Best Microphone Shock Mounts for Podcasters

If your podcast listening experience has ever been interrupted by a jarring crumpling or rumbling sound, you understand the need for a podcast microphone shock mount.  While some microphones will come packaged with a shock mount specifically built to fit, many do not and require the addition of a universal shock mount. A well-made universal shock mount will also likely outlive your microphone itself and can theoretically be used with any microphone you choose to upgrade to in the future. 

Of course, shock mounts can help reduce noise caused by a speaker bumping or accidentally touching their microphone, but they also serve the function of cutting out more subtle noise caused by moving a mic stand or arm. Even a small shift in a mic stand’s position or light tap on a desk can cause unwanted noise that can be easily prevented by adding a shock mount. Some microphones will list an internal shock mount as a feature, but the capability does not compare to an external shock mount. 

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Shock mounts vary immensely in quality and are the type of purchase you may want to spend a bit more on because of this. Cheap mounts will have low-quality rubber or plastic that can go brittle or snap over time. Furthermore, they often are not truly universal and will have a loose fit on narrower microphones or be unable to actually hold a wider bodied piece of equipment. While we cannot promise that every microphone will fit in the universal mounts listed here, these are built to house as many different mics as possible. 

When shopping for shock mounts, be careful to avoid mounts designed for filmmakers using long, small diaphragm microphones. Several shock mounts exist for mounting on a camera or boom pole that simply will not fit many podcasting microphones. However, if you are using a small diaphragm condenser microphone, you will find there are several other low-priced shock mounts available that are designed to only support smaller microphones that weigh less and have smaller bodies. 

Rycote Invision USM Shock Mount

A shock mount widely regarded as one of the best is the Rycote Invision, which has a universal fit and is built with a silicon-like material that is designed to be sturdier and more durable with just as much stretch. Unlike many mounts where the microphone simply slides into a rubber band like form, the Invision has four screws with rubber grips that hold the mic in place. This makes it much more universal than other mounts by increasing the range of diameters it can hold. Rycote’s patented Lyre Technology also provides an additional 12 dB of isolation compared to other elastic suspensions.

Rycote has three versions of this mount for different size microphones. The USM model, which is built for the average mic, is designed for microphones from between 18 to 55 mm in diameter and tends to be sufficient for most popular podcasting mics. The L and VB models are available if you think your needs are outside of this range.

The Invision USM mount is built to hold microphones up to 400 grams in weight, while the larger VB model can hold microphones up to 900 grams. The Rode Procaster microphone for example, which is a popular mic on the heavier side, weighs just under 700 grams. The mount can attach to most stands, arms or set-ups, although some users have noted that it is hard to remove the mount from a stand once it is attached. 

Although there are lots of options available for shock mounts that claim to be universal, you will quickly realize that the Rycote Invision line of products is consistently named as one of the best. At the time of writing, no other product on the market was offering the same range of sizes that Rycote provides with their three options. Furthermore, no other well-regarded product had a similar screw in system as the Invision. 

Rode PSM1 Shock Mount

Although it is specifically designed for Rode’s line of podcasting microphones, this large, durable shock mount will work with many popular mics and is practically universal. Compare the measurement and weight of your mic to that of the Rode Procaster, PSA1 or DS1 to ensure the fit. 

The PSM1 is priced lower than some other popular mounts and easily attaches to studio boom arms. If price is a concern, you will find several off-brand mounts that mimic the design and shape of the PSM1, but the quality will be substantially lower. Consider reading forums or comments on this specific shock mount to see if other users have tested it with your exact microphone model. Because Rode created and markets this mount specifically for their microphones, they have not released a list of mics from other brands that it is compatible with. 

LyxPro MKS1-B Condenser Spider Microphone Shock Mount

A standout amongst low-priced shock mounts is the LyxPro MKS1-B, which features a wide mount compatible with several Samson, AKG, Behringer and other condenser microphones. The design is similar to the Rycote Invision but does not feature the same screw in mechanism. However, LyxPro’s spider-like design should be as efficient for larger sized microphones. For condenser microphones with a small diaphragm, consider another option. 

One benefit of the LyxPro MKS1-B is that the manufacturer has listed several microphones they have tested the microphone with, so you can purchase with a bit more confidence. Microphones like the Blue Yeti are still not compatible here due to the atypical design of that specific mic. 

Sabra Som SSM-1 Universal Shock Mount

This shock mount is designed in the typical style that most universal or otherwise generic shock mounts are built with. The microphone slides between two sets of overlapping bands that are flexible and allow for multiple microphones to fit. While it will not support as many microphone shapes as shock mounts like the Rycote Invision, for small condenser mics it can be a great option. The SSM-1 stands out amongst similar mounts because one of the two mounts can be adjusted to help hold different sized microphones at the correct center of balance. 

Sabra Som is slightly more expensive than other mounts built in the same style, but it has been around longer and tends to make higher quality products than some other similar options. With a design like this specifically, you need strong, tight supports that will not cause your microphone to sag and Sabra Som has a strong reputation of being capable of this. For small diaphragm microphones, consider similar shock mounts with a slightly smaller opening. These are often labeled as shock mounts for boom poles or video production, rather than podcasting specifically. 

Auphonix Silver Shock Mount Compatible with Blue Yeti Mic

This is not a universal shock mount, but instead one manufactured just to work with the popular Blue Yeti mic. If you are looking for a shock mount for that specific mic, consider this option reasonably priced. The unusual shape of the Blue Yeti makes unfit for most universal mounts, but Auphonix has created a mount specially for the mic that suspends the mic from above and reduces noise distortion and vibration. 

Consider this option if and only if you use a Blue Yeti. Other microphones will not work with the design.