Spacebar SB 66

Precision stereo microphone positioning made simple, reliable and repeatable

The Spacebar microphone positioner allows for precise and repeatable setting of microphone capsule spacing, angle of incidence, and rotation around the x axis. With precision scales for angle and distance engraved on the Spacebar components, it becomes easy to make perfectly measured and repeatable stereo microphone setups.

As well as being able to precisely set microphones in standard stereo configurations (i.e. XY, ORTF, NOS, and AB 50cm), the Spacebar allows for exact settings through the entire continuum of angle and spacing. This allows the user to adjust the stereo microphone array and tailor the pickup field to suit virtually any recording environment.

We highly recommend The Stereophonic Zoom by Michael Williams, a technical paper that provides detailed information on the relationship between angle of incidence, capsule spacing, and the effective angle of the recorded sound field. It is a very useful reference that can greatly increase the flexibility of your stereo microphone techniques.

The Spacebar system is precision fabricated from machined aircraft aluminum, brass, and stainless steel. Each system consists of a center stand clamp, horizontal bar, and microphone holders. The SB-30 and SB-66 are both supplied with two microphone holder assemblies and an additional tall microphone holder. The taller microphone holder body can be used to raise one microphone to avoid interference if the mic spacing requires that the microphone bodies overlap.

The Spacebar system comes in two versions – the SB-30 and the SB-66, which provide the following microphone spacing:
model        minimum spacing      maximum spacing
SB-66        7cm (2.75”)            61cm (24”)

Also available is a hanging bar (SB-HB-30/66) for installations where the positioner is hung from above. This accessory consists of a tube which mounts to the center clamp through which the microphone cable is threaded. This enables the spacebar to be hung by the microphone cable and positioned via side mounted guide wires. See detailed photo here.

The Spacebar system is precision fabricated from machined aircraft aluminum, brass, and stainless steel. If properly cared for it will last a lifetime.