sturdy, portable mic stand/boom arm?

[Philip Fass]

I have this stand/extendable arm combo:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/92815-REG/Beyerdynamic_406945_GST500_Tripod_Microphone.html
The stand is fairly good, but the center brake knob on the arm just can't be tightened enough to reliably hold any weight at even a moderate distance.

Two questions:

1. Are all portable tripod stands basically the same in terms of reliability and quality? Based on the B&H photos, they pretty much look like mine.

2. Would something like this be overkill, or too top heavy, as a retrofit for my base:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/82324-REG/Atlas_Sound_PB11XEB_PB11XEB_Adjustable_Boom.html

Seeing my mic slowly descend into the shot is something I won't forget, and will pay money to avoid in future!

[David W. Jones]

Just a couple of questions... How heavy a mic are you using, and in what scenario are you using the stand?

[Philip Fass]

Just an average hyper or short shotgun for location shooting. The arm can just about support its own weight when fully extended.

[Colin McDonald]

I have a couple of these Beyerdynamic stands. They work OK within the same kind of limitations as a construction crane :-)
In other words don't expect them to hold much weight at the limit of their travel (especially with boom at a right angle to the main stand).
If you have much experience holding a mic on a boom you will appreciate the considerable leverage that even a light shotgun can exert.

It's all about vectors, (though counterbalance has a part to play as well).

Don't expect it to behave like one of these:

[Allan Black]

Many of those small booms/mic stands have the same type of lock seen in those BnH pix. You have to really tighten it up and end up scrunching the plastic washer. There are better neoprene grades of those, try your nearest Home Depot or Plumbers outlet.

Originally Posted by Philip Fass

Seeing my mic slowly descend into the shot is something I won't forget, and will pay money to avoid in future!

Ha .. reminds me of the first few weeks on air with a brand new TV station, NBN Channel 3 in Newcastle here.

In our large Studio A we had a Mole Richardson boom (Cols picture above) and what was called a 'Lazy Arm'. This was a big standalone rig on wheels with a heavy counterweight strung on adjustable rollers with springs. After a few weeks in use, the 'string' broke and the whole rig very slowly collapsed right down to the tripod floor mount with loud sproing! doing! bang! crash! sounds.

It happened on air during the '3 Cheers' kids show and I remember our colorful crazy Norman the Clown, standing there looking stunned as this all happened. It finished with one roller wheel wobbling past him into the cyc. at the back of the studio. The 'APPLAUSE APPLAUSE APPLAUSE' sign flashed on for the audience, and we went to commercials.

Seems like yesterday but it was 50yrs ago next year, big celebrations coming up in March.

3 Cheers.

[Battle Vaughan]

i once purchased one of these, it is quite robust: On-Stage Stands SB9600 | Sweetwater.com
They also have a version with studio casters and a weighted base,but I have not used that. The boom arm is pretty long (82") so it's not something you'd put in carry-on luggage! It does, however, break down for transit. The stand is suitably heavy.

I have also used a hand-held-type mike boom mounted on a C-stand with a $30 adapter that B&H sells---it's kind of like a fishing pole caddy --- the c-stands are very sturdy, the clamps don't slip, and you can get double duty if you have a mike pole already....http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/596490-REG/Pearstone_8121290_Boom_Pole_Holder.html There are other manufactuers of c-stands, Matthews is, I think, the original: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/33058-REG/Matthews_339760_Century_C_Turtle_Base.html. You'd need a grip head, here's one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3581-REG/Avenger_D200_D200_Grip_Head.html

A complete stand that includes a short boom and the grip head: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/569965-REG/Interfit_INT308_Century_C_Stand_with.html

[David W. Jones]

For that type of work we use a dedicated field boom on a C-Stand. either CF or aluminum will work since it is stand mounted. But if you are going to be doing any hand work I would suggest the carbon fiber unit. A sandbag would also be nice to have on hand as a just-in-case.

[Rick Reineke]

I also have a Boomboy bracket to use when a C-stand is available. $30 cheap.
Boom Boy | Remote Audio
For ENG type sit-down interviews, I bring along a standard size music-type boom.

[Philip Fass]

Rick, this is mostly for sit-down interviews. It just needs a better brake on the arm.

[Jay Massengill]

In every case where I've used someone else's mic stand with boom arm and the arm wouldn't support the weight of the mic, close inspection revealed two things:
The cupped washer under the tightening nut was installed facing the wrong way, and there was grease on the surfaces of the boom pivot.
The cup of the washer has to face the surface of the boom pivot and the dome of the washer has to face the tightening nut. Most people assume it's a flat washer and don't pay attention to how it is installed, but it should have a noticeable curvature and needs to be facing the correct direction for maximum holding power.
Disassemble the boom arm from the mic stand and wipe away any grease or oil from the surfaces that need friction to hold the boom arm up.

[Colin McDonald]

The cupped washer under the tightening nut was installed facing the wrong way

Jay, if it's the same model as mine, the washer IS flat.
(Apologies for iPhone photos)

EDIT: Now that I look at the box, mine are Beyerdynamic GST400 but the difference is mine have a fixed length rather than an telescopic boom arm.
http://europe.beyerdynamic.com/shop/...t-400-3-8.html
http://europe.beyerdynamic.com/shop/...t-500-3-8.html

[Philip Fass]

I've never taken it apart, so an installation problem would have had to happen at the factory.

[Rick Reineke]

Originally Posted by Philip Fass

Rick, this is mostly for sit-down interviews. It just needs a better brake on the arm.

Yeah, that's the problem with older or budget stands. Hanging an unused cable or two as a counterweight helps.
I also use a lightweight gaffer clamp to attach a boom to an unused (or used) ENG light stand on travel gigs, were weight an additional gear is an issue. I'll look at the specific model when I get back to HQ. Weighs less than a pound

[Jay Massengill]

Colin, it is more subtle on yours than on older stands, but I believe the way your washer was stamped does make it not exactly flat, especially around the edge.
It's something worth checking even from the factory, along with removing any grease that may be on any of the components that need friction to hold tight.

[Bill Davis]

Time to get rid of the toys and do this job properly.

An honest to goodness GRIP HEAD will be heavier to schlep, annoyingly big to fit in cases and totes, but will do this job a THOUSAND times better than a mic stand pivot.

They cost between $25 and $50 bucks. And once you use one, you'll NEVER go back.

Good luck.