What is a Plosive?

A plosive is a type of sound produced in speech when a burst of air is released after briefly blocking airflow with the lips or tongue. Common plosive sounds occur with letters such as “P,” “B,” “T,” and “K.”

When recording vocals with a microphone, plosive sounds can cause a sudden rush of air to hit the microphone diaphragm. This often results in a loud popping or thumping sound in the recording, especially in the low-frequency range.

To reduce plosives during recording, engineers and performers often use tools such as pop filters, foam windscreens, and proper microphone placement. Positioning the microphone slightly off-axis from the speaker’s mouth can also help minimize these bursts of air while maintaining clear vocal capture.