A microphone stand is a free-standing mount for a

microphone A microphone, colloquially called a mic or mike (), is a transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, hearing aids, public address systems for concert halls and pub ...

. It allows the microphone to be positioned in the studio, on stage or on location without requiring a person to hold it. The most basic microphone stand is a ''straight stand''. It uses a

dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a ...

-shaped round metal base, or a tripod base, into which is threaded a post for mounting the microphone (most commonly a 5/8-27 threaded hole). This post may be made up of two or more telescoping tubes that fit inside each other, allowing for quick height adjustment. The mechanism for adjusting the height is called the clutch. There are various versions of the straight stand known as the "desk stand" (short version of straight stand) and heavy duty microphone stand (heavier base and larger tubes) to handle heavy microphones. The tubes used on the straight stand usually have a shiny

chrome plating Chrome plating (less commonly chromium plating) is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. A chrome-plated item is called ''chrome''. The chromed layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, ease o ...

to resist scratching, but may also be finished in a matte black. A very popular updated version of the straight stand uses the "folding tripod base stand", instead of the round, domed metal base. This folding base allows for easier packing of the stand when moving from location to location and reduces the weight of the stand. However, to compensate for the lack of weight at the base while still maintaining stability, the three "feet" of the tripod must extend out beyond the radius of a round base. The trade-off is that these "feet" may become a trip-hazard on a dark stage. A number of accessories make microphone stands more useful. Most of these are designed to get the microphone closer to the user without placing the upright portion of the stand directly in front of the performer. A "boom arm" attaches to the top of the stand so the microphone can move in the

horizontal plane In astronomy, geography, and related sciences and contexts, a '' direction'' or '' plane'' passing by a given point is said to be vertical if it contains the local gravity direction at that point. Conversely, a direction or plane is said to be ho ...

. A guitar player, for example, might use this to place the microphone directly in front of his mouth without having the upright portion of the stand in the way of the guitar. It also lets musicians have the microphone closer to the sound source when floor space is at a premium. This can be particularly useful when placing microphones on a drum stand when the microphone stands must compete for space with things like cymbal stands. Boom arms are offered both in fixed length and adjustable (telescoping) lengths. Another handy device for adjusting microphone placement is a flexible ''goose neck'' tube. Made of a spiral-wound core of steel, goosenecks are made in various lengths and finishes and provide the ability to make minute changes in microphone position. Microphones typically attach to the stand via a detachable microphone holder screwed to the end of the boom. (Some microphones screw directly onto the boom.) Commonly used screw threads (from large to small) are: * ⅝″ 27 threads per inch (tpi) Unified Special thread ( UNS, U.S. and the rest of the world) * ½" 12 threads per inch (tpi)

BSW British Standard Whitworth (BSW) is an imperial-unit-based screw thread standard, devised and specified by Joseph Whitworth in 1841 and later adopted as a British Standard. It was the world's first national screw thread standard, and is the basi ...

used in older German and European stands * ⅜″ 16 threads per inch (tpi)

(uncommon in the U.S., used in the rest of the world) * ¼″ 20 threads per inch (tpi)

(uncommon in the U.S., used in the rest of the world) Various male/female adapters are available to connect dissimilar sizes. Note: A compatible ¼″ 20 tpi UNC is common in photography tripods File:Desktop microphone stand.jpg, Desktop microphone stand File:Shure Brothers desktop microphone stand.jpg,

Shure Shure Incorporated is an American audio products corporation. It was founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois, in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of mi ...

model S36 desktop microphone stand File:Tripod microphone stand.jpg, Microphone stand with folding tripod base, boom arm, and

shock mount A shock mount or isolation mount is a mechanical fastener that connects two parts elastically. They are used for shock and vibration isolation. Isolation mounts allow a piece of equipment to be securely mounted to a foundation and/or frame and, ...

Bottomless microphone stand

A rare type of microphone stand is the ''bottomless'' microphone stand—essentially a microphone stand with no base, so a singer must hold it throughout a live performance. It is useful as a mobile prop.

Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer and songwriter, who achieved worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in th ...

(the lead singer of Queen), discovered the device by accident: he grabbed a standard microphone stand with such force that it dislodged from its base. For the rest of his career he used a bottomless microphone stand regularly.

Robbie Williams Robert Peter Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer and songwriter. He found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, and achieved commercial success after launching a solo career in 1996. His debut stu ...

as well as heavy metal singers

Joey Belladonna Joey Belladonna (born Joseph Bellardini; October 13, 1960) is an American singer, best known as the vocalist for thrash metal band Anthrax. He is also the vocalist and drummer of the cover band Chief Big Way. Belladonna has six Grammy Award nom ...

Anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis''. It can occur in four forms: skin, lungs, intestinal, and injection. Symptom onset occurs between one day and more than two months after the infection is contracted. The s ...

and Chuck Billy of Testament also use bottomless microphone stands.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Microphone Stand Microphones

Bottomless microphone stand

See also

References