How to test if mic placement causes plosive noise

A hard pop or thump on words with P and B can make a recording unpleasant, even when your microphone otherwise sounds clear. The cause may be air from your mouth hitting the mic, rather than a faulty microphone.

Compare a few positions using the Microphone Test. Keep your voice and recording conditions consistent, then listen back to find out whether changing the angle or distance reduces the pop.

Compare microphone positions

1. Open the Microphone Test, choose the microphone you use, and press Start microphone. Allow microphone access when your browser asks.
2. Keep your chair, speaking volume, microphone level, and room the same for each recording. Turn off Noise suppression, Echo cancellation, and Auto volume at first, so processing is less likely to change between takes.
3. Place the microphone about 4 to 6 inches from your mouth, pointing toward you. Say the same short phrase each time, such as “Peter bought a paper bag.” Press Record 5 seconds and play the recording back.
4. Repeat the phrase with the microphone angled slightly to one side of your mouth, instead of pointing directly at your lips. Keep it at the same distance and height. Record and play this take too.
5. Compare with the microphone a little farther away, around 8 to 10 inches, while keeping the same angle. Use the signal meter, waveform, frequencies view, and playback to compare the takes.

Make one change at a time. If you move the microphone, raise your voice, and change its level all at once, it is hard to tell which change helped. The test's loudest-level reading can help you notice if one take is much louder, but use playback to judge whether the pop itself is less distracting.

What the result means

The pop gets softer when you angle the microphone

This points to airflow striking the microphone. The hard P or B sounds send a short burst of air forward. A slight angle can keep that burst from hitting the mic directly while your voice remains easy to hear. Try that position in the app where you record or make calls.

The pop gets softer when you move the microphone farther away

Distance is probably part of the problem. Moving the mic back reduces the force of the air reaching it, but your voice may sound quieter and the room may become more noticeable. Try a position between the closer and farther tests, then check that your voice is still clear.

The pop sounds much the same in every position

Check that you changed only the microphone's angle or distance and that the same microphone was selected for every take. If the recording is also distorted on ordinary words, the input level may be too high, or the microphone or its connection may have another problem.

The waveform shows a large burst, but playback sounds acceptable

A visible waveform change does not automatically mean the recording is unusable. A short burst can look prominent on screen even when it is not distracting to a listener. Listen at a normal playback level and compare the same phrase, rather than judging by the shape alone.

How to reduce plosive noise

1. Move the microphone slightly off-axis. Aim it toward the corner of your mouth rather than straight at your lips. Keep it close enough for your voice to sound clear, and repeat the same phrase to check the result.
2. Adjust the distance. Try moving the mic back by an inch or two. If your voice becomes too quiet, move it closer again and angle it away from the airflow.
3. Add a pop filter or windscreen. A pop filter sits between your mouth and the microphone and softens bursts of air. A foam windscreen can also help, particularly if you speak close to the mic.
4. Lower the input level if the whole recording distorts. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Sound, select your microphone under Input, and reduce its input volume slightly. On macOS, open System Settings › Sound › Input and lower the input volume. Retest at the same distance and speaking volume.
5. Check the microphone mount and cable. Make sure the microphone does not touch a vibrating desk or bump against a stand. If the thump happens when you tap or move the desk, isolate the stand from the surface or secure the cable so it cannot pull on the mic.
6. Check the recording app's input. A test can sound fine while another app uses a different microphone or applies its own audio processing. Select the same microphone in that app and compare a short recording there.

Why P and B sounds make a pop

Plosives are brief bursts of air made by sounds such as P and B. A microphone can turn a direct burst into a low thump or a clipped, distorted sound. This is different from a sharp click caused by a loose cable, a bump against the stand, or a damaged connection.

Microphone distance and angle affect the sound together. A microphone placed close to your mouth may capture a fuller voice, but it is more exposed to airflow. Angling it away can reduce the pop without making your voice as distant as simply moving it far back. A pop filter adds another barrier, but it does not correct a loose mount or a recording level that is too high.

The Microphone Test records and plays audio in your browser. Your recording stays on your device.