The Power of YouTube

YouTube has revolutionized video consumption with a vast library spanning countless topics. While free, YouTube Premium enhances the experience. With YouTube Premium, enjoy an ad-free viewing experience, background playback, offline downloads, and access to exclusive content. From thrilling originals to ad-free music streaming, it offers exceptional value. Plus, a family plan lets you share with loved ones, while YouTube Kids provides safe ad-free content for children. Upgrading to YouTube Premium unlocks a world of seamless and enriched video streaming.

Ad-Free Viewing

With YouTube Premium, the elimination of ads is one of its standout features. You can bid farewell to the intrusive pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads that disrupt your viewing experience on the free platform. This ad-free environment allows you to immerse yourself completely in the content you love without those pesky interruptions. Whether you’re watching informative tutorials, entertaining vlogs, or captivating music videos, YouTube Premium ensures that your viewing remains uninterrupted, enhancing your overall satisfaction and allowing you to make the most of your time on the platform. Say goodbye to ads and say hello to a more seamless and enjoyable video streaming experience.

Background and Offline Playback

YouTube Premium offers background play on mobile devices, enabling multitasking while enjoying music or podcasts, even with the screen off. Furthermore, you can download videos for offline viewing, which is ideal for extended flights or areas with limited data connectivity. This convenient feature enhances your flexibility, allowing you to seamlessly switch between tasks while maintaining your audio or video content in the background. Whether you’re working, traveling, or simply want to conserve data, YouTube Premium ensures that your viewing and listening experiences are tailored to your preferences and lifestyle.

Access to YouTube Originals

YouTube Premium offers access to YouTube Originals, including high-quality series, movies, and documentaries. These exclusive productions span diverse genres, catering to a wide audience. Whether you seek thrilling dramas that keep you on the edge of your seat or informative documentaries that delve into intriguing subjects, YouTube Originals have something for everyone. With your Premium subscription, you unlock a treasure trove of captivating content that is not available on the free platform. These exclusive shows and movies add significant value to your YouTube Premium experience, providing entertainment and storytelling that is both unique and engaging.

YouTube Music Premium

Music enthusiasts are catered to with its inclusion of YouTube Music Premium. This music streaming service boasts an extensive library with millions of songs, ensuring that you have a vast musical repertoire at your fingertips. With YouTube Music Premium, you can relish an ad-free music listening experience, eliminating interruptions that often disrupt the flow of your favorite tunes. Moreover, the service enables background play, permitting you to multitask while enjoying your cherished tracks. For those times when you’re offline or wish to conserve data, YouTube Music Premium allows you to download music, ensuring that your music collection is accessible wherever and whenever you desire.

Family Plan and Ad-Free Kids Content

A YouTube Premium Family Plan offers the convenience of sharing your subscription with up to five family members. This means that not only can you enjoy the benefits of YouTube Premium, but your loved ones can also access the premium features, making it a cost-effective choice for households. Additionally, YouTube Premium includes YouTube Kids, a dedicated platform designed to provide a safe and ad-free environment for children. Here, youngsters can explore age-appropriate content without the worry of encountering ads or inappropriate material. The combination of a Family Plan and YouTube Kids ensures that the entire family can have a wholesome and enjoyable online experience.

Why You Should Elevate Your YouTube Experience

YouTube Premium is a comprehensive upgrade that enriches your YouTube experience on multiple fronts. Its most prominent feature is the elimination of ads, providing uninterrupted viewing that enhances your enjoyment of videos. No more pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll interruptions; you can dive straight into the content you love.

Moreover, YouTube Premium offers access to exclusive content through YouTube Originals. Dive into a world of high-quality series, movies, and documentaries that are not available on the free platform. From thrilling dramas to thought-provoking documentaries, there’s something to captivate every viewer.

For music enthusiasts, YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music Premium, a music streaming service with millions of songs. You can enjoy ad-free music, background play, and offline downloads, catering to your musical preferences.

With a Family Plan, you can share these premium benefits with loved ones, making it a cost-effective choice for households. Additionally, YouTube Kids ensures a safe and ad-free environment for children to explore age-appropriate content.

If you value uninterrupted entertainment and crave extra features that elevate your YouTube experience, upgrading to YouTube Premium is a worthwhile investment. It allows you to enjoy the best that YouTube has to offer with a premium touch, making your online experience even more enjoyable and convenient.

