Microphone storage

[Biskit]

Just one to canvass opinions as this is a matter on which there is no 'definitive' or 'right' answer... but a lot of options!

I have quite a large collection of microphones: essentially lots of different 'options' for bands/live music, mainly general vocal and instrument mics, with some specialist types thrown in.  Most are of the SM57/58 form factor, plus a number of small diaphragm condenser types and a few 'odd' ones.  Storage is becoming a problem.  I have always tried to keep mics in the pouches they came with - however I've ended up with quite a number sharing with two or more identical ones per pouch.  They're all like this in a large box - it's ok, but difficult to find the one I want in a hurry.  How do others store their mics?  Am I perhaps missing a much more convenient way?  The options I can see (without spending an absolute fortune on a custom made case with form cut to take every mic I currently have) are:

1. As I am now, with mics in pouches (possibly with better labelling of pouches)

2. Briefcase type cases which come with foam pre-cut to take 7 SM58 shaped mics, eg. https://www.musik-produktiv.com/gb/roadinger-microphone-case-road-7-microphones-black.html - seems wasteful of space, especially for mics which are smaller than an SM58.

3. Deep cases with holes for mics, eg. https://www.flightcasewarehouse.co.uk/industry/product.asp?item=microphone-briefcase-flight-case-2774-7826 - these are quite efficient in terms of space, but I worry about smaller mics rattling around and not being geld securely.  Also mics which look similar end-on (eg. SM58 vs Beta 58) can be difficult to distinguish.

4. Generic briefcase style case with 'eggbox' type form top and bottom, and just lay the mics out flat and shut the lid.  I imagine this would hold them all quite tight, but I'd worry that in time the foam would degrade and not hold the mics as tightly, so they'd end up all at one end of the case banging against each other in transit.  Has anyone tried this approach?

5. Generic form case with 'cut your own form' or the type with the little square pieces that can be pulled out to create your own shapes.  I've always thought these are a bit naff unless it just happens that your equipment is all perfectly rectangular, an exact multiple of the pull-out squares, and the exact depth of the case (never happens in my experience).

Any other thoughts?

[Brian]

Pick a case and make your own Shadowfoam insert. 

[kerry davies]

All of them suit different folks and different strokes. We always bought a replacement pouch for broken or lost ones and used your Number 4 case but often made up kits in lidded plastic crates of mics in pouches, mic stand heads, leads, radio mic and drum mic sets. 

The one gizmo we scrapped on day one was a shaped foam insert in a mic stand bag because the first client group opened it upside down and bounced 5 SM58's on a stage. 

Edited August 29, 2022 by kerry davies
SPAG

[sunray]

1 hour ago, kerry davies said:

All of them suit different folks and different strokes. We always bought a replacement pouch for broken or lost ones and used your Number 4 case but often made up kits in lidded plastic crates of mics in pouches, mic stand heads, leads, radio mic and drum mic sets. 

My own personal kit is not aimed at band work so I don't often carry lots of mics for my systems but have subbed a reasonable amount to sound stages.

The popular systems I see are the deep box with holes as you describ and also drawers in a flight case with padded spaces and the egg box foam you describe on a lid.

One format that a guy I have worked a few times uses is a briefcase format with  sections and using pouches (he uses different coloured home made bags from vynil car seat type material for different mics) the sections prevent too much moving around.

1 hour ago, kerry davies said:

The one gizmo we scrapped on day one was a shaped foam insert in a mic stand bag because the first client group opened it upside down and bounced 5 SM58's on a stage. 

I have seen exactly that situation and the scenario was a pair of all day soundstages, 40 minutes slots, 10 mins sound check on the other stage so a new band every 50 minutes with only 10 mins down time. We provided the PA with every mic one could need, selection of DI boxes etc and a crew to assist get out and get in. The stages were a pair of barges on the river.

One band wanted to use their own silver SM58's (??) rather than our grey/black. The guy opened the immaculate bag (we reckoned 1st or 2nd use) and they fell to the solid steel deck, 2 bounced once and without touching anything else got wet. the rest landed on on their balls and 2 didn't work.

