RECORDING November 2024 - 44

REVIEW
Lauten Audio Rim Mount
Now THIS is a Drum Mic Clip
REVIEW BY DAVID BLASCOE
I
n the January 2024 issue, we reviewed the Lauten Audio Snare Mic,
followed by the Lauten Audio Tom Mic last month. Both are boldly named;
luckily, each one lives up to its stated task. The trend continues with an
equally boldly named companion piece, the Lauten Audio Rim Mount.
This Ain't Your Parent's Drum
Clip
Billed as a fully articulating drum mount
system, the patent-pending Rim Mount
is, as its name implies, a drum clamp.
Weighing just 0.6 lbs, it is surprisingly
lightweight yet incredibly sturdy. It is
made of solid aluminum and measures
7.68 " (T) x 3.74 " (W) x 0.98 " (D) when
flat, collapsed and not in use.
Despite its initial bulky appearance, the
Rim Mount is both versatile and possibly
one of the most accommodating drum mic
clips I've ever encountered. It features seven
different rotation points, with two ball joints,
two cuffs, two arms and one elbow joint.
Imagine all the flexibility of an oldschool
gooseneck mic clip, but with infinitely
more stability and none of the " will
it or won't it " stay in place worries.
Clamp It
When you loosen the main handle, all
seven rotation points simultaneously go
limp-what Lauten Audio founder and
Rim Mount inventor Brian Loudenslager
44 RECORDING November 2024
aptly calls " Gumby Mode. " This allows
you to position the clip however you like.
Once you're satisfied with the placement
of your mic, tighten the handle to rigidly
lock the clip into place.
The handle-style thumbscrew is springloaded
(same as the clip on the snare mic
and tom mic), allowing you to lift and rotate
it to a convenient position out of the way
without altering the tension of the mount. I
appreciate that the Rim Mount allows for up
close and personal head positioning along
with distance positions and angles, usually
only possible with a traditional mic stand
and rarely possible with most mic clips.
Scratch Free
I have a trusty Gretsch snare drum that I absolutely
adore and use frequently in the studio
and on tour. Unfortunately, it bears the scars
of many FOH engineers carelessly clipping
mics onto it, leaving behind dings and scuffs
on the finish and shell. I was thrilled to see that
the thick rubber " teeth " of the Rim Mount are
specifically designed to avoid contact with
both the drum shell and the drumhead.
Buzz Be Gone
Not only can attaching many drum
clips to your rims damage your precious
instrument, but placing a clip on the head
can also throw off your tuning and cause
buzzing or rattling from vibrations. I've
encountered both issues more times than I
can count, and I can confidently say that
the Rim Mount elegantly solves both issues.
I even ran a test, mounting a pair of Lauten
Tom Mics on my rack tom using both a traditional
mic stand and the Rim Mount side
by side. There was no perceivable difference
in sound quality, tone or resonance-
the Rim Mount did an exceptional job isolating
the mic from unwanted vibrations.
Versatility at Its Best
As I've mentioned in previous reviews,
my main kit, both in the studio and
live, is a Gretsch Brooklyn series with
Gretsch's proprietary " 302 " hoops.
These double-flanged hoops sit higher
than traditional triple-flange or die-cast
hoops, making it tricky to attach some
fixed-position mic clips without feeling
like I'm bending or almost breaking the
clip. The Rim Mount, however, opens
up to a generous 1.5 " , which easily
accommodates my Gretsch drums and
just about any other drum I've used.
RECORDING November 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING November 2024
