User manual

19
General precautions
IMPORTANT:
Whatever microphone is attached to the H-clamp, it is
essential to check that the H-clamp is fitted securely before moving the
instrument. Ensure the microphone and/or H-clamp itself will not move
when the instrument is being carried or laid down. Particular care must be
taken with large microphones. The heavier the microphone and the further
the microphone boom is extended or the weight of the microphone is off-
centre in relation to the boom, the more care is required to prevent gravity
from causing “mic strike”.
Mic strike & mic fall: Whether held on a conventional microphone stand
or on the end of the H-clamp’s boom, if not held firmly, gravity can cause
heavy microphones to either swing or fall. If the instrument is under the
microphone or in the path of its swing under gravity, a microphone and/or
clip or shockmount can cause significant damage to the instrument. Equal-
ly, vigorous jerky movements can cause heavy microphones to either work
loose on the boom / loosen the boom in its grip or loosen the H-clamp on
the instrument. The risk of ‘mic fall’ (when the H-clamp becomes detached
from the instrument) is greatest when a heavy microphone is held on the
end of a boom extended to its maximum length and orientated so that
gravity is acting to cause the H-clamp disks to rotate on the instrument.
Although this should not damage the instrument, it can lead to the Clamp
working loose and becoming detached. As explained later (page 20), this is
more likely with instruments with tapering or domed sound boxes but cau-
tion must be taken with any instrument, particularly when attaching heavy
microphones.
Marking of surface finishes: The soft synthetic rubber rings on the
H-clamp jaws are designed to spread, not compress, under pressure. Un-
less excessive force is applied or the clamp is fitted incorrectly, it should
not normally be possible for the hard edges of the clamp to be pressed
into contact with the instrument. The spreading of the rubber rings should
also prevent sufficient pressure being exerted to make an impression in
the surface of the instrument. For instruments constructed with particularly
soft materials, advice should be sought from a specialist dealer, maker or
repairer of similar instruments before using the H-clamp. In all other cir-
cumstances, the only marking that may occur is no more permanent than
a fingerprint. When the H-clamp’s rubber rings are pressed hard on the
surface of the instrument, they may leave a very faint, superficial mark.
As with a light fingerprint, such marking is normally only visible on close
inspection, when caught in the right light and can be removed in the same
way as finger marks (refer to your instrument’s cleaning instructions for
removal of fingerprints).