If the job demands clean, professional sound, then you don't just need a good microphone, but you need to be able to set it up accurately, whether you're miking up a guitar amplifier or holding a shotgun or blimp microphone over the actors during a film shoot. In that case, you're going to need a boom pole or a microphone boom arm.
What's Are Boom Arms & Boom Poles?
While you can get straight microphone stands that are essentially a free-standing stick with a microphone planted on one end, you can also get microphone stands with an extra adjustable, fishing-rod style bit that sound engineers can set up to point directly at the singer, speaker, or the soundhole of an acoustic guitar. The extra bits are microphone boom arms, and they can be fitted on really small microphone stands as well as really big overhead microphone stands. You can also get boom poles. These long poles are usually mounted with a large microphone (often inside a blimp) at one end so it can be held over the heads of whoever or whatever is being recorded by the sound people on a film shoot.
What Kind of Boom Pole Do You Need?
There are a few things you need to think about before picking out the right boom arm. The first is the length, since it can range anywhere from 25cm to five metres. Also, rather than thinking about what you need it for right now, it's worth thinking about how you might use it in the future, so while you might not need a really long arm or pole tomorrow, you might need one next week. Then there's the weight. Most boom poles will be really lightweight, but since you need to hold them over you head for long periods of time, you need to remember to factor in the weight of your microphone as well. Having a telescopic boom pole that can be pulled out to adjust the length is also pretty handy.
Microphone Stand Bags
Once you've found the boom pole or microphone arm of your dreams, then you'll probably need a good microphone stand bag to keep it in show-or-shoot ready condition when you're on the road. A good bag doesn't just keep your boom pole or microphone stand in good condition, but makes it much easier carry, and might even allows space for packing accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boom Poles & Microphone Arms
How do you secure cables to a boom pole or microphone arm?
If you're working with a boom pole or a microphone stand with an arm, then neat cable management is a must - simply so that it doesn't get in shot or in the way of the performer. Thankfully, most boom poles and microphone arms will feature cable guides, so any cables can be clipped into the guides and fed down the length of pole. Some boom poles also have internal cable routing systems that provide an even neater setup.
What's the best microphone boom pole?
The best boom pole or microphone arm will have the perfect length, but can be adjusted just in case you need it to be longer or shorter for the next job. The weight also needs to be right - especially when it comes to your boom arm, since you're going to be holding it up for long periods of time.
