Redshifter's Gadget Reviews

Review: Yamaha MG10XU 10-Input Stereo Mixer with Effects

2017-12-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

Yamaha MG10XU 10-Input Stereo Mixer with Effects

I recently purchased the Yamaha MG10XU 10-Input Stereo Mixer mainly for use at home to do vocal music practice sessions with my daughter who typically accompanies me on the keyboard.

I must say, I am very pleased with the Yamaha MG10XU Mixer's ease of use and the quality of the effects processor providing a range of effects you can play with for your specific song situation. Different songs require different vocal ranges and feel and the appropriate sound effect is a required enhancement to make the experience truly come out for the listener.

Since the time I purchased this unit, I have had several social gatherings at home with friends including Karaoke parties, impromptu singing sessions with visiting guests, and home chamber concerts with local talents. All of these gatherings were served well by the Yamaha MG10XU mixer unit.

I also recently used the unit for recording the mixed sound into my computer using the provided USB (2.0) interface. It worked like a charm with my Garageband software, feeding in crisp clear sound and the mix of instruments. The usb interface sends in 24bit sound, with sound frequencies captured 192 Khz

The most significant features for this unit are

Input and Output sockets: 10 inputs comprising of 4 XLR+Line-in sockets and 6 line-in (L+R for stereo, individual for mono) sockets. One socket for connecting to a foot controller based effects handler. 2 line out sockets (L+R) and 2 XLR sockets for stereo out to loud speakers. 2 line-outs for monitor speakers and one for headphone monitoring.

Yamaha MG10XU 10-input Stereo Mixer Top Panel View

The Effects Processor can be enabled with a single push of a button. Effects cover a large range as you can see in this picture to the right. There are 24 effects in total and in my experience all of these work convincingly and seamlessly.

Yamaha MG10XU 10-input Stereo Mixer Effects Panel View

The first two input channels have Compressor knobs to control how lively or punchy or mixed-in the sounds from those channels need to be on order to have better sound dynamics in the environment where the sounds are being played.

Yamaha MG10XU 10-input Stereo Mixer

One can also add 48 Volt Phantom power for the channels 1 - 4 mic XLR sockets, to maintain electrical charge for dynamic microphones. 48 V phantom power also has current limiting to prevent damage to the mics if the cable has any problems, such as a short.
The built-in low, mid, and high equalization knobs for each channel (upto channel 4) and low and high knobs for remaining channels provides excellent range of controls for each channel enabling you to manage the mixing dynamically as a performance moves from song to song.
There is also individual channel level control for effects through the FX knob.

All in all this is a very good value for the home or small orchestral group setting such as a quarter or quintet and vocals. I highly recommend the Yamaha MG10XU 10-Input Stereo Mixer as a good mixer for that use case.

Yamaha MG10XU 10-input Stereo Mixer

Logitech Z-2300 Review - Among The Best Computer Speaker Systems

2010-10-13T01:52:00.000-07:00

Contextual Background

For a really long time, and I mean reaaaaally long time :-) - about 7 years, we have had Yamaha's dimunitive computer speakers that have defined our music and video watching experience on the desktop computer sitting in the second bedroom. The experience, expectedly, has been so-so and ho-hum with nothing to write home about. Our nearest comparison benchmark for sound systems was the 2 year old high end speakers in our TV room hooked into a high end receiver, so our bar was set high. Having recently bought a widescreen 1080p capable LCD monitor, we were on the lookout for enhancing the audio experience for movies, games, and music we tend to watch and play more these days on the computer. We looked at several sites and one speaker system kept coming back to us as the best PC speaker based on our research and that was the Logitech Z-2300 THX Certified 2.1 Speaker System with a Subwoofer

Logitech Z-2300 Features

The one thing that was most important for us was ability to play music, games, and/or movies at low volumes without sacrificing the quality of audio output in the low, mid and high ranges i.e bass coupled with the crispness, richness of sounds. In addition, the HD sound effect was something we really cared about so the combo of a good bass plus excellent mid range sound was critical.

