Accessory 2 of 9

Shock mounts — keep desk thumps off your recording

Every footstep, desk thump, and chair scrape vibrates up through your microphone stand and into the capsule. A shock mount is a cradle of elastic that absorbs those vibrations before they reach the mic.

Typical price$30–$120

Used withMost studio condensers

Skip ifMic has internal shock (SM7B, RE20)

What it does

Suspends the mic in elastic so vibrations don’t reach the capsule

A shock mount is a cradle that holds the microphone in elastic bands or rubber hoops, so any vibration coming up through the stand or the desk doesn’t get transmitted to the capsule. Without one, every footstep, desk thump, or chair scrape will show up on your recording as a thump or rumble.

Most professional studio condensers come with a matched shock mount in the box. Dynamic mics usually don’t — they’re less sensitive to vibration in the first place — but the SM7B has internal shock isolation built into the body itself.

Built-in vs external

Some mics have it inside

Built-in shock isolation. The Shure SM7B, the Electro-Voice RE20, and most broadcast dynamics float their capsule internally. No external mount needed.
Spider shock mounts. The classic shape — a circle of stretchy elastic threads suspending the mic. Used with most studio condensers.
Suspension yokes. A pair of elastic bands holding the mic in a yoke. Common on broadcast condensers and some shotguns.
Rycote Lyre / InVision mounts. Rubber zigzag suspension instead of elastic threads — won’t stretch out over time. Becoming the new standard.

Should you buy one?

Buy a shock mount whenYou’re using a condenser mic on a desktop boom arm where someone might thump the desk or type loudly nearby. Most condensers either include one or the manufacturer sells a matched one for $40–$120.

Skip a shock mount whenYou’re using an SM7B, an RE20, or another broadcast dynamic with internal shock isolation. The mic does the job already.