| If you do any voice recording at all, you've probably | | | | turn down the volume of your voice when it is hitting |
| noticed that no matter how hard you try, you "P" | | | | the "P." In an audio editor, like Audacity (which is open |
| sounds will sometimes sound like a small explosion, sort | | | | source) you zoom in on the plosive and select |
| of distorting the audio recording for a second, sounding | | | | everything right up until the voice actually becomes |
| a bit like a low-frequency "splat." It's what happens | | | | audible. In other words, if the word was "pot," try not to |
| when a burst of wind hits a microphone. There are | | | | get any of the -"ah" sound in your selection. You only |
| things you can do to minimize or prevent (shya!) them | | | | want the "P" sound. Then you just use a volume |
| (like a pop filter), which is the best medicine. But when | | | | reduction tool to turn down JUST the "P." You may |
| they do get recorded, you'll want to know how to fix it | | | | have to experiment ("undo" is the magic-bullet of |
| after-the-fact. | | | | computer audio editing!) with how much you turn it |
| One of the wonderful things about audio editing in the | | | | down, but that may be all you need to do. |
| computer age is that you get to use your eyes as well | | | | If adjusting the volume doesn't get you there, you might |
| as your ears. I have edited so many P-pops (which | | | | just need to reduce the volume of PART of the |
| linguists call "plosives") that I can recognize what they | | | | plosive, the bass part. You do this using equalization |
| LOOK like on a computer screen even before I hear | | | | (EQ), which is the same thing as volume, only you |
| them. For my voice, the come out looking like a capital | | | | control what frequencies get turned up or down. Try |
| letter "N" in the waveform. So what can you do once | | | | reducing volume of frequencies below 100 Hz and |
| the plosive is recorded to fix it? | | | | leave everything else alone. Again, experimentation |
| Since the plosive problem is basically caused by a rush | | | | may be needed. |
| of air from your lips hitting a microphone capsule fast | | | | Just lather, rinse, and repeat for every bothersome "P" |
| and hard, what you have is a problem of volume. The | | | | pop, and you're done. It's so easy to fix that I am |
| plosive was too loud compared to everything around it. | | | | baffled that some voice-overs still have them. At least |
| Not only that, but most of the too-loud bits are in the | | | | you don't need to anymore. |
| low end...the bass frequencies. So the fix would be to | | | | |