What is a popshield?

What is it and do I really need one?

If you’re going to be using a large diaphragm condenser microphone (or any microphone for that matter) to record vocals either sung, or spoken, the answer is yes! Not only does a good pop filter remove unwanted ‘plosives’ (in particular, ‘B’ and ‘P’ sounds) it helps protect your mic from moisture.

We all want to get the best deal possible and it can be so tempting to pick up the cheapest one you can find on Ebay or Amazon. However, for a few pounds more, you can get a really good popshield that will last a long time and do a perfect job. After all, the popshield you use is going to affect the sound and one made from the correct, high-quality materials will enhance your recordings. A cheap alternative might just have the opposite effect!

A good popshield such as the popshield from Red5 Audio will feature:

A solid clamping mechanism for attaching to any kind of mic stand
A quality gooseneck arm, allowing you to accurately position the poshield in front of your mic.
A dual-layer mesh to effectively prevent unwanted air flow from reaching the mic

For a more detailed explanation, check out our video: