Brand new set up... And excessive popping?

[Sadistikpro]

Hello,

I am a rookie, so sorry for the ignorance here... I just set up my new BLUE Bluebird mic (With the custom pop/shock it comes with ). It is running through an EMU 1820m, which I also just set up today...

When I record, everything sounds how I think it should, except the popping of "p" sounds (I pop my P's fairly hard, I record hip hop vocals) where it distorts... Even when I further myself from the mic this is happening.

I also have the phantom power 48V switch turned on my EMU while I record, and to be honest, I dont know what that does, so maybe that has something to do with it?

Maybe something wrong with my settings? Maybe the hardware? Any information is greatly appreciated

 

[gecko zzed]

some people pop on their 'p's a lot, some don't.

It is not a function of your set up.

Three things you can do:

1 get a pop screen between you and the microphone. They reduce the effect of the plosives

2 don't sing directly into the mike, but instead go slightly to one side

3 learn to sing without popping so much.It can be done

 

[rayc]

You could try an old cheapie trick - tape a pencil or chopstick across the mic. It splits the explosive force - it works but in varying degress with various mics and P'ing.
Cheers
rayC

 

[noisedude]

Ok, here's a trick that almost always works, just don't let it fool you into changing the angle of your neck!

Raise the mic above head height and point it down towards your mouth. So it's just out of the way of those blasts of air, but it still gets your singing.

Sometimes the tone changes just a little but not usually in a bad way -- just don't start looking up into the mic and popping it anyway!!!

Nik

 

[LemonTree]

Ok, here's a trick that almost always works, just don't let it fool you into changing the angle of your neck!

Raise the mic above head height and point it down towards your mouth. So it's just out of the way of those blasts of air, but it still gets your singing.

Sometimes the tone changes just a little but not usually in a bad way -- just don't start looking up into the mic and popping it anyway!!!

Nik

Try doing this with a "dummy" mic set up underneath for you to sing into....you'd be amazed at how psycological things get sometimes.

 

[noisedude]

Try doing this with a "dummy" mic set up underneath for you to sing into....you'd be amazed at how psycological things get sometimes.

Very true - good thinking, I'll try that next time.

 

[acidrock]

some people pop on their 'p's a lot, some don't.

It is not a function of your set up.

Three things you can do:

1 get a pop screen between you and the microphone. They reduce the effect of the plosives

2 don't sing directly into the mike, but instead go slightly to one side

3 learn to sing without popping so much.It can be done

I completely agree,technique is better than tools.

I used to have a problem with sibilance,i tried de-essing,but it wasn't quite right.From that point I just concentrated on technique.My voice still sucks,but I don't have those nasty pops and ssssibalance any more.

 

[Sadistikpro]

thanks for the replies guys... I dont think its my singing because on my older Rode NT1A I had a normal mesh pop filter and I never had this problem... Maybe the custom metal pop filter isnt really cutting it?

Ill try the angled tip you said, as well as recording in another program, maybe its some setting that is wrong. Any more responses are appreciated

 

[cpl_crud]

From memory, the grille on the bluebird is less dense than that of the rode, so you'll expect more plosives to pass through it...
the angle up should do wonders thou, as will working on your technique...

otherwise maybe drop the gain a litte.

And yes, you do need phantom power on for this mic. IF you turn it off ,it won't work.

 

[noisedude]

Some mics are more susceptible to popping than others ... it shouldn't be a big deal, just something to be worked around.

Good luck!

 

[Sadistikpro]

Thank you, ill try to mess with it

 

[Innovations]

If you are getting through the pop screen you have some high energy plosives in your voice. If you don't want to change your vocal style I would suggest radio broadcast position (about 45 degrees to the side) or voiceover position (about at the bridge of the nose and pointing toward the upper chest.

 

[Sadistikpro]

Thanks, ill try that.... This mic is much much more sensitive to popping than the Rode was..