Hook Studios, located in Northern California, USA, features the most advanced accessories for classic and contemporary microphones. “The Hook” offers stand decouplers, and more, to aid in micing vocals, guitars, drums and all instruments. Hook caters to engineers working in both recording studios and live sound venues whose projects demand the highest standards. Recording engineers, artists and producers have always tried to achieve the best sound possible. Sometimes it’s a single microphone, or multiple microphones on many sources such as; drums, ensembles and choirs. For example a drum kit in a recording studio can have 8 or more microphones. Very directional mics are used with very tight patterns. All this activity also creates unwanted sounds.

Shaking noises and stage floor vibrations are two examples of unwanted vibrations.

To achieve the highest sound quality, both live and in a recording session, it is imperative to reduce the vibration affecting microphones at the source. Reduction of vibration to the microphone directly results in more clarity of the recorded or live sound. Cumulative bad sounding elements add up.

Physical separation of performers, instruments and equipment can help. Acoustic sound dividers, portable padded wall systems will address certain issues but not resolve the cumulative noise-vibration issue. The challenge becomes isolating the vibrations from each microphone, in the studio and on the stage.

Hook engineers began designing a “universal decoupler mechanical isolator microphone mount” that would be attached directly between the microphone and the stand. The mount would have a separate soft center section between the male mount and the female connector in order to physically separate metal-to-metal and decouple a microphone from the stand.

Project research revealed vibration-reducing Sorbothane, and led to the use of Sorbothane washers for the “compression center member”. Working with the Sorbothane engineering department, custom components were designed to handle different microphones.

Independent audio engineers have tested the Hook Microphone Decoupler over a two-year period. Their tests revealed a marked reduction in “metallic” impact sounds, as well as a reduction in vibration and unwanted floor noise. In addition, the Hook Decoupler may be used with an existing suspension mount to reduce vibration even further. Critical studio tests revealed increased clarity of the recorded source. Considerable vibration of stands and hardware typically interfere with accurate harmonic overtone reproduction. The MMD provides decoupled suspension and vibration absorption regardless of the microphone’s direction or angle. The patent pending microphone mount mechanically decouples microphones successfully. Thus reducing unwanted vibration, resulting in clarity of sound. The Hook Studios Mechanical Microphone Decoupler is easy to use and universally compatible with most OEM microphone clip holders and mounts. https://www.sorbothane.com/entrepreneur-solutions-showcase.aspx

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