Until recently, I’d been using a mic floor stand rather than a boom arm. It had served me well since I converted a small walk-in cupboard into a sound-treated vocal booth, predominantly for recording audio drama performers.
Floor stands have their benefits, but space-saving definitely isn’t one of them. And as I was now mostly recording non-fiction conversations for Podcraft, I decided to set up an old boom arm instead. It was much more convenient, and I felt a bit daft for leaving it so long.
But the old cheap boom arm had its downsides. It still felt “in the way” during recording sessions, had a habit of slowly drooping, and when my XLR and headphone cables knocked against it, the noise inevitably crept into my audio.
Whether by sheer coincidence or psychic powers, a nice chap from IXTECH reached out to point me toward their wares. I noticed they had a low-profile boom arm called the Lizard Pro, and I was intrigued by this reptilian rig.
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The IXTECH Lizard Pro Boom Arm
Most podcasters are deliberate about their mic choice, whilst other supporting cast gear falls into the “any old will do” category. This typically means pop filters, XLR cables, and, yes, boom arms.
Pop filters are on one end of the scale (you can definitely scrimp on them), and cables at the other (you really shouldn’t scrimp on them), but boom arms fall somewhere in the middle.
The Lizard costs about $80, meaning you could get about ten ultra-budget boom arms for the same cost. So, our cold-blooded companion needs to justify its place in your setup if you’re going to fork out the cash. Let’s learn some facts and specs:
Horizontal Reach: Extends up to 28 inches (710 mm), allowing flexible positioning.
Vertical Rotation: Offers a range of motion from +90° to -35°, enabling easy angle adjustments.
Horizontal Rotation: You can swivel the boom arm 360° to face any direction.
Cable Channel: Includes a sliding cover to neatly hide cables, ensuring a tidy setup.
Ball Head: Adjustable head for precise microphone positioning, compatible with 3/8″ – 5/8″ adapters.
Padded Clamp: Provides adjustable thickness to securely attach to surfaces of varying dimensions, supporting a range from 0.4 to 2.2 inches (1-5.5 cm).
Detachable Riser: An extension piece that adds 5.9 inches (150 mm) to the boom arm, usable on both the top and bottom sections.
Max Weight Capacity: 4.4 lbs (approximately 2kg)
Dimensions:
Arm length: 11.7 inches (29.7 cm)
Clamp height: 8.5 inches (21.7 cm)
So, there is no shortage of features that the I-XTECH marketing team wanted to highlight. Most of them fall under the “positioning and adjustability” bracket, but I want to start with the Lizard’s cable management capabilities.
Cable Management
You’ll have at least one cable running into your mic (XLR or USB), and if it’s a USB mic, you’ll likely have a headphone cable plugged in there, too.
With my cheap boom arm, the cables running into my mic constantly knocked against it, and those sounds were picked up in the audio.
The Lizard’s simple but effective cable channels provide a space to securely house your cables, solving that problem quickly and easily.
Look & Feel
The Lizard boom arm looks and feels like a premium piece of podcasting kit. It’s sleek, weighty, and durable.
With its maximum weight capacity of 4.4 lbs/2kg, the Lizard Pro boom arm could theoretically support two Shure SM7Bs, three Blue Yetis, or five Samson Q2Us.
The Lizard could also take the strain of a bag of flour, a large watermelon, or a very small dog. But you’d have some explaining to do if anyone walked in.
Positioning & Adjustability
Most boom arms feel a bit like they’re in the way, especially if you’re not using them. The Lizard’s low profile and seemingly limitless flexibility mean that’s never an issue.
If you have a standing desk workstation or converter, you’ll probably need to sit down to record podcasts. But, with the Lizard Pro boom arm, you can easily raise your mic to mouth level even if you’re on the tall side.
On the flip side, you can position your mic below your monitor, and its long low reach means you could even attach it to someone else’s desk and pull it over to mouth level. I’m not sure how you might justify or explain that to them, of course, especially if there’s a large watermelon attached to it.
IXTECH’s Dynamic Microphone
You can mount almost any mic using a 3/8″ or 5/8″ adapter, and the Lizard Pro boom arm is compatible with both. Its ball head gives you (even more) intricate control over the positioning of that mic, too.
IXTECH kindly sent me one of their mics alongside the Lizard Pro. “Lizard” may be a pretty unique and memorable moniker. By contrast, their dynamic microphone is the wonderfully named IXTECH Dynamic Microphone.
There isn’t a whole lot to say about the mic, with little in the way of hype or specs available. It’s almost as if it’s shy. Here are the few details I have:
Costs about £50 or $70.
Works in both USB and XLR form.
Has a Cardioid polar pattern (designed for solo use).
And, in case you hadn’t clicked, it’s a Dynamic mic.
It sounds pretty decent, especially at the price point. There isn’t much more to say, really. Except maybe that they should consider renaming it.
Summary: The Lizard Pro Boom Arm by IXTECH
Whether you mount your mic on a desk stand, floor stand, or budget boom arm, the Lizard Pro can level up your recording rig. It’s very easy to keep out of the way and can be extended into almost any position once you’re ready to record.
I also love the simple but effective cable management—I no longer have to hold onto cables to prevent them from knocking against my old boom arm and affecting the audio.
The Lizard Pro boom arm is great value for what you get. At £55/$70 it isn’t bank-breaking stuff, especially when you’re talking about $130 for the Rode PSA1.
That said, $70 is still a significant investment, especially if you’re just starting out. If you’ve only just launched or are still in the planning stages, keep things simple and low-cost in those early days. But once you get a few episodes under your belt and are confident you’ll stick at it, the Lizard is definitely a safe pair of hands (claws!? Do lizards have claws, or just wee lizard hands?) to hold your mic!
Check out our Podcast Equipment section for a full range of options and opinions on mics, interfaces, recorders, and more!