Sound and recording technology has developed greatly in the last hundred years, but surprisingly it still comes down to the lowly mic stand. If the wrong stand is used, or worst still no mic stand the sound quality may well be impaired.
A mic or microphone stand supports the microphone. The size and shape of mic will determine which type of mic stand is appropriate. Having the mic supported in a mic stand allows the user free use of their hands to play a musical instrument, hold a speech of just move about. A mic stand can also reduce feedback or distortion.
A basic mic stand with a domed metal base and telescopic tubular post is called a Straight Stand. The telescopic post allows the height to be easily adjusted as well as making the stand easy to store when being transported or not in use, this mechanism is called a Clutch.
The Desk Stand is a shorter version of the straight stand, which is usually set on a desk (hence the name) often used in radio and during conferences. The Heavy Duty mic stand has, as its name suggests, a heavy base and larger tubes to support larger microphones. Straight stand tubes are usually chrome plated and shiny to resist scratches; however they are sometimes a matte black so as not to reflect the light.
Folding tripod based mic stands are increasingly popular; instead of a heavy metal dome base they have three extending or tripod feet. These are lighter and easy to store, but to compensate for the lack of weight the feet have to cover a larger area of floor than a metal dome and can therefore become a tripping hazard.
Mic stand accessories can be extremely useful. They can allow a microphone to be placed near a sound source without the stand getting in the way. A Boom Arm is one such accessory; it is particularly useful when a singer wants to play an
instrument such as a guitar allowing their voice to be picked up without obstructing their access to their instrument. A Boom Arm allows the microphone to be moved easily on a horizontal plane, which is particularly useful when space is tight, i.e. when micing up a drum. Boom arms come in both fixed length and telescopic, allowing the length to be adjusted.
Another device for placing microphones is Goose Neck. A goose neck is made of a twisted core of spring steel, this allows for adjustability in placing the microphone. They are made in different lengths and allow for minute changes in mic position.