Samson MBA48 48-inch Articulating Microphone Boom Arm with C-Clamp and Flange Mounts
Forty-eight inches of reach is what the MBA48 is really selling. That is enough to bring a microphone from a desk edge right across to a second position, park it out of shot, or come in from a side table so the desk in front of you stays clear. It is the arm for radio, podcast and home studio setups where the mic has to move around.
- 48 inches of reach: maximum horizontal or vertical arm reach, from an articulating design that folds and unfolds rather than telescoping in a straight line.
- Internal springs: positioning is silent and effortless, which is the whole point while a take is running or a broadcast is live.
- Two mounting options included: a C-clamp mount for temporary attachment to a table or desk, or a flange mount for fixing more permanently to a surface.
- Durable steel construction: a heavier build to match the longer reach.
- 5/8 inch to 27 threading: standard mic clip thread, accommodating any microphone up to five pounds.
Samson lists the MBA48 for work from home, audio for video and education.
The MBA48 Microphone Boom Arm is built for radio, podcast and home studio setups where the microphone cannot simply sit in one spot. Its articulating design provides a maximum horizontal or vertical arm reach of 48 inches, and everything else about the arm follows from that length.
Reach, and what it lets you do
Four feet of reach changes how a room is laid out. The arm can be clamped to a side table or a rack and still bring the microphone in over a desk, which keeps the working surface in front of you completely clear. It can swing a mic between two seated positions during an interview. It can also drop a microphone in from above and out of frame for video work, which a short arm cannot do. If you only ever record alone at a fixed desk position, the shorter 18-inch MBA18 covers that job with less arm in the way.
Internal springs for silent moves
The MBA48 features internal springs that allow silent and effortless positioning. This is the detail that matters while recording or during a live broadcast, when an arm that creaks or drops as you move it is picked up by the microphone hanging off the end of it. Springs also hold the position of a long arm, which is asking more of the mechanism than a short one.
Two ways to mount it
Both mounting options are in the box. The C-clamp mount attaches temporarily to a table or desk, which suits a rented room, a shared studio or a setup that gets moved. The flange mount fixes the arm more permanently to a surface, which is the better choice for a built desk or a broadcast position that will not change. Being able to switch later without buying more hardware is genuinely useful.
Build and load
The MBA48 uses durable steel construction, and it offers 5/8 inch to 27 mic clip threading that accommodates any microphone weighing up to five pounds. That takes a large diaphragm condenser in a shockmount, a broadcast dynamic, or a USB microphone, with room to spare. Samson lists the MBA48 for work from home, audio for video and education.