Tabletop Microphone Shockmount

A while ago, I picked up a Zoom H2n recorder to go along with my DLSR video rig.  Since then, I've found myself using the H2N more and more.  Most recently, I recorded an open mike night at a local venue.  What I've found is that low frequency vibrations (i.e. bass and/or drums) cause distortion in the recordings when the unit is placed on a table or other surface.  An isolation mount or stand of some sort is an absolutely necessity.  After building several of the DIY shockmounts found here on Instructables and other places on the internet, I decided to roll my own style.  I wanted something that I could sit on a table, offered a decent amount of isolation, and that would attach to the Zoom H2n by threading into the tripod mount on the bottom of the recorder.

So this is what I came up with.  It does well to reduce the distortion created by low frequency vibrations when recording live music.  It will work to a lesser degree to reduce table noise during podcasts, interviews, narrations, and other similar activities.

All of the materials used come from my scrap bins, but if you were to purchase everything new, total cost would still be less than $15 (US).  Total build time is less than an hour, not including paint drying time.

Tools Required
4" Hole Saw and a suitable drill
1/4" drill bit
Small flathead screwdriver
Ruler or tape measure
Pencil
Sandpaper and/or electric sander

Materials you'll need:
6" x 6" x 3/4" MDF, wood, or plywood
1/4-20 bolts, 1 1/2" long with washers and nuts
Elastic hair ties

Optional Extras
Paint
Rubber feet

Step 1: Main Components

This version is made from 3/4 inch thick MDF (medium density fiberboard), although it would work just as well with plywood, pressboard, or solid wood.  You'll need a piece about 6 inches square.

Using a hole saw  drill a large hole in the middle of the square.  The exact size does not matter.  In this case, it's 4 inches, as that's the size hole saw I had on hand.  If you don't own on, and can't borrow one, the same effect can be achieved using a jigsaw.  

We'll be using both the square piece and the round cutout, so don't discard anything.

Step 2: Sanding

The hole saw doesn't produce a perfect edge, so a little sanding cleans up the rough edges.  Reducing the diameter of the round part will help later on, so don't be shy with the sandpaper.  I'm using a benchtop belt sander here, but any sanding method or machine will do just fine.

Step 3: Drill Some Holes

Now it's time for some holes.  There's 9 of them in total, although we already drilled the one in the middle on the first step.

On the square piece, drill 1 hole in each corner, 1 inch from the inside edge of the hole with a 1/4 inch drill bit.

On the round piece, drill 4 evenly spaced holes 1/2 inch from the edge with the same 1/4 inch drill bit.

It's important that all of the holes are drilled straight up and down as acurately as possible.  Errors made during this step will change the alignment of the assembled mount.

Step 4: Hardware Time

Now it's time for some hardware.  I've chosen 1/4-20 nuts and bolts as they're available everywhere (at least here in the US), and they're inexpensive.  We're going to use the following:

4 x 1/4-20  1 1/2 inches long
8 x 1/4" washers
4 x 1/4-20 threaded coupling

At each corner of the square piece, assemble the hardware as shown. 

Step 5: Hair Ties

For the round piece, thread a stretchy hair tie through each of the 4 outside holes.  I used a small screwdriver to push them through.

In the middle hole, I used a short 1/4-20 bolt.  This will be used to attach the recorder.

Step 6: Assembly

One at a time, stretch each hair tie over the nut/bolt at each corner.  Attach the recorder to the middle bolt and you're ready.  

If the edge of the round piece touches the inside of the square piece, try adjusting the hair ties to center the round piece in the hole.  If  that doesn't help, reduce the diameter of the round piece by sanding or filing it.

Step 7: Viola!

Here's our finished product, ready to be used.  

While it looks nice, and appears to function as desired, only a side by side comparison will show if it does actually work.  As mentioned earlier, its' intended purpose is to reduce low frequency vibrations picked up by the recorder through the surface that it's sitting on.  Initial testing seems to indicate that it works fairly well.

Some optional extras you might want to add to this project are:

Add some paint
Put rubber feet on the legs to avoid scratching the table
Make a strain relief or other method to secure headphone/remote wires to the square piece
Use a proper thumbscrew (like a tripod) to attach the recorder.
Add something heavy to the square piece for more stability 

Thanks for checking out my first Instructable.  Comments, critiques, and kudos are most welcome.