How To Put Pop Filter On Blue Yeti

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When recording audio with a microphone, you sometimes end upwards with an annoying popping sound in the groundwork. A pop filter is ane recommended way to prevent these popping sounds, merely is it necessary with a Bluish Yeti microphone?

Aye, regardless of what make of microphone you are using, you should try to utilise a pop filter. Pop filters are very cheap – only a few tens of dollars even for the best ones – so they are undoubtedly worth buying. Without a pop filter, you could end up with occasional popping sounds in the background of the audio the microphone records.

Why are pop filters required for a blue yeti?

Popping sounds occur on microphone recordings commonly caused by proverb or singing words containing the letters b or p.

If you put your hand just in forepart of your mount and try saying a few words beginning with the letter P or B (puppy or beige for example), you volition notice a pocket-sized puff of air when you say those particular letters.

In contrast, keep your hand there and try some words containing softer sounds (orange or rice for example) and you volition discover no sharp puffs of air.

These puffs of air caused by these letters are referred to as plosives. This is a phenomenon that affects all microphones, including the blue yeti.

Why are plosives bad news for recording?

This puff of air causes a precipitous fasten in the volume of the recording picked upward by the microphone. This abrupt rise in volume volition lead to clipping, a distorted sound when the soundwave peaks above the 'maximum output book'.

You can see from the epitome below, which shows a bones soundwave that in that location is a certain amount of 'headroom' in an audio signal when you are recording which allows you lot to raise the volume slightly as you talk or sing softly and more loudly.

But a plosive causes such a jump in book that the sound wave goes above the maximum output amplitude and that function of the soundwave is just lost (clipped off).

The reason this is such bad news is that there is no real way to get that clipped sound back. The data is never captured by your recording software.

It is very difficult to edit your sound recording to become rid of plosives later on and go along it sounding normal.

There is nothing worse than getting to the end of a podcast interview or perfect song have and realizing you lot have to do it all again!

How does a pop filter help?

A pop filter is ane of the easiest means to avoid these popping sounds.

It is effectively a small shield that you identify between yourself and the microphone to finish those abrasive blasts of air from plosive sounds.

The pop filter contains a semi-transparent textile. This could exist densely woven, tightly stretched nylon on cheaper models similar the one in the picture below.

Or it could be a metallic grill on more expensive models.

It is a very low tech device compared to many other things in the abode recording studio. Simply it doesn't need to be any more complicated than this.

A good microphone such equally a blue yeti deserves and requires a good pop filter.

What type of pop filter should I use with a Blue Yeti?

Several different pop filters work well to reduce popping sounds with a blue yeti microphone.

There is a filter that is fabricated past the same manufacturer, which may be the all-time selection. Simply there are many dissimilar pop filters that work well with the blue yeti, even though they were not specifically designed for information technology.

The company that created the blue yeti also created a popular filter for their company's microphone. This is the blue universal pop filter. One great affair nearly this pop filter is how flexible information technology is. You tin can attach it to the stand that holds the microphone and adapt it to the exact position you lot desire.

The pop filter I personally apply is the Auphonix six-Inch Popular Filter. Information technology works fine well-nigh of the time, y'all can but attach information technology to the bass of the Bluish Yeti or if you are using a microphone stand up you can attach it to that.

Be wary of buying a metal shield type pop filter such as this one. As they specifically state they are not suitable for the Blueish Yeti.

What distance should a pop filter be from the Blue Yeti?

Some people assume a pop filter should exist placed right up against the microphone. Just actually they are more effective when placed further away.

The pop filter spreads the sharp audio acquired by the plosive noises in all directions, stopping the precipitous gust of air hitting the microphone in 1 spot. Merely it still needs some space to do this, which it won't take if you place it correct next to the microphone.

The usual best practice rule is between 2 and three inches from the microphone.

This gives enough space for the plosive racket to spread out only it ways y'all aren't and then far away that you risk losing quality and detail in the vocal recording.

Is a windscreen the same as a pop filter?

You will probably recognize these devices from news reporters' microphones. They are minor caps often made of cream that fit over the end of the microphone.

They are there to serve a like function every bit the pop filter. Except instead of shielding the microphone from unwanted wind caused by your voice, they shield it from unwanted current of air acquired by the weather.

Windscreens are nifty if you are planning on doing recording outside or on the move. Potentially podcast interviews where you won't e'er be in your ain studio.

You may be tempted to just get a windscreen instead of a pop filter as they are cheaper and don't tend to 'get in the fashion' equally much. Yet, if you aren't going to be out and about and most of your recording is to be done in your dwelling studio, a pop filter is still a better pick.

Windscreens do soften plosive sounds but they don't guarantee the complete elimination of them. I accept recorded on the movement with a windshield and still concluded up with plosive sounds.

If you desire to guarantee a smooth recording with your Blue Yeti I would recommend getting a popular filter.

Other means to stop plosives in the meantime

And then you may have ordered your pop filter only are waiting for it to go far. Or perhaps you desire to know what to exercise if you lot ever find yourself recording without one.

Well, there are a few tips and tricks of how to record without one and minimize those plosive sounds.

You can, to some extent, consciously avoid blowing too much air toward the microphone when speaking into it. Being particularly careful when speaking words that incorporate b and p sounds.

You can also make sure to speak into a microphone at the right distance. If yous are too far away, the audio will exist too quiet, and if yous are as well shut, the mic volition record unwanted noises. You can test your microphone by using words that start with b or p at different distances. Run into how close y'all tin get to the microphone without causing popping sounds.

Another flim-flam is to avoid aiming your rima oris directly at the microphone. Aim your mouth just slightly to the side of it. Your mic will however record your voice loud and clear without you lot speaking directly at it. Gusts of air must hit your microphone directly on to cause popping sounds.

Can you make your ain pop filter?

Yes, although it could sound worse and not be as reliable equally a proficient store-bought filter.

Merely putting a sock over the microphone might be plenty to preclude popping sounds, just the sound quality will be unacceptably low.

If you want to give making a pop filter yourself a try, you should utilize nylon rather than cotton. Nylon volition not reduce the quality of the audio almost as much as nearly fabrics will.

Attaching nylon to a metallic disc of the correct size might give y'all a passable filter. You will also need a way of attaching the deejay to your microphone. Using bendable simply stiff metal wire, such as a coat hanger, might be the all-time style to go. It might work one-half decently well if y'all do a skilful chore making it, but a shop-bought filter is better. Shop-bought filters are also much more adaptable than anything you could make past mitt.

The video below shows you how to do this step by step.

Can I use two pop filters to be extra safety?

It should not be necessary to do this. A unmarried filter, unless it is of poor quality, should be more than than plenty to prevent the air from getting through. Some people might become skilful results with 2 filters, merely a single filter should be enough. Ii filters may reduce the quality of your phonation recording.

Final remarks

And so in decision, it is well worth investing in a pop filter for your Blue Yeti microphone.

In relation to most equipment in a home recording studio, they are very cheap. And although y'all can use techniques and tricks to endeavour and minimize plosive sounds. A pop filter will give y'all peace of mind to and so yous can speak or sing loudly and clearly direct into the microphone without worrying most the recording being ruined.