DIY: Microphone Pop Filter
Okay, in an effort to pull this forum out of poor-mees, I thought we could all make a craft. You know, like summer camp ... for radio nerds.
Many of you have probably experienced the painful pops of pronouncing your p's and b's into a microphone. These are called plosives. (Appropriate name, don't you think?) Skilled mic jockeys can control these plosives through various techniques, including speaking across a microphone (versus directly into it) and utilizing "windless speech", a technique that allows a person to speak without pushing excessive amounts of air, but often leaves them sounding like a used car salesman (for an example, listen to the last :15 of my audition).
While these techniques can be effective for short production (spots, liners, etc.), they often break down in long-form (long breaks, interviews). As such, studios and semi-pros often employ the use of a pop filter, a small screen that rests in front of a microphone and catches excessive bursts of air from plosives.
Now, you can purchase a pop filter for a reasonable amount of money on the various internets, but wouldn't it be more cathartic to make your own? Here's what you'll need:
- A medium-to-large sized plastic butter or whipped cream container (with lid)
- A coat hanger (wire, not plastic)
- Some pantyhose (please, ask permission from your wife/girlfriend first)
- A pair of scissors
And now, get crafting!
1. Cut the top off the butter container so that the inner rim and outer lid remain intact.
2. Remove the lid from the inner rim and cut a hole in the lid.
3. Cut a swath of pantyhose nylon and stretch it across the rim of the container, securing it by snapping on the lid. (Trim off excess nylon)
4. Straighten out the wire hanger and bend a loop that fits snugly inside the lid.
5. Take the other end of the wire and bend it around the base of your mic stand so that the lid hovers directly in front of the mic.
That's it, now pop away! Fun ... and easy.
Wanna see what it looks like?
Now you've completely forgotten how rejected you felt! Please post your pop filter photos, questions, and improvements.
delicious
digg
and there are stomp-box compressors out there too. Just looked at a couple at zzounds. Boss brand is $90.
Is this for gigging or recording?
I know it's not DIY, but is there anything such as an inexpensive hardware compressor?
Jimmy Bear
----
It's not a compressor, per se, but the INSPIRE 1394 is an incredible audio-in device that comes with a hardware limiter (to control peaking on input), phantom power (for condenser mics), preamp boost, and lots of extras. The price is $229 retail, which is a steal for what you get, in light of M-Audio and similar line-in hardware. A simple way to record higher-quality mics/instruments on your computer.
I use a couple of A.R.T. tube pre-amps. The so-called "studio" version has a clip limiter, and can be used to compress your signal. They run about $40. It's not good quality, or very controllable. If you're recording high db guitar or something, you can get that woofty compression sound, but for vocal stuff I'd go with digital compression.
And for that, there are a some inexpensive options. I've used a hodge-podge of cheap and freeware recording applications. Pro Tools Free has a decent compressor; very configurable. And have you looked at Audacity? It's a very cool looking open source recording application, and has a compressor effect. I haven't tried it yet, though.
I really appreciate the techie side of info because I am totally clueless.
But for the right brainers how about a mini-writing course?
Here's a game I teach at writing classes.
Take your entry or a similiar 1,000 word essay.
Now write the entire thing in 55 words or less. This is a contest that is often run at Writer's Conferences- The 55 word Novel.
Or to tighten the writing...Take the same piece and cross out every other word. Now check your word count and re-edit down to the same word number.
Of course we already had a great example of tight writing in the limerick contest.
Rhyming forces the brain to re-think vocabulary and the limerick format suggests- theme, information, kicker close (maybe even suspense).
ALSO
Try starting your piece with a question:
Do you think people subconsciously always answer a question?
Or a wild quote. "Every serious participant of the Radio Quest will be on the air by 2008!"
End where you started. If you start at a bowling alley end there.
Sally
Oooh, sounds like fun. I saw a writing contest for 25 word stories (or something insanely short like that). The entries were great! -ez
nothing lifts my spirits like a good craft project. Here is another project for anyone who is interested in something slightly more involved-- a cheap alternative to noise-cancelling headphones.
--
Julie
DIY Nation
That's a fine piece o' work.
I use one of those ready-made sponge pop filters; sort of a mic condom. The kind the rockers refer to as a "vomit deflector."
Great, cheap (!) idea. I will be making a few today. However I have a problem, an observation and a question.
Problem: I don't have a good microphone to even protect from my plosive /p,b/ sounds, but that's my problem.
Observation: I noted during my recording sessions that I tended to also to have increased intensity on my /s,z/ sounds. I know that they are palatolingual sibilants, but I guess I pushed them too hard, especially if /s,z/ were in the inital position of the word. (sorry, Speech Path talk getting the better of me).
Question: Enjoyed seeing the examples, but how on Earth do you keep a black desk so clean and clear?
