Best Microphones Critic

What Does A Pop Filter Do?

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Pop filters are a must-have for recording in enclosed spaces. This nylon or metallic object acts as a shield around your microphone. They filter any mechanical sounds made from misplaced instruments. A pop filter also reduces any whooshing sound made from fast-moving air from singing.

Plosive air is inevitable when someone is too close to the microphone. Misspoken words or loud clicks are more audible this way. Even if they’re not usually heard, microphones tend to amplify them. This is why pop filters are so handy. Let’s take a closer look at this practical device.

Uses of Pop Filter

Pop filters are a blessing. You can’t control a sudden blast of plosive air in the middle of singing. They tend to be noticeable if the speaker or singer is close to the microphone. That can’t be helped either. So to avoid such mishaps in your room or studio, having a pop filter attached to your microphone helps heaps.

So why does plosive air affect your audio so much? Some microphones come with high-pass filters. However, the sound gets amplified when the air hits the microphone no matter what the setting is. Omnidirectional microphones, for all their benefits, are susceptible to this effect more. Proximity overtakes safeguard features.

The real question is, do you need a pop filter to have a superior vocal take?

Pop Filter
Photo credit: Voices.com

Are Pop Filters Necessary?

Simply put, no. You don’t need a pop filter to have a glorious recording. There’s a neat technique for positioning your microphone. Just place it a tad off-axis. This will help you avoid directly singing into the microphone. Mind you, it’s not always effective. Singing sideways into the microphone isn’t necessarily comfortable either.

Here are two factors to consider.

1. Low-Pitched Tones

However, pop filters (if improperly placed) can make your voice sound flat. If you have a low-pitched voice, it’s best to avoid this equipment. The same goes for those singing altos and basses. There’s a way around this though. Nylon pop filters have wired meshes. You get to avoid sounding flat and eliminate plosives.

2. Frequency Losses

Most brands will claim that the highs absorbed by these filters won’t affect your vocals or music. As a singer, you’ll be able to notice better. If you think it’s affecting your tone, invest in nylon pop filters. Metal ones help too. They reduce high-frequency loss. This is because they have wide-spaced meshes.

Benefits of Using Pop Filters

Editing is a crucial part of making songs or podcasts. It adds to your creative genius. Pop filters come in handy here. They make recording and editing audio files easier. What does this mean? Better demos and polished audio files. Not impressed yet? Let’s take a closer look at the benefits.

  1. Produce high-quality audio files.
  2. Eliminate echoes that are found in audios recorded in enclosed spaces.
  3. Reduce unwanted ambient sounds and frequency changes.
  4. Lower popping sounds resulted from mechanical impacts.
  5. Cuts down plosives from words ending with Ps and B.
  6. Reduced sibilance from S sounds.
  7. Adds a layer of protection on your microphone against dirt.

Pop Filter Buying Guide

If you’ve settled on buying a pop filter, great. Your work doesn’t end there though. There are several things you need to consider before making your purchase. Here’s a quick breakdown.

1. Size

You don’t want a pop filter that is too big or too small for your microphone. The pop filter must complement your mic. You may want to consider getting a larger pop filter if you move around while singing. If you’re stationary while recording, a smaller size will do. Just remember the diameter matters.

2. Mount

How do you attach the pop filter to the microphone? Is the mount sturdy and easy to attach? Most pop filters have a gooseneck mouth. You need to screw it into the frame and clamp it. So before making your purchase, make sure the neck of the attachment is long enough to get the job done.

3. Shape

You’d think pop filters would have a default shape and size, right? Wrong! They come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. You’ll find flat filters and even curved ones. The former is more cost-effective and durable. You need to speak right at the center though. Curved filters offer more range of movement.

Comparing the Best Pop Filters and Screens on the Market

There are so many options in the market. The two popular ones are nylon mesh pop filters and metallic mesh pop filters. It ultimately comes down to your preference and budget. We’ve listed down the advantages and disadvantages of using both. Take a look!

