Intro
So you just got your brand new (or maybe not so brand new) microphone – a big ol’ Blue Yeti and you’re now asking yourself, what extra gear do I need to make the most of this beast?
One of the questions you may ask yourself is if your Blue Yeti microphone’s gonna to need a pop filter. Well, here below is your answer:
Yes, you’ll need a pop filter for your Blue Yeti microphone if you want to eliminate any chance of plosives infiltrating your audio recording and messing it up.
What are plosives and why you need to avoid them.
In simple words, plosives are small bursts of air hitting the microphone and it’s capsule whenever you say words that contain the letter P. There are other minor plosive consonants in the English language – t, k, b, d, g.
But the letter P (followed by the letter B) is the most damaging to your audio recordings, as it is the letter that sends the most intense blast of air from your mouth.
If left uncontrolled, plosives will cause your microphone capsule to vibrate excessively and result in clipping or popping. Your audio recording will be tainted with these pops wherever you used words containing plosives and you’ll have to do a lot of work in post production to reduce them.
For the price of a pop filter, or even the free materials you may already have at home to build one, it’s not worth the headaches not to have a pop filter for your mic, especially the super sensitive Blue Yeti.
What type of Mic is the Blue Yeti?
The Blue Yeti microphone is a condenser microphone, more specifically, a side-address condenser microphone. This means it will capture the best sound of you speak to it face to face, not face to top, like other microphones.
Condenser microphones are very versatile and can be used for many different types of recordings. They are also more sensitive to sound and can be quite fragile as well. This sensitivity is what gives the Yeti it’s reputation of picking up background noise. It can be managed though, with the right settings, and a pop filter is one of the things you’ll need.
Why does the Blue Yeti need a pop filter?
Blue Yetis are notoriously sensitive microphones. Without correct settings, this mic will pick up the sound of your neighbors cat licking itself upstairs.
For this reason, using a pop filter becomes an important thing to do, if you want to reduce the amount of interference or additional vibrations that can be picked up by the Yeti’s capsule.
Blue Yeti Microphone with and without a pop filter
Here’s a video comparing the use of a Blue Yeti microphone with and without a pop filter. Listen for yourself, do you hear any different?
What does a pop filter do and how does it work?
If you break down the name into POP and FILTER, then you get exactly what this gear does. It’s a simple windscreen that filters or stops the passing of pops / blasts of air from plosives.
It’s very effective at reducing the intensity of the air and this protects the microphone capsule from that shock.
Are pop filters 100% necessary?
It depends on your use case. While a pop filter will make sure your recordings – whether professional or amateur – have no pops in them, their use may not be 100% necessary for amateur work. There are ways to get around the use of a pop filter like:
- Using a foam cover on your microphone instead
- Reducing your speaking intensity when pronouncing plosive words
- Keeping the microphone farther away from your mouth when recording
- Having the microphone to the side of your mouth, so plosives shoot into the air, not directly into the microphone.
Practicing some of the recording etiquette mentioned above could reduce the chance of clipping your audio with Ps and Bs.
If you have a professional recording needs, it’s best to include a pop filter in your recording setup. This will guarantee your audio will be clean and the rest will depend on your own performance. You get to start on a level playing field to the pros, not behind due to lack of the right kit.
What pop filters should I get for my Blue Yeti?
You’ll find here on Amazon pop filters that are made to fit your Blue Yeti Mic like a glove.
How to make a DIY pop filter with household items.
If you’re into DIY, just like me, you’ll be happy to hear that making a DIY pop filter will be one of your cheapest and easiest projects. All you need is a mesh net material, like female nylon socks, the very slim ones, you know.
If you don’t have these socks in your home, then just get the cheapest pair you can find in the shop. They are very inexpensive items to get.
Next you need to find something round to use as the frame for the sock. For this, you could use the lid of a container, or simply use a strong bendable rod or wire.
Form the shape into a circle and then put the sock on it, making sure it is Taut.
Tie it and there you go, you have your DIY pop filter. Just find a way to secure it in front of your microphone.
To see this done visually, you can check YouTube. Here is a direct link to that search for “DIY pop finter“.
Wrapping up
I hope this article has been informative and has helped clear your doubts on the need of a pop filter for your blue yeti mic. In summary, the use of a pop filter will help you have clean recordings that will need less work in post when it comes to removing pops from plosives. While it won’t magically make you sound like a radio host, it will make sure those annoying Ps are reduced to a pleasant sound.
We shared recommended pop filters for your Yeti, ways to reduce plosives without pop filters and even DIY options. You now have all the information to use in your recordings with this great mic.
Best wishes in your recordings.