Stereo mic bar for large spacing A-B

[dizziness]

I've been doing more simple stereo live concert recordings lately and am inspired to look for a more elegant solution for my A-B setup of two stands...

Are there any good recommendations for a 40cm+ stereo mic bar? I've had my greedy eyes on a A.E.A. stereo bar for some time... I do have some concerns as it is not uncommon for me to extend the stands 14'+ feet. I fear the wide width and a decent pair of large diaphragm mics would be too much to handle...

The Sabra-Som 4 mic (30 cm) might be okay. Even the On Stage MY700 might be decent enough allthough narrow. I also considered fabricating a simple bar by the means in Michael William's Stereophonic Zoom article...

If I went the route of the A.E.A. bar I am concerned I'd need to spring for a Starbird, Latch Lake MicKing, or the On Stage big daddy stand to suppor the weight and suspend the bracket.

I was already planning to spring for some heavier sandbags and try to figure out a way to counterbalance the weight of the mics (large diaphragm with shockmounts aren't at the center of gravity of the stand.) I'm trying to keep the cost at a minimum.

Any other products I have forgotten? (oh the Bogen triple mic holder, but then I'd need a light stand with the 5/8 stud.)

Chris

[Don S]

Hello Chris,

Although I use small dc's, I simply modified the Bogen triple mic holder with a 6 ft piece of military grade aluminum pipe. Cut to size of course!

[dizziness]

Originally Posted by Don S

Hello Chris,

Although I use small dc's, I simply modified the Bogen triple mic holder with a 6 ft piece of military grade aluminum pipe. Cut to size of course!

Damn! I must be truly stupid to not have thought of that. I'm going to price some out, what diameter is it? Should I find a supplier locally? Thanks for the tip... I'll just get a thread to stud adapter and be in business.

Chris

[Brackish]

Looking for a stereo bar for 40 cm AB spacing.

[boojum]

One fellow on this board just bought some hexagonal aluminum rod the same as in the SabraSom but, of course, longer. Bingo!

I use a pair of DPA 4061's a lot taped to a long piece of carbon fiber rod at 40 cm. Works great. But they are tiny and I can get away with a guerrilla setup like that with them.

[Petrus]

I have done a bunch of carbon tube AB bars in various lengths from 40 to 120 cm. 16 or 24 mm tube with wood plug & screw epoxied at the ends & light stand spigot or just plane 3/8" nut in the middle. Absolutely rock steady & cheap.

[Brackish]

Kind of looking for something pre-made here.

Anyone have the On Stage MY700? I'm wondering what the distance is
on that one when it's in a straight line.

[Sheikyearbouti]

I use 3 x K&M236 and 2 x K&M23550 bars attached to each other. This gives me all kind of sizes (from 17cm to more than a meter) with a very steady and simple construction. I wouldn't be afraid to put any mics on it.

[Norm@gear]

Using here for 2 months, very good:
adebar acoustics / vertrieb / support / tools

[Audiop]

Originally Posted by Sheikyearbouti

I use 3 x K&M236 and 2 x K&M23550 bars attached to each other. This gives me all kind of sizes (from 17cm to more than a meter) with a very steady and simple construction. I wouldn't be afraid to put any mics on it.

That's what I use as well, both for stands and when I'm hanging mic's.


/Peter

[JonesH]

The Adebar looks a lot like the one offered from Stereoschiene.ch which is the one I use. He made two 1 meter bars for me.
I also use the Superlux MA-90 for closer spacings.
The Grace Design Spacebar looks very well made and seems like the creme of the crop as of today. Hmmm GAS coming on.

[PlugHead]

For 40 cm max., I'd suggest the Superlux MA-90 as ^^JonesH ^^ recommended. The only negative is no clutch for angle adjustment on this bar...

It's not as nice as the Grace SpaceBar, but it costs 1/4 as much...

