Stop Microphone Popping: Pop Filter vs Foam vs Placement (YouTube, UK)

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How to Stop Plosives (Popping P Sounds) on a Microphone (YouTube, UK)

That loud “P” pop (and sometimes “B” pop) is called a plosive. It happens when a burst of air hits the mic capsule and overloads it.

The good news: plosives are one of the easiest YouTube audio problems to fix — and you can usually fix them in minutes with technique and a couple of low-cost accessories.

Quick answer / TL;DR

To stop plosives: don’t speak directly into the mic. Move it slightly to the side (off-axis), keep it about 15–25cm from your mouth, and use a pop filter or foam windscreen. Plosives are bursts of air, so the goal is to stop airflow hitting the mic capsule head-on. If you’re using a lav mic, add a small windscreen and avoid placing it too high/too close to your mouth.

The 60-second decision tree

What plosives actually are

Plosives are short bursts of air created by certain consonants — most commonly P and B. When that air hits a mic capsule, it creates a low-frequency “thump” or “pop”.

They show up more when:

• The mic is directly in the line of your breath
• You’re very close to the mic
• You’re using a more sensitive mic (often condensers)
• You speak with strong breath bursts (totally normal)

The fast fix (no gear)

If you do nothing else, do this:

1. Move the mic slightly to the side of your mouth (off-axis).
2. Angle the mic toward your mouth rather than straight on.
3. Start at 15–25cm distance and adjust from there.
4. Speak past the mic (as if your voice is aimed just beyond it).

This is covered in more detail here:

• Mic placement for YouTube (distance, angle, boom arm)

Pop filter vs foam windscreen (which one should you use?)

Option	Best for	Why it works	Downside
Pop filter	Desk mics, studio-style setups	Blocks airflow before it reaches the capsule	Needs positioning, can be fiddly
Foam windscreen	Quick setups, dynamic mics, handheld	Reduces bursts and light wind noise	Can slightly dull high frequencies

Simple recommendation: if you’re on a desk mic, a pop filter is usually the cleanest fix. If you want speed, foam is often “good enough”. You can also use both in stubborn cases.

Fix plosives by mic type

Desk mic / streaming mic

• Go off-axis (mic slightly to the side)
• Add a pop filter or foam windscreen
• Avoid being too close (start at 15–25cm)

Dynamic mic

Dynamics often like close placement, but plosives can still happen if you’re straight-on.

• Off-axis is the big win
• Foam windscreen can be very effective
• Pop filter if you want maximum control

Condenser mic

Condensers tend to be more sensitive, so they punish bad technique more.

• Use a pop filter almost by default
• Go off-axis, don’t “breathe into” the mic
• Watch distance — slightly further can help

Lav mic

Lav plosives usually happen when the mic is too high/too close and catches breath bursts, or when it’s rubbing against clothing.

• Add a small lav windscreen
• Lower it slightly (hand-span below chin is a good start)
• Keep it on stable fabric

Related:

• Lavalier vs shotgun mic for YouTube (UK)

Shotgun mic

• Keep it out of your direct breath path
• If it’s close on a boom, angle it carefully
• Use wind protection if there’s airflow

Can you fix plosives in editing?

Sometimes — but it’s not ideal.

Plosives often overload low frequencies, which can be hard to repair cleanly. You can reduce them with:

• Manual volume dips on the plosive hit
• High-pass filtering (careful — don’t thin out your voice)
• Specialised “de-plosive” tools (results vary)

Best approach: fix at the source (placement + pop filter) so you don’t have to fight it later.

What fixes plosives best? (comparison table)

Fix	Cost	Impact	Notes
Off-axis placement	£0	High	Most underrated fix
Pop filter	Low	High	Best for desk/studio setups
Foam windscreen	Low	Medium–High	Fast and simple
Editing fixes	£0–££	Low–Medium	Time-consuming and not always clean

What not to do

• Don’t speak straight into the mic. That’s the plosive pipeline.
• Don’t move the mic far away to “avoid popping”. You’ll replace plosives with echo and room noise.
• Don’t rely on software first. Fix airflow at the source and editing becomes easy.
• Don’t assume the mic is “bad”. Plosives happen on expensive mics too.
• Don’t skip test recordings. Ten seconds can save a whole shoot.

Who this is not for

• Studio voiceover artists chasing a specific “broadcast” sound with advanced processing chains
• Outdoor location audio in heavy wind (that’s more about wind protection and mic shielding)
• Creators who refuse to keep the mic near their mouth (distance changes everything)

Gear links (kept editorial, not salesy)

Audio pillar (start here if you want the whole system):

• Sound better on YouTube without a treated studio

Core placement guide:

• Mic placement for YouTube

Related mic decisions:

• Dynamic vs condenser mic (room noise)
• Lavalier vs shotgun mic

Creator gear hub:

• Creator Gear hub

Amazon UK searches (tagged so the session is credited):

• Amazon UK: pop filters
• Amazon UK: foam windscreens
• Amazon UK: microphone boom arms
• Amazon UK: lav mic windscreens
• Amazon UK: shock mounts

Related reading (internal only)

• Sound better on YouTube without a treated studio
• Mic placement for YouTube
• Dynamic vs condenser mic
• Reduce echo in a small room
• Lavalier vs shotgun mic

FAQs (People Also Ask style)

Why does my microphone pop on “P” sounds?

Because bursts of air hit the mic capsule and overload it. This usually happens when the mic is directly in front of your mouth and you’re close to it.

What’s the fastest fix for plosives?

Move the mic slightly to the side (off-axis) and add a pop filter or foam windscreen. Retest with a 10-second recording.

Pop filter or foam windscreen — which is better?

Pop filters are usually best for desk/studio setups. Foam windscreens are quick and convenient and can be “good enough” for many creators.

Can mic placement reduce plosives?

Yes. Off-axis placement is one of the best fixes. Don’t speak directly into the mic — speak slightly past it.

Do condensers get plosives more than dynamics?

Often, yes. Condensers are more sensitive, so they can make airflow problems more obvious. Technique and a pop filter solve it either way.

How far should I be from the mic to stop popping?

Start at around 15–25cm and adjust. Too close increases airflow impact; too far makes you turn up gain and introduces echo.

How do I stop plosives on a lav mic?

Add a small windscreen, lower the mic slightly (hand-span below chin), and keep it on stable fabric away from your breath path.

Can you remove plosives in editing?

Sometimes, but it’s time-consuming and not always clean. It’s far better to fix plosives at the source with placement and a pop filter.

Why does my mic pop even with a pop filter?

The mic may still be in the direct breath path, or you’re extremely close. Go off-axis and back off slightly, then retest.

What’s the best setup to prevent plosives on YouTube?

A mic placed 15–25cm away, slightly off-axis, with a pop filter (or foam windscreen) and a quick test recording before filming.