This article will show you how to make your own microphone pop-filter. A pop-filter is a small screen that goes between a microphone and your mouth to prevent sharp popping sounds (known as plosives) like “P” and “B” words from overloading the mic level and distorting. Commercially available pop-filters are expensive and can often cost 20 dollars or more. The pop-filter you can build here will cost less than $6 dollars.
Parts List:
1 Wooden Embroidery Ring (6 inches) – .50 cents
1 Pair Generic Black Pantyhose – $1
Wooden Dowel (5/16th in Dia.) – .69 cents
Mini Clamp – .37 cents
Regular Clamp – $2. 09
2 Washers, 1 Lock Washer, #4 Bolt (3/4 in) & Nut – .85 cents
Tools Needed:
Wood Glue
Scissors
Small Screwdriver
Awl
Small Saw
Sandpaper
I bought most of the materials at a popular home supply store and got the wooden embroidery ring and pantyhose at a local big-box retailer. I used a Leatherman tool so I didn’t need the separate awl, saw, and screwdriver as this pocket tool has all three tools (and more) combined.
Begin by applying some light sandpaper to the wooden embroidery rings. The rings I bought were slightly rough around the edges and sanding will help prevent them from ripping holes in the nylon mesh. Next take the wooden dowel and cut off a 12 inch length piece. The dowels sold at my local supply store are 48 inches long – enough to make 4 pop-filters. Sand any burrs off the cut ends and also the dowel itself to remove any rough spots.
Next take the outer wooden ring and lightly sand an area near the screw mechanism. The rings I used were lightly coated with a sealer and I needed to expose the bare wood so the glue holding the dowel and ring together would bond better. Lying them both flat on some old paper, I lined up the ring and dowel to look like a lollipop and glued them using some carpenter’s wood glue. Set this aside and give it time to dry.
While the glue is setting you can prepare the nylon mesh screen. Take the pantyhose the cut one of the legs off at the top of the thigh. Take the inner ring from the wooden hoop and insert into the nylon leg. Carefully slide the ring down the leg and into the toe area. Make the nylon stretchy and taut but not too tight. Take the loose leg material and tie it in a tight knot close the the wooden ring. Cut the extra material off.
Once the glue has dried, insert the inner wooden ring with the stretched nylon into the outer ring and tighten the screw mechanism to hold it firmly in place. I positioned the inner ring so that the nylon knot was tucked into the screw connector area and out of the way. This finishes the pop-filter itself. We now need to build a clamp that will hold our filter to the microphone stand and allow for some positioning and adjustment of the screen in front of the microphone.
The two metal clamps I bought had plastic shrink wrapped handles but I was able to tell they had small holes under this covering. This was going to allow me to connect them using a small bolt. The large clamp would connect to the mic stand and the little clamp would hold the dowel in place.
Using an awl or similar sharp pointed tool, poke a starter hole through the handles of your clamps. Take a #4 bolt and thread a plain washer on it. Poke this through the small clamp’s handle from the outside. Next push the bolt through the larger clamp’s handle hole. On the inside of the large handle you now need to place a regular washer, then a lock washer, and then the nut. Tighten by holding the nut and turning the bolt with a small screwdriver. Your clamp is now complete.
Insert the dowel into the small clamp’s jaws and then attach the large clamp to your microphone stand and position the mesh screen in front of the microphone. You’re now ready to record or broadcast!
Related Links:
Make Your Own Pop Screen (Another way to make your own…)
The X-Plosive: A DIY Pop Filter (…still another way…)
Build Your Own Microphone Pop Screen (…and yet another way.)
MXL990 Condenser Mic (highly recommended)
[...] How To: Make Your Own Microphone Pop-Filter This guy has a really nice plan. He uses an embroidery ring from a craft store, a definite contender. [...]
[...] Boom Pole for Under $30.00 Home Recording Studio Microphone Pop Filter Microphone Windscreen Sound Studio Acoustic Treatments Microphone Desk Stand Zero Budget Dubbing [...]
Great idea!
I spent only about 200 Philippine Pesos or about $4.
I used hard electrical wire instead of the boom stick- flexible, can be easily adjusted to desired position.
-Used Epoxy Steel glue to attach the end of the wire to a paper clip.
I used this guide as a reference to making my Pop-Filter. I made one slight alteration from this design though. My local big-box store did not carry embroidery hoops, so I did what any good musician would do: I improvised.
The lids of the new plastic coffee containers (Folgers and Maxwell House use them now) are a suitable alternative if you cannot find an embroidery hoop or wish to shave another $0.50 off the price. Just carefukky cut away the central portion of the plastic lid and staple the pantyhose in place.
Love the design of your pop filter. I made one using an old wire clothes hanger. I bent one end of it into a curved shape and then stretched a portion of the pantyhose over the circle. I secured the pantyhose to the wire by tieing in small knots around the circle to keep it pulled tight. I then used the other end of the wire to wrap it around the microphone stand. it was adjustable and all available in my home–no tools, no out of pocket cost.
the pop filter i have was $95…like 3 days after i bought it i saw a video on youtube showin how to make on for basically free. so i made it, and it works about the same if not better than the one i paid 95 for. and the store i got it from dont give refunds so i was just s.o.l.
i’m gunna have to try this, i need a pop filter (: thanks for the idea
[...] Boom Pole for Under $30.00 Home Recording Studio Microphone Pop Filter Microphone Windscreen Sound Studio Acoustic Treatments Microphone Desk Stand Zero Budget Dubbing [...]
[...] Boom Pole for Under $30.00 Home Recording Studio Microphone Pop Filter Microphone Windscreen Sound Studio Acoustic Treatments Microphone Desk Stand Zero Budget Dubbing [...]
[...] got the idea from a couple of places on the web, here’s a link to another set of instructions with pictures, not that I’m sure pictures are [...]
I can’t imagine it being used by a professional studio, but thanks for putting this together. It makes my recordings sound worlds more professional!
it is cheap it cost about $15.00 at walmart and best buy
[...] mesh dissipates that air before it reaches the micrphone. You can make a pop filter yourself from some pantyhose and an embroidery hoop or coat hanger, but there are lots of pre-fab options starting at around $15 or $20. If you plan to [...]
Damn what a cheapest and an easy way of making a pop filter thanks guys