Nylon Mesh Pop Filter

This pop filter makes use of two thin layers of nylon to diffuse air. It slows down the air movements before it hits the mic. They are diffused through different directions. These layers reduce plosive noise resulting from the proximity of the speaker.

Advantages of Nylon Mesh Pop Filters:

  • It’s cheaper compared to the other designs.
  • It’s a standard instrument in the music industry.
  • They come in large sizes which allow freedom of movement.

Disadvantages of Nylon Mesh Pop Filters:

  • The audio may sound flat.
  • The fabric is susceptible to wear and tear.

Metallic Mesh Pop Filter

This pop filter works much differently than the nylon mesh ones. It doesn’t diffuse the air. Instead, it moves the air away from the microphone. The barrier deflects the air movement. So if you utilize this properly, you won’t have to worry about unwanted noise plosives.

Advantages of Metal Mesh Pop Filters:

  • The mesh has wider holes so it doesn’t affect your frequency.
  • They are more durable.
  • The equipment is easy to maintain.

Disadvantages of Metal Mesh Pop Filters:

  • It’s costlier than a nylon mesh filter.
  • The thin metal sheet can bend easily.

Conclusion

You could do worse things than investing in a pop filter. In all seriousness, this can help you pace your frequency and eliminate vocal mishaps. Now that you know what a pop filter does, it’s time to make your purchase. Invest in a metal pop filter for durability or a nylon one for flexibility.

You may also like to read: Best Pop Filter for Blue Yeti.

Funny Drummer Quotes

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Introduction

Being a drummer is mostly fun. Set aside the hard work and countless hours of practice, it is probably enjoyed by those who do it. What are some of the funny, relatable incidents that go on in a drummer’s life? For those of you wondering, we have covered this topic today. Here are some of the funny drummer quotes.

Background

Over the years, drummers have created a culture for themselves. They are familiar with it and they know it very well. For those of you looking to get into this, for whatever reason, we are here to help today. Maybe you are trying to get a souvenir for your drummer friend, but do not know drummer references.

You might also be thinking of getting a card for them with a quote in it, for which this article will be perfect. We will also be including the source, when possible, so that you can be sure that these are real. Unlike random posts on social media without any reference, we will try to make sure that these are legitimate. 

Some Funny Drummer Quotes

We have a list of six funny drummer quotes that we have found. We have also included the name of the quotee like we said we would. Surprisingly, not all the quotees in this list are drummers by profession, but by hobby.  

Quote 1

“But primarily, the drummer’s supposed to sit back there and swing the band.”

  • Buddy Rich 

Meaning: The first part of this quotes tries to say that a drummer just sits back, which may give a false impression at first. You might think that this is dissing drummers. Quite the contrary, the next part of this quote says that a drummer is what swings the band. This refers to the fact that a band’s speed and pace when playing songs is fully dependent on the drummer.

Quotee: The person who said this is Buddy Rich, who was a legendary jazz drummer from the United States. The presence of Rich in Western Drummer communities is very significant, and many drummers who aspire to be like him love him. 

Source:  Click Here

Quote 2

“Do you know why they call a drummer’s seat a throne? Because drummers are kings and queens.”

  • Ed Thigpen

Meaning: Here is an attempt at humor at the fact that drummer seats are called drum thrones. The quotee suggests that the reason behind this is that all drummers belong to royal groups. This is a joke, but it falls into line with the massive amount of respect that Thigpen probably had for all his fellow drummers. 

Quotee: Ed Thigpen was an American drummer known for his work 1956 to 1959 with Oscar Peterson. He was versatile and his skill on the instrument was of pure class.

Source: Click Here

Quote 3

“If you drum open handed, you automatically look like a better/cooler drummer than every other drummer.”

