Do Microphone Isolation Shields Actually Work?

Audio clarity is crucial when you want to make music. Professional audio recorders and artists spend thousands of dollars creating a recording booth or an isolated place with no external sound. The microphone isolation shield is a cheaper alternative, and even though they’re popular, the question is, are they any good?

A microphone isolation shield greatly reduces the echo and reverb from the voice and produces dry audio. It does so by ‘shielding’ the voice and absorbing any echo that might otherwise go inside the audio. Therefore, it works best in a closed environment where echos are more likely to occur.

If you wonder whether microphone isolation shields work or not, this article should clear all your doubts. In the final section, there’s a list of the best isolation shields available on Amazon.com.

How Does a Microphone Isolation Shield Work?

A microphone isolation shield is a foam padding fitted on solid material like metal (the external shell) or plastic. It’s usually fixed on a stand and covers the open space in front of the microphone, isolating it from the surrounding environment. 

The microphone isolation shield minimizes the noise from the external environment and maximizes the audio input into the microphone. These shields, also called portable booths, mimic the same functionality of a sound-proof recording booth.

If you’re looking for a professional setup without breaking the bank, then a microphone isolation shield is necessary. It’s also a good purchase if you need to record audio on the move. These shields are portable and sturdy.

Unsure if you need a pop filter? Read more about it here.

How Do You Know If a Microphone Isolation Shield Is Working?

The best way to find out if your microphone isolation shield is working or not is by comparing a sample recorded with and without the shield. Sometimes, you might not feel any difference at all, which mainly has to do with the room’s acoustics. 

Some rooms can unintentionally have surprisingly good acoustics.

Perform an Audio Check

Background noise or an echo is easily identified as ‘extra’ sounds that you don’t need in your audio. It could be the sound from your AC, your dog barking in the background, or some random noise from the street.

To determine the quality of your audio, you should perform a thorough audio check using one of the online microphone testing software like MicTest or professional recording software like Audacity and Adobe audition. You’ll know precisely how much echo you’re getting with and without the microphone isolation shield. 

Check Your Environment

Watch this YouTube video from Tech HD that shows how the isolation shields work in various environments and whether they’re helpful or not:

Here are some of the observations:

• Useful in closed environments. If your setup is close to a wall or the space where you are recording is small, then the isolation shields are helpful. It effectively absorbs echoes and reverberations that bounce off the wall.
• No significant difference in more open environments. If you’re recording audio in an open environment like your living room, these shields aren’t that effective. It’s simply because the room is too large for the echoes to bounce off the wall and come back to the microphone.
• Good if you’re using a low-quality microphone. An isolation shield can be effective if your microphone captures many echoes and background noise. But if you use a professional microphone that has rich and natural vocal reproduction, such as the Neumann Microphone, Shure Microphone, and the Sennheiser Microphone (available on Amazon.com), then there’s no need for a shield.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

What Should You Look for in a Microphone Isolation Shield?

The best microphone isolation shield will stop at least 80% of the echo and reverberations. Even though it’s not sufficient from a highly professional recording perspective, it’s still excellent. 

By now, it’s clear that isolation shields for microphones are highly effective in some environments. However, you won’t get the same level of crisp audio from every isolation shield. 

To identify the best ones, you need to look for the following features:

• Padding. Undoubtedly, padding is the essential feature of the isolation shield. The quality ones will have more than one level of padding to absorb various levels of sound. The ones with spiky foam absorb more noise by increasing the surface area and hence are the better choice.
• The external shell. The outside cover is equally important since it provides rigidness and stability to the foam. A strong shell allows the foam to absorb the noise equally from all ends. Always go for the ones with metal or alloy.
• Area covered. An isolation shield is usually a semi-circle, covering the front and both sides of the microphone. This ensures maximum blocking while still leaving enough room for the user. A shield with good height and width should be your ideal choice.

If you’re planning to buy an isolation shield, check out the list below. You can also build your shield from foam and alloy. But you need to do it in a way that is effective and long-lasting. Watch this super easy DIY tutorial on YouTube to help you:

List of Top-Performing Microphone Isolation Shields

If you constantly work in small and closed spaces, purchasing an isolation shield is a good decision. Here are some of the most popular shields available on Amazon.com:

1. Aston Microphone Portable Microphone Reflection Filter

The Aston Microphone Reflection Filter is one of the top-rated microphone shields in the market. Although it’s more expensive than its competitors, it works exceptionally well to keep unwanted noise out. It’s lightweight, has 360o filtering, and absorbs more sound than others due to its large surface area.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. sE Electronics Portable Acoustic Treatment Filter

sE Electronics is one of the biggest names in the microphone isolation shield arena. Due to the multi-layer filtration system, this shield is perfect for vocal and instrument recordings. It has a dimension of 14.5 x 12 x 8 inches (36.83 x 30.48 x 20.32 cm and absorbs sound waves across the microphone with ease.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. Neewer Foldable Microphone Acoustic Isolation Shield

The Neewer Isolation Shield is made from lightweight metal alloy and acoustic foams that minimize hall reflections and echoes. The result is clean, dry audio with zero or minimal background noise. It has a dimension of 16.7 x 12 x 6.1 inches (42.5 x 30.5 x 15.5 cm), and the size is comfortable for a single user. 

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4. LyxPro Portable Microphone Shield

The LyxPro VRI-20 has a sleek design and weighs only about 6 pounds (2.72 kg). It reduces bounceback and eliminates noise interference, making it perfect for vocal recordings and acoustics. It’s made of aluminum and foam.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5. TONOR Microphone Isolation Shield

The TONOR Microphone Isolation Shield is a low-cost alternative with a 1.7 inch (4.32 cm) foam on a premium steel shell. It eliminates interference and is an excellent choice for musicians and vocal artists.

Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Final Verdict

A microphone isolation shield does what it says. It shields the microphone from echoes and external sounds, giving you dry audio. It’s portable and works in small spaces.

So, it’s a yay if you work in a closed environment or move around with your recording equipment a lot. But it’s a nay if your home studio is roomy and you use a high-quality microphone.

If you don’t want to spend money to purchase an isolation shield, you could build your shield with foam attached to a piece of metal or plastic. 

Sources

• Midnight MagicSounds: Do Mic Isolation Shields Work?
• Reddit.com: Are microphone sound shields (e.g. Auralex MudGuard, etc.) actually effective?
• Wikipedia: Pop Filter
• Expert of Singing: Why Should I Buy a Microphone Isolation Shield
• Icon Collective: 10 best microphone isolation shield and reflection filters
• Tech HD: Does this really work? (Tonor Portable Microphone Isolation Shield)