The X Clip is a dual microphone clip molded out of durable Milastemer plastic. It is designed to clip onto a thick-bodied dynamic mic—such as a Shure SM57 to allow a pencil condenser microphone to be piggybacked on top of it. Having two microphones placed on the same source with their diaphragms exactly side-by-side for proper phase coherency, is an old recording engineer trick.
I’ve used this trick for snare drums and guitar cabinets, but I’ve always had to tape the two microphones together with gaffer’s tape or use two mic stands. Neither solution is very elegant.
The X Clip has been designed for pliability, grip and long life for SM57s paired with various pencil condenser microphones. The larger slot of the clip can also fit an Audix i5, Shure SM58, Beta 57A, Shure PGA27 and many others.
I tried The X Clip on a snare drum using a Neumann KM184 and also an AKG C451B. I liked that even though I switched over to the AKG, a slightly thinner mic body than the Neumann, I just applied squeezing pressure on The X Clip to reform it to fit.
I also like using The X Clip on guitar amps when I’m looking for more of the extremes—the top and bottom frequencies—from the speaker by using a condenser. Having both microphones’ diaphragm exactly inline means I can blend them to taste.
The X Clip sells for $19.95 or three for $49.95.
Barry Rudolph is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com