The world of music production includes many fantastic software such as Ableton, Pro Tools, Reaper, and Fl Studio. Another popular software in this category is Garageband. Apple’s digital audio workstation (DAW) is used by tens of thousands of artists across the globe. However, you may be wondering, “Is Garageband free?”.

Today we will be examining this DAW in more detail and whether it is actually free to use. So let’s dive right into it!

What is Garageband?

If you own an Apple desktop computer or laptop, you may have noticed a program called Garageband preinstalled on the device. This is Apple’s exclusive “music creation studio” software. It allows you to compose, arrange, and edit music in many different ways.

Many famous musicians and producers made their foray into the world of music creation on software such as Garageband. Such artists eventually moved onto using other DAWs such as Logic, Ableton, or Pro Tools. However, Garageband is an extremely versatile music production software, capable of performing many useful tasks.

What are Garageband’s Features?

Garageband includes many of the standard features found on most other DAWs. This includes:

• Composing and arranging songs from scratch
• Recording instrumental tracks and vocals
• Creating and utilizing samples for your different projects
• Editing and transposing tracks in both audio and MIDI format
• A large database containing royalty-free loops
• Support for downloading third-party plug-in
• An automated drummer track
• Exporting files directly to streaming platforms
• Notating and editing musical scores
• Sharing projects directly with other Apple users

As you can see, Garageband is packed full of great features that make the song creation, editing, mastering, and sharing processes incredibly easy. Users with Apple devices who would like to get into music production should consider giving Garageband a try before purchasing a new DAW.

Is Garageband Free?

As mentioned earlier, Garageband comes preinstalled on Apple devices such as the iMac, MacBook, and iPad. This fantastic app can also be downloaded for the iPhone devices from the App Store for no charges. This means Garageband is absolutely free to download and use! The above link can also be used to reinstall Garageband if you have deleted it from your Apple device.

Many people are often surprised to learn that Garageband is free. This is due to the software’s professional feel and features set. Apple has also been updating and refining the Garageband software continuously since its initial introduction in 2004. This means the company has been working tirelessly to improve a piece of software it earns nothing from!

The above information may sound too good to be true, but it is one of the primary reasons why so many aspiring musicians and producers across the globe use Garageband regularly.

Can I Get Garageband for Non-Apple Devices?

As mentioned earlier, Garageband is an Apple exclusive software. This means it is not available for non-Apple devices. This will come as a disappointment to Windows and Linux users who were hoping to start making music on this fantastic DAW.

You should note that some developers have released special hacked versions of Garageband that run on Windows devices. However, we cannot recommend this software as it is not officially licensed by Apple.

Is Garageband the Best DAW for Apple Devices?

After learning about the various features that come with Garageband, you may be inclined to believe that it is the best DAW for Apple devices. Garageband certainly punches above its weight in the free DAW category. However, many other free DAWs can go toe to toe with this Apple exclusive software.

Which Alternative DAWs Can I Use for Windows Devices?

If you are bummed about not being able to install GarageBand on your Windows computer or laptop, you should know that there are numerous DAWs that blow Apple’s music creation studio out the water. Let’s examine three great alternatives to Garageband for Windows devices.

1. Audacity

Windows users may already be familiar with Audacity. This free software is more of an audio editor than a full DAW. However, it is still one of the leading software for recording and editing music tracks.

Audacity is known for its stability and ease of use. It is capable of recording 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit tracks. Users can also import their own tracks and combine them with others to create remixes and mashups. They can then export their files in a variety of formats such as WAV and MP3.

Audacity stands above ordinary audio editors because it features a host of effects options. This includes reverb, flanger, timestretch, compressor, EQ, and many more.

The one place Audacity falls short is in the virtual instruments department. Unlike other DAWs, Audacity contains no virtual instruments. This means you can’t compose or sequence melodies on the software and must rely on track recordings for your musical compositions.

2. MPC Beats

Akai Pro introduced MPC Beats in 2020. The DAW allows users to place samples and loops together and compose tracks. Many people enjoy MPC Beats for its simple interface and intuitive layout. However, it also includes some great built-in instruments and audio effects.

MPC Beats was originally created to work alongside Akai Pro’s hardware such as MPC samplers and MIDI controllers. However, it also works with USB MIDI controllers from other manufacturers.