The Logitech Z-2300 comes through shining on that one very important criterion really well - the sounds are extremely pleasing to the ear with the freshness, crispness and clarity from the Satellites along with the bass effect produced by the powerful subwoofer, that I can only compare to the high end Mirage Nanosat 5.1 Speakers that we have, serving us well for over two years in our TV room.

In addition, the Logitech Z-2300 has a convenience that makes it very useful compared to other computer speakers - it has a wired remote control for controlling master volume, subwoofer level and power in addition to a handy headphone jack on it. I also like the angled upward facing style of the speakers that makes sound be delivered upwardly in the small room giving a well rounded surround feel. One would also usually, expect to hear a low hiss sound coming from speakers of such high wattage - I did not hear any until I turned up the volume level beyond 60% and that was really really loud. The sound output was one of the best, I have heard in a long time from computer speakers and this went beyond all our expectations.

I also had a test of 5 songs from different albums that I love to hear in different ranges - on all five, I found the output to be great except in one where mid-range was critical - adjusting the EQ a bit higher helped fix that.

The Logitech Z-2300 comes at around $114 at Amazon.com. We paid $114 as no sales were around at the time but Amazon offers free shipping so that's another saving of $25 given the dimensions and weight of the product for shipment.

For this price range, the product offers audio quality only comparable with some of the higher end products. I own a Harmon Kardon Receiver AVR 347 system coupled with the Mirage Nanosat 5.1 Speaker system that the Logitech Z-2300 compares to very well in that for a small room where computer based multimedia applications are at play, this is a great addition/replacement from the conventional computer speakers we are all accustomed to from the past. :-) The Logitech Z 2300 speakers are the best PC speakers in the market today at a great price.

Note that these are 2.1 speakers and not 5.1 speakers i.e. 2 speakers and 1 sub woofer and not 5 speakers and one sub woofer. Hence surround sound is not something you should expect from these speakers.

Now for the specific features of this impressive product :

THX Certified - a seal of approval for the distortion-free bass and balanced harmonics of the audio delivery from this system
200 Watts RMS power comprising of 120 watt subwoofer and 2 - 40 watt satellite speakers - Total Peak Music Power Output of 400 watts (Don't try turning up the volume to the peak in a small room!)
Phase Plug Drivers - a conical aluminum plug at the center of the driver to accurately produce high and mid range sounds with far less coloration (term used to denote the need to adjust EQ settings each time a different genre of music plays).
Rich Bass through an 8" 120 Watt Subwoofer - this is truly a high end sub that enhances the overall experience to a different level.
SoundTouch wired Remote Control for easy controls of master volume, sub level and power with a headphone jack.
Audio Adapter to connect easily to Gaming Sytems and Consoles.

What you get in the Package

Speakers: 2 satellites, 1 subwoofer
Power cord
Color-coded audio cables
Wired control pod
User manual
Game console adapter

Our package arrived in just 3 days although the free super saver shipping meant a wait of 8 days - that was super quick delivery.

Technical Specifications And How They Matter

Total RMS power: 200 watts RMS - Powerful Rich Sound
Satellites: 80 watts RMS (40 watts x 2) - Ideal for small to medium rooms
Subwoofer: 120 watts RMS - Get the basses raging as the action builds in the movie
Total peak power: 400 watts - Don't try pushing up the volume beyond 40-50% if you know what I mean :-)
Frequency response: 35 Hz–20 kHz - This is an awesome frequency range for the price point of this product as it would pick up the lowest lows and highest highs very well.
Signal-to-noise ratio @ 1 kHz: >100 dB - Does not distort as easily unless the sound source is really pushing the limit - most music and sounds range between 40 and 80 decibels (dB) within the human capacity to absorb noise from a sound signal
Amplifier: Ultra-linear, high-capacity analog
Compatibility:

PC or Mac (Plug and Play to the sound card)
CD player
Digital (MP3) music player
DVD player
PlayStation®, PlayStation®2, PLAYSTATION®3 (with provided game console adapter)
Xbox®, Xbox 360™ (with provided game console adapter)

