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DIY Microphone Stand Boom

One of the hardest parts of doing live stage work or video production is making sure your actors are heard while keeping their hands free. Normally, they would just carry a microphone or situate themself in front of a microphone stand, but both of these options limit an actor's movements. The answer to this problem is placing the mic on a boom stand. A boom stand allows you to position the stand away from the actor while still getting the microphone near enough to pick up sound.

Things You'll Need

  • One 8-foot telescoping painter's pole
  • One 3/8-inch by 2-inch hanger bolt
  • Two 3/8-inch hex nuts
  • Drill with 5/16-inch drill bit and screwdriver bit
  • Microphone shockmount
  • 5/8-inch to 3/8-inch thread adaptor
  • One piece of 3/4-inch plywood, 4 foot by 4 foot.
  • 3/4 inch PVC Split "T"
  • Two 3/4-inch PVC screw-to-socket adapters
  • 3/4-inch PVC pipe, 2 feet long
  • 3/4-inch floor flange
  • 1/2-inch wood screws
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drill a hole using the 5/16-inch bit through the center of the plastic threaded end of the painter's pole.

    • 2

      Screw one of the 3/16-inch hex nuts onto a side of the hanger bolt. Twist the pointed end of the hanger bolt into the hole you just drilled in the telescoping pole.

    • 3

      Attach the thread adapter to the exposed end of the hanger bolt. Attach the shockmount to the the thread adapter. This is where the microphone will go.

    • 4

      Place the floor flange in the center of the plywood board and screw it in by driving screws through the holes and into the plywood. Insert one of the PVC screw-to-socket adapters into the floor flange and screw it into place.

    • 5

      Place a piece of 3/4-inch PVC pipe into the socket side of the adapter. Attach the other screw-to-socket adapter to the top of the PVC pipe.

    • 6

      Screw the split T into the screw side of the adapter you placed on the PVC pipe. Place the telescoping pole into the split T to hold it into place.

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