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garyblanchard
Mar-29-2004, 7:21am
If you use a condenser mic on stage, are you using the shockmount? I have one on order and want to know the best way to use it. I think it would look more "old-timey" without the shockmount, but I don't want to take any chances.

Actually, what is the purpose of the shock mount? Are these mics that fragile?

Thanks all!

Mike Crocker
Mar-29-2004, 8:25am
We've used large diaphram condenser mics with shock mounts in a live situation, usually when playing acoustically doesn't quite have enough volume and feedback won't be an issue. The mounts are to prevent unwanted vibration like footfalls and bumps from reaching the sound chain as much as to protect the mic. As for the oldtimey look, I wouldn't care, it should be about sound.

Peace, Mooh.

JDARTGOD
Mar-29-2004, 10:59am
I'd use the shock mount......that's what it's there for. Single mic situations require you to know as much about your group's dynamics than anything else. Also, if you kill the monitors, your feedback problem will be virtually eliminated (if you're using one single mic.) This makes your dynamics that much more important.

garyblanchard
Mar-29-2004, 11:32am
Thanks. I'd never heard of a shock mount so I thought I'd ask. For most of what I do it's just me; other times my fiance is up there with me. We should be aware of our dynamics after 12 years. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I'm excited about moving away from the individual mic to a single mic set-up. Can't wait for it to come and test it out. (Look out neighbors. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif )

earthsave
Mar-29-2004, 3:36pm
The shock mount just suspends the microphone with rubber bands, isolating it from the stand. If you dont use it, you'll pick up vibrations from the floor and mic stand. It's sensitive.

Spruce
Mar-29-2004, 5:30pm
And, let's face it, shockmounts just look cool...

I remember one of the first times I saw the Grisman Quintet at the Great American Music Hall in SF, they had a gob of Neumanns in shock mounts, and the visual effect was "whoa"...

Plus, they serve an effective purpose. Those condensers are reall flea-fart mics--they'll pic up anything...

JD Cowles
Mar-29-2004, 6:41pm
yep, what spruce said. be careful what you all say to each other up there under your breath as it has an uncanny way of being picked up. make sure your practice your dynamics for singin and breaks or as we like to call it
"man dancin"

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

jugband
Mar-30-2004, 1:22am
And, let's face it, shockmounts just look cool...
I don't know... I'm currently looking at options for keeping a shock mounting of some kind, yet getting mine more directly on top of the stand than in front/back of it.

For instance:

mrbook
Mar-30-2004, 3:25am
My AKG C3000 came without a shock mount, just a slip-on holder, so I bought and use a generic one, or the one with my AT 4033. One night at a gig, I opened my bag and found I had left the shock mounts behind, so we went without and it worked fine. Last week, we opened for another band, and I brought my microphone to use with the house system. To make setup easier, we went without it again. No problems, but I probably shouldn't make a habit of it.

garyblanchard
Apr-01-2004, 7:26am
Well, I got the condenser mic and set it up (including the shockmount #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) and tried it out. What a blast. I felt so much freer with only one mic to contend with and some freedom of movement at that one mic. Carol and I tried some stuff together and that worked, too.

Thanks again to all who have answered my questions. I appreciate your help.