Speaker dimensions (H x W x D, inches):

Satellites: 6.75 x 3.5 x 6
Subwoofer: 11 x 11 x 15 (Note that this is not a small subwoofer but a full size one similar to high end 5.1 and 7.1 sound systems)

Some Things To Watch Out For

Some of the things I have noticed that are worth considering are that the Subwoofer is a fairly large size box so consider whether it will fit under your computer desk. It contains a heat vent on the back so leave enough space on the back side. The Subwoofer is also the source for all connections such as the Satellites, Remote Control, the SoundCard on your computer, Power Source etc. So ensure the sub is kept where the wires reach out well to the concerned sockets. One relief for me was there was no AC-DC adapter so it was a great to plug it straight to the wall socket. Another point worth noting is to connect all end points before connecting to the power socket. This will prevent any unforeseen surge related issues right at the outset and protect the unit from any impact of that.

If sound mid ranges or any other aspect of sound is below your expectations, ensure you check the media players' equalizer settings and adjust it so it is to your comfort.

I highly recommend buying the Logitech Z-2300 given the quality and rich experience it offers at a great value.

Top Five Best Quality Affordable Microphones including Rode Podcaster, Blue Yeti Pro, etc.

2010-06-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Picture this - Your innermost desire for a long long time has been to produce a professional recording at your home recording setup. You have been wanting to showcase your talent to the world, be it family, friends, or relatives or to a recording label or to popular TV shows like American Idol. You have frequently put off that purchase of a high grade microphone as it typically had a high price tag and perhaps have had to settle for a cheap microphone with average sound quality. You are now absolutely ready to take that plunge and make that investment in an affordable high quality Microphone for your home recording.

But you end up spending enormous amount of time looking for a good value but high quality microphone for your hard earned money.

If this is you, this blog entry is intended to help you look at nicely priced microphones that really shine with quality and help you make a more informed decision quickly and acquire a good quality microphone at an affordable price. I hope this article helps you cut to the chase.

I have compiled a list of the Five Best High Quality, Reasonably Priced Microphones (including USB microphones) in the market based on their popularity, ratings, and preferred buying patterns on various websites.
A professional high quality microphone is an absolute must for your needs as an aspiring singer, voiceover artiste, podcaster, or internet radio jockey, and is key to getting your message across most effectively. This is key to fulfilling your long cherished dream.

One advantage with USB microphones is that they make it easy for you to integrate these into modern-day powerful laptops/desktops, and get the best out of the computing power.

Here are the top five affordable studio quality microphones for your home recording studio needs :

1. Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone

Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone

The Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone is a USB powered Condenser Microphone allowing you to simply plug the microphone into your computer and start recording. USB powered microphones do not require phantom power for amplification as that job is done by the USB layer. As with most USB microphones, the Audio-Technica AT2020 is a breeze to setup and you can be pretty much up and running in a few moments. The product features a low mass diaphragm that is engineered to capture extended sound frequencies. It boasts of great technical specs which are as follows (the most relevant ones that matter) :

Polar Pattern : Cardioid (unidirectional)
Windows and Mac Compatible
Side address microphone
Bit Depth : 16 bit
Sample rate : 44.1 Kilo Hertz
Frequency Response : 20 Hertz - 16,000 Hertz
Condenser Diaphragm : 16 mm low mass
Max Sound Pressure Level ( SPL) after removing noise : 124 DB @ 1Khz @ 1% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
Fits on Standard Shockmount
Comes with Desktop Tripod Stand
No on-board mic controls for volume, headphones or mic gain

Summary :
The Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone tech specs show that the frequency response is excellent and will pick up bass very well as will it pick up sharper treble sounds that are acceptable for home studio recordings. Besides it can be mounted on a shock mount and hence be employed to get professional quality recordings. The Max SPL data shows that this is a great price-performance ratio for home/studio applications, however, this is a lower threshold at 124 DB than other microphones in the list. Overall, a high quality microphone to consider purchasing and at a great price point of less than $100.

An even better deal than the AT2020 is the Audio-Technica AT2035 Large Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone if you are looking for a non-USB studio quality microphone - the product is now available at around $100 (normally $200+).

