My Stedman Professional XL pop filter has served me effectively for a few years.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I’ve spent a whole lot of time in entrance of a mic through the years. Between podcasting, audiobook narration, and voice-overs, I am unable to think about what number of tons of of hours of recorded audio I’ve created. I’ve gone by way of completely different microphones, enter units, audio system, headphones, and cables…all within the identify of bettering my sound. Apart from my mic and the acoustics of the room I am recording in, there’s one piece of kit that has achieved extra to enhance my sound and achieved so with simplicity and relative cost-effectiveness.
That piece of kit is the pop filter.
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What’s a pop filter?
Have you ever ever listened to a recording of your self and felt as in the event you have been punching your Ps, Bs, and different plosives a bit too onerous? Or possibly you are listening to an excessive amount of break and numerous mouth noises?
A part of the explanation for that’s the sensitivity of your mic and the way shut your mouth is to it when recording. For those who’re very near the mic, the “explosion” of breath out of your mouth registers and might sound such as you’re hitting the Ps and Bs too onerous. You possibly can pull again on these through the use of much less breath or stepping away from the mic a bit. The issue with both of these strategies is that they really feel unnatural — or your voice loses a little bit of resonance. Personally, I prefer to get very near my mic, so I can really feel a little bit of an intimate relationship with it (which interprets to a richer, extra instant sound).
However by being so near the mic, I might actually need to watch out with sure sounds. Or, I can make use of a pop filter.
A pop filter is a display positioned between your mouth and the mic that redirects a whole lot of the air expelled out of your mouth to stop it from hitting that delicate mic. With a pop filter, your Ps and Bs will not sound so explosive and it might probably even cut back the respiratory sounds and a few mouth noises. It will not take away mouth noise altogether, but it surely actually helps. So do not assume a pop filter will stop you from having to do any mouth noise elimination in publish. However with out these overstated plosives, you will discover that your recordings are a lot simpler to shine.
For those who’ve but to buy a pop filter, do your self a favor and skip over all of the competitors and purchase what many think about to be the trade customary — Stedman. This pop filter is knowledgeable high quality gadget that dramatically reduces plosive sounds and may be connected to any mic stand (conventional or growth) and even on to some mics (relying on the design of mentioned mic).
The Stedman I take advantage of is the Professional XL which has a 6″ diameter display and a 13″ versatile gooseneck. With my Stedman in place, I can get very near the mic (a mere inch from the display) and most plosives are dramatically diminished.
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The specs for the Stedman are minimal:
Display screen diameter: 6″Whole size: 26.5″Weight: 10 ozClamp vary: .39″Price: $74.99 on Amazon
This pop filter would be the final one you ever buy.
I’ve my Stedman clamped on to my Rode booms stand and it stays tight. I can reposition the pop filter to accommodate the place of the mic with out worrying that it’s going to unclamp from the stand.
Right here, you see how the Stedman clamps to a growth stand.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
How does the Stedman carry out?
Merely put, I’ve used plenty of completely different pop filters through the years and none of them evaluate to the Stedman Professional XL. The discount of plosive noise discovered with the Stedman bests all different pop filters I’ve tried — by a protracted shot.
In actual fact, I began utilizing the Stedman years in the past and have not even thought of making an attempt one other. This would be the final pop filter you will ever purchase. It is that good.
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Some would possibly assume the $74.99 value is a bit excessive however given how a lot time you will save by not having to re-record due to too many plosives wreaking havoc in your recording, it is cash effectively spent.
Ultimately, in the event you’re a podcaster, audiobook narrator, or voice-over artist, you owe it to your self to buy a Stedman Professional XL pop filter.