My Recording Has a Pop on Every P
Updated October 2026
A thump on p and b sounds is a plosive: a puff of air hits the microphone. Stop it at the source with a screen and placement, and reduce what is left in the file.
The short version
- Pops come from air hitting the capsule when you say p and b.
- A pop filter, placed in front of the mic, is the standard fix.
- Speaking slightly off-axis moves the air past the mic.
- A high-pass filter reduces pops in the file, but the source fix is better.
What causes the pop
A p or a b releases a short puff of air. If the mic is directly in its path, the capsule moves and records a low thump. The thump is mostly low frequency, which is why a low cut helps.
Stop it while recording
Place a pop filter a few centimetres in front of the mic and keep the speaker about a hand’s width from the filter. Speaking a little to the side helps as well. The pop filter explanation covers placement.
Reduce it in the file
A high-pass filter around 80 to 120 Hz removes much of the thump. Repeated light passes sound better than one heavy one. The plosive removal guide has the steps.
Check the voice
A low cut set too high thins the voice. Check that the words still sound full after the filter.
Stop the pop, then clean
Tunedzy’s cleanup includes a pop guard and a low cut. Use Before and After to check the voice stays full.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Is a pop filter enough?
For most speech, yes. Some very strong plosives still need a little file cleanup.
Why does my phone pop on p?
The phone is directly in front of the mouth. Speak slightly to the side.
Does a foam cover work?
Often, for voice. A mesh screen is more effective for strong plosives.
Keep going
All guides and comparisons · Tunedzy Go on your phone · Pricing