Do I need a shock mount?

[clifchamb]

I just purchased a MK 319 and I purchased a shock mount for it. I have found that I can mount it without the shock mount on the mic stand. Should I keep and use the shock mount and why? I am just beginning at this.



I appreciate your help

clif

 

[Bodhisan]

Clif,

I've found that when a big truck or motorcycle drives by, it doesn't matter whether I have a shockmount or not -- a condensor will still pick up the vibrations. I don't have a $150 dollar shockmount, though...

I do like my shockmount because I can hang my mike upside down more practically, which is how I prefer to use it.

Bodhisan

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Condensor mics are pretty sensative. The mic might easily pick up your footstep or weight shifting through the floor if it isn't shock mounted. If someone closes a door on the other side of the house the shockmount gives you a chance at still keeping what you were recording.

It isn't fool proof, but it does isolate that sensative mic from some of the extraneous vibrations that you don't want to record.

If you can afford it, I would definately keep it.

Take care,
Chris

 

[Badger]

Shock mounts are important because they look impressive....
You cant convince your friends that you know what your doing with a mike just mounted in a clip.

 

[pundit]

Do I need a shock mount?

Hmmm... well some time back just after finishing my shower, and before jumping into the sack with my girl who was waiting patiently. I made a sudden, and completely unfounded decision to shave off my beard.

I'd had a beard since she known me for the previous couple of years. Well after finishing the job, I entered the darkened bedroom a climbed in next to her. We began 'kanoodlin' and then suddenly I felt her tense up. She then quickly began fumbling for the bedside lamp switch. The light went on.. and I reckon you could have heard the scream two blocks away.

So that was a 'shock mount' she probably could have done without!

She kept looking at me strangely for the next week!

Needless to say i was on 'bread 'n' water' for quite a while after that episode!

With relation to your question... yes shock mounts are always a good idea even if you think you may not need to use one.

Unwelcome vibrations can easily ruin a good take. Subsonic vibrations can send your speakers cones 'a flappin', cause a loss of headroom and seriously trick your compressor into the wrong kind of action.

 

[Robert D]

Shockmounts are always a good idea, but with this mic, it's absolutley necessary. I have an MK319, and I think it's a great sounding mic. I'll never get rid of mine. Having said that, the truth is that the quality of the capsule to body mounting is terrible, and leaves the mic very susceptable to vibration. Tap your foot on the flloor while singing with this mic, and it goes right up the stand streight to the diaphram. Worse, any vibrations that occur on the body tend to resonate, with a strong fundimental (don't know the freq). Just tap on the body with the gain up and you'll hear what I mean. Again, very nice mic the 319, huge value, but you MUST use a shockmount with it.
Cheers, RD

 

[clifchamb]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Great Replies! Thanks for the advice. I will keep my shock mount, if anything just to impress people who visit my house ...heh heh.


Seriously, I do not want to get burned down the road wishing I would have kept the shock mount.

clif

 

[wx3]

Shock mounts are important because they look impressive....
You cant convince your friends that you know what your doing with a mike just mounted in a clip.

LMAO

True dat, some shockmounts are real works of art...

 

[Badger]

Trackmounting is equally important. And lava lamps aparently. I needs some of those myself. ANd jeep tires.

 

[Son of Mixerman]

Trackmounting is equally important. And lava lamps aparently.

I wish you wouldn't make fun of me here!


SoMm