Freesound Forums

Hello all,

Using the boom arm of a mic stand, I mocked up a boom pole to attach my Zoom H4n to, and when I hold it in front of me as I walk, it works great for footsteps. With one exception - the handling sound from holding it renders my magical audio gems unusable!

I thought that maybe some kind of sticky-backed foam wrap on the end might do the trick to isolate the sound from my hand holding it, whilst leaving the boom arm still usable as a boom arm (the threaded end slides through to fit on the stand).

Has anybody done this before, or come up with any other sound-isolating tricks to eliminate handling noise from a home-made boom pole? In your experience, are there any particularly effective types of foam wrap, or are other solutions advisable? UK or Irish sources of cheap and easy solutions would be most helpful!

Also, I'd welcome any advice about how to make a shock mount for the Zoom H4n to fit into, and screw onto the end of my home-made boom pole.

I very much appreciate your input and experiences. Thank you.

Microscopia
Foam wrap esp. pipe insulation, will help reduce some low freq. handling noise, but can also be problematic with generating its own handling noise (a scratchy sound).

Although used for other setups, the following will give you some ideas - IMHO you cannot beat this method of pvc pipe & rubber bands (also dirt cheap and easy to construct)! :wink:

https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/type/www/audio-reports/QuadPacConstruction/index.html

Thank you very much, that is tremendously helpful! I'm going to start by trying to find some rubbery foam wrap and attaching several layers of it to end of the boom arm and see what happens. If that doesn't do the trick I'll see what I can do about making something like that shock mount.

I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks again.

If at all possible get the type of foam used on gym equipment handles, it is less scratchy than pipe insulation, I was able to find some in a skip once. I made a similar rig to that linked to by Microscopia. Made of plastic downspout (also from a skip) and 'rescued/liberated' bungee type clothing drawstrings rather than rubber bands as the NT4 is relatively heavy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benboncan/4308289809/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benboncan/4308289813/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benboncan/4308289797/

I hope this will inspire you to make something suitable for the H4n. There is treasure everywhere.

Thank you all for your helpful advice. After some experimentation, I've sorted out my current issues with handling noise, and in response to another poster did up a bit of a tutorial focusing on portable digital audio recorders and handling noise.

At the bottom of it I've got an audio example of my (I think successful) footsteps test using my new best friend - soft polyurethane-rubber upholstery foam.

I also found that the shockmount approach was impractical for a moving rectangular portable digital recorder in multiple positions, and the foam underlay and grip approach worked much, much better.

I really appreciate all your input which is helping me to get better and better audio. You rock!

Benboncan
If at all possible get the type of foam used on gym equipment handles, it is less scratchy than pipe insulation, I was able to find some in a skip once. I made a similar rig to that linked to by Microscopia. Made of plastic downspout (also from a skip) and 'rescued/liberated' bungee type clothing drawstrings rather than rubber bands as the NT4 is relatively heavy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benboncan/4308289809/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benboncan/4308289813/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benboncan/4308289797/

I hope this will inspire you to make something suitable for the H4n. There is treasure everywhere.

Benboncam, I meant to thank you for your tip about the foam type and also the links to your helpful images, and I see I forgot. Bad me, sorry. :/

Even though I found that the shockmount route wasn't suitable for my purposes, I was particularly impressed with your wooden thingy that fit into the mic mount with the flat bit on top to which you fixed your shockmount. I mean the way the round bit has a sticky-out bit on top like this if you look straight at it from the narrow end on its side: -o Did it come in that shape, or did you machine it that way?

I meant to thank you for your tip about the foam type and also the links to your helpful images, and I see I forgot. Bad me, sorry

No problem

I was particularly impressed with your wooden thingy that fit into the mic mount with the flat bit on top to which you fixed your shockmount. I mean the way the round bit has a sticky-out bit on top like this if you look straight at it from the narrow end on its side: -o Did it come in that shape, or did you machine it that way?

No it wasn't machined, a much older technology:

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=59961

:wink:

Benboncan

I was particularly impressed with your wooden thingy that fit into the mic mount with the flat bit on top to which you fixed your shockmount. I mean the way the round bit has a sticky-out bit on top like this if you look straight at it from the narrow end on its side: -o Did it come in that shape, or did you machine it that way?

No it wasn't machined, a much older technology:

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=59961 :wink:

Heheheh. Well, one may consider a gravity assisted blunt and edged pushing device to be a machine, but never mind ...

What did you use to start with, is that part of a broom or mop handle?

What did you use to start with, is that part of a broom or mop handle?

No it just looks that way now, it was a lump of Ash destined for the woodstove.

Benboncan

What did you use to start with, is that part of a broom or mop handle?

No it just looks that way now, it was a lump of Ash destined for the woodstove.

Nice work, very impressive.