What are the best ways to reduce plosives when recording vocals?

2 Change your mic angle

Another way to reduce plosives when recording vocals is to change the angle of your mic. Instead of pointing the mic directly at your mouth, you can tilt it slightly upwards or downwards, or to the side. This way, you can avoid the direct impact of the plosives on the mic, and still capture your voice clearly. You can experiment with different angles and distances until you find the optimal one for your voice and style. You can also use a shock mount to reduce any vibrations or movements that might affect the mic.

3 Modify your pronunciation

A third way to reduce plosives when recording vocals is to modify your pronunciation of the problematic consonants. You can try to soften or shorten the plosives, or replace them with softer sounds. For example, instead of saying "pop", you can say "pahp" or "pup". Instead of saying "big", you can say "bihg" or "bigg". Instead of saying "take", you can say "tayk" or "teyk". You can also use your tongue to create a gap between your teeth and lips when pronouncing the plosives, which can reduce the air pressure. However, be careful not to change the meaning or the emotion of your words, and practice your pronunciation before recording.

4 Choose the right mic

A fourth way to reduce plosives when recording vocals is to choose the right mic for your voice and genre. Different types of mics have different sensitivity and frequency response, which can affect how they pick up the plosives. Generally, condenser mics are more sensitive and prone to plosives than dynamic mics, but they also have a higher fidelity and clarity. On the other hand, dynamic mics are more durable and resistant to plosives, but they also have a lower output and quality. You can also consider the polar pattern of the mic, which is how it captures sound from different directions. For example, a cardioid mic rejects sound from the back and sides, while an omnidirectional mic picks up sound from all directions. You can use this to your advantage by placing the mic in a way that minimizes the plosives.

5 Use a de-esser or an EQ

A fifth way to reduce plosives when recording vocals is to use a de-esser or an EQ in your audio editing software. A de-esser is a tool that reduces the sibilance or harshness of certain sounds, such as S, Z, and SH. It works by detecting and compressing the frequency range where the sibilance occurs, usually between 2kHz and 10kHz. You can use a de-esser to also reduce the plosives, by setting the frequency range to where the plosives occur, usually between 50Hz and 200Hz. An EQ is a tool that allows you to adjust the level of different frequencies in your audio. You can use an EQ to reduce the plosives by applying a low-cut or a high-pass filter, which removes the low frequencies below a certain threshold. You can also use a notch filter, which removes a narrow band of frequencies around the plosives.

6 Practice and record

A sixth way to reduce plosives when recording vocals is to practice and record your vocals regularly. The more you practice, the more you will develop your vocal technique, control, and awareness. You will also learn how to adjust your mic, pop filter, and pronunciation to suit your voice and style. The more you record, the more you will be able to listen back to your vocals, analyze your performance, and identify and fix any issues with the plosives. You can also get feedback from other singers, vocal coaches, or audio engineers, and learn from their tips and suggestions.