Some advice on a microphone stand

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eNxy

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Hello,

I hope this is in the right section! If not, would a mod be so kind as to move it into the right section.

I am hoping to take up podcasting/voice-overs/shoutcasting, maybe dabble in a bit of singing in my spare time/hobby, but my predicament is the microphone stand.

So far, I have a AT2035 (XLR) on the way, and I want to keep it on my desk. I would prefer a stand that has an extendable boom arm so that I can keep view of my PC screen while I read/sing or whatnot so I can have my microphone "hanging" next to me. The only problem is that the AT microphone is the slightly heavier condenser microphone and I am worried that those small desk stands with a boom arm (with a circular base) aren't going to hold the microphone, and that it will topple over.

Does anyone have a recommendation to my solution? I live in the UK so it would be best so source it here if possible. Ideally something cheap - under the £50 bracket maybe ?

Many thanks :)
 
A full sized boom stand. With the microphone coming from over the top of your head.
 
Use a floor stand tripod with a long boom...that should get the mic over the desk where you want it.
Put a 5lb dumbbell weight at the base of the tripod...or some other heavy item on the tripod legs.

You could also make a ceiling mount using a typical mic stand, and have the mic "hang" where you want it.
 
One possibility is a Luxo arm (or knock-off brand equivalent, if there is one). It's basically the same arm that's more often used for lamps. So far as I can tell, broadcaster-types use them for mics pretty often. With the appropriate attachment, you can clamp it to the edge of your desk, or bolt it right down to attach it more permanently.

If my rough sense of exchange rates is right, it's probably right on the upper limit of your price bracket.

Here's the first source/version that I pulled up; there are other sources and variants, I'm sure:
Luxo KM1 BLACK Microphone Arm, 41", Heavy Duty 2-3 lbs, Black | Full Compass
 
Do what they do at boxing / wrestling matches ..... lower it in from the catwalk. :D
 
I thought full sized boom stands were even worse with their center of gravity as they are higher up? So surely it would be easier to topple over considering I'll be sitting down infront of my PC!
 
Kickdrum boom might work Buy OnStage MS7920B U Base Amplifier/Kick Drum Boom Microphone Stand ($21.95) On-Stage - Microphone Boom Stands, Recording - DJ Equipment and Musical Instruments

or if you want a DJ like setup

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Polar Audio
 
The tabletop stand looks like it'll fall over as soon as I clip the mic on. The second one looks ace, but at £80 it's a bit dear for me. I would probably rather go for a semi-decent full sized boom stand. But then I'm wary about the fact that if a smaller version with a heavy bass topples over on a desk, surely it'll be just as worse being full sized - the center of gravity is higher, boom arm length will have to be longer due to it having to go around my desk.

BAH why does it have to be so hard!
 
I have a boom for my MXL 2010 and it falls over if the boom arm is extended - I have to hang dead animals on the short part of the arm to keep it from falling over. It's a bit of a problem as they start to smell very bad after a few days.
 
Just to let you know, I ordered a broadcast microphone stand like the picture above (with the springs) and I don't know why, but you can't actually angle the stand like the picture. The springs are so stiff that they pull the arm upwards, so it points up! It's a bit of a con!!!
 
eNxy said:
Just to let you know, I ordered a broadcast microphone stand like the picture above (with the springs) and I don't know why, but you can't actually angle the stand like the picture. The springs are so stiff that they pull the arm upwards, so it points up! It's a bit of a con!!!
Click to expand...


Sounds and looks like the use the same spring arms they on clamp-on lights for desks. Give it a few months with weight on it and those springs will be sagging down into position!
 
Yeh, it's a bit annoying. The condenser mic is quite heavy so it pulls it down a bit, but if I give the stand a prod, it'll spring back up like a catapult... probably not the best thing with a fragile condenser mic haha!
 
Launch a few fireballs over the castle walls and that sucker will be broken in within a few assaults.
 
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