[The Elf]

Originally Posted by boojum

One fellow on this board just bought some hexagonal aluminum rod the same as in the SabraSom but, of course, longer. Bingo!

Ditto. I love the SS mounts and finding a supplier of some extra hex bar was a doddle.

[Marlan]

I think Don's idea is the best one. I have the Bogen standard bar and it's hands down one of the best made bars I've ever used. I bought a large 1 meter Sabra bar from Jerry Bruck at Posthorn Recordings some years back. I can't find them anymore but he might know where to get them. They are something like $65 but cheaply made.

[hbphotoav]

Originally Posted by Marlan

I think Don's idea is the best one. I have the Bogen standard bar and it's hands down one of the best made bars I've ever used. I bought a large 1 meter Sabra bar from Jerry Bruck at Posthorn Recordings some years back. I can't find them anymore but he might know where to get them. They are something like $65 but cheaply made.

Sabra Som

I've had mine for six years (short bar, shock mount... SSM-1) and two years (long - 30cm - bar with four 3/8s studs... ST-4) and love them. See one here with eight mics in array: Mics Comparo at organ concert

I don't find them cheaply made, but sensibly engineered for the tasks they accomplish. The folks at the distributor were quick to replace one of the hoops after I broke it, and sent additional elastics without my asking for them. Good folks.

I would like to know where to find longer (60-70cm) hexagonal barstock...

HB

[NorseHorse]

When substituting a bar in the Sabra-Som units, it isn't necessary to use hexagonal bar if you use SDCs. As long as you mount your mics below the bar and not above it, you don't have to worry about slipping.

I picked my extra bars up at Ace Hardware.

[boojum]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

When substituting a bar in the Sabra-Som units, it isn't necessary to use hexagonal bar if you use SDCs. As long as you mount your mics below the bar and not above it, you don't have to worry about slipping.

You've been around the block, lad. LOL Good point that you make. It will help me in my search. Thanks.

[Lazerface]

Originally Posted by Brackish

Kind of looking for something pre-made here.

Anyone have the On Stage MY700? I'm wondering what the distance is
on that one when it's in a straight line.

I have one, and it measures 37cm from the center of each end mounting screw. It does measure 40cm tip to tip tho, which really doesn't help.

[Marlan]

Originally Posted by hbphotoav

Sabra Som

I've had mine for six years (short bar, shock mount... SSM-1) and two years (long - 30cm - bar with four 3/8s studs... ST-4) and love them. See one here with eight mics in array: Mics Comparo at organ concert

I don't find them cheaply made, but sensibly engineered for the tasks they accomplish. The folks at the distributor were quick to replace one of the hoops after I broke it, and sent additional elastics without my asking for them. Good folks.

I would like to know where to find longer (60-70cm) hexagonal barstock...

HB

The link you provided is not the one I am referring to. They made a really long one that I think they discontinued. The Bogens are nearly impossible to break. My Sabra had to be fixed twice and I treat my gear very carefully. The fact that yours broke as well confirms my comment. They do the job and are decent products but I still hold they are cheaply made.

[Larry Elliott]

Originally Posted by Marlan

They made a really long one that I think they discontinued.

That is correct - something to do with not being able to support larger mics at the extreme ends of the bar. Potential liability so they discontinued it.
Larry

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by Marlan

I think Don's idea is the best one. I have the Bogen standard bar and it's hands down one of the best made bars I've ever used.

It looks like I'd need to get an adapter to fit that bar on top
of a mic stand and also adapters for each of the mics.
Are those all light stand 5/8 studs?

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by Lazerface

I have one, and it measures 37cm from the center of each end mounting screw.

Thank you for the info.

Well 37cm is about the same as 40cm. And for only $15!

How do you like it? Does it work okay for you?

[fifthcircle]

The Onstage stand bar is pretty mediocre. It will do the job, but it is really flimsy thin metal and just isn't made well.

I use a Grace Spacebar with great results. It is expensive, but I've never seen machine work for a stereo bar that is even close. If you need absolute repeatablity, this is your bar.

