Which mic stand

The first thing you should think about here is place of performance. In other words, where do you plan on using the stand on a routine basis? It also serves as your first clue regarding no two stands being alike.

If you are looking for a microphone stand you're going to tote with you for your numerous gigs, you're probably going to be in the market for something that's pretty heavy duty. In a live performance situation, you're going to be setting up and tearing down your set a great deal. You'll need a bit more robust to stand up to this abuse. Therefore, you may not need something quite as sturdy. With something this inexpensive there's no reason to force one to be a mediocre compromise.

There are essentially two types of bases for these stands: tripod and solid. As you may guess, the former gets its name because it rests on a three-pronged base like a camera tripod. The round base is heavy in order to keep a low center of gravity, but aren't very wide.

To determine which base you want to use, another question has to be considered. Specifically, what kind of performance are you going to be conducting behind the mic? The reason for this has to do with a mic boom; a microphone set up on an extension bar specifically to be trained on a secondary sound, such as an instrument. Tripod stands, on the other hand, allow you to use them with or without a boom, making them essential if you want the sound of your instrument to shine through. Another advantage that a tripod stand has that a solid stand does not is that they fold up.

As such, they don't take up a whole lot of space. If you're going to be traipsing around from gig to gig in limited space, this is probably something that would probably be a great deal of interest to you.

That being said, a lot of round bases do allow the vertical portion of the stand to unscrew from the base. Finally, you should pay close attention to the level of durability that a stand offers. This ties back to the first point we made when we were talking about how you were planning on using the mic. They will be knocked over, knocked around, have heavy instruments in hard case shells stacked on top of them, etc.

Factors like storage, transport, and the occasional handling by people that may not be as careful as you are all components that factor into the overall equation. And the bigger your gigs get, the less control you may have over that latter element. Some of the stands out there are surprisingly technologically advanced. Stands with counterweighted booms, casters, wheels, and even shock absorbers are all available to aid you in the various aspects of ownership, from stable positioning to minimizing vibrations that could come from other instruments.

These aren't the kind you want to beat to death, and we'll talk more about these features further down the article. The best mic stands aren't meant to be carried from gig to gig and tossed into a van like nobody cares about it. There are other types that you'll find in the video industry that we won't cover as they aren't necessarily relevant to most uses. There are even crazy, unique stands like Freddy Mercury's bottomless mic stand.

While you're at it, you may be interested in some of these additional resources after you look at the reviews below:. There's plenty more but we can't list it all here! We're going to bust this into two sections Note: Each image and text link leads to Amazon. Let's start with the more inexpensive models first. Keep scrolling to see all of the fun microphone stand accessories, too. Remember, these come with mic clips for those without your own shockmounts.

The reason we've chosen these at the best of this group, even though they are all cheap, is that these can take a beating but most importantly that the clamps and clips have the strength to not slip on you. That is the main problem with the cheapest of the cheap.

But like any stand, don't over-tighten them or you'll strip the plastic and compress it and ruin it. If you're hunting for a tripod base with a boom, then the Samson MK will satisfy your needs. What I particularly appreciate about this option is that the tripod legs extend much lower and further horizontally than others.

This lowers your center of gravity and creates a wider base that resists tipping from sideways pressures. There's no counterweight on this boom although you could add one yourself but what you can do is make sure it extends in the same direction of a tripod leg if you extend it as far as you can.

I'm also a fan of the latches which feature quick-twist adjustments. The other thing is that this sucker can collapse into a relatively small size, once you collapse the pole, turn the boom down, and pull the legs together. You can keep an entire collection of these tightly packed into one closet.

The best thing about this model is that it costs less than most of us will blow on a single dinner, it's extremely durable, and if you lose one by loaning it out or leaving it at a gig, you won't care to just order another. It's a workhorse for the studio or stage, for sure.