Audio-Technica AT2035

Buy Audio-Technica AT2020 USB or Audio-Technica AT2035
2. Samson G Track USB Microphone and Audio Interface

Samson G Track USB Microphone and Audio Interface

The Samson G Track USB Microphone and Audio Interface boasts a large diaphragm 19 mm studio quality condenser. The microphone also contains an on-board analog to digital converter and features USB output. The microphone also has two line-ins allowing you to use the microphone in conjunction with a musical instrument or as a stereo vocal unit. It has individual gain controls for each line-in and also an LED indicator for peak gain levels and features zero latency output to headphones. Along with the microphone, a scaled down Cakewalk Sonar LE recording software is also included. The tech specs for the product include :

Polar Pattern - Super Cardioid
Windows and Mac Compatible
Large Condenser Diaphragm : 19 mm
Bit Depth : Not known
Sample Rate : Not Known
Frequency Response : 20 Hertz – 16000 Hz
Max SPL (Sound Pressure Level before it blares) : 132 Db (Decibels) @ 1 Khz @ 0.5% THD
Shock Mount Available

Summary :
The Max SPL at 132 Db with 0.5% Total Harmonic Distortion is an impressive capability to turn some of the loudest sounds into quality recordings. Frequency Response is excellent and so is the Super Cardioid Large Diaphragm Condenser. This is really a great buy at current price of around $100.

Samson G Track USB Microphone and Audio Interface

3.Rode Podcaster USB Dynamic Microphone

Rode Podcaster USB Dynamic Microphone

From one of the industry's top notch product family, Rode Podcaster is a superior USB microphone with quality characteristics similar to the Rode Broadcaster which is a standard at many radio stations. It features a large diaphragm 28mm condenser capsule (probably the best in this class) and comes with on-board gain control and LED indicator. Tech specs are as follows :

Polar Pattern : Cardioid
Windows and Mac Compatible
Bit Depth : 18 bit
Condenser Diaphragm : a huge 28mm capsule
Sampling Rate : 48 K
Frequency Response : 40 Hertz to 14000 Hz (narrower range than other mics in this list)
Max SPL : not known
Shock Mount Available

Summary :
The reputation of the Rode line of products and the considerably large size condenser capsule along with the 48k sampling rate go for the Rode Podcaster as major attraction points for a buyer. The downside is the lack of data on Max SPL in the technical specs.

Rode Podcaster USB Dynamic Microphone

4. Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Microphone (with pop filter, shockmount, and CD containing Pro Tips)

Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Microphone (with pop filter, shockmount, and CD containing Pro Tips)

The Rode NT1A is a non-USB microphone that is a cool winner given the quality and price ratio. Huge value for money in my opinion. Available as the ‘Complete Vocal Recording Solution’ this NT1-A package now includes everything you need to get truly professional vocal recordings - the world’s quietest studio microphone, a studio grade pop shield and shock mount, a premium 20’ cable, dust cover, an instructional DVD with recording tips, and of course RØDE’s industry leading ten year warranty.

Large 1" (25mm) capsule with gold plated diaphragm
Cardioid polar pattern
Self noise of only 5dB (A)
Ultra low noise, transformerless surface mount circuitry
Wide dynamic range
Gold plated output contacts
True condenser (externally biased)
Internal capsule shock mounting

Tech specs include :

Polar Pattern : Cardioid
Power : P48 (48v), P24 (24v) phantom power supply required
Bit Depth : 18 bit
Sampling Rate : 48 K
Frequency Response : 20 Hertz to 20000 Hz
Max SPL : 137 Db
Shock Mount Available

Summary :
If you are not tied to buying a USB-based microphone, this is the best deal you can get with an all-inclusive package including a shockmount, pop filter, microphone bag and a truly great microphone with superb frequency range, excellent Max SPL threshold, excellent sampling rate of 48K, and a large diaphragm condenser capsule. This is truly a professional microphone system to consider buying for the recording enthusiast.

