Shock Mounts for SDC stereo pair? DIY / OTS / OL?

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Shadow_7

Shadow_7

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With the economy down and resources light, I'm pretty much left with only upgrading shock mounts before the end of the year. From basically none to some. Any recommendations? I am currently considering three options. Something DIY. Less flexible plastic, more bungie-ish (hair braids). Something OTS, only one to choose from at GC. Or something bought online. But I don't do financials online. Sending a check really isn't going to make shipping any slower or faster IMO.

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OTS is pretty much this one or something like it at guitar center.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sabra-SSM1-Universal-Shock-Mount-102922739-i1177681.gc

Otherwise I'd rather have these or something like them if I have to oder them.
http://www.tensimount.com/

Baring that something cut from PVC or rigged up with those sewing loops for embroidery on the DIY side. I'm just a little worried that if I have to part that out, that dollar for dollar, the commercial option would have been cheaper. But then again if you factor in gas and/or shipping. Hobby Lobby is 10 miles out, GC is 40 miles. x2 for round trip.

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Budget is basically $100 max for everything. To shockmount TWO mics. And if I can get some sort of zeppelin configuration out it, that's a bonus. But not the focus at this time. Also trying to avoid as much metal as possible. Although metal for the threads that tie it to the mic stand is a must. I keep reading bad things about mounts with plastic threads. I already have several cheap stereo bars to have a bit of a head start on the DIY route. To be used outdoors and has to survive 110F for sustained periods. Although probably not tested at that spec until next spring/summer. It's pretty much cooking by memorial day in these parts. And still cooking by labor day.
 
I like the size, and the price, but I want something a little more substantial. But that does send the wheels spinning for cheaper DIY options given the 5/8" to plate with hole that are the necks of the cheap stereo bars. The armage of which could suspend upside down via conventional rubber band. Although a little difficult to aim that route. At least in the winds of these parts. But all the parts of which I basically have already. Probably a bit on the heavy side, but Hmmmm.....
 
BTW, what does a shock mount actually do, just out of curiosity.
 
It helps to keep structure born sounds from being recorded. i.e. Mic cable hitting the mic stand in the wind. Hands shifting on a boom pole. You carrying your gear across rough terrain while recording. And other things that might not make an audible sound, but will otherwise generate a sound at the mic because of the vibration or impact. It helps decouple it from the structure so it can focus on actual sound, and not other influences.

Ever hear bad camcorder audio where the handling of the device is more audible than the subject? A shock mount lets you handle the device while keeping the handling noises to those things which actually generate a sound at the time of the capture. And I think that it helps the low end where the vibration(s) of the structure might otherwise cancel out or dampen those same frequencies at the mic.
 
gehauser said:
I use these for my sm81s. They are very effective shockmounts.

http://www.aiconsol.com/a53m.html
Click to expand...

That's nice to know as I had a pair of those and they're very sensitive to handling noise. I'm still leaning towards the spider type of shock mount. Not a fan of rubber bearings as they don't age well. The rubber gets harder, brittle, and stuff like that. And it may not be a perfect fit size wise. I really should get exact measurements I suppose. But the spider type are a bit more universal and I will upgrade mics, someday... If only for a lower noise floor.
 
Shadow_7 said:
OTS is pretty much this one or something like it at guitar center.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Sabra-SSM1-Universal-Shock-Mount-102922739-i1177681.gc

Otherwise I'd rather have these or something like them if I have to order them.
http://www.tensimount.com/
Click to expand...

The Tensimount looks cool and I think a better deal than the Sabra....

...but check this guy out on eBay I found the other day (I just recently posted his links on another thread about shockmounts), he has all kinds of shockmounts...CHEAP!!!
Yeah, it's a Hong Kong seller...but he has lots of eBay sales and good rep...it's not a big money gamble anyway, though it does take a couple of weeks or so for the shipping from Hong Kong...but great prices.

You might like this one for your SDC mics:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mic-Shock-Mount...940?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a109119c

Check out all his shockmounts:
http://stores.ebay.com/myboy1979/Sh...56274011&_sid=951792361&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322
 
Beleive it or not ..... radio shack on line has shock mounts for $12. each (LDC). And they work very well! ;)







:cool:
 
dintymoore said:
The other day I saw a Kohler urinal part that I was thinking I could use for my KM84's. :)
Click to expand...

Well...Kohler...now you're going all high-end!

:D

Are you removing these from used/exsisting plumbing...or do you order brand new parts? :laughings:

;)
 
I saw some 4" PVC caps for pipes that I was thinking of using. But it looked like it would be too much work given that I'd have to cut away 75% of so of it.

That eBay one is along the lines of what I want. But, paypal only, and I don't do financials online. Plus it looks like it might have plastic threads. My $200+ each mics might not be much, but they are/were $200+ each.

temp_mount.gif


Not quite the DIY I had in mind. But shock mounting the bar might be the DIY option of choice. But more of a tensimount sideways approach. This rig needs something with a little more spring than string. But string is slightly better than metal to metal. And if I go with that option I'll probably make the bar out of scrap wood for the sake of weight.
 
DIY with PVC

Shadow,

This works for me. Cut 2-3 inches from a 4 inch PVC drain pipe. I used the thick wall. Notch them for your rubber bands/hair ties. Take a broken mic clip and remove the clip part. It will slide right up onto the PVC pipe and bolt or glue. Alternatively use a 3/8 European standard to 5/27 (I think) American standard mic stand adaptor and bolt it to your PVC.

These really only take 5 to 10 minutes to build.

It will take two and two stands to set up your stereo pair.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
That's sort of what I was thinking. And what I saw in the cap that goes on such pipes. Except for the solid side, cut to length already. I haven't been doing this long enough to have broken mic clips at hand. But I have parts from 4x <$10 OSP stereo bars. 4 of the mic screws are claimed by the headphone preamp to leave an air gap between it and the mobile pre. And one of the metal bars is toast after the great boom arm suicide of 2010. And most of the rest of them used in the above redneck rig. I kind of want the commercial ones because they're smaller, and kinder to the visual element. Actually I have more broken boom arms than mic clips.
 
For practical application in a small home recording studio, there isn't a real need for a shock mount. Unless you move your mics while recording frequently, which I have never seen done.
 
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