How do I reduce the noise when I say words that begin with 'p' when I'm recording my voice with a microphone?

Question

Whenever I say words with 'p', I am saying it with a strong 'p' sound. Then when I play back my voice, those words begin with a loud quick static noise that indicated that I said it too strongly. You should know what I mean if you've spoken into a microphone. I am using Audacity, if anyone is familiar with that. If there's any effect on that program that would make it go away, without ruining the rest of the program, that would be great.

I have already tried moving my mouth farther away from the microphone, but then I simply hear my voice too quietly on playback. And even that doesn't reduce it too much. Any help is much appreciated.

Answer 1

While a foam or furry wind cover is a good idea, there is one possible solution that is easier.



The problem is the air stream emitted from your mouth is hitting the mic. Move the mic. sideways (or down) by at least a foot. Look at the guests on a TV talk show. They wear the little mic. on their neck ties about 6" below the knot.



Sound travels sideways just as well as it does forward. The air stream coming from your mouth does not.

Answer 2

Use a pop filter if the noise comes from your breath, they're about 20 bucks.



http://www.musiciansfriend.com/home/navigation?q=pop+filter&src=3SOSWXXB



But if it's because you're clipping because you've exceeded the input level, then record at a lower level so you won't saturate the input. Adjust until the peak is at -6db, the whole thing will sound too quiet... until you compress it. Compressor will make everything louder. There should some plugins for audacity. I don't use it so I don't know.



Digital recording you never ever want to clip. It's all bad.

Answer 3

You need to get a foam cover for your microphone. If you look at any newscaster using a handheld mic, they will have a round piece of foam covering the mike. It keeps out wind noise, and that annoying pop sound when you pronounce words with "p" in them. Try Radio Shack, or another electronics store.

Answer 4

The only thing I can think of as a possibility would be to record at a lower volume, but you'd run into the same problem with the playback, and not hearing yourself as well as you'd like.

Answer 5

Place the mic so that it's to the side of your mouth, like under your left cheek but still about a half inch from your mouth, but pointing directly at your mouth. This way, the breath from your speech won't hit the mic, but it will hear you ok.

Answer 6

I believe they're called "pop stoppers" or "windscreens" and you can find them at any good music store that sells instruments and equipment. You basically place these over the microphone head or between you and the microphone to help reduce the "PUH" when you pronounce your P's and "TUH" when you pronounce your T's

Answer 7

Practice with a small leaf of paper on your tongue ? Learn to back talk. speak through spinning fan!

Answer 8

limiter,compression,lower the gain on mic,diffrent possiblitys

Answer 9

You can get a windscreen...it'll definitely help