Try a large diaphragm dynamic mic like the Shure SM7 or old Beyer RE20 which take fast transient high dB sounds well.  Put a pop filter in front of the mic and either compress the signal for a smoother envelope or gate it just to get the attack of the clap.

On Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 7:57 PM, Miller Puckette <mpuckett@imusic1.ucsd.edu> wrote:
I've tried clapping into mics and cant get consistent results -- the
burst of air goes in all different directions and I could never get
a consistent sound into the mic at all.  But if you can solve _that_
problem, I think gnd's idea should work OK.

cheers
Miller