The trusty growth arm is the commonest approach of mounting a microphone in podcasting.
In response to our 2024 podcast gear survey, 36% of podcasters use a growth arm.
So what makes them so in style? And do you have to be utilizing one in your personal setup?
Why Use a Growth Arm?
Growth arms are handy and versatile. They assist preserve your podcasting area tidy, too.
A growth arm sometimes attaches to your desk with a small clamp grip, that means its desk floor area is nearly nil.
You possibly can swivel the factor round, regulate its peak and route, and usually mess around till you discover your optimum recording place.
With a growth arm, you don’t must be caught in the identical place in the course of a recording session. This can be a far cry from the static (and infrequently hunched) nature of utilizing a desk stand.
Growth arms also can assist minimise the affect of shock-related noise reaching your microphone. Typical examples are typing on a keyboard or by accident hitting or knocking your desk.
Our podcast growth arms roundup makes use of affiliate hyperlinks to assist assist all our free content material. However don’t fear, associates by no means cloud or judgement or stop us from giving our trustworthy opinions!
Greatest Microphone Growth Arms for Podcasting
Like another piece of podcasting gear, growth arm choices are plentiful and fluctuate in worth and high quality.
We’ve used many various fashions in our studio through the years. When you’re seeking to purchase a microphone growth arm, listed here are just a few choices.
Neewer NW-35: A Funds Podcast Growth Arm
Spending huge received’t robotically make your content material sound nice, and when you’re new to podcasting, you’re higher off beginning (and spending) small.
The Neewer NW-35 metal suspension boom scissor arm is a good choice when you’re seeking to purchase a growth arm that’s low cost, however doesn’t really feel low cost. In some situations, it even comes with a pop filter and shock mount, too.
- Value: $20
- Thread: 3/8″ & 5/8″
- Max Weight: 3.3lbs/1.5kg
We purchased a pair for our studio a few years in the past, they usually’re nonetheless going robust!
IXTech Lizard Professional: Sturdy Podcast Growth Arm
IXTech’s Lizard boom arm is a modern, low-profile microphone growth arm able to supporting lots of weight.
It’s a extremely adjustable growth arm that may swivel 360 levels.
- Value: $80
- Thread: 3/8″ & 5/8″
- Max Weight: 4.4lbs/2kg
The Lizard additionally has an built-in cable administration system to assist preserve your setup tidy. This additionally means you don’t want to fret about free cables knocking the arm throughout your recording classes.
Learn our full review of the IXTech Lizard boom arm for extra particulars.
Rode PSA1 & PSA1+: Premium Podcast Growth Arms
Rode’s PSA1 has been the premium podcasting growth arm choice for a few years, and there’s now an upgraded PSA1+ mannequin, too.
As you’d anticipate, the PSA1+ has a barely larger value and specs, including 100 grams to its max weight and a few inches to its attain (together with about $30).
The PSA1+ additionally has an improved built-in cable administration system and enhanced noise discount as a result of rubber contact factors on each the arm and the desk clamp.
With that every one mentioned, the unique PSA1 stays a premium podcast microphone growth arm choice, as you’ll see in our full Rode PSA1 review.
Rode PSA1
- Value: $100
- Thread: 3/8″ & 5/8″
- Max Weight: 2.4lbs/1.1kg
Rode PSA1+
- Value: $130
- Thread: 3/8″ & 5/8″
- Max Weight: 2.6lbs/1.2kg
Attaching Mics to Growth Arms
Microphones hook up with growth arms utilizing commonplace threaded mounts in both 3/8″ or 5/8″ sizes.
It doesn’t matter what mic you’re utilizing, you’ll nearly actually discover a solution to screw it onto a growth arm utilizing a kind of thread sizes.
Adapters additionally enable compatibility between the 2 sizes, making it simple to attach microphones and growth arms no matter thread sort.
To connect, merely screw the microphone (or its adapter) onto the growth arm, securing it tightly.
Shock mounts or mic clips will also be added to additional cut back noise from dealing with or motion.
It’s price including that when you’re utilizing a mic that comes by itself desk stand (just like the Blue Yeti), you’re higher off eradicating it earlier than mounting on a growth arm.
Does Mic Weight Matter?
Most mics are nowhere close to heavy sufficient to bother any of the podcast growth arms talked about right here. The Shure SM7B is on the heavier finish at 0.77kg, the Blue Yeti is 0.55kg with out its stand, and the Samson Q2U is simply 0.32kg.
However when you plan on spending $10,000 on a Telefunken U47, be warned that they weight in at 1.6kg. The Lizard growth arm will assist one among them – when you can afford the additional $80.
Abstract: Greatest Microphone Growth Arms for Podcasting
A podcast growth arm could make you are feeling extra skilled, which may result in extra confidence behind the mic. However there are extra rapid sensible advantages, resembling elevated flexibility, extra desk area, and fewer probability of undesirable noise in your audio.
At lower than $20, the Neewer boom arm is a low-cost on-ramp for any podcaster who desires so as to add a growth arm to their setup. It could be low cost, however it received’t collapse on you after a few recording classes.
Paying $100-$130 for the PSA1 or PSA1+ is a chunky funding. These are wonderful growth arms, however I wouldn’t spend that a lot till you’re sure you’ll stick at this podcasting caper.
For me, the IXTech Lizard is a superb microphone growth arm improve choice; it’s a critical and high quality competitor to the PSA1 vary with the added bonus of being cheaper. When you plan on spending $10,000 on a Telefunken U47, you received’t even must splash out on a brand new growth arm to assist it 🙂
When you want extra assist in placing collectively or organising your podcast gear, make sure to take a look at The Podcraft Academy. In there, you’ll discover programs, downloadable checklists, accountability and suggestions instruments, and we run weekly dwell Q&A classes in there, too!
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