In addition to making track creation a breeze, MPC Beats is also efficient for remixing songs. The software comes prepackaged with numerous genre templates for styles such as Pop, Dance, and Trap.

MPC Beats is completely free to download and use. However, users will need to pay for expansion packs if they wish to expand the DAW’s functionality.

3. Cakewalk

Cakewalk is another popular DAW that is completely free. The software was first introduced in 1987 as a MIDI music sequencer and has undergone numerous ownership changes in the decades that followed. It is currently owned by BandLab Technologies and can be downloaded after installing BandLab Assistant.

Cakewalk includes all the features you will ever need to record, compose, mix, edit, master, and share music. It supports VSTs, MIDI, and auxiliary tracks. Users who are familiar with Pro Tools will feel right at home using Cakewalk due to its similar layout.

Garageband users may feel overwhelmed by the numerous knobs, buttons, and faders in the software. However, these controls make it easier to fine-tune your sound once you understand how to use them. Consider downloading Cakewalk if you’re looking for free DAW that can hang alongside professional paid ones such as Pro Tools and Ableton.

When Is It Time to Upgrade from Garageband?

After learning about Garageband’s various features as well as other alternative DAWs, you may be wondering when it is time to upgrade from Garageband. The truth is that Garageband excels as a DAW regardless of how long you have been composing or producing.

You should consider upgrading to a DAW such as Logic Pro X if you would like a proper mixing interface, parallel processing capabilities, a wider range of effects, more mastering options, and additional virtual instruments. However, many producers are still happy with using Garageband for their compositions.

So consider spending some time with Garageband and learning how to make music on the software. You can upgrade to Logic Pro X or Ableton once you feel you need a DAW with extra capabilities.

What is the Highest Singing Voice? The highest singing voice for a female is soprano; it is classified into 5 subtypes. The highest singing voice for a male is tenor; it is classified into 7 subtypes. The subtypes are determined by the nuances in each voice.

Legend has it that an opera singer once delivered an aria so powerful it shattered the chandeliers and champagne flutes inside the performance hall. The spectators gaped, speechless, a few of them gawking through cracked monocles.

Can a high C really break glasses, like what happened in the story? According to physics, breaking glasses with nothing but human voice is not impossible. But for this to happen, it should meet some variables first, such as resonant frequency and amplification. And if the glasses already have microscopic fractures, it can facilitate the process.

This myth may have never actually happened, but one thing we do know is that there are singers with singing voices so flawlessly high they can shock everyone’s eardrums.

Soprano: The Highest Female Singing Voice

Diana Damrau’s spectacular F6 in Queen of the Night (Der Hölle Rache). Ariana Grande’s breathtaking F5 in Breathin’. Mariah Carey’s vocal pipe-popping G7 whistle in Emotions.

These singers are all sopranos—the highest female singing voice. When you think of female opera singers, you are most likely picturing a soprano: a beautiful heroine enchanting the crowd with her gleaming voice as it soars to the heavens.

Soprano is derived from the Italian word sopra, which translates into “over”, “above”, and “on top of”. Interestingly, the term soprano can also be applied to male singers; they are called sopranists, male countertenors who can reach the soprano range through head voice or falsetto.

According to the School of Rock, a soprano’s vocal range is between B3 to C6. Sopranos have a bright, powerful, and crystalline timbre that can sometimes go rich and deep as well. They have a strong head voice but have a bit of a struggle projecting in the middle voice.

Examples of singers with this kind of singing voice (other than those mentioned above) are Maria Calls, Sarah Brightman, Whitney Houston, and Christina Aguilera.

Soprano Subtypes

Not all sopranos are the same. The soprano voice is classified into 5 general subtypes. Each type has distinct characteristics. Let’s have a look at them:

● Coloratura

A coloratura soprano is a highly skilled vocal performer as her voice can do complex tricks that can be difficult for the other soprano subtypes to pull off. She can sing exceptionally technical music and is known for her vocal gymnastics with her embellished, virtuosic melodies.

A coloratura soprano can be a lyric coloratura or dramatic coloratura. The former has a sharp, light, well-defined sound quality. Meanwhile, the latter has a larger, broader, and somewhat heavier sound.

● Soubrette

A soubrette is best described as lively and melodic, yet coy and flirtatious. The sound has a light, bright, and sweet timbre reminiscent of a young lady. This is why most young singers fall into this category and are later classified into another category as their voices ripen into maturity.

