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Double Bass Exploraudio H clamp for Double Bass review

flatback

flatback

May 6, 2004
2,983
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#1
I received the H clamp today from Rob at Exploraudio. It is, as Vincent has explained on another thread (and can be seen here (http://www.exploraudio.com) a new mic mount for the doublebass that promises to hold any mic securely to the bass and in any optimal position.
First, these guys aren't Garage Audio. The H clamp is a beautifully machined extremely light (think titanium or carbon light, not plastic) yet very strong piece of equipment whose design perfectly suits its purpose. It comes in an elegant small box with foam cutouts and VERY IN DEPTH instructions.
The mount clamps softly to the bout of your bass and holds the mic where you want it. Period.
I think that this is THE mount for recording particularly if (like me) you move around at all when you play. Even if you don't the H clamp can position a high quality condenser where it sounds best (under the fingerboard, above the F hole wherever) and it just stays put. I tried it this morning with a KM 184 (managed the wires with the included velcro straps) and it worked great. I dig the sound under the strings above the bridge (on my axe) and whereever I put it it stays. Later I'll see if I can record with a U87 or something really big and farther away from the bass and see how that does. (I imagine that the clamp will hold, it will be a matter of the imbalancing weight of the mic.)
I'll take it on the gig in the next few days and see how that goes too. I have been using an Audix mini (in a ATM 35 clip mount on the adjusters) lately, but I'm going to try an SM58 and the KM 184 too. I suspect that I'll like this clamp even with a mini mic, because it makes it so easy to keep the vibrations and cords away from the instrument...I sometimes get rattles or vibration bleeds if the mic or cord touches something other then the mount.
...Some important differences with the similar mount made by AMT: There is no goose neck here. The boom is hollow but strong and STAYS where you put it. The whole mount is smaller and lighter and it takes ANY MIC. and the mic and cord are independent so they dont end up in a wrapped up mess of wire and metal at the end of the night...
Exploraudio has made a finished product, thought out in detail and executed in the finest materials. I'll bet they sell a lot of them.
 
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#3
OK so check it out: One of the main things that makes a good mic sound is its isolation. If a mic is picking up vibrations from the bass thru the mount, then the sound is really compromised. The ATM 35 mount that I have been using for example (which clips onto the adjuster wheel,) picks up a lot of unwanted vibrational energy from the moving body of the instrument. The AMT has a well designed shock mount that is part of what is so good about that mic.
The H clamp is totally hip in that it can take any kind of mic, but for live, I've tried the KM 184 and other full size condensers and they are more problematic then a sound enhancement (for me, in the kind of rooms and bands I play in) but in the studio...
Anyway I put my Audix on the H clamp and played last night and the mic sound (without the vibration) was much improved. I am really interested in getting a nice small shock mount to really isolate it. The foam wind screen from the ATM 35 is just temporary.Exploraudio has a nice one. But I wonder if there is a small one like the AMT out there...
Here is a photo of the H clamp as I am using it.
 
#4
I asked Robert at Exploraudio if he thought I needed to use a shockmount with a mic like the Beyer M 88. His answer was basically no, probably not. But his actual response was very, very detailed and just full of information about the clamp itself, its design and testing, live use v. studio, and more. I sent a subsequent email asking him for permission to post his entire shockmount response here on TB.

They also make and sell a general-purpose shockmount for mics w/ barrel diameters around 20 mm and 28 mm. So I gave him the perfect opportunity to try and upsell me, but he didn't. That tells me something right there.

So far the level of customer service that I've received from Robert has been just outstanding.

My H-clamp is on its way.
 
#5
Well in the course of messing with the H clamp I decided to make myself a little shock mount using the housing off the ATM 35 mount and some of the little silicon rubber bands that Robert sends with the H clamp to manage mic cable. Having the capsule totally isolated in a shock mount turns out to make a very big difference if the mount is on the body of the bass. I was really surprised by how much clearer and more usable the signal is. I think that the H clamp being secured to the bout where there is much less vibration then the bridge (where I had the ATM 35) also helped a lot.
 
#6
Yeah, all that definitely makes sense. That's why I asked Rob if a shockmount was recommended. I would think that the smaller and lighter the mic, the more important the shockmount idea probably becomes. I dunno, maybe not.

The Beyer is medium-ish sized, and designed for handheld use as well as for micing instruments. So I'll bet the designer realizes it could be subjected to handling noise. They have probably tried to build it in a way that would perhaps minimize problems associated with that. Definitely different than say the ATM 35 I reckon. Don't know so much about the Audix though.

Any real close ups of your shockmount thingy coming soon?
 
#7
bolo said:
Yeah, all that definitely makes sense. That's why I asked Rob. I would think that the smaller and lighter the mic, the more important the shockmount idea probably becomes. I dunno, maybe not.

The Beyer is medium-ish sized, and designed for handheld use as well as for micing instruments. So I'll bet the designer realizes it could be subjected to handling noise. They have probably tried to build it in a way that would perhaps minimize problems associated with that. Definitely different than say the ATM 35 I reckon. Don't know so much about the Audix though.