To optmize your experience with this microphone, you will need to purchase an external audio-to-USB interface or an XLR-To-USB converter that adds a bit more to the overall cost. I recommend the M-Audio MobilePre USB Mobile Preamp and Audio Interface if you are looking for an audio-interface to hook up both the microphone and any other instruments to your computer.

A cheaper and easier alternative if you are hooking up only the microphone to your computer, is to buy an XLR-USB Converter that lets you connect your Rode NT1-A microphone to the converter which does the analog to digital conversion and the provides the phantom power as a pre-amp to delivers it to your computer through a USB port. I highly recommend the Blue Microphones Icicle XLR to USB Mic Converter/Mic Preamp for this purpose.

Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Microphone (with pop filter, shockmount, and CD containing Pro Tips)

5. Blue Yeti USB Microphone

Blue Yeti USB Microphone

The Blue Yeti USB Microphone is the latest entrant in 2010 on this list in that it is the only THX Certified USB Microphone in the market and at its price it offers the equivalent of 4 microphones through the ability to change polar pattern from Cardioid to Omnidirectional to Stereo to Bidirectional with sound quality comparable to many high end Studio Microphones. It features a 3 capsule array of condensers each of 14 mm - the trio make sound capture very sensitive and the quality is a super experience. Please read this detailed review about this product including a voice sample.

Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern USB Microphone
The NEWEST entrant in 2011 on the Blue Yeti line is the Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone, that features major improvements over the Blue Yeti USB Microphone. Both the Blue Yeti USB Microphone and Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone are best-in-class offerings that you will not regret buying.

Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone

Tech specs for Blue Yeti USB Microphone include :

Polar Pattern : Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omni, Stereo
Windows and Mac Compatible
Bit Depth : 16 bit
Sampling rate : 48 Khz
Frequency Response : 20 Hertz to 22000 hertz
Max SPL : 120 Db
Recommended Shockmount : Blue Microphones Radius Microphone Shock Mount
Mounts on any Standard Microphone Stand
Comes with a desktop stand

Tech Specs for the Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone include:

Polar Pattern : Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omni, Stereo
Windows and Mac Compatible
Bit Depth : 24 bit with an advanced Analog to Digital Converter
Sampling rate : 192 Khz
Frequency Response : 20 Hertz to 22000 hertz
Max SPL : 120 Db
Recommended Shockmount : Blue Microphones Radius Microphone Shock Mount
Provides XLR connectivity for standard mixers and USB connectivity
Mounts on any Standard Microphone Stand
Comes with a desktop stand

Summary:

Blue Yeti Pro features industry best sampling rate of 192 Khz with 24-bit depth giving you incomparable sound capture advantages with the ability to drive the sound into a mixer using an XLR connection or into your computer through the USB interface. Blue Yeti USB microphone is the cheaper of the two and may be the best for your home studio application if you are a beginner in this space - and if you would like to go the full length then I'd recommend getting the Blue Yeti Pro - the Max SPL and excellent best-in-class frequency response in both the USB and Pro verisons, along with the 4 Polar Pattern support to give 4-Mics-In-One capability make the Blue Yeti a really good purchase candidate.

The built-in desktop stand can certainly be used to fit Blue's The Pop filter both for the Yeti USB and Yeti Pro - for standup uses, use a standard Boom Microphone Stand such as the ProLine ProLine MS220 Tripod Boom Microphone Stand (Black) and mount both the Yeti/Yeti Pro and the Blue Pop Filter

Here's a picture of my Blue Yeti USB Microphone, mounted on the ProLine MS220 Tripod Boom Mic Stand, along with the Blue Pop Filter, and the new Blue Radius Shockmount for Yeti :

Summary
In conclusion, the above Five Microphones are a very competitive set of studio quality microphones at very reasonable prices as each of them exceeds the value one would usually get at their price point for this class of products.

Needless to say, these give you the best possible opportunity set up that dream home studio to record your voice as a singer, voice over artiste, podcaster or a internet radio host.

