A pop filter is a mesh material placed in front of a microphone intended to reduce the sudden impact of vibrations in the air upon a microphone that are created when certain syllables and word-sounds are spoken or other forces such as heavy breathing are present near the microphone. Pop filters dampen these vibrations in the air as to reduce a "popping" sound that would otherwise be very distracting in a recording or when amplified in a PA system.
Examples of words that create problematic bursts of air when spoken are:
Photo Courtesy of StudioConnections.com.au
Examples of words that create problematic bursts of air when spoken are:
- hit
- top
- baboon
- booth
- phone
Photo Courtesy of StudioConnections.com.au