Best Mic Stands for Home Recording

The best mic stand for most home studios is the Rode PSA1+ desk arm if you record seated, or the K&M 210/9 tripod boom if you sing or play standing. For drum overheads, get the Hercules MS533B, which reaches 94.5 inches (2,400 mm). For heavy condensers, get the Triad-Orbit T2, rated to 44.1 lb (20 kg).

A stand is the least exciting thing you'll buy, so pick by the job and move on.

Quick picks

Six stands cover every home recording job, from a podcast desk to drum overheads.

Desk arm, tripod boom, or straight stand?

Pick the type by where the mic has to be, then pick the model. A desk arm clamps to the desk, a tripod boom stands on the floor and reaches out, and a straight stand holds the mic right above its base.

If you record more than one kind of source, buy a tripod boom first. It does everything a straight stand does and also reaches over an acoustic guitar or a drum kit.

The 6 best mic stands

Every pick is current on its maker's site, with specs from the maker's own product page.

Rode PSA1+

Get the PSA1+ if you record sitting down: vocals, voice over, streaming, or podcasts. Rode's PSA1+ data sheet rates it for 3.3 oz to 2.6 lb (94 g to 1.2 kg) including the shock mount, with 37 inches (940 mm) of horizontal and 33.9 inches (860 mm) of vertical reach.

• Clamps to desktops up to 2.8 inches (70 mm) thick, or mounts in a threaded insert on tops up to 2.2 inches (55 mm)
• The arm itself weighs 3.3 lb (1.52 kg) and rotates 360 degrees

The catch: it needs a desk edge, so it can't mic an amp or an instrument across the room. Price band: $100 to $200.

K&M 210/9

The 210/9 is for the singer who records standing and wants one stand that lasts. K&M lists a height of 35.4 to 63.2 inches (900 to 1,605 mm), a two-piece telescopic boom of 17.1 to 29.3 inches (435 to 745 mm), and a 6.8 lb (3.1 kg) steel build.

The catch: K&M doesn't publish a load rating. With a heavy condenser, keep the boom short and over a tripod leg. Price band: under $100.

Hercules MS432B

The MS432B is the budget pick, so the money goes into the mic and interface. Hercules lists a height of 34.4 to 58.1 inches (875 to 1,475 mm), a 30.7 inch (780 mm) boom with one knob that locks both length and angle, and a weight of 4.9 lb (2.2 kg).

At 58.1 inches (1,475 mm), it has the lowest maximum height here, too short for overheads, and there's no published load rating. Price band: under $100.

Hercules MS201B PLUS

The MS201B PLUS is the straight stand to buy if you only record standing vocals and floor space is tight. Hercules lists a height of 40.2 to 66.1 inches (1,020 to 1,680 mm), a weighted H base, and a 9 lb (4.1 kg) weight, almost double the MS432B.

There's no boom, so it can't reach over a guitar or a desk. Price band: under $100.

Hercules MS533B

The MS533B is the one for drum overheads, room mics, and tall singers. Hercules lists a height of 42.1 to 94.5 inches (1,070 to 2,400 mm), a 30.7 inch (780 mm) hideaway boom that turns it into a straight stand, and a weight of 5.7 lb (2.6 kg).

The 42.1 inch (1,070 mm) minimum is too tall for a kick drum or a guitar amp. Price band: $100 to $200.

Triad-Orbit T2

The T2 is for heavy condensers and uneven floors, and it's the only floor stand here with a published load rating. Triad-Orbit lists a 44.1 lb (20 kg) maximum load, a height of 36.2 to 68.5 inches (92 to 174 cm), and legs that set the footprint anywhere from 15.7 to 21.3 inches (40 to 54 cm).

The T2 is a stand only, and the boom is a separate purchase. It lists at $298.99 at the time of writing.

Which stand holds a heavy condenser?

A stand holds a mic safely when mic plus shock mount weighs less than its rated load. Most studio mics come in well under 2.2 lb (1 kg): the AT2020 is 12.2 oz (345 g), the Neumann U 87 Ai is 17.6 oz (500 g), and the AT4050 is 18 oz (510 g).

Floor stands are more forgiving, since a tripod carries weight straight down. The risk is a long boom with a heavy mic, which tips the stand when the mic isn't over a leg.

How to choose a mic stand

Four numbers decide which stand fits: load rating, height range, boom length, and stand weight.

1. Check the load rating. Mic plus shock mount should weigh less than the rating. Where no rating is published, keep the boom short.
2. Match the height range to the job. Overheads need the 94.5 inch (2,400 mm) MS533B. A kick or an amp needs one that goes low, like the 34.4 inch (875 mm) MS432B.
3. Get enough boom. The tripod booms here extend 29.3 to 30.7 inches (745 to 780 mm), enough to reach over a guitar body.
4. Favor weight for heavy mics. Floor stands here run from 4.9 lb (2.2 kg, MS432B) to 9 lb (4.1 kg, MS201B PLUS).

A stand is one line on the home recording equipment list. Pair it with a pop filter that clamps to the same shaft, and if you plan to clamp an arm to your studio desk, check that the top is under 2.8 inches (70 mm) thick.