The Blue Yeti microphone is an outstanding mic at a decent cost, which makes it the preferred accessory for the majority of YouTube personalities and twitchers.
However, the mic does not come standard with a pop filter, which raises the question: does the Blue Yeti need a pop filter?
Blue Yeti microphones do not require a pop filter but having one could greatly enhance sound quality. A pop filter helps with the prevention of clipping and makes the Blue Yeti sound sharper by blocking the puff of air that exits your mouth when you speak.
Continue reading to find out more about what a pop filter is and how it can help your Blue Yeti microphone.
What Is A Pop Filter?
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![Microphone Pop Filter For Blue Yeti and Other Mic, PEMOTech [Upgraded Three Layers] Metal Mesh & Foam & Etamine Layer Microphone Windscreen Cover Handheld Mic Shield](data:image/svg+xml;nitro-empty-id=ODA5OjI4Nw==-1;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgNTAwIDUwMCIgd2lkdGg9IjUwMCIgaGVpZ2h0PSI1MDAiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyI+PC9zdmc+)
A pop filter is an important tool for any singer or musician. It helps to reduce the amount of popping and hissing sounds that can be made when singing or playing instruments.
Pop filters are typically made of a thin layer of material, such as cloth, that is placed over the microphone. This helps to diffuse the sound waves so that they do not create popping and hissing sounds.
Do You Need A Pop Filter For Your Blue Yeti Microphone?
Blue Yeti microphones do not require the use of a pop filter, but they can work better with it.
The harsh consonants, such as “b,” can sound smoother and won’t end up causing clipping, which occurs when a soundwave surpasses its maximum amplitude, resulting in distortion.
A microphone pop filter is required if you expect your awesome Blue Yeti microphone to sound as it ought to.
A pop filter reduces the amount of air that escapes from your mouth when speaking. It only allows the precise sound of a phoneme to pass through, resulting in a much clearer and more transparent sound.
We realize that a microphone pop filter is not the most attractive accessory in the world. It may also be inconvenient as it must sit a few centimeters away from the mic, taking up extra space. However, an arm stand can be used to correct this.
If you want it to look fancier, secure it on any conventional shock mount and try hiding the wire from the inside of the tube.
A mic arm stand makes it possible to position the mic closer to your mouth regardless of how you sit. Since it sits exactly where it should, an arm stand helps make the microphone pop filter very efficient at obstructing unwanted sounds. (Also see, ‘Best Microphone Boom Arm‘)
What Is The Function Of A Pop Filter?
A puff of air exits your mouth when you enunciate specific sounds. Plosive consonants are the worst offenders as they produce their sounds by obstructing and then distributing air to produce /b/ and /k/ sounds.
You can experience this by saying words like “popper” or “piping” against your palm. The air will be released quickly, which is not the case with other consonant sounds.
A microphone pop filter muffles background noise by lowering the mechanical energy produced by the air.
To help stop clipping, nearly every single serious studio and broadcast radio station employs a pop filter. Clipping occurs when a soundwave cuts off, resulting in distortions that your audio technician cannot correct.
Pop Filter Varieties: How To Choose The Best Pop Filter For You Blue Yeti
There are two types of microphone pop filters available: nylon and metal. In addition, I’ll discuss windscreen as an alternative to a pop filter. Continue reading to discover which option is best pop filter for the Blue Yeti mic.
Pop Filter: Made Of Nylon
When we say microphone pop filter, many folks think of the nylon kind, the round plastic bezel that is usually surrounded by one or more layers of fine nylon film.
These are affordable and efficient at obstructing unwanted noises. A pop filter must be placed a few centimeters away from the mic in order to function correctly.
If it is too close to the microphone, it will not manage to disrupt the air in time to prevent the microphone from picking up noises it shouldn’t.
A nylon pop filter is not very sturdy because the nylon is remarkably delicate and can be ripped. It may also gather dust over time, which can become trapped between the layers.
Moreover, a nylon pop filter can take up too much space as they are fairly large and must be mounted somewhere between you and your mic.
Pop Filter: Made Of Metal
A metal pop filter was originally pricier, but they are now approximately the same cost. As a result, a metal pop filter should be considered as well.
Several metal pop filters are far superior to others. After a while, flimsy, poor pop filters create a chirping noise that goes into the recording.
This is not an issue with a high-quality metal pop filter, which is also smaller and more streamlined, and thus your sole option if you have no extra workspace. They are placed nearer the mic than a nylon pop filter. Because of this, they are easier to install.
Dust is collected by a metal pop filter, which can become stuck between the metal panel and metal grid. Get a metal pop filter that you can dismantle for easy removal and cleaning of the parts.
Windscreen
Even though a windscreen is not really a microphone pop filter, we will discuss them succinctly as they can also be used to reduce unwanted noise.
Windscreens (see also our guide to mic windscreens) are rigid foam insulation mic covers that can be seen on mics used by journalists on television.
What they do is isolate the entire microphone from winds and other noises, as opposed to a pop filter, which restricts the puff of air only from one direction at a time.
A foam windscreen should not be used in combination with a pop filter since the sound quality would then become messy and difficult to perceive. (Also see, ‘Windscreen vs Foam Filter‘)
Windshields are ideal for recording outdoors, and yet they can also be useful in indoor spaces. If you do not have a pop filter, a windshield may help to reduce clipping.
The Bottom Line
With a Blue Yeti, you can record high-quality audio that will wow all of your friends and members of the audience. When you throw a microphone pop filter in the blend, you’ve got yourself a flawless mic.
The Blue Yeti mic does not require a pop filter to work great, but we do strongly advise you to try it out. Whoever decides to use a pop filter should know that this accessory has no disadvantages or negative impacts on the final sound.
So, try using a pop filter (see also our article on AT2020 pop filters) and let us know what you think of it!
