Just for a change a non SEO thought...
For those getting into the strange world of Podcasting and screencast you might have got yourself a shiny microphone but did you get yourself a pop shield?
What is a pop shield?
Sometimes called a Pop Filter a pop shield is a device to decrease the amount of hiss, crackle and poping you hear on recordings. At least some of these are caused by the person speaking into the mic and due to the shape of their mouths causes burst of air to hit the mic and create a pop noise. This is called plosives to see what I mean hold a piece of paper close to your face and speak, two things will occur occasionally you will accidentally spit on the paper but also the paper will move by varying amounts depending the sound you are making.
Professional pop shields do an amazing job at reducing pops without to much loss of high frequencies but they can be a little costly, and so if your on a budget or a hurry I present the cheap skates version and in true Blue Peter fashion you will need....
- A Pair of tights (If you don't wear tights Your wife, spouse, girlfriend, mum will no doubt have a laddered pair the laddering does not cause significant issue)
- Some Cardboard
- Metal wire, or plastic ring
Make a pop shield out of tights
The pictures are self explanatory, but take the tights and place them over your wire or plastic frame, then create a stand with the cardboard.
Safety Notice - If you use scissors to cut the tights, do make sure their is an adult to supervise at all times.
Hopefully this may help a few Podcasters out there, but remember nothing is a substitute for a quiet room and a half decent microphone. Back to the SEO I guess
This is a difficult one to post against! because I was going to say:
Great tip there Tim, now if im caught raiding the wifeys drawers (I mean that cleanly) I have a valid excuse why I’m in there.
Then thinking about that it feels like a Blackpool Postcard comment.
So, all I have to say is that perhaps one day we can get together and do a regular Q & A podcast – tights included of-course
We could use a real pop shield but when you are in a hurry you have to improvise
Important Notice
Tim Nash is not responsible for any situation that may occur while attempting to acquire said tights. Any tight related difficulties that may occur are not the responsibility of Tim Nash, timnash.co.uk recommends you wait till after the person has taken the tights off before attempting to acquire them unless specific prior permission has been given by the present occupier of the tights.
Haven’t heard of pop shield before, but thanks for the info, I will try it next time.
you give good blog.
After a couple of months incommunicado (it’s really nice this time of year, btw) I’m catching up with all my RSS feeds and came across your post, Tim, and felt the need to comment.
As a voiceover artist and part-time SEO, I particularly like your Blue Peter approach to making a pop shield. It’s amazing the difference it makes using one and I recommend anyone who is serious about podcasting to consider either buying one or making one.
However I have two specific issues to bring up here.
1 – Despite suggesting that this tutorial is in Blue Peter fashion you neglect to mention sticky backed plastic, double sided sticky tape (for speed) or even showing us one that you made earlier.
2 – Tipp-Ex?!?! WTF?!?!?
The very first version did have some toilet rolls and some double sided sticky tape
but then I sort of went with simple is best.
Oh and If the nice guy From BIC Corporation turned up and gave me a lot of cash and told me not to tell a guy called Matt Cutts (Who’s he then?) that they had been there I can’t see how that has anything to do with the perfectly placed Jar of Tip-Ex and I would resent any suggestion of in proprietary what so ever!
Indeed if you do have a complaint in such matter I suggest you write in on BIC Embossed single sided gloss coated A4 paper priced £9.99 from all good stores and use teh hg543 ball Point pen price £1.20.
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