tricks to make a cheap mic stand better?

  • Thread starter Thread starter FiveStarSky
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FiveStarSky

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Hey guys, i got a pretty cheap boom mic stand,

does anyone know of any tricks you can do to them to make them feel a bit more
solid?
 
If you mean that it's top heavy and wants to tip over easily ..... sand bags on the feet or base of the stand or a 5 to 10 pound lifting weight will slide down the shaft to the bottom of the stand to hold it down.
 
a) tighten the nuts on the legs so they don't flop down when you pick up the stand.
b) always stand right next to the stand with one foot on one of the legs.
c) rope and tent stakes.
d) 5lbs or 10lbs weight over the shaft. Depending on how much gear you like to lug around.
e) anything you clamp to it, pad with some of that kitchen drawer stuff or a sock / rag. No reason, just extra padding when it falls over I guess.
f) if using a boom arm keep the weight centered. Which might mean hanging a shoe or sweater off the other end. Pick up the stand about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way down, if it tips, your weight is not centered.
g) only place the stand on level ground.
h) always keep the stand at it's MINIMUM extension. Or be prepared to be your stands battle buddy. i.e. foot on leg, hand on stand, never more than 2' from it.
i) use a shock mount so something other than your mic might hit the ground first.
j) rope, weights, stakes, and more rope, weights, and stakes.
 
They asked for making it more solid, not more stinky... ;)

Besides lead paint is bad for pets too.
 
cool, thanks guys, I was also thinking of using plumbing tape over some of the main screws to keep them tight.
 
Oh screw problems!
If your constantly have to tighten and losening your clutches of your microphone stand for proper microphone placement and if they are cheap stands it's pretty much a losing battle.
Best purchase quality and be able to pass those stands onto the next generation. Then purchase cheap and have to do constant maintenance or worst throw them away.
 
I've only tightened the legs on my radio shack special (OSP / made in china) once so far. Over the course of nearly two years. Now the boom arm just flat out broke, never to be serviced. And the main height adjuster isn't exactly easy to manipulate, but it does lock in place good enough. You could always use lock tite to keep the screws from moving, but I suspect the issue is more about the cheap metal collapsing in on itself than the screws losing tension. You could always cut some wood or something to fill that void and slow the creep factor. Or just encase that end in some concrete if you want a more permanent fix. At least until it rusts out and falls apart.
 
Hey guys, i got a pretty cheap boom mic stand,

does anyone know of any tricks you can do to them to make them feel a bit more
solid?

Yes - throw it in the bin and by a decent K&M stand.

A mic. is too valuable to risk on a cheap stand.

And - it's actually cheaper - I have K&M stands that I bought second hand over 30 years ago still going strong.
 
I don't know, I like the encased in cement thing. So when the guy who hired you asks, what made you think of that, you can tell him, I was practicing for later when you fail to pay me.

(just kidding) ;)
 
i don't know, i like the encased in cement thing. So when the guy who hired you asks, what made you think of that, you can tell him, i was practicing for later when you fail to pay me.

(just kidding) ;)

pow !
 
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