  • Christopher Mintz

Meaning: Open handed drumming is the action of playing the drums without following the convention of crossing your arms when you do it. Cross armed playing is found to be more commonly done due to a very wide number of reasons. However, the quotee suggests that playing the drums open handed looks better and requires more skill to do so.

Quotee: Quoted by Christopher Mintz, an American actor who is also great at the drums. He is not a drummer by profession, but he definitely seems to have the heart of one.

Source: Click Here

Quote 4

“Drummers have so much to think about that they unconsciously make a variety of ridiculous facial expressions as they play.”

  • Richard Jupp

Meaning: The quotee makes awareness about the fact that drummers often make a lot of facial expressions. The joke is that he tries to justify this by saying that a drummer does this unconsciously. He is suggesting that these facial expressions are a result of a drummer having to think too much when playing.

Quotee: The quotee is Richard Jupp, who is the co-founder and drummer of the band Elbow. He has won awards alongside the band for their musical performances.

Source: Click Here

Quote 5

“I play weird. I’m always just behind. We drummers only have so much room. We’re not guitarists.”

  • Ringo Starr

Meaning: The drummer suggests that a guitarist has a lot of space compared to a drummer. The funny factor is that this is very true, as a drummer does not have the comfort of moving around on stage. They have to sit still surrounded by some very large drums, usually speaking. 

Quotee: The person in question here is Ringo Starr, one of the most famous drummers ever. He is the ex-drummer for the iconic band – The Beatles. He has since been a pioneer in the drum scene and has immortalized himself there.

Source: Click Here

Quote 6

“I’m a drummer. I can count to four and repeat.”

  • Tre Cool

Meaning: Quotee mocks at the fact that drummers, like himself, almost always play the standard 4/4 time signature. You will know what that is if you are a drummer yourself. A drummer playing 4 notes per beat is the most common time signature used in just about every song you have ever listened to. 

Quotee: The quotee is Tre Cool, who is the drummer of the punk rock band Green Day. Cool is a very successful musician for his caliber and charisma. He has cemented his legacy in music after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame with Green Day in 2015.

Source: Click Here

Conclusion

These were some of the funniest and insightful quotes for drummers that we have found. You can use these quotes for t-shirts, mugs or any other gifts you want to give someone who is a drummer. It is highly likely that they will appreciate the gift and the effort you put into it.

We hope this article has been able to help you in some way. Feel free to use these drummer quotes with your drummer friends now!

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How to Play Conga Drums

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Introduction

Conga Drums are some very popular musical instruments, originated from Cuba. These have become very popular over the recent years. Conga Drums are very versatile in terms of their sound. This makes it easy to implement them into various types of music.

Salsa and Latin music makes it essential to know how to play the Congas if you want to be a drummer in this scene. So let us begin our tutorial today on how to play conga drums.

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The Absolute Basics

Let us learn about placement, posture and positioning of the congas before we dive any deeper. These are essential, as you will hamper your learning progress greatly if you follow a wrong method.

  • Placement of the Conga Drums

First thing is first. The drum is of a very tall stature and thus can be placed on a plain floor. You will be sitting on a chair, or just a stool for tradition. Try to get a stool or chair with the right height in this situation. The aim is to use one whose seat height matches the top surface of the conga drums.

  • Knee Placement for Support

When you have got the placement down, you can use your knees for support. This will ease the process for you to hit the drums. Having them at a fully flat angle is going to make it difficult when playing fast paced tunes.

Place the bigger conga drum at an angle away from you by placing it between your knees. The angle should be slight, so that the bottoms are just slightly above the ground. This is for a conga drum set with two drums. There may be a third one as well.

Playing the Conga Drums

Now to focus on the actual playing part. You will be focusing your hands on hitting the drums in some very specific ways. Do not be intimidated as your muscle memory will have your back after a few weeks of proper practice.

  • Closed Sounds (Center)

Use your palms to hit the center for some closed, mid-range sounds. These closed sounds will be soft and dull, and you have to master the force you put behind each hit. It is not advised to use too much force when hitting the center, in case damage may be seen.

