RØDE PSA1+ Professional Studio Arm with Spring Damping and Cable Management,Black

Product Information

Podcasting has finally overtaken radio, becoming the “new norm” with more and more people investing in equipment to record and broadcast from home. So of course audio equipment manufacturers are now expanding their product ranges to include items specifically for home recording, which has never been more popular. The PSA1+ seamlessly pairs functionality with style, combining sleeks looks with completely silent operation and peerless stability. It features an innovative parallelogram spring design that has been precision-engineered to ensure movement is smooth and steady, even with very light or heavy microphones. This mechanism keeps the microphone placement constant when moved so it can be positioned perfectly with ease. The internal springs are fully damped and the arm features a high-quality neoprene cover for further reduction of noise generated by movement.

As part of a studio rebuild I bought four of these booms to replace some aging and very twangy booms of dubious origin! Our main studio uses the SM7B and the PSA-1 supports these very well, balance is perfect and with a little patience feeding the mic cable through the channel in the upper leg of the arms and down through the centre of the base spigot gives a superbly sleek finish. As our guest positions were a custom made desk it was great to to use the circular flush desk mount drilled into the surface with its neat nylon collar (to avoid metal on metal) and a chrome bezel with the Rode logo on it. Nice touch of quality from end to end. The SM7B is hung from the spigot in it's classic formation and looks the part but he only point to note is the microphone's XLR connector casting restricts the horizontal movement a little at extremes but this isn't detrimental to normal use. Although I didn’t get to test this, it comes across as a useful feature for any USB microphone user. The arm also includes a thread adapter for 3/8 or 5/8 which means you can attach any style of microphone. Innovative Parallelogramm-Federkonstruktion für präzise Mikrofonplatzierung und reibungslose BewegungOnce attached, the boom arm is slotted in and sits in the hole tightly. The great news for you podcasters and streamers is that there is zero rattling or sound made from moving the boom arm around. You should get an instant answer on whether your application has been successful, though in some rare cases Klarna or V12 may need to look at the application in more detail. Alternatively, there is the option of a desk clamp mount if you do not have a cable hole in your desk or want to be able to take your microphone away from your desk. As I’ve mentioned, setting up the Rode PSA1 was very simple and probably took a maximum of 10 minutes. Boom arms can be a little fiddly to get in place and this was something that I did feel was a bit of an issue with this product at first.

One of the standout features of the Rode PSA1+ is its remarkable versatility and adjustability. The dual-axis swivel mount enables me to effortlessly adjust the arm's height, angle, and reach to suit my specific needs. Whether I'm sitting or standing, the microphone arm can be positioned at the perfect distance and angle, ensuring optimal audio capture. This flexibility is especially beneficial for long recording sessions, as it allows me to find the most comfortable position for extended use. It also seamlessly moves 360 degrees without any friction or sound. Never once have I heard the standard ‘squeak’ you often hear boom arms make when rotated. Podcasters working from home know that space is an issue, and traditional floor mic stands tend to be rather cumbersome, being designed for stages and studios rather than home use. The PSA1 Studio Arm boasts a 360-degree design, allowing you to find the perfect position for your microphone. This can be useful in podcast and broadcast situations when positioning your microphone on the fly is desirable. It provides a horizontal reach of 820mm and a vertical reach of 840mm. It also comes supplied with Velcro cable wraps, a desk clamp and desk insert for flexible mounting options. The PSA1 Studio Arm is designed for use with the Rode Procaster and the Podcaster microphones but can also support various other microphones between 700g and 1.1kg in weight Features Not a huge issue overall, and certainly not a deal-breaker, but this could put certain users off. For example, journalists and podcasters who travel for interviews may find transport awkward, but not impossible. Final ThoughtsCollection and delivery costs are included for the first 2 years in the event of an item becoming faulty The setup itself was incredibly easy, taking me all of three minutes to mount it, attach it, and connect it to my microphone. I was good to go within minutes. Overall I was very impressed with the PSA1 studio boom arm. It was an addition to my setup that I never thought of as essential, but now, having used it, I couldn’t see myself without one.

It glides really smoothly but stops dead in position, which makes it feel abundant with quality every time you use it. Not only do they add a level of sleekness to the appearance of Rode PSA1+, the sleeve houses an innovative cable management system, making it much easier to keep your microphone cables looking neat and tidy. Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the UK, EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided. You can now install the PSA1 Plus directly into your desk using the newly introduced thru-desk mount system with a dedicated cable run for keeping things tidy. Whether you're podcasting, gaming or recording vocals, the PSA1 Plus will ensure you get the best take, every single time. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission & see how we test.When it comes to mounting the PSA1+, there are two options. The first is a threaded desk mount for a more permanent solution. But this actually turned out to be a good thing which added to the flexibility of the PSA1. Having been used to positioning microphones on a drum kit or amp meticulously in the studio it seemed a little odd to have an arm that could move so easily.

But this is the point of the PSA1 – a live-streamer isn’t going to sit completely still, they will be animated and moving around, and Rode clearly realized this when designing this stand.

The studio boom arm itself is spring-loaded and so without a microphone in place, it will jerk up and leave you wondering how on earth this is going to work whilst recording. For customers in outlying areas of the country, the price of the Extended Warranty may be marginally higher, due to the potential for higher collection and redelivery transport costs. The spring-loaded arms are both metals, so there’s no need to worry about them suffering damage over time or through extended use. There isn’t a way of fixing this into the desk clamp, instead it just slots in. This would have been a nice touch however the arm slots in deep enough to not cause any concern. The easiest way to mount the PSA1+ is to use the included table clamp. It works with most desk surfaces with a ledge, but won't be able to grip anything with a flush edge. We found the clamp to be a bit sturdier and less likely to budge than the one that came with the previous model—rubber end pieces are a simple, but notable, improvement. The arm plants into the recessed top portion of the clamp and can pivot 360 degrees once you attach it. Alternatively, you can mount the arm to a desk with the threaded desk mount insert, though this method requires you to drill a sizable hold into your desktop. The metallic base for this insert feels exceptionally sturdy in any case. The PSA1+ also comes with a 3/8-to-5/8-inch adapter, so you shouldn't have any issues attaching whatever mic you use.