How To Mount a Studio Vocal Microphone Upside-Down

This page describes four ways to mount a vocal microphone upside down on a straight mic stand. The first option works for the Roswell Cutaway shockmount; it requires two minutes' work to reverse the position of the stand adaptor, but is otherwise free. The other three methods require 3rd-party adaptors; they increase positioning options (including inversion) for many types of shockmounts.

How To Modify The Roswell Cutaway Shockmount Clutch

The Roswell Cutaway mount's clutch can be reversed, to allow it to mount to a straight stand with the basket upside-down. The benefit of this is that vocal mics can be inverted, which conveys numerous benefits (detailed in this article: The Best Mic Position For Vocal Recording

1. Rotate the knob counter-clockwise until the knob (and threaded shaft) can be removed from the mount.
   
2. Disassemble all the pieces.
   
3. Flip the clutch housing upside-down, so the stand adaptor threads are visible. Locate the alignment ridge inside the large opening on the side of the clutch housing. This is necessary for successful re-assembly.
   
4. Insert the plate from the cage into the slot in the clutch housing. (This instruction assumes the clutch housing is still upside-down.)
5. Remove the red washer(s) from the threaded rod. Insert the red washer(s) into the large opening on the clutch housing. The notch in the washer must be oriented to slide over the alignment ridge.
6. Remove the silver plastic washer from the threaded rod. Insert the silver washer into the large opening on the clutch housing. The notch in the silver washer must be oriented to slide over the alignment ridge.
   
7. Insert the threaded rod and knob through the washers. Reposition the clutch housing if necessary so that the hole in its center aligns with the hole in the plate. Tighten the knob.

   If the washers are not positioned correctly with respect to the alignment ridge, the clutch will not support the weight of the microphone.

The shockmount can now be installed on a straight mic stand. Be sure the microphone is screwed securely into the threads at the bottom of the shockmount cage before letting go of the microphone.

If your O-rings are stretched or broken, you can replace them easily. We include spares with every shockmount; they are packed in a small bag in the mic case. If you need more, click here to order replacement O-rings.

The Triad-Orbit M3R

The Triad M3R is a compact ball-and-socket stand adaptor that makes minute adjustments simple. It allows rotation along its axis, and positioning around the virtual sphere defined by the length of the shaft. It does not provide much offset from the main mic stand, but what it does, it does so well that you will miss it when it's gone.

Be aware that the M3 is made to fit Triad's proprietary quick-change stands. To retrofit the M3 onto a traditional mic stand's threads, get the M3R, or get the M3 and the IO-RA retrofit adaptor.

(The M2R might work, but the arm is shorter. This device probably does not offset the mic far enough from the mic stand to allow the mic to be tipped back as pictured here. The M2R would likely work for a shorter mic, like the Mini K series, but not so well for the Delphos II or Colares.)

The Latch Lake Spin-Grip

The Latch Lake Spin-Grip features an oversized, very secure, infinitely adjustable clutch that facilitates mic positioning without sacrificing security.

The Onstage Posi-Lok

Onstage Stands makes two stand adaptors that allow most shockmounts to be inverted: the MSA-9501 clutch and the Posi-Lock Mini-Boom. The clutch mechanism is very secure because it has metal teeth that prevent slippage. The cost of this design is that the angle is not as variable as with the options above; the mechanism offers a discrete and relatively small number of steps.