Pro Tip: Keep in mind that none of the techniques that we will go through are exclusive to any single drum. They are all unique, but the techniques we will be listing can be applies to all of them. 

  • Open Sounds (Rim)

For open sounds, you will need to use the middle of your hand on the edge of the drum. Open sounds will contain more treble, and have a metallic feel to them. This tone can be achieved properly by using the part right underneath your knuckles at the edge of the conga.

Pro Tip: Ensure that your thumbs do not hit the rim of the conga drum as this will ring a very unpleasant noise.

  • Bass Sounds (Center)

Hit the middle of the conga drum with the heel of your hand for a deep, bass sound. This low bass note will sound quite similar to the closed sound, but much deeper.

Pro Tip: You can improvise and experiment making the bass sounds. Try doing this by using the tip of your fingers right after striking with the heel for some different bass sounds. They will be less deep, but will give a more unique rhythm.

To Combine Your Playing

Now that you have the most basic beats down, it is time to put them together. Weird as it may seem at first; these are the three techniques you will need to master to learn just about any kind of song.

Patterns

We will be covering some of the most basic patterns that are common amongst conga drum players. They are not very advanced, so there is nothing to worry about. Learn and practice these very regularly to learn the more professional ways to play. Let us begin with the first one.

  • Tumbao Pattern

The tumbao pattern is one of the most commonly played patterns. It is necessary to learn this to play some of the more common conga drum rhythms. The technique is actually fairly simple. 

To play it, start off hitting the Quinto drum with the heel, and then the fingertips of your left hand. Leave it to rest against the conga, and then slap the same drum with your right hand. Then you can hit the middle with the left hand’s fingertips. Follow along with the heel for an additional two notes for a very good finish

You can look up on YouTube here for some step by step guide on how to play the tumbao. It can be rather confusing to learn this from reading text alone. With the video, you can also know what kind of sound you should be producing.

  • Comparsa Pattern

The compasa pattern can be achieved by alteration between your left and right hands. Play the open note quadruple times in a go on the Quinto. Then play another open note on the tumba with your right hand, preferably after a short pause.

Repeat this technique and you will hear some very resonant rhythm being created. You can go here to YouTube for a more elaborate lesson. It will help you understand the sound and get it right properly.

Conclusion

We have covered the placement, positioning, hand posture and patterns of the conga. With that said, you should be able to now start off learning the conga drums. It can be somewhat confusing at first, but you will be able to tell wrong from right by simply hearing the sounds.

Drums vs. Guitars

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Drums and Guitars are two very different instruments when talking about their looks, play style, sound, and other things. They have very distinct roles in music.

Choosing between one over the other might be difficult to some but there really is no one answer to this question. It all depends on what sound style you like most, how much effort can you put into each of them, and just what is more convenient to you.

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Drums

Before we break down the differences between the 2 instruments, we have to look at each of them as an individual instrument at first. Drums are a really powerful and loud instrument. They have a very distinct soundstage in music.

They are the main part of music that produces the base, upbeat sounds and can bring the fullness of the sound. A drum has a lot of different parts, each producing a distinct sound. Here are some of the parts which make a full drum kit:

  • Hanging Toms
  • Floor Tom
  • Snare Drums
  • Cymbal
  • Hi-hat Cymbal
  • Bass Drum

These are all the components needed for a full drum kit. Learning the drums can take a lot of getting used to as you need to use both your hand for playing and one of your legs to control the bass. But, with determination and practice, you can be really good at it.

Guitar

The guitar is a really popular choice among most people for its portability and relatively hassles-less playing. It can produce some amazing tunes if you can learn it. Most of the guitars have 6 strings or 6 chords that you can alternate from and produce different types of music from.

There are a few different types of guitars, so let’s break each of them down.

