Pop Filters

No recording studio, whether a home setup or professional, should be without a collection of pop filters. Able to help achieve clear recordings under a variety of conditions, a good pop filter is an invaluable tool for anyone working with sound. A pop filter is, as the name suggests, a device that minimizes the ‘popping' sound that occurs when air strikes a microphone during the recording process. They also serve as a gate that minimizes the impact of certain consonants, or words that begin with a stressed syllable. In simpler terms, a quality pop filter will help keep your microphone from distorting and clipping when you are recording. When choosing a pop filter, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, you should know what you'll be recording and what kind of mic you will be using. For example, if you are doing wilderness recordings with a shotgun microphone, you'll almost certainly want to invest in a Rode Microphones BLIMP Windshield. There are a lot of variables you can't control outside of the studio, including gusts of wind that can cause your microphone to clip. The BLIMP reduces that noise to a whisper, letting you perfectly capture the moment. If, on the other hand, you're in the recording studio, a more conventional pop filter will do. You should be aware of the material used to construct the filter itself. If you're recording multiple vocalists, you may want to invest in a filter such as the Stedman Proscreen XL which can easily be washed between sessions. Keeping clean equipment will make vocalists more comfortable, allowing them to focus on the recording. Able to fit most standard microphone stands, pop filters are a definite staple in any recording studio. Keeping the focus on the subject, these filters minimize harsh noises, leaving you with the best recordings possible.