Personally, my winner is the Blue Yeti USB Microphone, and Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone as it wins in many respects - take a look at its frequency response range (picks up the most sounds for clarity and richness and depth), the max SPL (sensitivity) for fairly large signal to noise threshold, and the triple capsule condenser array to give you multiple polar patterns and a really great price of around $100.

I personally have owned a Blue Yeti for the last year or so and its been a superb experience. Plus, the price has dropped from the original $149.99 to around $100 which is a super deal!

Blue Yeti USB Pro, Rode, Audio Technica - Microphone Stand

2010-05-19T07:45:00.000-07:00

One of the frequent questions that comes up privately many times over the past months since I posted this Blue Yeti review, is about the recommended Blue Yeti microphone stand and for any other microphone you are using. So I am adding content here to help folks on the lookout for this.

Blue Microphones Inc. does not manufacture a microphone stand other that the desktop stand that the Blue Yeti USB or Blue Yeti Pro microphone comes with. But it does come with a standard threaded mount socket where standard microphone stands can be used. The options include tripod boom stands and desktop swivel stands.

Tripod Boom Microphone Stand

I use the On Stage MS7701C Tripod Microphone Boom Stand, Chrome and I find it very convenient. The ProLine MS220 functions as a standard microphone stand and it has a standard threaded mount on which the Blue Yeti can be mounted. Besides, if you ever wanted to use the Blue Yeti in a multi-artiste recording situation, the ProLine microphone stand can function as a boom microphone stand as well since it has a three level telescopic adjustment set to extend its height and reach. What's more, it can be folded away when not in use. If you are using a boom microphone stand, then be sure to set the Blue Yeti Polar Pattern to Omnidirectional mode as only then would it capture sounds all around the mic. An alternative setting for a boom microphone stand usage is the Stereo mode but that would be a bit suboptimal.

Buy On Stage MS7701C Tripod Microphone Boom Stand, Chrome

Desktop Stand

The other option for folks who want to work off of their desktops for voice overs and podcasts and any other vocal applications, a convenient solution is the RODE PSA 1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm, Black. The covenience of this stand is that it sits on your desktop while providing you the ability to swivel it and has a boom arm from which the Blue Yeti USB or any other microphone can be threaded into.

You do have to get a 3/8th Female to 5/8th Male adapter to allow standard threaded mics to be mouted on this stand.

RODE PSA 1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm, Black

Blue Snowball USB Microphone Review : The most affordable high quality USB microphone

2010-04-26T22:18:00.000-07:00

Contextual Background
In a previous review, I covered the Blue Yeti USB Microphone - a product I consider to be the ultimate in professional quality USB microphones at the $90 - $150 price point.

After buying the Yeti, I had the opportunity to try out the Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone (White) - a retro looking product that preceded the Yeti, and one of the first microphones offering a variety of recording patterns with modern day specs.

Although I did not purchase it (given that I already had Yeti), I gave the Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone (White) a few tries to judge its quality and fidelity.
My Take on Snowball USB Microphone
The Snowball is designed to provide you with a great experience in extracting every bit of sound and reproduce it with the crispness and depth of a good quality microphone. From a qualitative standpoint, and in my test based experience, the Snowball's recording quality is comparable to the higher end Blue Yeti USB Microphone to a large extent. The exceptions are features like the number of capsule array of condensers - Yeti has a 3 capsule array of condensers, the convenience of a zero latency headset connection from the mic, a mute button, and mic gain control on the microphone besides being THX certified. The Snowball does not have the above features but carries with it the functionality of a good quality USB mic at an affordable price point.

Blue Snowball USB Microphone

Picture Credit: Blue Microphones

While the Yeti has a triple capsule array of condensers, allowing it to offer four polar patterns of recording, the Snowball has a dual capsule array of condensers. Thus, the Snowball provides two primary recording styles - Omni (360 degree sound capture), and Cardioid (unidirectional). There is an additional polar pattern called Cardioid with -10db pad, so that loud recordings can be captured without the blare effect and faithfully reproduced. With these 3 polar patterns, the Snowball provides great quality and results for the current price point at which it is selling. At the current price point of around $70 - $90 depending on where you get it, the Snowball makes for a high quality product that will give you more than your money's worth if your primary use of it is for podcasts, solo vocals, and instrumental recordings.