  • Acoustic Guitar: drums vs. guitar

Acoustic guitar is famous for producing melodic and acoustic music. It’s also the most popular guitar people choose from as it doesn’t need any other equipment to play.

  • Electric Guitar:Drums vs. Guitars

Electric guitars produce a metallic, lengthy decal sound. It needs to be plugged into an amplifier and then a speaker or sound system to hear the sound that it produces.

  • Electro-Acoustic Guitar:drums vs. guitar

Electro-acoustic guitars are produced in a way so that it can produce that acoustic and melodic sound that it produces. The difference is you can plug it into an amplifier and a speaker to emphasize its sound more.

  • Twelve-String Guitar:drums vs. guitar

The Twelve-String is another version of a normal 6 string guitar. This version has all the strings in a normal 6 string guitar with a second set of thinner strings.

  • Archtop Guitars:drums vs. guitar

This guitar has a hollow or semi-hollow electric guitar. The archtop has the most aesthetically pleasing look to them and is built really well.

These are some of the popular guitars that people tend to go over when learning to play the guitar.

Which one to choose

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing to buy one instrument over the other as they are quite different when comparing their playstyle, portability, sound, Cost, and many other things. So let’s take a deeper dive into what we should be considerate about.

Sound

The first thing to consider is the main thing that makes each of these instruments shine. Their sound is their main signature feature when it comes to their differences.

Drums are a really upbeat, bass-heavy, and loud instrument. Drums can either be played very fast but in a surprisingly melodic manner which makes it really good to hear. The complex sound signature of it makes it especially attractive to hear.

Guitars have more of a high-pitched and melodic sound to them which makes them pleasant to hear. With that being said, other guitars produce some really jarring sounds that can hype up the music a lot more.

Different guitars have different sound profiles which makes them especially more viable for people. Moreover, guitars can be plugged into an amp or pedals that can make the sound profile much different and it also lets you choose a lot of different types of pedals which helps more to its customizability.

Portability

Another big factor for a lot of people is the portability of instruments. Many people want to learn instruments as a hobby and want so that they can take the instrument anywhere with them on journeys, tours, and other occasions.

As we know, guitars are portable instruments. Acoustic guitars can be carried anywhere you go. They don’t need any extra pieces of equipment to play with. They can be played by themselves and can produce some really good tunes. So, it is a very popular choice among many as you can show it off to your friends and family.

Drums however aren’t portable at all. A drum kit has several different parts to it and they are aligned in a way that suits the playstyle of it. They also have to be very sturdy to the ground or else they won’t be able to produce a good beat.

They also require quite a bit of space in your house which is also a consideration of many. But if you love drums and have no issues with portability, you should not consider it for your buying decision.

Cost

Cost is a big factor while considering buying anything. And it is as much of a factor in buying musical instruments as they can be very costly depending on what you want.

There are different types of guitars you can choose from. While some can be found for relatively cheap prices, some of the types like electric or twelve-string guitars can be a lot costly.

But most people tend to start with Acoustic guitars as they represent what guitars are meant to be. And if you look hard enough, you can find some really good ones for really good prices.

Drums consist of a lot of different parts. And adding up all of these to make a full drum kit can be a lot of money. Even if you search really hard enough for cheap drums, it really won’t be able to beat a good and cheap acoustic guitar.

With that being said, if you are determined enough to play the drums and if you want to learn it as a skill, the whole drum kit can be a worthy expense for you.

Conclusion

No matter which one you choose, each of these instruments has its own sound signature. No matter which one you choose or prefer, you won’t be disappointed with either of these.

We hope our little comparison will be able to help you choose an instrument with a little more confidence.

Cheap Ways to Soundproof a Room for Drums

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Introduction

It is highly likely that you have come across this article for a reason all too familiar with drummers. Getting complaints from neighbors is nothing to take lightly, as it can lead doorways to bigger problems.

At the same time, it is very important to stay true to your practice to get better at your craft. Soundproofing your room is the easiest solution to this problem. That is what we will talk about today, what are the cheapest ways to soundproof a room for your drums?

