Grace Spacebar User Manual
Spacebar
Stereo Microphone Positioning System
User Manual, Revision C, October 7, 2010
Stereo Spacebar User Manual Revision C Page 1 of 13
Table of Contents
Spacebar Components .............................................................................................................. 3
Setup Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 5
Changing the mic holder height ................................................................................................. 6
Changing the horizontal bar length ............................................................................................ 6
Exploded parts diagram: Spacebar SB-30 ............................................................................... 7
Optional Center mount bridge SB-CMB .................................................................................... 8
Exploded parts diagram: SB-CMB ............................................................................................ 9
Optional Spacebar Hanging Adapter SB-HB-30/66 ................................................................. 10
Spacebar Hanging Adapter Setup Procedure ......................................................................... 12
Revision History ...................................................................................................................... 13
Welcome and thanks for purchasing the Spacebar microphone positioner. We build all of our products
to be completely reliable and easy to use, so you can concentrate on making great recordings. While
the Spacebar setup and use is straightforward, please do familiarize yourself with this manual to help
avoid any common user difficulties.
The Spacebar 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 is easy to make perfectly 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 Stereophonic Zoom can be downloaded from:
http://www.microphone-data.com/pdfs/Stereo%20zoom.pdf
Spacebar systems are precision fabricated from machined aircraft aluminum, brass, and stainless
steel. If properly cared for it should last a lifetime. In the event that you encounter any technical or
operational difficulties with this or any Grace Design products, please feel free to contact us at 303443-7454, 9 to 5, Monday through Friday, MST. Or you can email questions to: info@gracedesign.com
Stereo Spacebar User Manual Revision C Page 2 of 13
Spacebar Components
The standard Spacebar system consists of a center stand clamp, horizontal bar, and microphone
holders.
JAM NUT
SMALL MIC HOLDER
LARGE MIC HOLDER
KEYED RING
HORIZONTAL BAR
STAND CLAMP
LOCKING HANDLE
STAND CLAMP
ANGLE ADJUST
LOCK SCREW
POSITION LOCK NUT
fig.1 Spacebar component diagram
Stereo Spacebar User Manual Revision C Page 3 of 13
The horizontal bar comes in two sizes: 30cm for the SB-30 and 66cm for the SB-66. The 30cm and
66cm horizontal bars are interchangeable in the field. The maximum microphone holder spacing is as
follows:
Model Minimum spacing Maximum spacing
SB-30 7cm (2.75”) 26cm (10.2”)
SB-66 7cm (2.75”) 61cm (24”)
The stand clamp mounts on a standard 5/8”-27 microphone stand thread. Note: the threaded section
of the microphone stand should not be longer than 7/16”. Threading the stand further than 7/16” into
the stand clamp can cause the horizontal bar to bind and not rotate freely.
The microphone holders are secured to the horizontal bar by the position lock nuts. Loosening these
nuts will allow the microphone holders to slide side to side for adjusting the microphone spacing. The
horizontal position can be adjusted with 5mm precision by using the ruler on the front of the horizontal
bar. Note that these rulers are for reference as the actual capsule spacing will need to be determined
with a measuring tape or ruler. 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 (see Changing the mic holder height
later in this manual). Additional microphone holders can
be purchased if more than two microphones are to be mounted to the Spacebar.
When the position lock nuts are loose the microphone angle can be adjusted by loosening the angle
adjust lock screws. The angle of incidence can be adjusted with 5° precision by using the angle scale
on the front of the microphone holder.
Stereo Spacebar User Manual Revision C Page 4 of 13
fig. 2 SB-66 with multiple mic holders
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