Are you talking about a pop screen or a wind screen? The wire mesh pop screens are "supposed" to be more transparent but I wouldn't put any faith in that necessarily. Nylon pop screens have been in use for a long time. No one has complained about them yet.

By foam or screen, I mean this:

- Richard

expatCanuck wrote: By foam or screen, I mean this:

- Richard

The first one is more of a wind screen intended for outdoor use. You can use it though if you have a tendancy to eat the mic or want to take advantage of proximity. You could do the same with a close pop filter which would be more transparent but "probably" less effective than the foam. I suppose the best way to find out is to try and see what you like better.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a pop/screen filter needed or used on a 57.

:?

sshack wrote: I'm not sure I've ever seen a pop/screen filter needed or used on a 57.

:?

Ummmm. Well, when I used it to record vocals, it definitely wanted a filter -- the splosives were apparent in the recording (and I don't believe that I was getting unduly intimate with the mike -- nor am I a shouter (see http://oldWithoutMoney.com for an example)).

- Richard

With the right placement (off-axis/eye-level pointed down), you could do just fine without it on a SM57, but I use a pop filter just in case (in addition to using the SM58 windscreen). Obviously, I'm not getting a huge frequency response as it is from those dynamics, a few Hz lost can't hurt that much (great attitude, I know).

If you're using the AT2020, though, LDC, a pop filter's probably a good idea. Really, you don't need an expensive pop filter. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002CZW0Y/?tag=r06fa-20.

I use that one. It works splendidly. 20 bucks.

The AT2020 isn't really an LDC (1/2" capsule) anyway but yeah with a condenser a pop filter is important. The AT2020 is pretty resilient though. It can handle a pretty good beating.

StephenMC wrote: With the right placement (off-axis/eye-level pointed down), you could do just fine without it on a SM57 ...

> The mic is at eye-level.
Hmmm. Is that the centre of the mic or the business end of the mic (if that's in fact critical)?

>off-axis
Hmmm again. Many ways to be off-axis. Assume a bird's eye view. 0 degrees is straight ahead. 30 degrees off? 45?

> pointed down
err, ummmm. Okay, I'm gonna assume that you don't mean pointed straight down. Assuming that 0 degrees is horizontal, and 90 degrees is straight down -- are we talking 30? 45? 60?

hueseph wrote: The AT2020 isn't really an LDC (1/2" capsule) anyway but yeah with a condenser a pop filter is important. The AT2020 is pretty resilient though. It can handle a pretty good beating.

Mmm, my bad. Same concept, though.

@expatCanuck -- whatever works. The exacts change with different mics and vocalists. Make it sound good.

patric

expatCanuck:

Based on my experience singing through a '57, I'd say it's very possible you'll need a pop filter to get the sound you want.

The foam windscreens you're talking about are considerably less effective in a recording application, and are much less transparent than the nylon pop filters. I don't know where you're looking that these are "simply outrageous," but if price is a concern, I do fine making all my own (see below). Parts will cost you about the same price as a foam windscreen but with considerably better results.

I took my instructions from [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.jakeludi…"]this site[/]="http://www.jakeludi…"]this site[/]. However, I just insert the pantyhose into the hoop, cut/tie off the excess, and attach the screen to free mic stand using the shown 1" clip.

Re: patric

patrick_like_static wrote: ... I don't know where you're looking that these are "simply outrageous," ...

Actually, the simply outrageous prices are more for the foam windscreens than the pop filters.

Fer instance, 40 bucks for the AT8137 (foam windscreen for the $100 AT2020) is, IMHO, simply outrageous -- the sort of markup on par with the cosmetics industry.

I guess I'm too easily outraged. :wink:

- Richard
http://oldWithoutMoney.com