● Lyric

A lyric soprano, like a soubrette, has a young sound quality but is much fuller than the latter. It is gentle, ethereal, warm, and penetrating; it is easy to hear a lyric soprano among the chorus of voices and orchestra music. Many soubrettes eventually transition to this subtype.

● Spinto

Also referred to as lirico-spinto, meaning “pushed lyric”, a spinto soprano is a rare kind, capable of thrusting her voice to dramatic heights with ease. It is similar to a lyric soprano, except for its distinct darkness in timbre. And just like the lyric soprano, a lirico-spinto has an extended high vocal range and can also be heard easily over the orchestra.

● Dramatic

A dramatic soprano possesses a big, powerful, rich sound quality; compared with the other subtypes, a dramatic soprano is less agile but has the power to cover and penetrate a full orchestra.

Tenor: The Highest Male Singing Voice

If you haven’t heard of Dimash Kudaibergen, let us introduce him to you through his Diva Dance pop-opera cover:

And that’s tenor for you!

Kudaibergen is a Kazakh singer classified as a tenor and is celebrated for his impressively extensive vocal range. His range expands 6 octaves, from D2 to D8.

The tenor is the highest male singing voice; just like its female counterpart, the soprano, a tenor can perform marvelously high notes ranging from roughly C3 to C5. Their strength is their head voice, while their vocal dexterity is a bit fragile in their lower voice. The timbre is bright, full, dazzling, and ringing. Tenors were typically portrayed as the leading men and romantic heroes.

Its name is derived from the Italian word tenere, which means “to hold”. The term illustrates their role in the early days of music as the driving force in every song by leading the melody. Even in these modern times, tenors are often the lead singers in rock bands like Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi), and Chris Martin (Coldplay), and in pop groups like Justin Timberlake (of ‘N Sync) and Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco).  Even most metal bands have tenors as lead singers, too; notable examples include Jonathan Davis (Korn), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), and Rob Halford (Judas Priest).

Tenors, though, are more often imagined as the dazzling male lead in an opera, with the likes of famous tenors such as José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti coming to mind.

Tenor Subtypes

Just like their female counterpart, tenors are also divided into several subtypes. There are a total of seven general subtypes for tenors. They are:

● Leggero

Characterized by its lithe sound quality and the ability to execute remarkably difficult vocal embellishments, a leggero is the tenor’s answer to soprano’s coloratura.

● Lyric

A lyric tenor has a warm, sweet, and rich timbre that can be heard over an orchestra. The sound quality is lighter than other tenor types, high and bright but not heavy.

●Spinto

Translated as “pushed”, a spinto tenor owns the same bright tonal quality as a lyric tenor. But its darker timbre and heavier vocal weight allow it to be pushed to operatic climaxes with much ease compared with lighter-voiced subtypes.

● Dramatic

Also known as tenore di forza or robusto, a dramatic tenor holds a ringing, powerful and expansive, dark and heavy sound quality with an emotive note.

● Heldentenor

Translated as “heroic tenor”, the name implies a tenor with a full, dark, powerful, and dramatic sound quality typical of heroic roles in opera.

● Mozart

A Mozart tenor’s voice has a dramatic expression about it; it is characterized by exceptional breath control, flawless diction and intonation, wide dynamic range, and an elegantly agile vocal quality.

●Tenor Buffo or Spieltenor

Similar to a soprano’s soubrette, a spieltenor has a lively and light vocal quality typical of comical characters in opera.

What is Your Vocal Range? (Fun Time!)

This scenario is much too familiar: you’re singing along to a song, gloriously hitting every note, when suddenly the octave went too high (or dropped too low) and you could no longer sing with ease. That’s when you realize the song is outside of your vocal range.

Have you ever been curious about what your vocal range is? In case you don’t know, here is a simple way to find out (you will need a piano/keyboard to do this but if it’s not at hand, you may use an online piano keyboard):

• Play the Middle C (C4, marked with a red dot on the virtual piano). Sing the note as you press.
• Play each key from Middle C downward as you sing along to the notes.
• Take note of the lowest note you can sing with ease; mark the note.
• Now, back to the Middle C, play each key upward as you sing along to the notes.
• Take note of the highest note you can sing without straining; mark the note.
• You’ve now found your vocal range, from the lowest to the highest notes that you can sing comfortably!