Sadly the group were carp and after their set blamed everything for their poor performance; wrong mics, poor mix, foldback, the sun, hydration supplies (one of our members provided water dispensers and vending machines in his day work, we had chilled water dispensers on each stage, both loading spaces and mix position and a fridge loaded with all the usual cans of fizzy) last but not least the generator supply for their instrument amps (we were running off a 63/3 from the substation). Honest guv we didn't laugh,

One of the members of public even suggested one of the others should swap with the lead singer.

 

Oh I miss that event more than most, it was always a good day, very hard work though.

Edited August 29, 2022 by sunray

[Yorkie]

Cheap way of improving your existing system, albeit not padded: https://www.wilko.com/wilko-pvc-pencil-case/p/0261328

[J Pearce]

Are you looking for storage that you then pick and prep from for each gig, or a storage system that you take out with you to gigs? If the latter, something for a truck/van/splitter/car boot/rucksack?

I'm a big fan of rack drawers in rolling racks, both for storage and on gigs. Within each drawer either the original mic pouch, neoprene pencil cases, or if you're feeling fancy foam (picknpluck or super fancy CNC cut). If you do pouches then they want labelling - neon cloth tape is good for this, and allows you to add a colour code too (maybe something like vocal/dynamic instrument/condensor instrument/drum). Drawers allow for thematic sorting too.

If you want something you can throw in your car then I'd go for briefcase flightcases, with the same options as the rack drawers. I'd probably line the inside with some case foam to take out the worst of the bumps.

I'm not a fan of the tube foam mic boxes, they're only good for SM58 size mics, you can't easily tell a B58 from an SM58, and I find them quite bulky for the amount they hold.

My personal stock lives in an oversized briefcase/trunk flightcase that was cheap. Mics that have fancy boxes live in those boxes in the trunk, the rest in pouches (original or neoprene). Not had a damage issue yet, and they've travelled fairly extensively in vans and car boots.

The work stock lives in boxes or pouches on warehouse racking, getting prepped into trays or flightcase drawers for shows as needed.

[Stuart91]

On 8/29/2022 at 12:57 PM, kerry davies said:

The one gizmo we scrapped on day one was a shaped foam insert in a mic stand bag because the first client group opened it upside down and bounced 5 SM58's on a stage. 

Was the stage OK? 🤣

 

One thing I found helpful was buying some clear pencil cases, to replace the invariably black ones that come with the mics. They're perhaps not as well padded but still protect against scratches and mean you can identify mics at a glance. 

[JarOfSnoms]

I personally use the foam where you can pick out the cubes to make custom insert sizes. Granted I have only a few microphones, and also carry a camera with me.

[paulears]

I read the topic, looked down and took a picture. Not really very good, is it?

[ANDYLASER]

I keep looking at this. Horizontal foam tray for mics laying on their side (agreed a bit wasteful on space) and a couple of trays for mics in their bags/pouches/boxes.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/gator_gm_7w_tsa.htm

[kerry davies]

2 hours ago, ANDYLASER said:

I keep looking at this. Horizontal foam tray for mics laying on their side (agreed a bit wasteful on space) and a couple of trays for mics in their bags/pouches/boxes.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/gator_gm_7w_tsa.htm

The problem with the often excellent proprietary ones like those, Andy, is that most smaller PA hire guys end up with a Paulears mixture of 7 or 8 differing shaped mics that don't fit the cut-outs. Of course Murphy's Law states that once you create your own bespoke foam inserts you then go and buy another bunch of yet different shaped mics and you end up back at jumbleyville.

[sunray]

I worked with a band this weekend who turned up with several DeWalt T-Stack trollies, they are obviousely experienced with working their system and it flowed nicely.

They'd made partitions in trays and lightly padded for their mics, kinda like that Gator but bespoke.

Edited November 14, 2022 by sunray

[ANDYLASER]

20 hours ago, kerry davies said:

The problem with the often excellent proprietary ones like those, Andy, is that most smaller PA hire guys end up with a Paulears mixture of 7 or 8 differing shaped mics that don't fit the cut-outs. Of course Murphy's Law states that once you create your own bespoke foam inserts you then go and buy another bunch of yet different shaped mics and you end up back at jumbleyville.

Indeed. Although that box does provide 2 additional trays for differently shaped microphones. Apart from a custom box, any other solution will have certain compromises.
Having gone with a custom storage solution before (not for microphones), if you change one item, then it no longer works as intended.