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There are all sorts of fancy microphone clamps and mounts available these days. Those are fun to try & can solve some very specific problems you may have. However,they can be costly and single purpose. This is a quick look at a few general purpose items that you can use instead, without breaking the bank.
Parts & Pieces
Pony Spring Clamps – A ton of manufacturers make these. They’re cheap and the only important feature is that they have holes to put 1/4″ hardware through. From those holes you can add mic mounts, magnets or arms for reaching tricky spots.
1/4-20 Magnets – Magnets are awesome! They even come with 1/4″- 20 thread studs built in. This lets you mount all sorts of camera & grip gear, adapt to 3/8″ easily as well as to 5/8″ for mounting microphones directly. The 92lb option works great for a single mic, but you can go bigger if needed. Remember, magnets stick better to thicker metal & less so to thinner sheet metal.
Common Adapters – 1/4″ – 20 is the standard thread size for camera and optics gear mounting. You’re probably already using some yourself. You’ll also be familiar with 3/8″ – 16 threaded gear assuming you’ve worked with any larger camera or lighting gear. That’s also the size of the small brass adapter that is often included with mic clips too. Those take a 5/8″ – 27 mic stand thread and adapt it down to 3/8″ – 16 for mounting mics on camera & grip equipment. To be clear, the numbers we’re using are the diameter of the fastener, followed by the number of threads per inch.
Friction Arms – Assuming you want a bit more flexibility, adding a friction arm as shown above really lets you position things much easier. Most of these come with a 1/4-20 thread on one end & a 3/8-16 thread on the other. For connecting to the clamp, you will need a 1/4-20 double threaded adapter to go on the inside of the clamp and accept the friction arm. On the other end, you’ll then need a 3/8-16 to 5/8-27 adapter to mount the mic clip.
For a super minimalist mount, try the 1/4-20 magnets with just a 1/4-20 to 5/8-27 adapter to mount a mic clip directly to the magnet. It’s a great mount for certain cases & a small one to keep in your kit just in case you ever need it.
Links to make your own
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