Microphone Pop Filter: Why You Need Them

Almost every picture of a voice actor taken during a recording session includes a pop filter.

However, does the fact that microphone pop filters are everywhere mean that you need one for every single microphone model on the market?

Is it possible to stand in front of the microphone in a way that you could get the same results you’d get if you had a pop filter?

To answer questions like this, we need to understand how popping sounds emerge, what microphone pop filters are, and how they might be useful.

Why Do Popping Sounds Happen?

Plosive sounds are those noticed on letters such as P and B and appear spontaneously when speaking. If you visualize holding a lit match close to your mouth when speaking, such sounds will cause the light to flare.

Popping sounds can be amplified if you record with your mouth too close to the mic. The plosive sounds interact with the diaphragm of the mic, resulting in an output waveform.

A microphone pop filter functions as a wall between plosive sounds and the mic, removing them entirely from the finished piece.

What Exactly Are Mic Pop Filters And When Should They Be Used?

A microphone pop filter (see also ‘Blue Yeti Pop Filter‘) is a device that shields mic capsules from plosive power. A pop filter reduces the popping sounds caused by air gusts from the