Cheapest shock mount ever at DVinfo.net

Ari Shomair · January 30th, 2005, 10:28 PM

For those of you on real tiny budgets, you can build a cheap shock mount out of a wire coat hanger and two elastic bands - thats less than 20 cents!

I'd upload a picture but don't know how - basically you just unravel the wire coat hanger so its one giant long piece of metal, then wrap it around a thick broom stick so you get a spring. Suspend an elastic band on both sides of the "spring" - you do this by wrapping the elastic band around each side of one of the springs "circles" so it crosses through the middle of the spring. Then slide your microphone inside of these two elastic bands - bam - shock mount!

You can then use the remaing metal from the coat hanger spring to wrap around a broom stick or window washing pole, securing your shock mount.

Sure, its not professional as a "real" one, but it should be better then nothing!

Dennis Vogel · January 31st, 2005, 10:32 PM

I was with you up to "both sides of the spring". You need a picture.

Good luck.

Dennis

Jose di Cani · February 2nd, 2005, 04:08 PM

I sw one selfmade shockmount picture online last year . YUou can make it, but we need pics, please. thanx

Ty Ford · February 2nd, 2005, 08:22 PM

Interesting. Showing up for a gig with a coat hanger and rubberbands is one way to guarantee I won't be hired again.

I actually take pride in owning really good gear that serves me well.

Obviously it takes all kinds.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Douglas Spotted Eagle · February 2nd, 2005, 09:18 PM

yeah, showing up at a gig with this won't go very far, but if you're in the DIY world, you're likely also doing your own film work, and PVC with rubberbands or wirehangers with rubber bands would work. Just gotta be very careful to not bump anything, and not let anyone take pictures of what you're doing. :-)

Bryan Beasleigh · February 2nd, 2005, 10:50 PM

I guess it all depends on what type of mic you'd hand off of a broomstick, a clothes hanger and some rubberbands. Not a valuable one I would hope.

Anyone with rudimentary shop skills could make a shock mount from ABS or PCV pipe. It would take some patience and a tad more of an outlay than the rubber bands and coat hangers.

Remember, you will be judged by the equipment you carry. Improvising is one thing but to me, a coat hanger, broomsticks and rubber bands is akin to thumbing your nose at the world.

Emre Safak · February 2nd, 2005, 11:06 PM

Come on, you old fahts, don't ruin Ari's fun; he never suggested you do this in a commercial project. I can imagine there are many film makers in the world (read: people without access to B&H--ok, so that does not include Canada) that need to be creative to overcome their constraints, financial or otherwise.

Bryan Beasleigh · February 3rd, 2005, 10:34 AM

Canada does have full access to anything available for DV and DV audio. The only problem comes in summer when we get 3 weeks of bad sledding and then we have trouble making it to the outpost for mail.

I'm in favor of improvization, just make it look good.

Jeff Alipit · February 3rd, 2005, 11:31 PM

I totally agree with the 2 posts above me. I ran out of money to get a MiniMount or CAC-12 for my PD170. So I made my own support for an AT shock mount.

Check out my story:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=38862

Kudos on the broomstick trick. Way to look outside the box. I bet your films reflect the same creativity.

Ty Ford · February 4th, 2005, 07:54 AM

Much better than hangers and rubberbands!

Nice job.

Ty Ford

January 30th, 2005, 10:28 PM	#1
Ari Shomair Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: LA, California, USA Posts: 224	Cheapest shock mount ever For those of you on real tiny budgets, you can build a cheap shock mount out of a wire coat hanger and two elastic bands - thats less than 20 cents! I'd upload a picture but don't know how - basically you just unravel the wire coat hanger so its one giant long piece of metal, then wrap it around a thick broom stick so you get a spring. Suspend an elastic band on both sides of the "spring" - you do this by wrapping the elastic band around each side of one of the springs "circles" so it crosses through the middle of the spring. Then slide your microphone inside of these two elastic bands - bam - shock mount! You can then use the remaing metal from the coat hanger spring to wrap around a broom stick or window washing pole, securing your shock mount. Sure, its not professional as a "real" one, but it should be better then nothing!

February 2nd, 2005, 08:22 PM	#4
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Interesting. Showing up for a gig with a coat hanger and rubberbands is one way to guarantee I won't be hired again. I actually take pride in owning really good gear that serves me well. Obviously it takes all kinds. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

February 2nd, 2005, 09:18 PM	#5
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	yeah, showing up at a gig with this won't go very far, but if you're in the DIY world, you're likely also doing your own film work, and PVC with rubberbands or wirehangers with rubber bands would work. Just gotta be very careful to not bump anything, and not let anyone take pictures of what you're doing. :-) __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

February 2nd, 2005, 10:50 PM	#6
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	I guess it all depends on what type of mic you'd hand off of a broomstick, a clothes hanger and some rubberbands. Not a valuable one I would hope. Anyone with rudimentary shop skills could make a shock mount from ABS or PCV pipe. It would take some patience and a tad more of an outlay than the rubber bands and coat hangers. Remember, you will be judged by the equipment you carry. Improvising is one thing but to me, a coat hanger, broomsticks and rubber bands is akin to thumbing your nose at the world. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ".......holy smokin rubber lips...what a ride!"

February 3rd, 2005, 10:34 AM	#8
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Canada does have full access to anything available for DV and DV audio. The only problem comes in summer when we get 3 weeks of bad sledding and then we have trouble making it to the outpost for mail. I'm in favor of improvization, just make it look good. __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ".......holy smokin rubber lips...what a ride!"

January 31st, 2005, 10:32 PM	#2
Dennis Vogel Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 409	I was with you up to "both sides of the spring". You need a picture. Good luck. Dennis

February 2nd, 2005, 04:08 PM	#3
Jose di Cani Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Holland, Europe Posts: 214	I sw one selfmade shockmount picture online last year . YUou can make it, but we need pics, please. thanx

February 2nd, 2005, 11:06 PM	#7
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Come on, you old fahts, don't ruin Ari's fun; he never suggested you do this in a commercial project. I can imagine there are many film makers in the world (read: people without access to B&H--ok, so that does not include Canada) that need to be creative to overcome their constraints, financial or otherwise.

February 3rd, 2005, 11:31 PM	#9
Jeff Alipit New Boot Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boulder/Longmont, Colorado Posts: 8	I totally agree with the 2 posts above me. I ran out of money to get a MiniMount or CAC-12 for my PD170. So I made my own support for an AT shock mount. Check out my story: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=38862 Kudos on the broomstick trick. Way to look outside the box. I bet your films reflect the same creativity.

February 4th, 2005, 07:54 AM	#10
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Much better than hangers and rubberbands! Nice job. Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog