Synthax Audio UK catches up with the designers of the Pop Audio Pop Filter, to find out more about their redesigned pop shield.
The humble pop shield is a basic necessity of any recording studio, especially when it comes to recording vocals. With its location between the singer and microphone, it's the first aspect of the recording chain, and has an effect on both the sound and potentially the performance too (nobody wants to have to keep repositioning a pop shield that won't stay in place!). So it's somewhat surprising how similar the majority of pop filters are, and the lack of quality options that are available to recording professionals.
The requirements are fairly simple – a pop filter should effectively reduces pops and 'plosives', whilst having a minimal effect on the sound of the recording. It should have a strong and flexible arm that once positioned stays exactly where it's meant to, without moving or drooping, and that doesn't lose its strength over time. It should also have a simple and non-cumbersome method of attaching to a mic stand, and the filters should be replaceable.
Yet many traditional pop filters suffer from a range of issues that can make recording with them an (unnecessarily) frustrating experience. Weak clamps that won’t stay locked to the microphone stand, arms that move and droop after having been carefully positioned, a loss or lack of flexibility in the arm, not to mention poor quality filter material that doesn't provide decent protection against pops in the first place.
Pop Audio – The Pop Filter Reimagined
It was these exact issues that lead UK-based engineers Jonathan Hucks and John Metcalfe to design and develop their own pop filter. “We were in the pub one day chatting about things that annoyed us in the studio” John told us, “and one in particular was the pop filter”. “So we decided we would fix it,” continues Jonathon, who co-founded Pop Audio with John.
“Essentially the pop filter works in three ways, and all three of those are basically rubbish on probably 95% of pop filters. The clamp is fiddly to use, which breaks very easily. The arm is a gooseneck, which is a spring, so it always wants to spring back to where you don’t want it to be. And the filters themselves, half of them haven’t even been put together properly, so they’ll still let pops through! And then when they break you’ve got to buy the whole thing again. So we decided to look at each of those areas and think, how can we innovate and improve every single part of the product?”
Watch the full interview above to find out how the guys came up with their innovative design, which features a strong, quick release clamp, heavy-duty adjustable arm, plus a range of interchangeable (and replaceable) filters. Reviews have also been highly positive, with the likes of Sound On Sound, Audio Media International and MusicTech all full of praise for the Pop Audio design.
Pop Audio's Pop Filter is available in two models; the Studio Edition (left) ships with three types of filters, whilst the Classic Edition (right) includes the Fabric Filter
– the other filter types can be purchased separately if required.
Find out more about the Pop Audio Studio Edition
Find out more about the Pop Audio Classic Edition
If you'd like to know more about any of the Pop Audio range of pop filters, give us a call on +44 (0)1727 821 870, or contact us here.