Counterweights for mike stand boom?

[John Albert]

Hello all -

Does anyone have a source for "counterweights" for mike booms?

I've got a stand/boom with a relatively heavy mike on the end, that I'd like
to counter-balance against on the "free end".

The boom is about 1/2" or 15mm in diameter, and the mike weights in about
2lbs. There's no weight at the other end, and if I try to extend the boom any
length, the mike is pulling it down. It stays if I tighten the boom knob down
_really_ tight, but I'd still like to have the whole assembly "balanced out"
it if I could.

What works?

Thanks,
- John

[Scott Dorsey]

John Albert > wrote:
>
>Does anyone have a source for "counterweights" for mike booms?
>
>I've got a stand/boom with a relatively heavy mike on the end, that I'd like
>to counter-balance against on the "free end".

Black Audio Devices used to sell them, but they aren't in business any
longer. You can either buy an Atlas boom, or go to Latchlock and get a
locking boom, or you can go to a local machine shop and have them make
a couple weights for you on a lathe.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Tobiah]

John Albert wrote:
> Hello all -
>
> Does anyone have a source for "counterweights" for mike booms?
>
> I've got a stand/boom with a relatively heavy mike on the end, that I'd like
> to counter-balance against on the "free end".
>
> The boom is about 1/2" or 15mm in diameter, and the mike weights in about
> 2lbs. There's no weight at the other end, and if I try to extend the boom any
> length, the mike is pulling it down. It stays if I tighten the boom knob down
> _really_ tight, but I'd still like to have the whole assembly "balanced out"
> it if I could.
>
> What works?
>

What mic weighs 21 pounds? Anyway, bowling balls weigh near that
amount. How about finding one at the thrift store with one of the
holes measuring just over a half inch. You could epoxy the thing to
the end of your boom. It might look really cool if you picked out
a ball with a nice pattern on it. Otherwise, you might try a sporting
goods store that has fishing weights. Some of those go up to
five or ten pounds. You could duct tape them to the boom, or maybe
drill them out to a half inch if you have the patience. It can't be
all that hard to get a drill bit though a block of lead. That way
you might be able to add or remove them in response to less gargantuan
microphones.



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Mike]

On 2007-04-06, Tobiah > wrote:
> John Albert wrote:
>> Hello all -
>>
>> Does anyone have a source for "counterweights" for mike booms?
>>
>> I've got a stand/boom with a relatively heavy mike on the end, that I'd like
>> to counter-balance against on the "free end".
>>
>> The boom is about 1/2" or 15mm in diameter, and the mike weights in about
>> 2lbs. There's no weight at the other end, and if I try to extend the boom any
>> length, the mike is pulling it down. It stays if I tighten the boom knob down
>> _really_ tight, but I'd still like to have the whole assembly "balanced out"
>> it if I could.
>>
>> What works?
>>
>
> What mic weighs 21 pounds?

I do, and quite a bit more. 8-)

I think if you look closely, it is 2 lbs run together. Still a pretty
hefty little fellow, but not requiring a bowling ball as counterweight.

--
Mike

Fast, reliable, cheap. Pick two and we'll talk. -- unknown

[Mike Rivers]

On Apr 6, 2:38 pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

> You can either buy an Atlas boom, or go to Latchlock and get a
> locking boom, or you can go to a local machine shop and have them make
> a couple weights for you on a lathe.

That's Latch Lake - http://www.latchlakemusic.com/micking_stand.html

You can also get a lead shot bag (like a sand bag only better) and
hang it on the boom. A pro photo equipment shop will have them, or
they're probably cheaper at a diving shop (though I'm not sure which
hobby is more expensive ;) ).

[Mike Rivers]

On Apr 6, 3:09 pm, Mike > wrote:

> I think if you look closely, it is 2 lbs run together. Still a pretty
> hefty little fellow, but not requiring a bowling ball as counterweight.

Depends on how short the level arm is.

[Laurence Payne]

On Fri, 06 Apr 2007 18:11:07 GMT, John Albert >
wrote:

>Does anyone have a source for "counterweights" for mike booms?
>
>I've got a stand/boom with a relatively heavy mike on the end, that I'd like
>to counter-balance against on the "free end".
>
>The boom is about 1/2" or 15mm in diameter, and the mike weights in about
>2lbs. There's no weight at the other end, and if I try to extend the boom any
>length, the mike is pulling it down. It stays if I tighten the boom knob down
>_really_ tight, but I'd still like to have the whole assembly "balanced out"
>it if I could.

Something suitably heavy gaffa-taped to the boom end. Perhaps a
couple of AKG C100s ? I suppose if it has to look pretty, someone
will sell you something expensive if you ask nicely :-)

[Deputy Dumbya Dawg[_2_]]

The hardware that holds the weights on a barbell might
work.

peace
dawg

"John Albert" > wrote in message
...
: Hello all -
:
: Does anyone have a source for "counterweights" for
mike booms?
:
: I've got a stand/boom with a relatively heavy mike on
the end, that I'd like
: to counter-balance against on the "free end".
:
: The boom is about 1/2" or 15mm in diameter, and the
mike weights in about
: 2lbs. There's no weight at the other end, and if I
try to extend the boom any
: length, the mike is pulling it down. It stays if I
tighten the boom knob down
: _really_ tight, but I'd still like to have the whole
assembly "balanced out"
: it if I could.
:
: What works?
:
: Thanks,
: - John

[RDOGuy]

On Apr 6, 1:54 pm, Tobiah > wrote:

> What mic weighs 21 pounds? Anyway, bowling balls weigh near that
> amount. Otherwise, you might try a sporting
> goods store that has fishing weights. That way
> you might be able to add or remove them in response to less gargantuan
> microphones.

All these years, I've been searching for something that would be
useful on a remote job, but also serve the purpose of holding the door
open while loading in. Finally... the solution! The 21 pound
microphone!

I laughed for ten minutes. Thanks!

John Dixon
Phonogenic Productions
Kansas City

[Arny Krueger]

"John Albert" > wrote in message

> Hello all -
>
> Does anyone have a source for "counterweights" for mike
> booms?
>
> I've got a stand/boom with a relatively heavy mike on the
> end, that I'd like to counter-balance against on the
> "free end".
>
> The boom is about 1/2" or 15mm in diameter, and the mike
> weights in about 2lbs. There's no weight at the other
> end, and if I try to extend the boom any length, the mike
> is pulling it down. It stays if I tighten the boom knob
> down _really_ tight, but I'd still like to have the whole
> assembly "balanced out" it if I could.
>
> What works?

This looks plausable:

http://www.soundideasinc.com/pc-1939-70-onstage-cw2-2-counterweight.aspx

[[email protected]]

On Apr 6, 2:11 pm, John Albert > wrote:
> Hello all -
>
> Does anyone have a source for "counterweights" for mike booms?
>
> I've got a stand/boom with a relatively heavy mike on the end, that I'd like
> to counter-balance against on the "free end".
>
> The boom is about 1/2" or 15mm in diameter, and the mike weights in about
> 2lbs. There's no weight at the other end, and if I try to extend the boom any
> length, the mike is pulling it down. It stays if I tighten the boom knob down
> _really_ tight, but I'd still like to have the whole assembly "balanced out"
> it if I could.

try the AEA-10CB or the 15CB
< http://www.wesdooley.com/aea/Modular_Microphone_Stands.html >

[John Albert]

Arny wrote:
<< This looks plausable:
http://www.soundideasinc.com/pc-1939-70-onstage-cw2-2-counterweight.aspx >>

Thanks, Arny, that looks to be _exactly_ what I'm looking for.

- John