Stop violently banging my fist on my desk while broadcasting? That's crazy talk.

Yes... When you're a boom operator. If you're doing a studio recording, you're going to need to redo the part where you bumped the mic stand/desk even with a shock mount. The only time a shock mount is actual necessary is when you're recording location audio and you're using a boom pole because the shock mount helps minimize the handling noise a lot. In general they do help condenser mics, but the traffic noise probably isn't making your floors vibrate enough that you actually _need_ a shock mount. And in an apartment build with kids running around, forget about it, it won't do thing (because the energy is also travelling through walls and ceilings).

Thank you, you just saved me a $60 from getting one that was recommended when I know I'll just be sitting and talking without anything else. I didn't know the difference until this video. So much thanks. Definitely hitting that like button!

I have been coincidentally practicing your recommendation - I generally use any shock mount I've been given by a company, because hey, free shock mount! and as someone doing some streaming on occasion there's some chance it reduces some amount of bumping noises from the desk/keyboard. But I have otherwise saved money on not buying shock mounts and thrown that money toward higher quality room treatment materials where it's is going to make a bigger difference toward everything I record.

A fair explanation that covered all the bases. There are people like me who can trip over a dime on the sidewalk and have dropped more coffee cups than I can count. For me a shockmount and a crash helmet while recording are not bad ideas.

I'm in shock, all the info needed with explanations and done in under 4:30 ... Thank you.

After looking your video I bought a shock mount anyways and I am happy that I have done this. Sure: For a studio environment, it should not be necessary and you would always do a retake whenver you accidentally bumped into the mic arm anyways and yes, you shoud not do this. I have been sitting in broadcasting studios several times, those rooms optimized for broadcasting, shielded against environment accoustics and heavy weighted tables with boom arms and microphones you been a part of your secret dreams. Those are optimized situations and you do not even touch a boom arm there, because you have a sound engineer sitting in the next room, always having an eye on the mixer. But I am doing live streaming right now and after buying a shock mount for my microphone I would highly disaggree. First of all: A shock mount does not remove noises entirely and the rules that you should avoid touching your microphone arm are still the same, but during live streaming and gaming, it is not always possible to completely avoid those situations, where you just have to move the boom arm. The next thing is, that I am using a mechanical keyboard and a mouse. Both translate to noise delivered via the table to the arm. I have done some takes before and after adding the shock mount to verify that it makes a difference and it can be easily noticed. So I would still say, that it depends a lot on the situation. I don't disagree with the fact that you should not need it, but I still see, that it is doing its job in some situations and there are situations where buying it does indeed make sense. (Ah... and it might be a lot cheaper to build your own out of some 3D printed parts and cheap rubber bands, but that is a different topic.) But anyways: Thank you for the video. It helped me to put some considerations into buying one as well. I also planned to send it back, if the results did not match my expectations.

Very cool! Really important topic. 👍 (And for the record, I have never purchased a separate shock mount)

Thanks for your videos! They are very clear, honest, with your very practical point of view and always with a good vibe (without over doing it, as in the mayority of youtubers...). Ohh, and your voice is very nice! Cheers from Argentina! (Already subscribed and watching your other videos!)

Really helpful, thank you! I ended up buying a shockmount + pop filter for my Rode Procaster thinking I'd need them, but after watching this I can see you're totally right + now I can more easily grab + adjust the mic when needed, so double win! Not to mention that the pop filter was too short to even work w/ this mic anyways haha. Gonna return it, get my money back and throw you a couple of those $$$ Cheers! ✌

Thank you for this video, it solved my doubts!

LOL! Yep, sometimes ya do and sometimes ya don't. Back in the old radio days when you might have 6 cart machine motors running 24/7, the 309A helped kill a lot of rumble. These days, motor rumble is a distant memory. I do recommend using a shock mount with most condensor mics, tho, if you can't kill your air conditioning, or have other rumble problems like street traffic or nearby trains. At the studio I worked at in El Paso, we had 18-wheelers on our street servicing warehouses, an interstate highway nearby, and train tracks 1/4 mile away. Without a shockmount, it was all clearly visible on the waveform. So, just take a look at how much LF garbage you've got on your waveform, and decide if you might need one. Or not! On a funny note, we also had one particular mic cable that could pick up truckers on their CB's and even the nearby McDonald's drive thru. Such fun!

