The question of “what does a shock mount do” is one that many people have asked themselves. Shock mounts are used to reduce the amount of vibration and noise from an audio speaker. They can be beneficial to have in a recording studio or any other location where you are trying to get the best sound quality. In this blog post, we will discuss what they are as well as how they work.
What Is A Shock Mount?
A shock mount is a device used to reduce or eliminate unwanted vibrations, handling noise and mechanical rumble. This makes the microphone more sensitive and less prone to pick up sounds from your hand, foot-tapping on a floor, etc. There are two types of shock mounts: suspension mounted and elastic-band-based mounts.
A suspension-mounted shock mount suspends the microphone in place. The microphone itself is placed within a cage and mounted on its own mic stand, which sits atop another stand. This works by having the bottom of the mic suspended in air, thus preventing it from touching any surface that could transmit sounds into it.
Suspension mounts are suitable for high-end microphones. Elastic band mounts work by holding the microphone in place with an elastic or rubber band (hence its name). This is a more economical solution and works well for low to mid-range microphones. The biggest problem with this kind of shock mount is that it can’t filter out sounds below 100 Hz because they can’t be transmitted through rubber and will still end up in the recording.
What Does A Shock Mount Do?
A shock mount suspends your microphone from a solid structure or surface, typically some kind of metal tubing. The purpose is to isolate the mic from vibrations that could be transmitted through the stand and into the recording environment as unwanted noise. This feature can also help prevent any sound produced by movement on hard surfaces around you from being picked up by your microphone.
It is important to note, however, that shock mounts do not eliminate unwanted noise entirely. They can only help minimize the movement and vibration of your mic, which in turn reduces the amount of noise you will pick up during recording.
Suppose there is any sound produced by movement on hard surfaces around you from being picked up by your microphone. In that case, a shock mount suspends your microphone from a solid structure or surface, typically some kind of metal tubing. The purpose is to isolate the mic from vibrations that could be transmitted through the stand and into the recording environment as unwanted noise. This feature can also help prevent any sound produced by movement on hard surfaces around you from being picked up by your microphone.
Do You Need A Shock Mount?
It is recommended that you use a shock mount. However, some argue that a shock mount is unnecessary and can cause more problems than it prevents.
If you decide to use one, make sure the stand fits tightly on your microphone before recording begins. If you neglect this step, then it will be difficult for any sound produced by movement on hard surfaces around you to be picked up by your microphone.
Are Shock Mounts Universal?
No. Not all shock mounts are universal, so it is essential to double-check that they will fit your microphone before you purchase them. Also, some shock mounts require an adapter for specific microphones, while others work with multiple types of mics straight out of the box. For example, RODE’s VideoMic Pro+ comes with a universal shock mount that can accommodate most microphones.
What Is A Pop Filter?
A pop filter is a tool designed to reduce or eliminate ‘popping’ sounds caused by the consonants (e.g., “p,” “b,” and “t”) in speech that is produced when speaking into a microphone during recording, typically on video camera recordings or voice-overs for film/television.
It does this by helping to create a small distance between the sound source (i.e., mouth) and the microphone diaphragm, which reduces or eliminates air bursts caused by certain consonant sounds.
It is a wire mesh that will diffuse the sound of your voice. This can be very helpful for people who are just recording their music because it gets rid of plosives and prevents you from spitting on all your equipment.
How To Connect Shock Mount To Mic Stand?
The shock mount is a suspension system that consists of two circular metal pieces and rubber bands. In the end, it contains an adjustable gooseneck with a locking mechanism to attach to your microphone stand.
First things first: you should listen for any unwanted noise coming from the mic or ambient sounds before mounting anything on top of it. If your microphone is making a sound, you can easily adjust it by screwing the mic counterclockwise. It’s that easy. It will be much easier to do this before you install the shock mount.
A shock mount adapter is usually included with the mic. You can use this to connect your shock mount onto a standard size microphone stand – just insert it into the bottom of the thread and tighten it if you don’t have one, no worries. Many mics come with a built-in adapter, which means you won’t need an extra accessory for that purpose.
Original Vs. Third-Party Shock Mounts
Many people use third-party shock mounts for their microphones. The idea behind them is simple: they allow you to mount your microphone inside of a cage that reduces rumble and other vibrations from the outside world, such as bumping into something or making loud noises near it. There are some significant advantages when using an original shock mount for your microphone.
Let’s look at these advantages:
- Less noise from vibrations
- It is easier to adjust the microphone position with an original mount
However, there are also downsides:
- Original mounts can be expensive (in comparison)
The original shock mounts are designed to work with specific models of microphones only due to their unique design that accommodates different shapes and sizes of mics. They come in different types:
- The standard mount, which is designed to fit most large-diaphragm models, and the small-diaphragm condenser mics.
- The elastic suspension type does not require any mounting hardware other than a mic stand clamp.
- Another version for use with booms.
The third-party shock mounts can be used with any standard thread microphone, such as mounting hardware. They are typically made of metal and consist of two parts: the mainframe and the springs. Some models come with an anti-vibration rubber pad or ring attached to the bottom part of the mount, where it attaches to your mic stand. Now you can see why both are used, but it is crucial to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both.
Parts Of A Microphone
A microphone is a device that changes sound waves into an electrical signal. Sound travels in the form of waves, vibrations in the air caused by things like voices and music.
A microphone works with these soundwaves to change them into electricity which can be interpreted by a computer or recording device. Many different types of microphones and parts make up the microphone; most people will only use one factor, but knowing what each piece does is vital to know how it all works together.
Other than a shock mount, here are other parts of a microphone:
- mic stand. This supports the microphone by holding it up.
- pop filter/ windscreen. These are placed on the end of the mic stand’s arm that holds the mic in place to protect against plosives (a pop) or wind noise.
- XLR cable. This sends electrical signals to other devices that can interpret them into soundwaves again, like recording equipment or speakers.
- shock mount/pop filter. This helps reduce vibrations in the mic and prevents pops in your audio when you say words with “p” sounds in them (like pop music).
- mic clip. This is what attaches the microphone to a mic stand.
- XLR port/jack. These are where you plug your XLR cable into other recording equipment or speakers, depending on which device you want to send soundwaves through (like projecting music from an amp). If there isn’t an XLR jack in what you are trying to plug into, there will be a headphone jack that is the same thing with lower quality sound, but it can still work.
Conclusion
A shock mount is a device that protects the microphone from unwanted vibrations. It does this by suspending it inside an elastic material, which absorbs any shocks or sudden movements of the mic stand. This makes them perfect for live streaming events where people are constantly moving around and bumping into things.
If you’ve been struggling with feedback noise in your recordings, then look into getting yourself a set of these handy devices to keep those annoying noises at bay. They are versatile and can be used with many different microphones, so why not try one?
