The Blue Yeti is one of the most recognizable USB microphones around.
It’s easy to set up, doesn’t require an audio interface, and can produce very good audio when you use it correctly. That’s why you’ll see it on the desks of podcasters, YouTubers, streamers, gamers, and people recording voiceovers at home.
But there’s one problem you may notice as soon as you move closer to the microphone.
Popping.
Say a sentence containing a few strong P or B sounds and you may hear sudden bursts in your recording.
That’s where a pop filter helps. A good pop filter is a simple and relatively inexpensive accessory that can make recording with a Blue Yeti easier. You don’t need anything complicated, but you do want something that fits your setup and stays where you put it.
Here are some of the best types and models to consider for the Blue Yeti.
What Is a Pop Filter?
A pop filter is a screen placed between your mouth and microphone. Its main job is reducing plosives.
Plosives happen when you pronounce certain sounds and push a sudden burst of air from your mouth. Try putting your hand in front of your mouth and saying:
“Peter picked a pepper.”
You should feel little bursts of air hitting your hand. Now imagine those bursts hitting a sensitive microphone capsule while you’re recording. They can produce unpleasant low-frequency pops or thumps.
A pop filter disperses some of that moving air before it reaches the microphone while allowing your voice to pass through.
It’s a very simple idea. And for spoken-word recording, it can be surprisingly useful.
Does the Blue Yeti Need a Pop Filter?
You can use a Blue Yeti without a pop filter. But if you’re recording podcasts, voiceovers, YouTube narration, or other spoken content, I’d recommend using one.
The Yeti is a condenser microphone, and you’ll often get better spoken-word results by positioning yourself reasonably close to it.
Getting closer helps your voice sound stronger compared with some of the noise and reflections farther away in your room.
But there’s a tradeoff.
The closer your mouth gets to the microphone, the easier it becomes for bursts of air from P and B sounds to reach it.
A pop filter helps solve that problem. It also creates a useful physical reminder not to put your mouth directly against the microphone.
1. Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter – Best Overall
The Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter is an easy option to recommend for a Blue Yeti setup.
It uses a traditional circular design with two layers of nylon mesh. The idea behind the dual-layer system is straightforward.
The first layer slows and disperses the burst of air coming from your mouth. The space between the layers helps spread it further, and the second layer provides another barrier before the air reaches your microphone.
The Aokeo also has a flexible 360-degree gooseneck. That’s useful with the Yeti because microphone positioning varies a lot.
Some people leave their Yeti on its original desktop stand. Others mount it on a boom arm. A flexible neck makes it easier to position the filter where you need it.
The manufacturer specifically lists the Aokeo Professional Pop Filter as compatible with the Blue Yeti and standard microphones.
For most people who simply want an inexpensive, traditional pop filter that does its job, this is where I’d start.
Best for: Most Blue Yeti users, podcasters, streamers, and voice recording.
2. Neewer Professional Pop Filter – Best Budget Choice
If you’re putting together an inexpensive podcast setup, the Neewer Professional Microphone Pop Filter is another popular style to consider. Like the Aokeo, it uses a dual-layer design.
It also has a flexible gooseneck that allows you to move the screen into position between your mouth and the Yeti.
That’s important because a pop filter doesn’t do much good sitting six inches off to the side.
You want the screen positioned so the strongest bursts of air from your mouth hit the filter before reaching the microphone.
Neewer’s traditional clamp-and-gooseneck design works particularly well if your Yeti is mounted on a microphone stand or boom arm.
The biggest attraction here is simplicity. There’s nothing particularly exciting about it. And that’s fine.
A pop filter doesn’t need an app, RGB lights, or 14 different settings. It needs to stay in place and reduce plosives.
Best for: Beginners who want an affordable traditional pop filter.
3. Auphonix 6-Inch Pop Filter – Great for the Blue Yeti
Auphonix is another name you’ll often see when looking for Blue Yeti accessories. Its 6-inch pop filter uses a large screen with a double-mesh design.
The larger screen can be useful with the Yeti because the microphone itself is fairly substantial compared with many smaller microphones.
You get plenty of coverage without having to position a tiny filter perfectly. The gooseneck design also lets you move the screen toward or away from the microphone.
This is the kind of accessory I’d consider if you have a permanent podcast desk and want to leave everything set up.
Attach it.
Position it.
Then forget about it until you need to move your microphone.
Best for: Blue Yeti users who want a large traditional pop screen.
