by Logan Anderson

Created on: December 11, 2006   Last Updated: December 19, 2006

Wind shields are styrofoam coverings that fit over the microphone to help reduce the impact that slight breezes might have on a recording. A wind shield is the best choice if you'll be recording outdoor sounds where you don't want to capture the sound of wind blowing directly on the microphone. Unfortunately, a basic wind shield won't help much in any type of weather conditions beyond a slight breeze.

Pop guards are usually flat discs of mesh that are placed in front of a microphone. They are designed to defuse bursts of air from a single direction and direct them away from the microphone. Most often, pop guards are used to keep a singer from "spitting" air into the microphone when he or she pronounces "p" or "b" sounds. They are generally only for short burst of air, but high quality pop guards are made of metal and can even block a human's best attempt to blow through the mesh. However, you can make a basic pop guard for home recordings out of a nylon stocking stretched around a bent coat hanger.

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