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Posted to rec.audio.opinion,rec.audio.pro
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testing for "pops"?
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"soundhaspriority"
wrote in message
news
Is there a standard way to test a condenser mike for
pops, which I assume is caused by a defectively tensioned
diaphram?
Pearce has it right - popping of microphones is caused by a small wind
created by the breath, when pronouncing certain word sounds, particularly
p's.
Because the problem is essentially wind noise and not due to sound waves
per se, it is possible to reduce or eliminate popping by addressing the
wind, and not sound.
For example, popping can be reduced by holding a pencil or pen between the
mouth and the mic. The object will deflect the wind, while the sound will
go around it.
Pop filters work by stopping the wind while simultaneously being
acoustically transparent. The classic pop filter is one or more layers of
acoustically-transparent fabric stretched over an embroidery frame. Foam
pop filters work based on the same principle.
Mics designed for use as vocal mics usually have detachable covers with
foam pop filters inside. When pop filters get smelly, they can be removed
and rinsed in mild soapy water, mouthwash, or the like.
Once you have a recording with popping, high pass filtering can help. Most
voices are relatively unaffected by sharp high pass filtering at 85 Hz,
while higher-pitched voices can tolerate filtering as high as 200 Hz or
so. DAW software will enable you to mark and filter only the actual
popping and leave most of the recording alone.
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