/8" threaded stud seems common on a lot of light stands, and the rapid adaptor is 5/8" x 3/8". Then the other adaptor is 3/8" x 5/8". Is the 5/8" for light stands a different thread pitch or something than the 5/8" for mics? Otherwise the stereo bar would screw straight on to the light stand, right?

Peace

No, most light stands have a 5/8 NON-threaded stud. You will still need the rapid adapter and then a 3/8 >5/8 thread adapter.

No easy way to use a light stand without an adapter of some sorts. If 5/8x27 was a very common size, you could take the light stand to a machine shop and have it threaded but I have yet to find a machine shop that had that size die on hand.

[sanaka]

NON-threaded

Ah. That is a different pitch indeed 

Here goes a 5/8"-27 die, if one were so inclined.

Thanks all for the great info. These nitty gritty, (literal) nuts and bolts things are usually the hardest to get good intel on.

Peace,
Sanaka

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Here's a thread from last month regarding stereo bars.  A few suggestions and food for thought: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,119943.0.html

[sanaka]

Thanks FCB, that's a good thread. My new stand and stereo bar (I got the K&M straight one) should arrive this week and I'll start playing around.

Peace

[sst4270]

I realize it's too late now, but others might find it useful. I bought this stand:
http://www.shopwise2000.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=21

It arrived last week. Air cushioned. Built reasonably well. Not bullet proof, but built well notheless. And for $50 it was a great bargain.
I'll be using it this Thursday for the first time.

Regards,

Steve

[cybergaloot]

A lot can be learned by studying the pictures of rigs at: http://taperssection.com/index.php/board,20.0.html

[sanaka]

A lot can be learned by studying the pictures of rigs at: http://taperssection.com/index.php/board,20.0.html

Yup, I've definitely stared at some pics from there. I found this one especially educational:



 

Seriously tho, I did glean a lot from folks' rig pics. I just got a T-bar and a new Manfrotto 13' in the mail today! I should be deploying them early next week.

Peace,
Sanaka

[cybergaloot]

See! That picture clearly shows that its the way you hold your mouth that makes all the difference in recording! But what kind of cables are those?