Great content - always rooting for your channel

Thank you, you've just saved me some money

Do you recommend shock mounts for budget Microphones though? Like the Fifine or maybe gaming ones from HyperX and Razer that cost ~$50? I was considering a boom arm + shockmount but it seems like it's not that necessary. What do you think?

Great video thanks for explaining, I will save my money!

THANKS bro, this video is just what I needed!!

Mounting the boom on another base, other than the desk, also helps. Trial and error and a vivid imagination.

i just bought a shockmount for my USB condenser mic, and it's actually really useful because i'm using a boom arm. and i can hear the different even bigger when i'm beatboxing.

Thank you for this!

Great stuff. Voiceover sounds pro. SUBSCRIBED!!

That's it, direct to the point. Thank you!

Thank you. very honest advice

Thank you for the clear succinct answer, you saved me $100!

Good, informative, entertaining, and straight to the point. Great video mate.

Straight to the point! Thanks for the info!

I use a shock mount because Fraiser Crane had one, even though I don't have an RE20.

I was about to buy that exact shock mount for my new RE320 just because I thought I needed it… thank you for this video, I surely am not one of those mic grabbers

if a singer is standing and moving a bit, rocking their foot to the music, if your studio is near a subway in a city.

does the samson g track pro need a shock mount please let me know? I. want great quality during a conference call and ill be workigj as a csr so idk! do you think id need a boom arm for this mic?

I'm a newbie recordalist and was getting low quality audio from my subject - i called it lessybels - but seriously loud handling noise including hearing my own breathing but it improved vastly when someone pointed out i was holding the boom pole the wrong way round ! Looks like the default is buy a shock mount regardless so thanks to watching you i'm going to try the mic mounts that came with the mics ( Lewitt LCT 140 Air,matched pair ) and see how it goes so thanks for sharing.

Thank you soooo much! I just got the TLM 103 and was wondering if I needed the shock mount for a boom arm and now I know…I do not! I’ll check out your Patreon! Many thanks!!!!

Although I don't have a mechanical keyboard, my desk is transferring every key press and every slight contact to my desk through the Rode PSA1 into my Presonus PD70 (and it's not just rumble below 100Hz, so a low cut is not helping much). I whish more dynamic broadcast mics would have better shock mounting options built in. I asked Thomann if the Podmic or t.bone MB7 will handle desk vibrations better than my PD70, but they told me, in their tests, all of them are relatively bad with desk vibrations (SM7B might be better, but way more expensive).

My experience is a blue yeti in rigid stand sitting on the same table as a PC definitely needs one.

Or if you don't use a mic arm or use your desk with the mic attached to it, it does help a lot. I use a mic stand infront of me with no boom arm

informative and straight to the point!!

Cant stop "bumping" my desk when I am playing games with mouse and keyboard...

I was tempted to buy the shock mount for my RE20...now I don't really have to. Love your channel!! Thanks again for another great video!!

For me, my desk vibrations just from typing are coming up through the mic ever since I mounted it to a boom. It’s a blue yeti x, and I’m wondering if a shock mount will help. Advice?

Thanks, Sandy Petersen!

Couldn’t agree more!

Thank youuu for your info. :)

It all depends on how rigid your mic boom arm is. My boom arm is a VESA monitor mount converted to a document camera with a Presonus Revalator, which is lovely for a desk mic but micks up a lot of rumbles from the desk, even with an XXXL mouse pad. I ordered a sheet of rubber for the desk edge clamo, and I got a Movo SMM5 and I hope that is good enough.

