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11 Best Reflection Filter For Recording Vocals

Juan Stansbury June 6, 2023

If you are very serious about creating the perfect environment for recording vocals, then you are bound to be wary of unwanted reflections and misdirected sounds.

Many home or professional recording studios are specifically designed to help minimize these auditory distractions, but in some cases it may not be enough. Also, sometimes you may be recording vocals on the go, and you may not be in an ideal recording environment.

In these cases, a rough and ready technological solution is required to try and capture that perfect take. Thankfully, for these cases and more there is such a solution; a reflection filter.

The role of a reflecting filter is very simple. It is specially designed to prevent unwanted soundwaves being reflected of walls or other objects in the environment and entering the microphone.

To do this most devices have a dual function which is related to its placement behind the microphone.

Firstly, they absorb some sound energy that has passed over the microphone, thus reducing the excess sound being sent off into the environment, which could potentially cause deviations.

Secondly, the recording filter helps to shield the microphone from sounds coming from any direction other than the speaker’s mouth.

In this comprehensive article we detail what to look for and outline some of the best reflection filter for recording vocals that are currently on the market.

Monoprice Microphone Isolation Shield

This is a high-quality product that has all the essential features that you want from a reflection filter.

It consists of a layer of high-density sound absorbent foam that does the principal job of absorbing that extraneous sound and preventing it escaping. This is backed by a vented metal plate to give it some extra rigidity and strength.

In terms of appearance this is a pretty standard filter, which will not look out of place in any home studio or professional recording setup.

It comes with a helpful set of clamps and adaptors which means it can be attached to just about any microphone or stand, and what’s more, it is easily foldable for your convenience.

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Video: “Monoprice Microphone Isolation Shield Review and Test”

Aston Microphones Halo Portable Microphone Reflection Filter

This product offers a very different design from much of the traditional recording filters you can find.

Instead of having a linear, rectangular design, this filer has a rounded, dome-like shape. This offers a few advantages. It shields one entire hemisphere from around the mic.

This means that not only are reflections from walls minimized, but reflections from overhead objects or low ceilings are also rendered obsolete.

It also has good linear absorption qualities, thanks to the high-density polymeric foam from which it is constructed. It is also lightweight and pretty resilient to damage.

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Video: “ASTON HALO & SPIRIT MIC REVIEW”

AxcessAbles SF-101KIT Recording Studio Microphone Isolation Shield with Tripod Stand

If you are looking for a complete kit for an affordable price, then this may be the product for you. This provides you with all the equipment you need to get up and running recording vocals, straight out of the box.

For example, this kit comes with an adjustable tripod stand that can adjust between 4 and 6 feet, as well as numerous clamps, a pop filter and of course the all-important reflection filter.

The reflection filter itself is of good quality, with the standard foldable segmented design and pyramidal shaped absorbing foam. It is really the accessories and convenience that makes this package so attractive though.

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Video: “Axcessables SF-101 Studio Microphone Isolation Shield Review”

Aokeo Professional Studio Recording Microphone Isolation Shield

This reflection filter, with three stable feet, is more suited for desktop use, but it can also be attached to a stand if necessary. It promises superior sound absorption abilities on account of its multilayer design.

The back of the filter has a porous metallic finish to reflect any sound waves that have come from walls or objects.

The internal fabric layer helps to filter the sound waves to remove the harshest, loudest frequencies, and finally the pyramidal shaped inner layer is engineering to absorb as much sound as possible and thus prevent it from escaping to the rest of the room.

This is constructed from durable, quality materials and has a foldable design for easy transportation.

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Video: “Aokeo Microphone Shield”

AGPTEK Microphone Isolation Shield

This is another product that merits inclusion on a definitive list of the best reflection filter for recording vocals, for a few reasons. It has a very simple, functional design. It just does what it says on the tin.

The cotton-based filter media is a high-Q material, which means that it has good sound absorbing properties.

It is also foldable up to 145 degrees, this means you can customize the recording experience however you like, and it can easily be folded away from transport and storage at the end of the session.

It can be easily linked to a number of mic styles. However, one thing to note is that this device is somewhat smaller than other models, and this reduced surface area might let in some stray sound that others would block.

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Neewer NW-11 Professional Studio Recording Microphone Isolation Shield

This is a similar folding style design that is offered from many other brands. The backing is made from high-strength aluminum instead of steel, which should save a bit on weight. Other than that, it has pretty standard specs and features.

The sound absorbing material is foam and has the familiar pyramid pattern that recording artists will recognize.

It is versatile as it can be used free standing on a countertop or attached to stand, and it comes with a series of adaptors to make sure it can be connected to your existing stands.

Like the previous model it has a pretty modest surface area, being only 40 cm wide by 30 cm tall, so this may cause issues if you have lots of reflection sources in your environment.

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Video: “UNBOXING/SETUP/REVIEW: Neewer NW-11 Sound Isolation Vocal Booth”

Neewer NW-5 Foldable Adjustable Portable Sound Absorbing Vocal Recording Panel

This is another product from a brand which is known for producing some of the best reflection filter for recording vocals. This particular product certainly doesn’t disappoint either.

It features a folder design, where 3 of the 5 panels are stationary and 2 of the 5 panels can be rotated, either to better shelter the mic or for stowing away.