Any real close ups of your shockmount thingy coming soon?
Click to expand...
Yea the bayer is a big mic. Did you try it and liked what it did for your sound? I have not heard of using that mic before? Here is the shock mount I made. Hey please post the discussion with Robert.
...also my original photo has (as Rob pointed out) the H clamp on backward...oops it should have the boom indent facing outward...)
yea and that is tape holding it to the boom...I'll figure something out there...

Oh and by the way... I have no interest in Exploraudio other then as an enthusiastic supporter of what I feel is an excellent contribution to our toolbox.
 
#8
Thanks for all those pics of the H-clamp on your bass and your shockmount system.
flatback said:
Yea the bayer is a big mic. Did you try it and liked what it did for your sound? I have not heard of using that mic before?
Click to expand...
Actually I just ordered the Beyer M 88 and haven't received it yet. I plan to compare it to my AMT as soon as it arrives. I got the idea for the Beyer from larry in this mic thread from this past summer. I have wanted to try the Beyer ever since I read that thread, but was hesitant, thinking I'd be using the rubber band trick between the bridge legs, or maybe a mic stand. And I really like the flexibility of my AMT clamp system, with the ability to position the mic wherever it sounds best on my bass and keep it there. Then --- enter Vunz's posts about the H-clamp. So I ordered the clamp and the M 88. Sort of all came together.
flatback said:
Hey please post the discussion with Robert.
Click to expand...
I asked Rob specifically about the Beyer M 88 since I knew mine was on order.

With his permission, here is what he had to say about the Beyer and the shockmount topic:

>>> Robert Aitchison <[email protected]> 12/07/06 3:13 PM >>>
>
> Hello Steve,
>
> &#8230;
>
> The question of whether or not to use a shockmount is less
> straightforward. You are right to assume that the synthetic rubber rings
> on the circular H-clamp jaws provide a degree of attenuation of sound
> transmitted to the H. Also, the amplitude of vibration on the edge of
> the body is considerably less than on the bridge or front & rear panels.
> In addition, the casing of almost all good quality mics (such as the
> Beyer M88) is isolated from the capsule as much as is practicable, in
> order to minimise handling noise, particularly for vocal mics. Finally,
> the variety of materials and disparate component dimensions of the H
> reduce the opportunity for resonances. As a result, there is usually no
> need to use a shockmount, particularly for live performances (there are
> many other factors that will have a much more significant affect on the
> sound than any vibration that may be propagated through the H).
>
> However, every combination of instrument, microphone, playing style and
> preferred H-clamp positioning is unique and there is always the
> possibility that a particular combination may lead to some degree of
> coloration due to sound transmission through the H. Personally, I'm not
> convinced it will be significant, even in the studio but we do offer a
> multi-purpose shockmount (optional extra) to reduce any H-clamp borne
> vibration still further, if it is a concern. The 25mm barrel diameter of
> the M88 should fit this shockmount (though if a mount specific to the
> M88 is supplied by Beyer, it would no doubt be better) &#8230;
>
> Either way, I do not believe that transmission of sound
> through the clamp will be a significant factor in the difference in
> sound between the AMT mic and from your M88.
>
> My final comment on the subject of shockmounts is that during the
> development of the H, the option of a built-in shockmount was abandoned
> following initial testing of the prototype - the sound was so good with
> just a mic clip that supplying a shockmount as standard was considered
> unnecessary.
>
> Hope the above is helpful.
>
> Best regards,
>
>Rob​
 
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#9
What a great company. I ordered an H-Clamp from exploraudio. Unfortunately, they don't accept American Express (yet) but I received an e-mail from Robert apologizing for the inconvenience and offering to facilitate the transaction by using PayPal which would allow me to use my AMEX card. In addition, for the hassle he's going to throw in a shockmount. I just wanted to hip everyone to the fact that this guy is bending over backwards for my business and I think it's something that everyone should be aware of. I also let him know about TB. Paul, who knows, you may have another advertisement to post soon. Hope so.
 
#10
Well I spent yesterday recording with the KM 184 and the H clamp and then fooled around a little trying to get a sound out with that combo for a live sound. It turns out that the KM184 positioned in the right spot ( and with a good hifi amp/cab) sounds great live. I took it on the gig last night (somewhat quiet trio) and it sounded sooo phat and nice. Only problem was with the AI Focus: The mic was so hot that even with the gain turned all the way down the mic signal was very strong. I know that Rick at AI can fix this, I just haven't been willing to part with my amp yet. but with this set up it might be time. The little Audix when totally isolated sounds fantastic too, although it relies more on the pick up for the bass end of the spectrum.
I wonder if the KM 185 has a lot narrower field (hyper C as opposed to C) I am just borrowing the KM 184 but it might be time to invest...
Also the KM 184 didn't need a shock mount. The mount it comes with was fine, no handling noise or vibration.
In the directions for the H clamp there is that line that goes something like (years of experimenting with the different tonal possibilites ...) but to a degree it is true. When you can put the mic anywhere you realize that all these different positions on the face of the bass can offer a lot of choices: Some favor bass over treble, like near but not over an F hole. Toward the center under the fingerboard (on my axe) a very woody and even tone, between the bridge legs, more treble and high end less lows etc.
I'll probably leave the Audix on there just cause I can keep the whole thing on the bass in the case etc. and have minimal set up (with the Audix there is no extra box to it goes right into the Focus)
 

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