Proper Soundproofing

Usually, music studios are soundproof and they can give a drummer the comfort to practice as loudly as they want. This can be difficult however, and not under the budget for many. So the wisest path to take in this case is to take a room in your house, assuming you are a drummer, and having it soundproofed.

Cheapest Steps to Soundproof your Room

  • Closing the Gaps and Cracks

Before adding any extra paddings or foams in your room, you need to take care of a few things. If your room has cracks, holes or any kind of openings in the wall, it will leak sound waves out. You might not think of it to be a big deal at first, but a drum is a massive source of sound. It will give the sound away no matter what.

You can probably hire someone under a budget who can do this for you, but you can do this yourself. We prefer to take that approach, as this will be more helpful for your budget. You will need to invest into some other things later on.

Find cracks or openings, by touching the walls, windows or doors. You may also know about some of them beforehand. The windows or doors will probably have gaps that allow sound to go out.

Fix these cracks using so that they block sound waves to keep them inside the room. You can use gap fillers or airtight foam tape for the best results. For door bottoms, use door sweeps as these are larger to seal up. You should also remember that doors and windows should be mobile after sealing them up.

Do not seal them up in any way that they cannot be closed or opened anymore! That will be creating an entirely different problem for you and your house mates.

  • Carpetscheap ways to soundproof a room for drums

Carpets can be useful to not only keep sound from escaping to the floor below. They can also be greatly helpful to absorb and dampen drum vibrations. An alternative to carpets can be those thick rugs you can find. They are both easy solutions. 

This will not be completely solving any of the actual problems. They will however, be able to reduce the amount of sound that goes to the floor below you. 

You can also try placing your drum set on a carpet. This can ensure that the sound waves do not pass directly to the floor, and instead get dampened.

  • Drum Rug cheap ways to soundproof a room for drums

One thing you may not know is that your drum sounds do not directly pass away to outside your room. Instead, they first strike against the floor. They then find a way to echo around your whole room, and wherever possible, pass to the outside. 

A drum rug can be a solution to this problem. We already mentioned how a carpet can help you on this. However, a drum rug will just go the extra mile for you. A drum rug is a specialized piece of thick clothing to absorb the vibrations of a playing drum further.

It will absorb the sound waves of the drum from going to the floor, at least to a good extent if not completely. It can then stop the echoing against the walls and therefore stop them from passing to the outside.

  • Compact Walls and Ceiling

A wall, ceiling or floors will end up amplifying the sound created by your drums. You can counter these by using dense materials, like sound absorption panels,  to combat the sound waves. If you are familiar with the physics of a drum, you already know how much sound the materials can absorb. 

You will be spending some money on this, but you will see that it will be worth it. These acoustic foam base straps will be set up at the corner of the rooms. They will be able to absorb the lower frequencies emitting from your drums. You will notice great differences after they are installed.

You do not need too many sound absorption panels to reduce most of the sound, but every bit will help you. Remember that the goal here is to make sure that all the sound stays inside your room. They can also get absorbed on their way outside of your room.

  • Soundproofing Curtainscheap ways to soundproof a room for drums

Soundproofing curtains can be installed next to stop sound from escaping. You want to get the curtains that are the thickest in this situation. They will also take some money, but like before it will be worth it. 

These curtains have threads installed into them with high density, that will absorb these sound waves. They will prevent the waves from escaping outside into the world to prevent noise pollution.

Additional Tips

  • Using Noise Absorbing Paint

As the name suggests, noise absorbing paint is thick layers of paint that will be able to absorb sound. Paint your room with a few coats of these to get the best results.

  • Getting Professional Help

If you are facing difficulty in any of these, you can consult with a professional for tips or advices. 

Conclusion

These were just some of the ways you can soundproof your room for drum noise. We hope this article has answered at least some of your queries and has been helpful. Happy soundproofing!

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