Check Price on Amazon. It's made out of die-cast and steel. The pole can unscrew for transport so you can carry the base separately, which is the main attractor of this stand. The base weighs over 9 pounds and has a large enough diameter to resist rocking but not so much that you can't move it about with your hands for live performance. The height at its lowest is That may seem a little low for tall people but remember that dynamic mics will be tilted up and condensers are going to add quite a bit of height themselves without even considering the shockmount.

I've personally had more than one of this very model before I started buying the more luxury models below. It was good enough for me to return to it. I'm sure anyone starting out or traveling with one can get the max value out of it.

The top stands are for the professional studios, orchestras, and other recording environments where they won't take a beating. They can, but you won't want to because they're so nice. You'll understand why as we talk about each of the three picks below.

As always, the best strategy for holding a heavy microphone at the full extension of the boom arm is to point it in the same direction as one of its long tripod legs.

The is no exception. This mic stand has shorter stance and shorter boom arm than the but is just as sturdy and stable. Overhead stands are, generally speaking, the most expensive and sturdy microphone stands on the market. These mic stands are tasked with providing more height and a greater span in the horizontal plane than all the other mic stands. For this reason, the overhead stands must be heavy duty with a strong base. The large and heavy base of the MC provides a low centre of gravity and superb stability.

In total, this stand weighs 35 lbs. This is essential for the long boom arm of this overhead mic stand to function properly. The MC also includes a 5. Each of these joints is designed to last and hold the microphone perfectly in place.

The boom hub is particularly superior to many other boom stands. So there you have it, my recommended list of the best mic stands for each mis stand type. Again, they are:. He's an audio engineer by trade and works on contract in his home country of Canada. When not blogging on MNM, he's likely hiking outdoors and blogging at Hikers' Movement hikersmovement.

Check out his Pond5 and AudioJungle accounts. Boiling water is usually associated with cooking or blanching. You will probably not hear the phrase "boiling strings" very often in everyday lingo. Why do guitarists and bassists boil their If you've been a guitarist or bassist for a long time, the chances are that you've restrung your guitar or bass numerous times. This means that you may have a lot of string sets saved somewhere if Konig and Meyer.

Features: Single piece boom Steel tubing Zinc die-cast base Boom length: Pros Live performers, audio engineers, and recording enthusiasts have praised this stand for its simple but durable construction. Cons One reviewer noted that the newer ones aren't as robust as older models. Pros Users like its small footprint for live miking situations like bass drums or guitar cabinets from the floor. Cons One user had trouble using a Dynamount a type of robotic mic placement system with the stand.

Overall Aside from being a space-saver, the mic stand is a stable and reliable unit for miking up low-positioned sound sources. The boom T-bar adjustment clamp is also an upgrade over the 's wing nut design Features: Steel tubing Zinc die-cast base 2-piece telescopic boom arm Boom arm length adjusts from Pros A lot of reviewers note the build quality being solid.

Cons Some reviewers expected its boom to have a bigger counterweight for extra support to prevent heavy microphones from completely tipping over.

The Best Straight Mic Stands These are high-quality, straight stands used for vocals in both live and studio settings. Atlas Sound. Cons One isolated case of the unit shipping with a damaged clutch but follow-up comments concluded it was damaged during transit. A wide tripod base helps in stability even at maximum height. The non-scratching clutch aids in long term durability.

Features: Lightweight Stable tripod and non-scratching clutch Height Adjustment from Pros Users note that the stand is supremely durable, with some reviews stating that they came back to purchase another one after several years. Cons The first thing that loosens is noted to be the tripod bracing but no catastrophic failures like dropping mics have been reported. Features: Available in mirrored chrome or non-reflective ebony epoxy Wear-resistant 3-Piece Clutch for secured height adjustment Height Adjustment from 37" to 66" Weight: 14 lbs.

