A mic stand plays an important role for all the artists. Whether you are a video creator, singer, public speaker or podcaster, a stand will make your job easier. Now, all these different activities require different varieties of stands. There are a lot of stands available in today’s world, including tripods, boom arms, desktops, straight stands, and many more. So you might be confused about which one to choose. So, to avoid this confusion, here’s a blog that will help you choose between a boom arm and a straight stand.
Advantages of boom arms
- Immense flexibility and adjustability: these stands can be adjusted, as they come with arms that can be rotated up to 360 degrees, and the arm of the stand can be folded and extended easily. You can adjust it and change the angle however you want.
- Portability and compact in size: boom arms are pretty compact, so they can fit even if you have a small studio. You can even carry it easily, a it’s light in weight, you won’t even have to face any trouble while carrying it while you are travelling.
- Best for podcasting and video creation: most podcasters and creators use boom arms due to their versatility and flexibility. Podcasters need to shoot long content, so they can easily sit and extend the arms of the stand, and shoot their content easily.
Learn how to balance a boom arm stand with these easy tips: How to Balance a Boom Mic Stand for Stability.
Disadvantages of boom arms
- Complex setup: since boom arms are so flexible, and have so many bends and angles, it might be difficult for you to set it up. It has a lot of different parts to it that you need to assemble.
- Minimal height: these stands are known for being compact, so it does not offer many height variations. It can only extend up to a minimum height, which is way less than straight stands or tripod stands in general.
- Cable management: These stands come with a lot of cables attached to them. Handling all these wires can be tricky and you might end up messing up the setup, which will make your studio or workplace look unarranged. But, you can always arrange the wires with the help of wire clips.
Top boom arms for you
INNOGEAR
- It has a capacity of 3.3 lbs so it can support heavy mics. It comes with a 5/8″ to 3/8″ adapter which supports various microphones including Blue Yeti, Blue Snowball, Blue Snowball iCE, Hyper X QuadCast, SoloCast, Shure SM7B, MV7, Fifine AmpliGame, Fifine K669B and Fifine AM8.
- It’s made with high-quality steel and weighs around 1.5kgs, which means it will provide you immense durability even though it’s lighter in weight. It keeps your mic stable at its place for hours, without hampering your performance.
- The base of the stand can be rotated up to 360 degrees, the arm shaft can be rotated up to 180 degrees and the metal adapter can also be rotated up to 270 degrees.
5 CORE
- The boom arm extends up to 21 inches, which is decent for a boom arm stand. It’s made of high-quality metal which ensures long-term durability. Your stand will stay stable no matter how long you perform.
- It comes with a double layer pop-filter which enhances your sound quality. It filters out all the background noises and the unrequired voices. It cancels out the vibration while setting up or handling your stand, providing you with the most decent sound quality.
- It can bear stand weighing up to 4lbs, which means it can hold the heaviest mics while providing you utmost stability.
Looking for a more portable stand? Go through: Foldable Mic Stands: The Ultimate in Portability.
Advantages of straight stands
- Great height variations: straight stands are usually taller than other stands, and they come with adjustable height, so you can easily adjust it according to your convenience. It can be used by people of all age groups.
- Space efficiency and easy setup: since these stands have a simple build, they take up very little space, even less than boom arms. It has a simple build and has fewer parts to it so it’s easy to set up.
- Cost-effective: since these stands do not have many features, they are cheaper than other stands in the market. Even though it has fewer features, it still serves its purpose and makes sure to provide you with the best outcome.
Disadvantages of straight stands
- Less flexibility and adjustability: unlike boom arms, straight stands cannot be rotated or adjusted much. No rotation or angle fixation features are available in these stands, only the height of the stand can be adjusted.
- Not portable and heavy: these stands cannot be folded in half, and are heavier than other stands, which makes them less portable. It’s really hard to travel with a straight stand.
- Does not offer much stability: these stands do not offer much stability as it does not have a boom arm. If you don’t add a weighted base, the stand might tip over easily, causing unnecessary accidents.
Top straight stands for you
INNOGEAR
- It is made of alloy steel and iron and it weighs around 6.6 pounds. These stands are heavy, so it’s hard to carry around.
- The height can be extended from 34 inches to 60 inches, which makes it suitable for users of all age groups and heights.
- It supports various microphones including Fifine K669B, Blue Snowball iCE, Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica AT2020, Audio-Technica AT2035, Samson Q2U, Razer Seiren X, Shure SM58 and Shure PGA48.
5 CORE
- The height can be adjusted from 37.5 to 66 inches with the help of a clutch that is attached to the stand. It can be used for studio recordings as well and the height can be easily decreased.
- The mic clip can be rotated up to 180 degrees and it is compatible with various microphones. The clip can also be detached from the stand easily.
- The mic stand comes with a round base which has a diameter of 9.8 inches. It is a hard base that provides long-term stability.
Conclusion
Choosing the right type of stand might be tough, as different types of stands are used for different purposes. If you are a podcaster, a boom arm stand will be an ideal choice for you, but if you are a singer or a public speaker, a straight stand would be ideal for you. Choose the suitable stand for you and dive into your musical or podcasting journey.
If you still have questions about mic stands, go through Frequently Asked Questions About Mic Stands: Everything You Need To Know. It will answer all your questions.
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