Topic: best t-Bar for multiple config. options???

[mikesalvo]

I see alot of talk about the Vark. Anyone have a suggestion??? Im getting sick of my jerry-rigged busted ass t-bar. Any help, as alwayts, would be much appreciated....

[Brian Skalinder]

The Vark's great, but is limited in its ability to space the mics.  I've been using 2 x KM235 lately, as it allows all the capability of the Vark + greater spacing if/when I need it.  Not as easy for me to set up as my Vark.  I still love my Vark bar, but this is more flexible and I'm enjoying playing around with wider spacing and narrower included angles.

[mikesalvo]

hmmm...thanks Brian +t for sure. I saw your post/pics on the dual KM235. great idea. Whats the cheapest place to pick these up? How about the vark???

~Mike

[stevetoney]

Vark...Posthorn is the only place I've seen it sold new, but I'm sure there are others.

http://www.posthorn.com/Macvk_4.html

AKG Bar

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/286149-REG/AKG_KM235_1_KM235_1_Stereo_Microphone_Bar.html

I've actually found this Sabra Som mount to be quite a flexible alternative also; however I doubt that it would be as flexible as the two AKG bar solution Brian has proposed.  FWIW, on this Sabra mount the two mounts slide laterally on the hexagonal shaped bar.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/272480-REG/Sabra_ST2_ST_2_Double_Microphone.html

[mikesalvo]

will my AT8410a shockmounts fit on the vark?

[stevetoney]

will my AT8410a shockmounts fit on the vark?

I've never used the AT mounts, but I assume they have standard 5/8 inch female.  The Vark has 3/8 male, so you'd need two 3/8 to 5/8 adapters.  They sell all different kinds of them at B&H...just search using the term '3/8 5/8 adapter' and you'll find them.

You'll find that the more you get into taping and all this that you're gonna need these adapters, so you might as well buy some anyhow.  While you're at it, do yourself a favor and also get some 1/4 to 5/8 inch adapters too, because those come in handy along the way.  Many stands have that 1/4 inch thread at the top.

[Brian Skalinder]

For those big-ass AT8410a shockmounts, I don't think the Vark bar is a good choice - it's pretty small.  A think the best option for full-size mics + full-size shockmounts:  single KM235 + riser.  It'll will work for XY, DINA, DIN, ORTF, and everything in between.  You'll probably need to add a 2nd KM235 bar, per my previous link, if you want to run wider spacing, like NOS or other variations.

[John Willett]

I find the standard K&M 23550 Stereo Bar perfect for most uses.

It's adjustable from 60 to 172mm.

And it's cheap and light. 

[aegert]

I love the K&M

I love the vark for my small condensers they set up perfect for xy ortf and din, for me it is lite and I use a ...don't laugh.. A Joe Meek JM27M mount to hold it and it really shock mounts the whole rig very well and it costs $19. The at shock mount is way to big and gets int he way!

Here is a pic of the joe meek!



I use the joe meek mount with my schoep cmt's as well and they are small and more rugged than the 120a from schoeps it looks like that one as well...

I like the akg as well with its movable arms it enables getting mics into position a snap...

A :-)

[Roving Sign]

I have the KM bar - but I find two of these to be the most flexible...takes a while to explore setup options with these...but they can do any config without concern for mic size/length - and they are cheap!

[ambo]

I have the KM bar - but I find two of these to be the most flexible...takes a while to explore setup options with these...but they can do any config without concern for mic size/length - and they are cheap!

The nice thing about this is you don't need spacers to adjust height. and you can do LDC's vertically easy. I have a set of similar, but heavier clamps that I bought many years ago, marketed as drumset clamps. They're German so they may be KM's

[stevetoney]

...don't laugh.. A Joe Meek JM27M mount to hold it and it really shock mounts the whole rig very well and it costs $19.

Laugh? Hell I've been using my Meeks since the day I got serious about gear.  I think these are fine mounts for the money.  I've promoted them before, but they just don't seem all that popular with people.  Sure they aren't the best money can buy, but for twenty bucks what the hell.  Anyhow, I've gone through about 4 or 5 different models of mics in the past year, and I've put the Meeks to work for every since set...well they're still in my bag after moving through all this other gear, so that's testimony for their usefulness and versatility, as far as I'm concerned anyhoo.

[mikesalvo]

where can I find some Joe Meek JM27M  hardware?

[mikesalvo]

also, the pic above, (that id require 2 of)  what is that??? and where can I find it!?

[stevetoney]

where can I find some Joe Meek JM27M  hardware?

I got mine from zzounds.com...which is the website that the picture is taken from (you can see their watermark in the lower left corner of the picture of the mount.)