Not to say that other bars won't work- the bogen is a great way to go at a much lower cost, but if you're doing sessions over multiple days and need to repeat settings, the Grace is the way to go.

--Ben

[chris319]

Geez, just go to the hardware store, pick yourself up a 1" x 2" wooden plank of whatever length, some #4 x 5/8" wood screws and a can of black spray paint. Get one female mic flange and two males and presto! A stereo bar!

[jglamar]

For those of us who, like the OP, may find hardware-store spray-painted wood somewhat lacking aesthetically, structurally, and functionally, but would rather not have the estimable Grace Designs take our Benjamins for something as relatively easy to homebrew as a stereo bar, I suggest the following—which I finally took the time to do last Spring and have been very happy with:
Go to somewhere like metalsupermarkets.com and order .375" aluminum hex bar cut to whatever heroic length you desire. This stuff is very cheap, even with shipping.
Then have a local power-coating or anodizing service make them black or grey or whatever color makes you happy. This is cheap. I paid something like $40 to have 5 such bars powder-coated. Powdercoating is way cheaper than anodizing but still great-looking and very durable. Spraypaint comes off very quickly and sloppily, leaving you bars looking very ragged: it is not the solution for professionals. As a bonus you can have the powder-coating service drill little holes in each end that are useful when you need to hang them. You might even want to ask if they can demarcate the bars along their length, by inch or foot or centimeter or whatever.
Then call Jerry Bruck at Posthorn (or your favorite Sabra parts dealer in your area) and purchase as many Sliding Microphone Mounts as you may need. (www.posthorn.com)
These are your most expensive item.
I made myself enough for me to leave one bar at hall A, one at hall B, and combine others to make a huge Decca tree.
Cheers,
Jamey

[RobAnderson]

Kind of looking for something pre-made here.

Anyone have the On Stage MY700? I'm wondering what the distance is
on that one when it's in a straight line.

I believe that one is 38 cm when fully extended (15")

I don't think they discontinued the Sabra-Som 1m bar. I found it still listed on Posthorn's website:
Posthorn | SDT Decca Tree

[Brackish]

Originally Posted by RobAnderson

I believe that one is 38 cm when fully extended (15")

Do you have that one? What do you think?

I'm tempted, you know, for $15 ...
And no drilling, cutting, powder-coating, screws, flanges, wooden
planks, nor spray painting needed.

[chris319]

Basically you're using one of these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...icrophone.html

with a custom-length, powder-coated hex bar. It's great idea which will elevate the humble stereo bar into a true objet d'art, satisfying even the most effete connoiseur of stereo bars, much more so than a lowly plank of spray-painted wood. Over the years I have found that the first thing concertgoers notice when they first enter a hall is the stereo bar.

I would heed this user review, however:

This is my second one. The center mount, being made of plastic, could not stand the road abuse I apparently put it through. It split and fell apart at a really bad time - immediately before a concert I was planning on recording.

[John Willett]

I use the Grace SpaceBar - 66cm.

[Corran]

The Sabra-Som ST-2 or ST-4 is an excellent bar, assuming you know not to crank the hell out of the plastic screws. With the addition of a couple custom-cut hex rods, I've gotten tons of mileage out of it for less than $75 for the ST-4 and rods. I hardly use lengths longer than 60cm; yes the rod will sag a little with very heavy mics or with crazy-long bars.

If you've got the bread, sure get the Grace Spacebar. It seems a little too large and obtrusive to me though for some concerts. I like the thin, sleek hex bar on the Sabra-Som.

Here's a trick: if you also have some Sabra-Som shockmounts, you can put the rings w/ elastic bands on the end of the actual hex bar, and mount heavy LDC's sideways, which distributes the weight better (and eliminates the heavy shockmounts for some mics). I regularly do this with my Neumann U89's. I can get some pics if needed to better illustrate this.