4. WindTech PopGard 2000 – Best Compact Alternative
Not everyone likes the traditional circular screen floating in front of their microphone. It can take up space. It can also look awkward on camera. That’s where a compact filter such as the WindTech PopGard 2000 becomes interesting.
Instead of using a long gooseneck and large circular screen, this type of filter sits much closer to the microphone.
That can create a cleaner-looking setup. This matters more if you’re recording video.
If your Blue Yeti appears in every YouTube video or video podcast, you may not want a huge black circle covering part of your face.
A compact pop filter gives you another option. The downside is flexibility. Traditional gooseneck filters can usually be positioned almost anywhere. A microphone-mounted filter is more dependent on the microphone’s shape and your setup.
Best for: Video podcasts and creators who want a less bulky setup.
5. Foam Windscreen – Best for Simplicity
There’s another option that isn’t technically the same thing as a traditional pop filter.
A foam windscreen. Instead of putting a screen between your mouth and microphone, you slide the foam directly over the Yeti.
That’s extremely convenient. No clamp. No gooseneck. No giant circular screen. Just put it over the microphone and record.
Foam can help reduce light air movement, breath noise, and some plosive problems. It also provides a little protection from dust and moisture.
But if strong plosives are your main problem, I generally prefer a proper pop filter.
A quality pop screen places a barrier away from the microphone and gives the burst of air more opportunity to disperse before reaching the capsule.
You can even use a windscreen and pop filter together if your recording situation calls for it. For many people, though, that’s unnecessary.
Best for: People who want the smallest and simplest possible setup.
6. Metal Pop Filters – Best for Durability
Most inexpensive pop filters use nylon or another fabric-like mesh. Metal pop filters use a perforated metal screen instead.
They perform the same basic job but handle the airflow differently.
One advantage is durability. Fabric filters can eventually become damaged, stretched, or dirty. Metal screens are easier to wipe clean and can last a long time.
They’re also often thinner than traditional double-layer fabric filters. That can make your recording setup look a little cleaner. The disadvantage is price.
A good metal filter can cost more than a basic nylon option. For a beginner podcasting with a Blue Yeti, you don’t necessarily need to spend extra.
But if you’re building a permanent studio and prefer durable equipment, metal is worth considering.
Pop Filter vs. Windscreen: Which Is Better for Blue Yeti?
These accessories are easy to confuse. A pop filter normally sits between your mouth and the microphone.
A foam windscreen fits directly over the microphone. For indoor podcasting and voice recording, I’d generally choose a pop filter when strong P and B sounds are the main problem.
It creates some distance between the microphone and the burst of air.
A windscreen is convenient and compact, but its purpose can extend to reducing lighter air movement and protecting the microphone.
You don’t necessarily need both. Start with a pop filter. If you’re still having issues or want additional protection, consider adding a windscreen.
How to Position a Pop Filter on the Blue Yeti
Buying a good pop filter doesn’t help much if you position it incorrectly. Put the filter between your mouth and the active side of the microphone.
Then leave a little space between the filter and microphone. You don’t need to press the filter directly against the Yeti.
You also don’t need to speak with your lips touching the filter. Experiment with your distance.
Start several inches from the microphone and make a test recording. Say words containing plenty of P and B sounds.
Listen through headphones.
If you’re still hearing strong pops, adjust the microphone angle, filter position, or speaking distance.
Don’t automatically blame the equipment. Technique matters.
All of those small improvements work together.
What Should You Look for in a Blue Yeti Pop Filter?
Compatibility comes first. The Blue Yeti is larger and heavier than many microphones, so make sure the filter’s mounting system works with your microphone stand, boom arm, desk, or other setup.
Next, look at adjustability. A good gooseneck should stay where you put it.
There’s nothing more annoying than positioning your pop filter perfectly and watching it slowly fall toward your desk during an interview.
Screen size matters too. A larger screen can be easier to position. Finally, think about whether you record video.
A huge circular pop filter might work perfectly for audio but cover too much of your face on camera.
A smaller or microphone-mounted design may be better for video podcasts.
Final Thoughts
A pop filter is one of the easiest accessories you can add to a Blue Yeti. It doesn’t change the microphone’s electronics. It doesn’t process your recording.
It simply helps stop bursts of air from reaching the microphone and creating those distracting P and B pops.
For most Blue Yeti users, a basic dual-layer filter is enough. Position it between your mouth and the correct side of the microphone. Get reasonably close. Use good microphone technique. Then make a test recording before starting your podcast or video.
Don’t expect a $20 accessory to transform your entire studio. But if plosives are ruining otherwise good recordings, a pop filter can solve the problem for very little money.