Here is a quick guide:

It’s cool to know your vocal range and discover singers with your matching voice type. It gives you an idea of your singing capacity. The next time you sing, you will know exactly the songs that will go well with your voice!

In Conclusion

Without a doubt, the highest singing voices are popular as they always seem to be in the lead, whether it’s a play or a band. Their vocal artistry has inspired countless people to see the beauty in the art. When a soprano or a tenor schemed, squabbled, or sympathized with other vocal types, it creates an enthralling scenario that’s worthy of your emotional investment. But many will agree—the best scene is a tenor and a soprano in an emotionally charged duet, like this one. Enjoy!

What is GarageBand? Apple calls GarageBand their exclusive music creation studio. It comes preinstalled on Mac devices and iPads. GarageBand was first introduced by Steve Jobs and John Mayer in 2004. It has since grown to become one of the most popular music creation software in existence.

If you have ever owned a Mac computer or an iPad, you may have noticed a software called GarageBand pre-installed on the device. This software is a powerful music production tool that allows you to create and edit music from scratch.

Let’s examine this software in more detail and discuss what makes it so great.

You may have heard your favorite musician state they started producing music on GarageBand when they were younger.

What Can You Do on GarageBand?

GarageBand is essentially a DAW or Digital Music Workstation. This software offers everything you need to record, edit, mix, and master music tracks.

Some of the things you can do on GarageBand include:

• Creating Songs from Scratch
• Recording Vocals and Instruments
• Sampling Your Own or Other People’s Music
• Changing Tempos and Time Signatures
• Editing Music
• Working With Dynamics
• Using Royalty-Free Loops
• Adding Third-Party Plug-ins
• Sharing Your Music With Other Apple Users

Creating Songs from Scratch

You don’t need to be a seasoned producer to be able to create songs on GarageBand. The software offers numerous virtual instruments, plug-ins and presets to help you turn the song in your head into something others can listen to.

For example, you can sequence different drum patterns using the drum sounds that come with the software. You can then sequence basslines or synth melodies on the virtual instruments in the software. When all these tracks are put together, you end up with a near-complete song.

GarageBand does offer many capabilities that would put physical instruments to shame. For example, a piano player can hit only ten keys at once on a piano because they have ten fingers. On GarageBand, you can sequence more than ten notes at once on a piano VST instrument.

Recording Vocals and Instruments

One of the most vital features on GarageBand is the ability to record vocals and instrument tracks. You can connect a microphone or an instrument to your computer or iPad using an audio interface such as an iRig and record your voice or instrument.

This makes GarageBand a great tool for recording musicians who want to create full songs, or simply save loops or jams for later.

Sampling Your Own Music or Other People’s Music

GarageBand also lets you work with samples. These could be snippets or your own music or someone else’s music. You can import these samples into a GarageBand project easily and sequence or chop them up to your liking. The software includes a dedicated sampler called AUSampler that excels in this area.

Much of hip hop music is built on sampling, so GarageBand can be a great tool for hip hop producers.

Changing Tempos and Time Signatures

Tempo is an important aspect in any song. The tempo determines the track’s pace and overall feel. GarageBand makes it a breeze to change the tempo of your track and to also use different time signatures. You should note that changing the tempo is much easier if your track is primarily in MIDI format.

Consider experimenting with different tempos to see how your track’s feel changes. Lots of great compositions feel reinvented when they are sped up or slowed down.

Editing Music

GarageBand’s music editing capabilities shouldn’t be underestimated. This DAW allows you to seamlessly edit your music in post-production. You can even alter the pitch, duration, or velocity of your MIDI notes to spruce up your tracks.

These capabilities also extend to audio tracks. You can clip, reposition, transpose, and loop your tracks, much in the same way you would in an audio editing program.

Working With Dynamics

Once you have recorded a track, either as audio or midi, you can alter its dynamics using different plug-ins. You can add equalizers, compressors, limiters, multiprocessors, and much more with just a few clicks.

Many of the above plug-ins also feature waveform or spectrum analyzers to help you get a better idea of each track’s dynamics. You can then tweak them to achieve your desired sound.

