Microphone Shock Mounts Explained
If your recordings have low thumps you cannot EQ out, the problem is probably not the microphone. It is the stand.
The Problem a Clip Cannot Solve
When a microphone is attached to a stand with a standard clip, there is a rigid mechanical path from the floor, up the stand, through the clip and into the microphone body. Vibration travels that path perfectly well.
Footsteps, traffic through the building, a singer tapping a foot — all of it arrives at the diaphragm as unwanted low-frequency noise. It is recorded as sound because, from the microphone's point of view, that is exactly what it is.
How Elastic Suspension Fixes It
A shock mount suspends the microphone in elastic. There is no direct connection or attachment between the stand and the microphone body — the elastic sits in between and absorbs the vibration before it arrives.
In theory this eliminates noise caused by floor vibration entirely. In practice it removes most of it, which is the difference between a usable take and a retake. It is particularly useful for singers who tap their feet, and in any home studio on a suspended wooden floor.
Metal or Plastic
We build both. Metal shock mounts are the more durable choice for studio and rental use where the mount is handled constantly. Plastic mounts cost less and weigh less, which suits bundled kits and equipment that travels.
Finishes are classic black, silver, and a gold option on the plastic mounts, so accessories can be matched to the microphone rather than clashing with it.
Choosing the Right Size
The one measurement that matters is the barrel diameter of the microphone the mount has to hold. Send that figure with your enquiry.
Because our mounts and our microphones come out of the same factory, fit can be checked against a real body before an order is placed rather than discovered after delivery. Our six references are SM-4S, SM-6S, SM-8S, MS103 in black, MS103 in silver, and the MS-89 stand.
Questions From This Guide
What does a shock mount actually do?
It suspends the microphone in elastic so there is no rigid connection between stand and microphone. Vibration travelling up the stand from the floor stops at the elastic instead of reaching the diaphragm.
Do I need one for a dynamic microphone?
Less often than for a condenser, because dynamics are less sensitive and are frequently hand-held. For any microphone on a stand in a room with a suspended floor, a shock mount is worth having.
Metal or plastic — which should I order?
Metal for studio and rental use where the mount is handled constantly; plastic where cost and weight matter, such as bundled kits. We build both, in black, silver and gold.
Put This Into a Quote
Tell us the application and quantity and we will translate it into models, minimums and a landed price.