<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Beasleigh : Normal mic stands are short and pretty well unuseable. What people are referring to are c stands and light stands.

The unit Matt Gettemeier provided a link for is a sturdy combo boom and straight stand. It's pretty stabil and can be used as a static boom. (fixed)

I also use a boom pole holder that I provided a link to. this can be used on a heavy light stand or a C stand.

The 3078 is $80 and can hold 20 lbs -->>>


Matt's solution is lighter in weight and not as sturdy as a C stand. If you have to carry gear a long way, that may be an issue. If you want something solid that you can also use at some point to hang good lights or flags from, get a c stand. Actually I'm a mite shocked that more people here are unfamiliar with them.

On mic stands, I got a pair of Atlas stands with long arms for my audio studio. http://www.fullcompass.com/Products/pages/SKU--18566/index.html

I could have used lighter weight stands, but I didn't want to worry about them falling over and when clients see these stands, it makes an impact on them.

The gear you use tells a story.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Most people are fully aware of what a c stand is. At this time I have no need of the added support and I'm not going to buy one to impress people.

The master stands are light and sturdy, I already own them. With a well placed sandbag they're solid. Just because C stands are available and some one says they're great doesn't mean everything else is cr@p.

Oh ok, so basically, light stands (such as C stands) are a sturdier alternative to standard mic stands, so it'd probably be worth the extra cost of getting one (so it can double up as a light stand and mic stand if necessary)...

I guess its the compromise between weight/sturdiness, but I might as well just get the C stand now than have to deal with mic stands that keep falling over. I was just wondering, if C stands are so good, why do standard mic stands still exist/are not redesigned, that's all. But you've answered my question.

Thanks,
Dennis

Hmm... maybe I'm not getting this right, and I certainly took no offense at any comments, but just in case I want to add that I also use a lot of high-end gear. (Over the last year I've owned about $8K in mics alone.)

The only reason I mentioned this Manfrotto stand is 'cause it's the easiest way to get a simple job done. I happen to do a lot of 1 on 1 interviews in the style of The Daily Show or other shows like that and in those circumstances you only need to get a boom over the head of the guy on camera and that cam is shooting over the shoulder (or next to) the interviewer. In these situations a really light stand like this sets up in about 1 minute and can then be abandoned. Quick, easy, light, effective. You simply point one of the three legs directly under the boom arm and then that, combined with a 5 lbs sandbag for ballast, results in a completely solid, cheap, and easy solution.

I've interviewed doctors and authors straight off Oprah Winfrey's show with this setup and nobody ever blinked twice at it.