Speechguy
I entered, I didn't make it, I'm staying put.
Problem:
Mics are somewhat subjective. Not really, but we're talking about budgets here, right? The Shure performance mic depicted actually works pretty well. It's made mostly for live performance, but with Shure mics, you're getting good quality. I picked that up at Radioshack for approx. $30. My recommendation, however, the mic I record with and a secret of podcasters is the MXL 990 Condensor Mic (with shockmount to prevent jostling) which you can pick up from Musican's Friend for $70. It's not, perhaps, what you would find in NPR headquarters, but gets great range and sensitivity.
Let me go one step further and say that if you have a little extra cash, Musicians Friend has several great recording packages that include everything you need to record at home (mic, studio speakers, cables, line-in interface, headphones, etc.) starting at around $400.
Observation:
A mic filter/wind screen and proper technique will help a bit with intensity of sibilants. Once again, however, professionals have compressors and limiters which help to normalize your sound so you're not whistling through your teeth like Gob Bluth. If you don't have money for these electronic messiahs, many programs (Apple's Garageband) have plug-ins that mimic compression and limiting pretty well. Just have to play with them to get the right balance.
Question:
Photoshop.
I noticed that there's a one-day sale on the MXL 990 at Musician's friend...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid (what's on sale on the "stupid deal of the day" page changes every day...)
Hope this helps someone save some bucks.
Jimmy Bear
----
My entry: http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/197
She's close. Perhaps more of a bionic woman. But she is an Educator Ambassador for NASA. And has unbelievable taste in music. And harbors an unhealthy amount of trivial knowledge.
Is there really a question? I married up. WAY up. Astronomically up, if you will. And I think you will.
Sometimes if I hear myself recorded, i sound like I have a lisp, while that's not detectable in my regular speaking voice.
My mom is a speech pathologist, so I think I'm inherently interested in speech as well :) Lemme know if you hear of any good suggestions.
I have a similar issue.
Try using a "de-esser"--a fast-acting compressor that squashes the high frequencies present in sibilant sounds. Works like a charm.
Most audio editing products offer de-essers you can apply to your sound files. I can tell you where to find the de-esser if you're using Adobe Audition 1.5 or 2.0. Otherwise, use your software's help feature to find the de-esser.
I hope that helps.
What a great idea...we do use adobe audition! Too bad that isn't possible when live however. But it does seem to affect me more (or perhaps I have the time to be hyper critical) when I'm prerecording something.
I'll look to see if I can find this magic button you speak of.
Ah yes!
Pop filters
Perfect for
Preventing
Plosives!
Great DIY!
Jimmy Bear
----
Instead of building this contraption (which is fine, in and of itself) I suggest you angle your mic and speak across it. Then, work on not making your Ps as plosive as a normal person might. This is a learned skill, but something a good announcer figures out...
Ron
Yes, I think I addressed these two techniques, but I dare say there's not a public radio (commercial, college ... I played 'em all) studio that doesn't have at least a wind screen or a pop filter. Observe: Scott Simon.
Technique is important, but let's give people the tools of a professional and not pretend it's all skill. We haven't even gotten to compressors yet!
Popping p's is just one of those things that unless you have really amazing equipment is always something to be painfully aware of. Someone once recommended to me that if you phrase your p the way you would a b, you can cut down on it and i find that helpful.
By the way, Pete, I was SURE you must have been one of the winners! I'm really excited for those folks that got the phone call. I do hope that those that didn't and those that didn't make the lists feel comforted by the fact that there were SO many wonderful entries out there that didn't make it either.
Plus, now we get to talk poppin' p's.
;-)
Thanks for that, Emily. I'm looking forward to what this community could be with all the niceties out of the way!
What a wonderful thing that has been created through all of this! I work at a public radio station now as an administrative asst., but I'm sticking to plan A and hoping to work towards more production at the station. It sure would have been nice to have the $$, though! Although, it is public broadcasting after all, who am I kidding?? I am looking forward to the forum that this will become when the competition subsides.
cool idea
My entry at Public Radio Quest:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/7572
My College Radio Myspace (feel free to friend me!):
http://www.myspace.com/girlsongprimerradio
Thank you Pete! I really appreciate this, on several levels.
-ez
What other home recording/radio tricks do you have up your sleeve?
p.s. I can teach you how to make your own theremin.
p.s.s. And if you want to be a ventriloquist you say the letter "n" for the letter "m" so you don't have to close your lips.
p.s.s.s. There was a guy in my dorm who did his own radio broadcast from his dorm room. Probably illegal, huh? But is that hard to do?
Recent comments
1 week 3 days ago
6 weeks 5 days ago
8 weeks 22 hours ago
8 weeks 1 day ago
9 weeks 2 days ago