Thank you KZfaq, for recommending this after I bought mine. It was a pretty cheap 3d printed one, so It's fine, it came with the arm, for my Blue Yeti :D

What if I bought it used and it came without the shock mount or the pop filter, but it normally would? I bought a used rode NT-1 and it didn't come with either, just the mic itself.

But a LOT of users at home have their pc setup on the desk humming away. Also, for no good reason most consumer mics pushed on users are condensers. Most people, a dynamic is more suitable but hey.

LOL. Yep I have been known to adjust a live mike occasionally, but no more than a dozen or so times every day.

Thanks a lot!

Ah. So I evidently own a couple of 'spiders' that I don't actually need. I didn't realize the Procaster already had shock damping installed inside the capsule. I should have read the fine print. Though, to be fair.., Rode's otherwise excellent mic is super awkward to mount without something to hold it up. That, and the shockmounts look pretty neat.

Thank you!

A blue ember does not come with a shock mount, but it indeed benefits oh so much from it. It's kind of sensitive. The shock mounts pretty cheap about $18

Your voice is very soothing with your audio setup! 🙂

i got a shock mount, pop filter, and boom arm for $20 on amazon. best purchase ever

I dont know if i have a bad arm or my mic is really sensitive. But simple stuff like putting my controller on my table. Or typing on the keys is really audible throught the mic. Its not only picking up the sound they make but the deep rumble from my table through the microphone arm. So you always have a bass layer when im typing moving my arms or whatever. So im not sure if I should turn down my microphone sensitivity or just buy a shock mount

Gonna be getting my first actual mic ever. Getting the 2035, do I have to use the shock mount or can I hook it up without? Seems pretty bulky

I have a Onstage desktop mic stand & the AKG P-120 mic & I was thinking about just getting the $10 PEMOTech Pop filter from Amazon & not a shock mount after seeing your video

Thanks!

From someone who used to help manage a broadcast studio and has since helped with podcasts and video series, thanks for going through the scenarios where they are useful and when they're unnecessary. I'd bet a lot of people are buying them for the same reason people buy matte boxes for cameras: people are more likely to take you seriously when you have one.

I need help. I have the sm58 at home and i wanna put it on a boom arm. What boom arm and What mic holder clip do i need? Or do i need a shockmount to hold the mic up idk

Just when I need it.

Thanks for the useful insight DC. If you get one with the mic, why not use it? Really no good reason Not to. If you don't need one you still have to attach the mic to the boom arm. I prefer hanging down as its easier to read copy.Aiming your mouth and head downward tend to restrict your throat and make a great performance more difficult. If you do not get one and are getting bump free recordings, no need to pay for something that brings no benefit. If you get a budget priced shock mount (mostly plastic) and decide to use it it may work well for an extended period of time. When it breaks, you may already have a spare from another mic or fork out the $5 from a Chinese vendor. IF you mount the mic on a "desk mount" you prolly should use a shock mount because you or your talent may inadvertently bump push or annoy the furniture. SO why not? .I do not think investing more than $20 for a shock mount is necessarily a good idea. The cheapies are not robust, but can have a useful and fairly long service life. Anyway . . . . . If you take down your rig after each session and store your mice in it's case you may have picked up this proceddre from working in a commercial studio or live (mics are usually the first things to come down when you strike the set). At home or personal studio? I leave mine up but cover them loosely with an open plastic bag with a moisture absorbing pack from other gear then a kercheif over that whole assembly. Leaving the mic exposed may not be a good idea even if your space is relatively "dust free" as the mic element when energized may attract floatsum to itself. Many mics have an outside coarse pitch metal grill, then a finer porous fabric grill inside that. I've gotten OK results in my DIY mics with no grates for dynamics. For condensers and e- mics as well as ribbons you will probably find some kind of protection will increase the usable life span. Smoking in the presence can seriously impact the performance as the exhaled remnants dispersed in the air will sooner or later compromise the sound quality. If the mic smells like a beer or a cigarette it is quite likely the performance has been degraded. I have a swamp cooler for the AC in my house.I haven't noticed any significant difference on vs off. Living in a hot humid environment consistently may causes issues. Since your personal comfort is at stake as well as your gear, consider the ROI.