Using Royalty-Free Loops

Aspiring musicians who are new to GarageBand may struggle to create their own drum loops and backing tracks. The good news is that you don’t have to necessarily create your own loops for songs. GarageBand offers a database full of royalty-free loops. The royalty-free part is important because it means you can use the loops in your songs without worrying about copyright strikes from the loop’s original creator.

GarageBand users can browse through the various loops, each of which are sorted on the basis of instrument, genre, and descriptor. This sorting method ensures that you are likely to find at least a few loops that fit what you are seeking.

Adding Third-Party Plug-Ins

GarageBand comes with numerous great plug-ins that offer more compositions and sound design possibilities. Producers who would like to have access to even more plug-ins will be delighted to learn that you can add third-party plug-ins easilys on GarageBand.

You simply need to download your desired plug-in and drag its component file into your GarageBand Library’s Audio folder. So if you don’t like the GarageBand’s stock limiter, you can always add another one of your choice.

Sharing Your Music With Other Apple Users

As mentioned earlier, GarageBand is exclusive to Apple devices. This means GarageBand projects can only be loaded up onto the software on other Apple devices. The good news is that this also makes it possible to share your Garageband project file with just about anyone with a Mac or iPad.

Here’s a video that talks about what Garageband is:

Is GarageBand Only for Beginners?

You may have heard that many producers used GarageBand when they were initially learning how to create music. Such producers eventually moved onto other DAWs such as Pro Tools, Logic, or Ableton. This may lead you to believe that GarageBand is only suitable for beginners and that the real pros use other DAWs.

While GarageBand can seem a bit basic compared to other DAWs, it possesses most of the essential functions that make DAWs useful. In-fact, many great albums and tracks from seasoned artists have been created on GarageBand. This includes:

• Radiohead- In Rainbows
• Justice – Cross
• Rihanna – Umbrella

Should I Use GarageBand?

GarageBand serves as an excellent entrypoint into music production. The software helps you get acquainted with many aspects of music creation and invites you to experiment with the different VSTs and plug-ins it contains.

Most GarageBand users are able to familiarize themselves with the software in just a few days. Online tutorials on Youtube have also made it easier to learn how to perform advanced editing or production techniques on the software. Did we mention that GarageBand is also free?

Final Thoughts

As you can see, GarageBand includes no shortage of great features. Every professional artist started off somewhere, so you should consider making your foray into the music world with this DAW. So try opening GarageBand on your Mac or iPad and creating a few songs. The initial exploration process is always fun and leads to some unique and playful sounding compositions. Happy composing!

You don’t need to be a seasoned recording artist to have seen a pop filter at some point. These mesh screens are usually found just in front of recording microphones during recording sessions. However, you may be wondering what exactly they are and why they are used.

Today we will be answering the question, “What is a pop filter used for?” and examining the different types of pop filters available.

What is a Pop Filter Used For? The Details

A pop filter or a pop shield is a small circular mesh made from nylon or metal that is positioned a few inches away from a microphone. These filters are usually sold with goosenecks that allow the user to place them in close proximity to their chosen microphone. They help shield the microphone from certain sounds that would impact the recording or produce unwanted noises.

Most professionals such as singers, music producers, studio recording artists, rappers, dubbing artists, voice over artists use pop filters to improve the quality of their recordings.

Why is a Pop Filter Needed?

A pop filter is a staple in most vocal recording setups. Some people incorrectly believe that these filters help reduce unwanted background noise in recordings. So what is their primary purpose?

As mentioned above, a pop filter shields the microphone from certain sounds. However, a more specific explanation would be that these filters protect the mic capsule from “plosive energies”. So what are “plosives”? The term may sound funny, but it actually refers to the rapid bursts of air that come from your mouth when you utter certain syllables or phrases.

For example, you produce “plosives” when you laugh, as the “ha ha” syllables displace air rapidly. If you were to laugh next to a microphone, the rapid air displacement may overload the instrument and create a popping noise in the recording.

Other “plosives” can also occur when you say words starting with any of the following letters:

• B
• D
• G
• K
• P
• T

Setting up a pop filter is the best way to reduce unwanted plosives. In addition to this, you can position your mouth a good distance away from the microphone. This should prevent the device from capturing any additional air pressure bursts coming from your mouth.

In addition to protecting the microphone from plosives, a pop filter also stops any saliva from entering the microphone. This can be a recurring issue for vocalists who inadvertently spit while delivering high energy vocal performances. Spitting into a microphone repeatedly damages it from prolonged moisture exposure and corrosion. Setting up a pop filter allows vocalists to go all-out without worrying about accidentally spitting into their microphone.

