Audacity Forum

Hi! Does anyone have advice on how to avoid the sounds of "breathing into the mic " - that kind of blow-ey sound - other than stop breathing !

Have tried obvious of moving mic away from mouth but then quality just sounds fainter and poorer. I am using a mic that came with my webcam - does quality of mic make much of a difference in this?
Thanks for any help you can give !

You can either buy what is known as a "pop shield" - or you can make one yourself from a wire coathager made into a big loop and covered with material from tights/pantyhose. The shield to be placed between you and the mic.

WC

Thanks! Will give this a try.

There are a couple good DIY pop filter projects at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ihorner/12 ... [email protected] and http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2005/0 ... you_1.html you could check out. I'm not sure how much these are commercially, but this is an extremely inexpensive project.

Besides a pop filter (which will help with the majority, I think), mic placement is also crucial. Make sure the mic isn't placed directly in front of the path of the air out of your mouth. If you hold your hand in front of your face and move it around, you'll be able to feel the place where your breath is going. Don't put the mic there.

I tend to put the mic up a little higher, pointing at my nose. Try to avoid tilting your head up when you do this or the problem will just come right back.

I can confirm that the DIY approach works, although I've had a few funny looks when I've announced that I need a coat hanger and some pantyhose