What can I get for my mxl 990

I didn't buy a shockmount for my first boom arm cause one its expensive and two idk if it good for my blue yeti. I also don't know if I need a blue yeti screw adapter to screw into the boom arm

I bought a cheap boom arm and shockmount for my ATR2020+ USB - mainly cos it's a condenser mic and I knew from the old ATR2020 XLR I had, if it's attached to a desk as mine is, it can transmit noise when DJing. Sure if you have seperate boom arms, probably don't need it unless someone is hitting the boom arm. Desk attached ones with a wobbly desk like mine and I am using a controller on said desk = recipe for bumps. But when I used a Sennheiser e835? No shockmount. WHO puts shockmounts on dynamic mics? That's craziness. The whole point of most dynamic mics is they have handling rejection for stage/live use, so don't usually pass on noise in a boom? Didn't when I used them in the supplied thingummy - what are they called, those plastic 'cradle' things for dynamic mics? Attachment doobry.

Great vid (but where were you when I bought the shock mount that kinda looks like a medieval torture device for my RE320? LOL :)) Well, I have a treated space that worked out fine UNTIL I got a new boom arm that is so sensitive that it picks up the slightest movement and then vibrates and transmits the noise everywhere. The shock mount did nothing, so I have ordered a Rode PSA1 to replace that other boom. That other boom could probably be used on haunted house investigations to pick up the spirits of the dearly departed and the Shock Mount can also tag along! Seriously, I'm so glad I found your vid and I thank you!

Another reason is to protect a sensitive condenser microphone from the klutz who bangs into the stand (we all have our moments)! But then again, if you are careful, it shouldn't be an issue. Just keep an eye on the kids and the dog!

I subscribed for your impressions, and I need one of those

I subscribe because I like your voice when you in a funny moment hahahaha

What if I have a razer siren x and it won’t fit should I just get an adapter or just get a shock mount ???

i stream COD on facebook and i do get excited at times and hit my table and when i rewatch my stream without the shock mount for my Elgato Wave 3 it sounded harsh 😅 so i needed the shock mount hahah 😝

My Blue Yeti needs something. It is a surface vibration sensor that only looks like a podcast microphone. I am not sure why it does not come with sorbothane pads on the bottom. I guess its time to put it on a arm. Thanks for the video.

well, i'm convinced

Aston actually claim that there is no need for a shock mount thanks to the internal suspension of the capsule.

I mean if you have a different mic that doesn’t have a hole for the adapter on the boom arm then yes

There are plenty of aftermarket shockmounts that cost $10 that are of high quality make so what's the problem? Like, if you've got $100+ microphone and opted not to buy a shockmount, it just seems like you don't care about getting the most out of your setup. May aswell just sell your mic and get gaming headset at that point. Atleast you'll get some money back on top of saving money from not having to buy a shockmount.

I'm a mic grabber. I go from sitting to standing different positions when I sit etc. But I can't seem to find a shockmount for the podmic. Any recommendation?

3:44 Haha, that was smooth

You got an Alton Brown vibe going. Nice work.

Gamers have a lot of trouble without a shock mount as we need to use the keyboards with loud and clicks and tactile switches. No other option ☹️

I guess you're kind of right if you only consider a studio use of the mic. When we do something it's normal to think that our scenario is the same for all the rest of the people/situation. But shock mounts are extremely useful and important for outdoor recording... in nature, streets, etc... specially when you are walking, moving or you don't have a tripod or any place to lay the recorder or mic. So maybe you can't realize that there's so so many other situations that one of these would be absolutely perfect. Unless some one is interviewing a chimp, in studio work there's no real need to have one in every case, you are right on that... but outdoors is another world and the simple fact you actually don't know that... it doesn't make shock mounts useless in any way.....

If I were to buy a elgato wave 3, should I get a shock mount?