Can You Use Something Other Than a Pop Filter for Vocal Recordings?

Pop filters are necessary for creating high-quality microphone recordings. However, it is possible to get by without using one in extreme circumstances. So what is a suitable alternative to a pop filter?

Believe it or not, the humble sock can perform almost as well as an actual pop filter. So if you’re in the studio at 2am and are in need of a pop filter, consider slipping a thin sock over your microphone. You should note that thinness is the key here. A thick sock will end up blocking out important vocal frequencies and result in a muffled recording. However, if you have the time and money to purchase a proper pop filter, you should probably get one.

Types of Pop Filters

If you are in the market for your first pop filter, you should familiarize yourself with the different types available. There are generally two primary types of pop filters: nylon mesh filters and metal mesh filters.

Nylon Mesh Filters

As their name implies, nylon mesh filters are made from a nylon fabric. They usually consist of two layers of nylon separated by a small space. This helps diffuse air from your mouth as it travels to the microphone, thereby slowing down its speed.

Metal Mesh Filters

Metal mesh filters consist of a single layer of metal mesh. These filters don’t diffuse or offer resistance for the air traveling towards the microphone. Instead, their goal is to redirect the air away from the microphone’s diaphragm.

The metal mesh serves as a physical barrier that deflects the air downwards, greatly reducing the plosives that reach the microphone.

What is the Best Type of Pop Filter?

After learning about the two types of pop filters described above, you may be wondering which is better. Each of the aforementioned filter types offers distinct advantages. So let’s compare how they perform in different areas.

Reducing Plosives

Metal pop filters come out on top when it comes to reducing plosives. As mentioned earlier, they serve as a physical barrier that stops air from reaching the microphone. As a result, very little of the air travelling from your mouth actually reaches the microphone directly.

Nylon pop filters fall short in this area because they only slow down the air reaching the microphone. This means you may still get some plosives in the final recording.

Recording Quality

One area where nylon pop filters shine is in recording quality. These filters may be less aggressive in their shielding. However, this equates to more natural sounding recordings.

This is in contrast to the aggressive shielding of metal pop filters, which tends to block out some of the desirable vocal sounds in the recording.

Durability

Metal filters are generally more durable than nylon filters. This is due to the delicate nature of the nylon fabric. However, you can make a nylon filter last for many years if you are gentle with it, and know how to store it properly.

Price

Metal pop filters tend to be more expensive than nylon ones. These start at around $30 while nylon pop filters are usually priced at around $20. However, you should avoid choosing a certain type of filter based on price alone, as performance is more important for creating great-sounding vocal recordings.

Are Windscreens the Same as Pop Filters?

You may come across many “windscreens” while searching for a suitable pop filter. So what exactly is a windscreen, and why is it different from a pop filter?

A windscreen is essentially a special type of cover placed over the microphone. This cover may be made from synthetic fur or foam. As their name implies, they block wind from hitting the microphone.

Windscreens are useful for recording audio outdoors, as they do a good job of shielding the microphone from wind. This may lead you to believe that they would also work well as pop filters. You could try using a windscreen as a pop filter in a pinch. However, they aren’t designed to shield the microphone from plosives, and may affect the treble in the final recording.

For this reason, it is best to always use a pop filter for your microphone recordings.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, a pop filter serves an important role in the audio recording world. So consider consulting this guide before setting out to purchase your first pop filter for your studio. The right pop filter could spell the difference between a good quality recording and a great one, so be sure to do your research before making your choice.

Opting for music as a career opens you to a number of potential future jobs to take.

If you have talent in singing, for instance, then you can be a performer. You can be a professional lyric writer or a music composer too—or both—if you are linguistically and musically skilled. You can also infiltrate the media industry as a music supervisor, particularly if you have good administrative and communication skills.

Some, on the other hand, are blessed with teaching skills. So, rather than becoming a professional musician, performer, or songwriter, they choose to become music teachers.

What Is a Music Teacher?

Per teacher.org, a music teacher is a person who is responsible for educating students—both at primary and secondary level—about music. The teacher’s teaching duty covers a wide range of music-related subjects, including music history, music theory, instrument playing, and even vocal techniques.