Unfortunately, it cannot deal with reflections from out of plane sources like ceilings. The multi-functional clamps on the aluminum backing allow it to be attached to virtually any stand with ease, and the sharp, shiny finish is bound to turn a few heads.

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Aokeo Professional Studio Recording Microphone Isolation Shield, Pop filter

This is extremely similar to the other offering from Aokeo featured previously. It also has a relatively simple, 3 panel foldable design with pyramid shaped padding to try and reduce sound leakage to the environment, and thereby prevent acoustic reflections becoming a problem.

It is smaller than many of the other filters on this list, being only approximately 21 cm wide and 20 cm tall when fully unfolded.

This puts it at a disadvantage when it comes to creating a perfect ‘bubble’ for your vocals to shine in. On the other hand, it is extremely portable for that reason, and very easy to assemble.

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TroyStudio Portable Sound Recording Vocal Booth Box

This product has a very unorthodox design, but it is precisely this unique design that makes it one of the best reflection filter for recording vocals.

Because of the full, wrap-around design of this filter, it is far more efficient at capturing any stray sound from the forward direction and blocking any reflected echoes from reaching the mic.

This is effective even in non-ideal surroundings, as it acts kind of like an out-of-the box sound booth. It is made of super dense sound-absorbing foam, and although it is large enough to provide full 360-degree cover, it is still lightweight enough to be installed atop traditional mic stands.

The ingenuity and affordability of this product make it a good investment for anyone looking to capture studio-style vocals, on a budget.

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Video: “Troy Studio”

Pyle Recording Shield Box-Microphone Foam Booth Cube

This is another foam booth cube, similar in style to the previous product. It is engineered to eliminate all unwanted noise and dissonance from your recording, to make sure the finished product is crisp and clear.

The interior of the box is slightly different from the previous model, but it is made of the same dense foam material, with proven insulating properties. It is designed for desktop use, so you can simply set the box up on a flat surface and get singing.

A zipper at the rear allows you to run cables and power to any mic that you place in the booth. Unfortunately, it cannot be easily attached to a mic stand.

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Video: “CHANNEL UPGRADE: Sound Recording Booth | Unboxing Soundproofing Pyle PSIB27 Sound Recording Booth”

Neewer NW-12 Tabletop Compact Microphone Isolation Shield with Tripod Stand

If you want a filter from one of the top brands, that comes with a stand already attached, then this may be one of the best reflection filter for recording vocals that you can find. It is already set up for handy tabletop operation.

It has a semi-cylindrical design, which is good for sound capture and reflection, but it does mean it cannot be easily folded or adjusted. Instead of the standard pyramidal shaped insulating foam it has a strip-like pattern, which is equally effective.

The tripod is compatible with most mike attachments including shockmounts, and the product is made from durable materials which will not degrade over time. If you are looking for a simple, tabletop solution to your acoustic problems, this may be the answer.

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Video: “Neewer NW-12 Reflection Shield REVIEW”

What To Look For In A Reflection Filter For Recording Vocals

A reflection filter, also known as an isolation filter or a sound filter, is a pretty simple piece of kit. It has one job and one job only, to eliminate or at least minimize sound from reflections or unwanted sources from being picked up by the microphone.

With such a simple purpose you might think that there would be a single settled design for the best reflection filter for recording vocals, but alas this is not the case.

There are actually a myriad of different designs and products on the market, and this article should help you to decide between them.

Quality

One of the major things which impacts the performance of these accessories is the material. Choose a filter that uses a good-quality, high Q foam to help absorb the maximum amount of sound.

Some products also use a multi-layered approach, where each layer screens or absorbs a different type of sound (e.g. a different frequency/ton).

This can also increase the efficiency of the device. Metallic backed filters are good because not only do they add some rigidity to the frame, they also reflect unwanted sounds away from the microphone.

If possible, you should also consult the acoustic absorption spectrum for the absorber material. You want a material that has high absorption over the entire frequency range which you will be recording at, which usually goes from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

Style

Another major consideration should be the style of filter you choose. Some filters are only set up to block reflections from walls (i.e. in-plane sounds), whereas other designs, such as hemispherical or box-like designs, can block reflections from walls and ceilings (i.e. in-plane and out-of-plane sounds).

You may need one of these wide coverage devices if you have particularly troublesome acoustics. Obviously, you need to balance this against other factors such as cost, compatibility with your existing equipment, and portability.

The most common style of filter features folding panels. This affords you a modest amount of flexibility to adjust your setup, and it usually makes the filter easier to pack away and transport. Space-savings like this can actually make a big difference if you are transporting a lot of equipment from place to place.

Conclusion

The products in this article represent some of the best reflection filter for recording vocals that money can buy.

They vary a lot in terms of cost, style and performance, but using the tools and terminology that we have outlined, you should be able to make an informed decision about which one would suit you. Consider your own personal circumstances.

Take into account your budget, transport ability, intended purpose, and what is already in your recording space. If you already have good acoustics and deadening features, then you may not need the most premium model.

If performance is key to you, then thoroughly look over the specs to check for the information that we have indicated is important. Consider the material, the engineering and the build quality. If you follow the advice you should soon find yourself with a kick-ass vocal recording setup!