Is it important to use a mic stand when micing an amp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Spin Doctor
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Spin Doctor

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Can a just place the mic on a cardboard box in front of my amp? The contents of the box is none of your concern.
 
The box will affect the pickup pattern of the mic, may vibrate causing extra noise, and may reflect sound in an undesirable way, but you certainly can do it. A mic stand would be preferred. I've seen those sennheiser e609s's just slung over the top of the speaker cab, dangling down over the speaker, which also works (as long as your mic cable is locked in tight).
 
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Well you will be blocking off part of the mic capsule, which isn't ideal, and it may be harder to get the angles optimal for the sound you want. If you're hard-up, get one of those mini stands that are a little cheaper.
 
does the amp have a handle on top? in live situations I see the mic cable doubled around the handle and propped against the grill

Might work for you, might not...obviously you're stuck with whatever proximity effect that throws at you but you'll get a better capture to the mic than placing it on something where the sound source is reflecting off of it and bouncing away like Noisedude mentioned
 
I can't say it wont work, it might work fine for what you are doing. We have all improvised from time to time, sometimes things work other times they don't. If you are going to lay a mic on something, at least try to prop it up a little, a piece of foam or even a kitchen sponge will work for this. It not only "lifts" the mic a little so it can pick up better it also eliminates the possibility of rattle (from viberating on whatever the mic is laying on.) I've made plenty of makeshift mic stands, taped mics to chair legs, rubber bands holding mics on any unused stands, and used velcro to put mics in lots of otherwise unaccessable places. Don't worry about if it looks a little weird, it's does it sound good that matters.
 
I think most of us have been known to use unconventional things when we don't have the proper equipment. But, since a stand is only like $20 why not get one?

p.s. In high school I didn't have a stand for doing vocals, so I used an old music stand I had laying around and a metal vacuum cleaner hose with the mic taped with about 50 rolls of tape to the hose. Of course the hose was taped to the stand too. It's funny now.
 
The contents of the box may not be our concern but it is yours as it will affect the the sound picked up through the mic body as well as cause some resonance that will be picked up by the mic as well.
Full of soft will deaden these things somewhat.
Empty or partially empty will create more.
All of the suggestions made, from dangling to vacuum cleaner wands are better, though the best is BUY A STAND - a boom stand will allow you a great deal of flexibility & an added goose neck will expotentially incease your options.
OR
Do what your doing if it sound good.
Cheers
rayC
 
c'moooon....tell us whats in the box!!WHAT IS IN THE BOX!! :mad:
 
The contents of the box can affect the sound, for example:

  • A human head, fairly dense, shouldn't rattle unless teeth contain loose fillings.
  • Pop tops from soda cans, will rattle, but that might be the sound you're going for.
  • A box of chocolates, won't rattle, but may melt, leaving a mess, which may or may not be desirable.
  • A box of puppies will be very noisy, especially when you crank the amp to ear-splitting levels. Plus you will have PETA after you.

The possibilities, as you can see, are endless.

(Oh, and FWIW: don't let the puppies eat the chocolates.)
 
The box is full of pornography magazines. But they aren't mine.

I would go purchase a 20 dollar mic stand, but most music stores in the area are closed. Maybe I could try Ebay or Musicians Friend.
 
i once created a makeshift microphone stand using a long cardboard fabric tube, a broom stick, two 2x4 planks, and some nails.
 
I once created a mic stand using porno mags rolled into cylinders & telescope one into the other & jammed into a hole in a cardboard box with a final mag cylinder taped perpenicular at the top as the clip.
It stayed together well due to the natural viscosity of such publications.
Cheers
rayC
 
rayc said:
I once created a mic stand using porno mags rolled into cylinders & telescope one into the other & jammed into a hole in a cardboard box with a final mag cylinder taped perpenicular at the top as the clip.
It stayed together well due to the natural viscosity of such publications.
Cheers
rayC
Click to expand...


Niiiiice..... :D
 
They aren't my magazines.

but in conclusion, I am not a cheapskate. But by the time I get off work all the stores are closed. I will have to buy one via computer internet.
 
You know what's embarassing? Trying to give a grown man a giant box o' porn!
 
Just build a mic stand out of tree branches and shoelaces, both of which should be easily attainable. Just make sure the branches are a decent thickness.
 
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