But in general, they teach music reading, performance skills, and even composing.

A music teacher’s role may expand from teaching to leading as well. In some instances, the person is also assigned to lead a choir, a musical ensemble, an orchestra, and even a marching band.

Music teachers perform the same task as other regular teachers do too. These include meeting with parents, tabulating grades and recording students’ progress, and even lunch, hallway, and bus monitoring.

Teaching Music at Different Levels

While teachers may require having general knowledge about music, do take note that the subjects the instructor will teach vary depending on the educational level of the students.

In lower grades, for example, classes may include learning how to sing on key and correct tempo only. But on higher grades, topics may stretch from learning how to play an instrument to learning how to write songs.

That being said, here’s how teaching music differs in elementary, junior high, and high school.

• Elementary School. Teaching music in elementary school is not as easy as you might think. And since it is composed of students from preschool to fifth grade, instructors will need to be versatile. Essentially, music teachers are responsible for giving age-appropriate lessons. In preschool, kindergarten, and other lower grade levels, for instance, instructors may simply teach tempo counting and rhythm. Teaching older students, on the other hand, may include music reading. The class may involve instrumentation and vocal teaching, too, depending on the school’s program.

• Middle School. Middle school is often where students receive formal music lessons. So, when it comes to middle school, teachers are bound to have at least one general music class. They are required to teach music theory as well. But aside from teaching, instructors are also given tasks to lead a choir, orchestra, and even a band. And those who are assigned to lead a band, or an orchestra will have to teach the students how to read applicable notations as well as how to play instruments.

• High School. In high school, teaching music is more about application than discussion. As such, music instructors at the high school level typically specialize in teaching choir, band, and even orchestra.

Music Teacher as a Music Career

Now that you have an idea of what a music teacher is, let’s talk about it as (your) potential future career.

Salary

A music teacher’s income varies depending on several factors. Aspects such as the instructor’s skills and experience, for example, can largely influence it. The school district where the teacher is employed may affect his median annual pay as well.

Aside from that, instructors teaching in private schools may earn $10,000 lower compared to those who are teaching in public schools. That said, below are the estimated salaries of both entry-level and seasoned music instructors teaching in elementary, middle school, and high school.

• Elementary school. For entry-level music teachers, the yearly average pay is $59,670. For experienced instructors, it can go as high as $97,900. Although the 10th percentile of entry-level music teachers earns as low as $39,020.

• Middle school. In middle school, the median salary of music teachers starts at $59,660. Experienced instructors (90th percentile) earn as high as $96,660 while entry-level teachers’ salary (10th percentile) starts at $39,990.

• High school. In high school, on the other hand, the average income of teachers starts at $61, 660. Entry-level teachers (10th percentile) earn as much as $40,540, while experienced ones (90th percentile) earn as high as $99,660.

Note: All information above is based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated annual salary for music teachers, dated May 2019.

Education and Training

Just like other academic subjects, teaching music requires proper education and training to qualify for the job.

That said, aspiring music instructors will need to attend university or college and earn a degree. They also need to participate in a student teaching practicum, as part of their on-the-ground training. Keep in mind that to qualify, the school must be accredited by the Council of Accreditation for Educators Preparation.

Apart from that, aspiring music teachers need to study basic classroom management and childhood development. They will also need to take music classes such as music theory and music in early childhood.

Moreover, they will have to take state exams too as it is required to teach at their preferred grade level. Here’s a few of the same they need to take:

• Exams for music teaching. To become a certified music teacher, the person will need to take several tests. These include basic skill tests such as writing, reading, and mathematics. They must pass the proficiency exam for a particular subject as well.

• Alternative certifications for music teachers. A certificate that proves you are qualified to teach music is extremely crucial and must be obtained. Otherwise, you would not be able to teach in public school. On the other hand, there are schools—public or not—that offer teaching jobs even without a certification yet. But that does not mean you would not need to get one! These types of schools, instead, will let instructors teach as long as they would get one within the agreed time. Or, through alternative certification. But do take note that each state has varying laws when it comes to teaching in public and private schools. As such, it is best to check them first instead.

Conclusion

Teaching music is indeed a challenging but fun endeavor to take. It requires effort, time, and a large amount of patience to achieve it. As such, before you decide to take music teacher as your future job, make sure you have the perseverance to get through all the requirements needed to qualify.