How do you reduce plosives and sibilance when recording for podcasting?

1 What are plosives and sibilance?

Plosives and sibilance are types of consonant sounds that involve the release of air from your mouth or nose. Plosives are produced when you block the airflow with your lips or tongue and then release it abruptly, such as in words like pop, bit, or kick. Sibilance is produced when you create a narrow gap between your tongue and your teeth or palate and let the air flow through it, creating a hissing or whistling sound, such as in words like sip, zip, or show. These sounds can be problematic for podcasting because they can create loud spikes or pops in your audio waveform, which can distort your voice or damage your microphone.

2 How to avoid plosives and sibilance

The best way to avoid plosives and sibilance is to pay attention to your pronunciation and articulation. Try to avoid pushing too much air out of your mouth or nose when you speak, and use a softer or more relaxed tone. You can also practice speaking with a pencil or a pen between your teeth, which will force you to reduce the airflow and the pressure. Another technique is to slightly angle your head or your microphone away from the direction of the air, so that it does not hit the mic directly. This will help you reduce the impact of the plosives and sibilance on your recording.

3 How to use a pop filter

A pop filter is a device that you can attach to your microphone stand or boom arm, which acts as a barrier between your mouth and the mic. It is usually made of a thin fabric or a metal mesh, which diffuses the air and filters out the plosives and sibilance. A pop filter can also protect your microphone from saliva, dust, or moisture, which can affect its performance and lifespan. To use a pop filter effectively, you should position it about 2 to 6 inches away from your mic, and adjust it according to your voice and the type of microphone you are using. You can also experiment with different shapes and sizes of pop filters, such as round, square, or curved, to find the one that suits you best.

4 How to use an equalizer

An equalizer is a tool that allows you to adjust the frequency spectrum of your audio signal. You can use it to boost or cut certain frequencies, which can affect the tone and clarity of your voice. For example, if you want to reduce the plosives and sibilance in your recording, you can use an equalizer to lower the low and high frequencies, which are where these sounds are most prominent. You can also use an equalizer to enhance other aspects of your voice, such as the warmth, the presence, or the brightness. However, you should be careful not to overdo it, as too much equalization can make your voice sound unnatural or distorted.

5 How to use a de-esser

A de-esser is a special type of compressor that targets the sibilance in your audio signal and reduces its volume. It works by detecting the frequency range where the sibilance occurs, usually between 4 and 10 kHz, and applying a downward compression to it. This way, it lowers the hissing or whistling sounds without affecting the rest of your voice. To use a de-esser effectively, you should set the threshold, the ratio, and the frequency according to your voice and the level of sibilance you want to remove. You can also use a de-esser to reduce other types of harsh or noisy sounds, such as breaths, clicks, or hums.

6 How to use a gate

A gate is another type of compressor that controls the volume of your audio signal based on a threshold. It works by silencing the signal when it falls below the threshold, and letting it pass when it rises above it. This way, it eliminates the background noise and the unwanted sounds that may occur between your words or sentences. To use a gate effectively, you should set the threshold, the attack, the release, and the ratio according to your voice and the amount of noise you want to remove. You can also use a gate to create a smoother and more consistent sound, by reducing the dynamic range of your voice.