You must have seen those big round filter-like things in front of a mic that musicians, YouTubers, streamers, and voice actors use. Almost everyone uses them whenever there is a microphone involved.
Yes, those round things are called pop filters. They are of either nylon or metal material, and they essentially are like a net. Most people consider pop filters to be an integral part of their sound/audio recording setup. Let us jump right into it finding out why do I need pop filters?
What Are Pop Filters?
A pop filter is an add-on piece of equipment for your microphones. It filters out plosives in the recording. The alternative to a pop filter would be to throw a sock over your microphone when recording.
No, it is not a joke. It is the simplest pop filter but there are other homemade methods too. One such basic pop filter is to stretch tights over a clothes hanger. This allows enough air to pass through so that it doesn’t sound muffled but stops those plosives.
Wondering what plosives are? Let’s find out.
Why Do I Need a Pop Filter?
Try saying ‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers’ in front of a microphone. You will notice these airy noises like ‘puh’ with every word in the playback. These sounds are called plosives, and they occur all the time as we speak. When voice recording, these sounds make the finished product seem low quality and unpleasant.
Plosives commonly occur whenever we speak words starting with ‘K’, ‘B’, ‘P’, ‘D’, and ‘T’ sounds as the microphone picks up on the wave of air that comes out when we say these letters. A pop filter can remove these plosives and make your audio much cleaner. Furthermore, A pop filter also protects your microphone from saliva and helps keep your microphone clean.
Using a simple pop filter can make your audio quality seem near professional. Moreover, a pop filter is easy to attach, inexpensive to buy, and long-lasting. It makes them essential when using a microphone for recording.
What Pop Filter Should I Use?
Most Pop filters are made of either Nylon or Metal. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
Nylon
Nylon pop filters cost less than metal ones. They are excellent for beginners, and it is easy to attach them. However, they are fragile and have small gaps in the grille. These often filter high-frequency sounds out of your recording.
Metal
Metal pop filters are more expensive but they are very durable. These pop filters come with more gaps in the grille. Therefore, they do not filter out the high-frequency components of your recording.
Metal filters are easier to clean since they can be put into water and taken out to clean. But, they are still prone to wear and tear over time. Metal pop filters often start producing whistling sounds after extended use.
What To Look For In a Pop Filter?
The quality of the gooseneck and attachment mechanism of the pop filter should be considered when buying one.
Gooseneck – The gooseneck should be flexible, and you should be able to align it perfectly in front of your microphone when needed. Low-quality goosenecks often bend and do not retain the curve. Thus, making it very difficult to align them.
Attachment mechanism – The attachment mechanism should be stable and secure. The pop filter should not slip when the gooseneck is adjusted and should have a good grip.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully now you have an answer to the question of why do I need pop filters? You need a pop filter if you want to improve your audio quality. Apart from filtering plosives, your pop filter will also extend the lifespan of your microphone by protecting it from saliva. Buying an inexpensive pop filter can improve your recording quality by a lot. Therefore, it is a must-have for anyone looking to record a voice.