Why are Tlm 103 nickels so expensive? Are they basically shocks mounts?

what is the names of the shockmounts in the thumbnail

I kinda need this to help my blue yeti with its stock stannd stop picking up sounds from a very clicky keyboard, I tested picking up my mic off the desk while clicking, and I could not hear it. So I will be getting a shock mount and boom arm so I can get near pro sound quality for recording.

I made the financial mistake of buying the EA1 mount for my Neuman TLM102 and, your're right, I don't need it. I am a one person operation and found out the hard way that it's useless with my setup. I don't bump the mic when I record. I don't dance around when I sing. So, thank you for this video. 8))

Fair enough, but you don't talk about on set recording which is where shockmounts really shines.

As a guy who records sound daily in various locations under various circumstances, shock mounts are a must. The obvious, and ubiquitous, use is on a boom pole but sometimes a mic needs to be mounted where vibrations from things like footsteps or door slams etc. can be picked up. I also find them great with mics on tables where people inadvertently thump the surface. So, in short, they’re great and I carry several. BTW why, for goodness sake, when most pro voice over is done with the sleek 416 shotgun mic a slim booms , do video people like you fill the frame great big ugly large diaphragm mics on gigantic ugly articulated booms and nearly always too close with that horrible proximity effect. Is it because Howard Stern first it? Or, possibly a big mic lends desperately needed credibility. Or, a big mic is just used as compensation for a certain insecurity. When I build a video set ups for clients I always use shotgun mics set a foot to 18 inches away. The sound is crisper and more natural, it’s harder to go off mic and there’s less room reflections. I think the ubiquity of the large diaphragm mic in video casting is more to do with the visual than the aural.

Bro my tlm 102 has no shock mount and for 165 thats alot of money. Luke holy shit in 2 years ive never recorded a shock wave. I apreciate this opinion saved me 165 bucks

i have a shock mount , and i would like to change or having a second mount no shock one , what is not easy bcs my mic is kind of large like the Sure. , .. MXL 770 to be precise advantage come with disavantage .. 1st, CHangind rubber band every few months its really annoying, and if you dont change it, your mic go all over the place and touch de side of the mount .. 2nd : your mic have to stay in a certain positiion with a classic shockmount , not horizontaly for example,, so yeah,, ppl need to think about that,, and not buy that bcs it look cool

thx man you earned a sub just because of the beginning hahahaha

I want to believe you and stop myself from buying a shock mount for my re20... but then you have one also!? My reason mostly would be that it can be a hassle to place the heavy re-20 with the clamp twisting down from mic stands and I feel like here you can get it to really come from any direct you want without having to readjust the mic arm constantly... just really also shocked with the shock mounts price tag... 140€ in Germany. That’s 200 Canadian dollars!

Me a gamer who slaps desks : "I need one!"

So you're saying that I should NOT constantly bang on my desk? 🤔

I guess you don't have much an opinion for gaming, but I constantly have bumping and typing sounds and wonder if a shock mount will help or a stand?

if you have solo cast you should buy shock mount if u just touch the microphone It will make a terrible sound

Did you really mentioned the Rode Procaster because of its internal shockmount? I like the Procaster, but the internal shockmount is just as good as the internal pop filter, so both kind of sucks

Thanks for the video! You probably made me save almost R$ 500 for a while. Well, that's a lot of money here in Brazil...

Honestly if you need a cheap shock mount, just build one yourself. and for a mic stand you could probably use one of those arms that are used for lamps.

Believe it or not, but my reasons for shopping for a shock mount are to hold a Wifi/USB microscope that is roughly the same diameter as a microphone. I figure I could stick it in a shock mount, attach it to a gooseneck clamped to my desk and have a functional setup for working on electronics.

I mean you're right, most circumstances it doesn't really make difference. But... not everyone can just stay in one place not making percussive impacts on their desk surface. I unfortunately stream programming, and the combination of two very large monitors with banging on my keyboard like a fiend means I have to both move the mic to look at different screens and have to handle percussive noise. *facepalm* Neat video though.