Microphone Stands

Microphone stands for stage, studio, lectern and conference use, from full-size touring booms to low-profile desk bases. Gravity touring stands cover live work with one-hand clutches and round or tripod bases, Sennheiser floor and table stands cover the 8000 series, gooseneck microphones and the Profile range, and Audio-Technica desk stands mount goosenecks on lecterns and conference tables, with and without switches.

Pick the base first. A round cast base is stable and takes up little floor space, which suits vocalists and cramped stages, while a folding tripod packs flatter for touring and is easier to level on uneven ground. Boom arms buy you position over a drum kit or a guitar cabinet, at the cost of needing counterweight discipline. For lecterns and conference tables, a weighted desk stand with the correct thread saves fighting adaptors on the day.

What thread do microphone stands use?

UK and European stands normally use a 5/8 inch thread, and many microphone clips are 3/8 inch. Thread adaptors are inexpensive and worth keeping in the toolbox, because mixing brands across a rig will eventually catch you out.

Do I need a boom or a straight stand?

A straight stand is quicker to set, harder to knock over and fine for vocals. A boom is what you need to place a microphone over a drum kit, an amplifier or a piano, where the stand base cannot sit directly under the source.

Are these stands suitable for heavy microphones?

Check the stand weight rating against the microphone and any shock mount. Heavy large-diaphragm microphones on a long boom need a weighted base and a proper clutch, otherwise the arm creeps down during a performance.