Pros Positive reviews abound from people greatly satisfied with the quality. Cons It was difficult to find any negative reviews with some who rated less than 5 stars not giving any reviews. Overall The Atlas Sound Ms is a study and long-lasting mic stand with a great air suspension mechanism to protect your mics. The Atlas Sound MS25 is a heavy-duty stand that comes with a chrome tube finish. Features: Available in mirrored chrome or non-reflective ebony epoxy Wear-resistant 3-Piece Clutch for secured height Adjustment Height Adjustment from 38" - 67" Weight: 23 lbs Pros Several owners mentioned this has great build quality and provides exceptional stability.

Cons Because of its weight and heavy build, one issue mentioned is it heavy to carry around and may not be the best bet for portability. Overall This is an ideal mic stand to use mostly for home recording or in-house venues where it can be easily stored. The Best Studio Mic Stands These stands are ideal for use with condenser microphones and other heavy studio mics.

Features: Standard Boom 3-piece telescoping design T-bar locking screw Durable metal construction Height Adjustment from Pros Not all tall studio stands are made the same.

Cons One user noted that despite it being compact, it was still heavy compared to other stands. Its long tripod base can fold for compact storage. Features: Designed for studios and drummers Two section telescopic pole with noiseless clutch T-bar locking screw Durable metal construction Height Adjustment from Pros A standout reviewer notes that the stand inspires confidence for their large diaphragm condensers.

Cons None that we could find aside from some packaging issues. It also comes with a mini boom for more vertical placement options. Features: Extendable boom arm and mini boom with a 6. Pros Users bought the stand for use with overheads. Cons The number one con would be its weight. Overall The is one of, if not, the best mic stand for overheads on the market today. When it comes to live performance you're usually going to be setting up and tearing down your stands much more frequently than you would in a studio setting so getting robust solid stands is very important.

Another important, yet sometimes overlooked factor, is how much space they take up when packed away. Having a stand that can fold small is a great plus, especially if you're carrying multiple to a venue setup.

Boom vs Straight Boom designs offer more versatility with mic positioning and adjustment at the expense of portability and stability.

They can be used for most situations except for vocalists that prefer to hold on to the microphone while performing. For singers, straight stands are generally preferable unless they also play an instrument at the same time. Tripod vs Solid Base Tripod stands are versatile and can fold up to take much less space than solid base or round base stands. Oftentimes the only time you would use solid base stands live is where a boom isn't necessary such as with singers who don't play an instrument.

For musicians that sing while playing an instrument a tripod stand with a boom is almost always necessary so that the stand can be placed in such a way that it won't get in the way of playing the instrument. You can effectively use just about any type of mic stand for recording so long as it allows you to position the microphone exactly where you need it to best capture the source you are recording.

Some stands help facilitate this by providing booms with a counterweight allowing the mic to be positioned a long way from the base - this can be particularly helpful positioning overhead mics and with miking drum kits.

Some contain shock absorbers to minimize floor vibrations that might reach the microphone. For boom mics, adjustments are locked using a screw clamp.

When you put a microphone into a position, it needs to be fastened securely. Some of the cheaper stands may cause the mic to sag or drop in position which can ruin a great take when recording or require someone to run up on stage and make adjustments during a performance. This doesn't usually happen when they're brand new but it may occur after extended use. You can avoid this problem by purchasing high-quality stands. Higher stability then is a tradeoff with portability since heavier stands are more tedious to travel with.

When using boom stands with heavy condenser mics and other attachments you'll find basic boom stands are fine so long as you don't extend the boom too far beyond the feet otherwise the center of gravity will be outside the base and it will tip over. You will find these in the Studio Mic Stand section above. Best Mic Stand Selection Methodology The first edition was published in and the latest edition was published on August 13, About the Author and Contributors Here are the key people and sources involved in this guide's production - click on linked names for information about their music industry backgrounds.

The Best Studio Condenser Mics. The Best Live Vocal Mics. The Best Dynamic Microphones. The Best Studio Monitor Stands. The Best Studio Monitors.