Microphone Stand Thread Sizes

You need to make sure the microphone’s thread hole size is compatible with the mic stand’s thread size. 

You might not believe it, but anyone would still feel a bit of nervousness even if one is a seasoned performer when standing on the stage to begin a vocal performance. More often, you would thank the mic stand for accompanying you on the stage, not leaving you in time of distress, allowing you to squeeze it without squirming and complaining while you sing.

Of course, the mic stand will come in handy when you get tired of holding the mic or when you go on utilizing your hands for some other purposes. Moreover, it freely stands as a mount for your microphone, and it lets you sing through the mic hands-free. You will find various mic stand types, but the most basic mic stand you will find will be the straight stand. 

Understanding the Microphone Stand

As the most basic type of stand, the straight mic stand comes with a round and dome-shaped metal base. It can also come with a tripod base, onto which you thread a post for mounting the mic. This thread is usually a 5/8″ -27 threaded hole. The post comes in two or more tubes (telescoping) that readily fit inside each other and allows for easy height adjustment. It also comes with a clutch, which is the height-adjusting mechanism of the mic stand.

The straight stands come in various versions. One version is the desk stand version. Moreover, this version is the shorter version of the straight stand. You will also encounter a heavy-duty microphone stand that comes with larger tubes and a heavier base for handling bulky microphones. The straight stand tubes have shiny chrome plating for resisting scratching. Nevertheless, they may also come in a matte black finish. 

Another well-known straight stand version is the folding tripod base stand. This mic stand differs from the domed metal base. Its folding base lets you pull down the mic stand with ease when transferring to another location with its reduced weight. Since it does not have a weighty base, its tripod legs must overextend beyond the base radius. The downside of using this type of straight mic stand is that you may unwarily trip on its extended tripod legs.

Mic Stand Accessories and Attachments

To further enhance the usability of the mic stand, you can include in your buying list some of the most useful accessories and attachments to your mic stand. The boom arm, for example, is a helpful attachment to let the mic move horizontally. For example, the guitarist can use this attachment to position the mic right in front of his lips without disturbing his guitar playing. 

You can also use the boom arm to position the mics over the drum kit. Moreover, you can find boom arms with fixed length or adjustable telescopic lengths. 

The gooseneck is another handy device that you can use to adjust the placement of the microphone. It features a spiral-wound steel core and comes in various finishes and lengths. You can utilize it to alter the position of the mic with ease. 

Some microphones screw onto the boom mic directly, and in this post, we will delve deeper into the different thread sizes of the mic stand.

Various Thread Sizes of Mic Stand

Thread sizes come in various sizes. Their sizes range from small to large thread sizes. You can find threads of 5/8-inch with 27 threads per inch, and this is a unified special thread used in the United States. and the rest of the world. 

Furthermore, you will find a ½-inch thread with 12 threads per inch. Older European stands made use of this type of thread size. Moreover, you will find 3/8-inch thread with 16 threads per inch. This thread size is not standard in the United States, but other parts of the world use it. 

Lastly, you will find a ¼-inch thread size with 20 threads per inch. This thread size is also not a common standard in the United States, but other parts of the world use it. It is also common among photography tripods.

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Frequently Asked Question about Mic Stand Thread

To further understand the different thread sizes of mic stands, you can check out the following FAQs about mic stand threads:

What is the Standard Thread Per Inch for Mic Clips & Mic Stands?

The standard thread size and TPI, of course, may vary from one region to another. In the U.S., for example, the standard mic stand thread is 5/8 inch with 27 TPI. In Europe, however, the standard thread size is 3/8 inch with 16 TPI. This thread size is the standard for 16mm and mid-weight video cameras.

How To Attach A Microphone To A Microphone Stand?

The microphone does not have the thread that will enable you to connect it directly to the mic stand. Boom arms and mic stands, on the other hand, come with screw threads where you attach the microphone, but the microphone does not have thread nor fasteners. 

Hence, before you can attach a mic to a stand, you need to equip the stand with a mechanical adapter. This mechanical adapter is a physical piece that holds the mic. You can screw this mechanical adapter to the mic stand and then fasten the mic on the adapter. 

This mechanical adapter may come in two styles: shock mount style housings and microphone clip style. Moreover, you may be familiar with the microphone clip style mechanical adapter. You only unclip this adapter and insert the mic in-between. 

The shock mounts are a common type of microphone holder. You only have to screw it onto the mic stands through its thread and then slip-in the mic onto the mount. 

Various microphones may also require different clips to keep them secure. The most common clip is the standard mic clip. This standard mic clip is a bit flexible and can hold popular mics like the Shure SM57 and other Shure mics. Moreover, mics vary in diameter and have tapered diameters. The standard clips work well with the tapered diameter of mics. You only need to slide the mic onto the clip until it is snugly in place. Additionally, you will find microphone clips in live settings because they offer easy removal of the microphone. 

However, you will, more often, find shock mount types in studio settings. Shock mounts let you mount the mic on the stand with ease. Moreover, it provides enough isolation for reducing the effect of mechanically transmitted noise. 

Shock mount comes in different sizes and can accommodate various types of mics. They feature an external stationary casing that you can attach to the mic stand, along with an internal casing for housing the mic. These casings connect to each other via elastic bands (fabric-wound). You will often see these shock mount types, housing massive diaphragm condenser mics, and side-address mics. 

You will also find shock mounts that come with O-rings or springs instead of the elastic bands. These shock mounts are robust compared to the elastic band. An example of a non-elastic band mount is the Rycote Lyre shock mount, perfect for the shotgun type of mics and top address mics.

Conclusion

When choosing a microphone stand, it will also be useful to look at the stand’s threads to ensure that the adapter you will use fits the stand. For this reason, it will be helpful to know the different types of thread sizes in use and the kinds of mic that you are going to use. 

Being cognizant of these different types of thread sizes will enable you to make the right purchase. Of course, Mic stands are good investments if you are always engaging in live recording or if you want to venture into live sound productions. Lastly, it will be good to purchase mic stands that come with the universal thread so that you can use it with different types of microphone clips.