Mic boom counterweight

[DeepEnd]

My Samson C01U mike is heavy enough and the base on my mike stand small enough that it tends to tip. I checked online and found out a proper counterweight would run me $15-20 minimum but I'm cheap. A trip to the local hardware store netted a large cable clamp for a penny over $5 with tax:

All is well and if I need more weight later I can always buy another one.

[Danocoustic]

Simple and practical

[Phil O'Keefe]

Cool idea!

I assume you have a stand with a round base... if you have one with a tripod base, sandbags and bricks work great too.

[davie]

I'm using an old textbook..

[isaac42]

Cool idea!

I assume you have a stand with a round base... if you have one with a tripod base, sandbags and bricks work great too.

With a round base, barbell weights work well. Pick 'em up cheap at Goodwill and the like.

[Phil O'Keefe]

[DeepEnd]

Cool idea!

I assume you have a stand with a round base... if you have one with a tripod base, sandbags and bricks work great too.

Yes, it's a round base. I bought the stand used via CraigsList, $15 with the boom. I use it for recording. If I were buying new I'd probably look for something with a tripod base. Lord knows I have plenty of crap lying around to use for dead weight.

[DeepEnd]

I'm using an old textbook..

No need for facepalms. If it works and it's cheap it's a good idea.

[Phil O'Keefe]

If you're using a boom, one thing that will help is to not extend the boom arm any further than absolutely necessary. For a vocalist you should be able to keep it fairly close to the center pole of the stand, with most of the boom arm extended behind the stand, on the opposite side of the clutch from the singer. Use the center part of the stand to raise the mic to the appropriate height.

The closer you can keep the mic positioned towards the stand's center, the more stable it's going to be... especially when using big, heavy mics.

[DeepEnd]

If you're using a boom, one thing that will help is to not extend the boom arm any further than absolutely necessary. For a vocalist you should be able to keep it fairly close to the center pole of the stand, with most of the boom arm extended behind the stand, on the opposite side of the clutch from the singer. Use the center part of the stand to raise the mic to the appropriate height.

The closer you can keep the mic positioned towards the stand's center, the more stable it's going to be... especially when using big, heavy mics.

Thanks. The vocalist I record is me, sitting in a chair playing acoustic guitar in front of a computer desk, one mike to pick up both vocals and guitar. Not ideal but that's how I record and my needs are simple, one mike and Audacity. I just have the stand far enough away to be out of the way and the boom as short as possible, as you noted. Unfortunately, the stand still tips, which is why I needed a counterweight.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Unfortunately, the stand still tips, which is why I needed a counterweight.

So, how's it working out? Do you think one is sufficient, or are you going to add another one?

[DeepEnd]

So, how's it working out? Do you think one is sufficient, or are you going to add another one?

I haven't experimented with it much but believe it or not, it's currently tipping slightly in the opposite direction. I need to move the counterweight closer to the center pole (or maybe extend the boom a bit more) until I achieve a balance. But the original problem appears solved, and for cheap too. Yay! If I think of it I'll put it on Mrs. DeepEnds's diet scale and see how much weight we're talking about.

[davie]

No need for facepalms. If it works and it's cheap it's a good idea.

Its actually quite effective. The weight is pretty evenly distributed along one of the stand legs. It's able to stabilize my stand with the boom at a horizontal mounted with an SM7B. I just don't like how it looks and the amount of floor space it takes up. Luckily its just tucked away in the corner of the room, and isn't in the way of anything.

[Phil O'Keefe]

If I think of it I'll put it on Mrs. DeepEnds's diet scale and see how much weight we're talking about.

If you get a chance, please let us know - I'd be curious to know too...

[DeepEnd]

Okay, update: I haven't weighed my "counterweight" yet but with the counterweight pretty close to its end of the boom (next to the grip) the stand appears to balance when the boom is connected to the center rod at about the midpoint, with equal lengths of boom on either side. If I ran the boom out much further I'd probably need two counterweights, maybe not as far from the midpoint. One should probably work most of the time.

Its actually quite effective. The weight is pretty evenly distributed along one of the stand legs. It's able to stabilize my stand with the boom at a horizontal mounted with an SM7B. I just don't like how it looks and the amount of floor space it takes up. Luckily its just tucked away in the corner of the room, and isn't in the way of anything.

Effective is a necessity, pretty is optional. I like pretty as much as the next guy but given a choice between a pretty shovel and one that actually does job I'll take the ugly one. Could be because I'm not exactly "pretty" myself.

[DeepEnd]

If you get a chance, please let us know - I'd be curious to know too...

Okay, final update: Mrs. DeepEnd's diet scale says a bit less than 12 ounces, about 335 grams. It's not a Postal scale so it's not super accurate but it should be fairly close. I could add small amounts of weight by adding extra nuts if I wanted, probably less than 50¢ each. All told I'm happy with it and I recommend it to anyone who needs a cheap solution.