The specs for the Snowball make the intended target consumer audience clear in that at 44.1 Khz sampling rate with a word rate of 16 bits, and a frequency capture range of 40 Hz to 18 Khz, this is an ideal microphone for the music enthusiast, avid podcaster, VOIP callers using internet telephony services such as Skype, and the home recording aficionado.

The Snowball works with both Mac, and Windows through the USB port literally Plug'n Record and it is powered by the USB connection! It does not need Phantom power to power the mic. And its available in White, Brushed Aluminum, and Gloss Black finishes!

Added Value Accessories
What's more, if you would like to get a Shock Mount to protect against unwanted sounds being captured such as handling noise etc, there is the Blue Microphones Ringer Universal Shockmount for Ball Microphones

Blue Microphones Ringer Universal Shockmount for Ball Microphones

Picture Credit : Blue Microphones

Review Of Blue Yeti and Blue Yeti Pro - The Ultimate Pro USB Microphones At a Great Price - Look here For A Voice Sample

2010-02-07T08:18:00.001-08:00

Contextual Situation

Up until now, my trusty Shure SM58-LC Cardioid Vocal Microphone without Cable, a dynamic cardioid microphone has worked well for my Home Recording needs. My need was for finer sound capture like a professional singer/voice over artiste, through a wider frequency range microphone. I also needed the digital sound to come directly from the microphone and not be converted from analog on the computer.

I had choices : a professional microphone or an external audio interface that would send in digital signals directly with a high quality output. However, good quality audio interfaces can cost quite a bit and my budget was limited.

Enter Blue Yeti and Blue Yeti Pro

Blue Microphones Inc have come up with two high quality multipattern Condenser microphones called Blue Yeti USB and Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone that make you love your voice, and your musical instrument sound unlike many other conventional microphones out there in this price range.

At the time of writing this article, I had purchased the THX Certified Yeti USB microphone from Amazon for about $25 less than most other outlets that sell it around $149.99 - I got it for $124.41 a little while ago BUT current prices are even lower around $100. You can get the Blue Yeti USB Microphone from here.

I am absolutely thrilled with the quality of the Blue Yeti USB Microphone compared to all the previous ones I have had. My review of the Blue Yeti microphone below is based on my experience with it in addition to how the Blue Yeti USB compares with the newest entrant, the Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone.

I have been using the Blue Yeti Microphone since early 2010 and I have to say this is probably the best microphone I have ever had. Read on below for why.
Christened "Yeti" in keeping with Blue Microphones' love for odd sounding yet catchy names - this microphone stands for its name - it is indeed hard to find a microphone that has the same quality and options at this price point as Yeti for your home recording needs.

You will be impressed with the Three 14mm Condenser Capsules' wide band frequency response range between of 20 Hertz to 22 KiloHertz thus picking up the lowest bass sounds, excellent mid-range capture and the highest trebles in your raw recordings. The sampling rate of the Blue Yeti USB microphone is 48 Kilohertz with 16 bit word depth. And its high threshold for Max Sound Pressure Level (Max SPL) at 120 decibels to take in serious loudness of the sound source, be it your own voice or amped Guitars. Few microphones available in the market in this price range provide you with these unique combinations of technical qualifications to be best-in-class. But there is even more to consider.

Buy Blue Yeti USB Microphone

Picture Credit: Blue Microphones

Buy Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone

Picture Credit: Blue Microphones Inc.

Blue Yeti USB and Yeti Pro Microphone Features

The Blue Yeti USB and the Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone features three condenser capsules allowing for Stereo recordings in addition to a choice of recording patterns such as Cardioid, Bidirectional, and Omnidirectional.

The triple capsule array is an array of three condensers in one microphone assembly that is employed in combination with one of 4 recording patterns provided conveniently through a knob selector switch.

Typically each one of these patterns alone require you to buy individual microphones each at around a minimum of $75 (base quality) - so the Yeti USB is a great combo microphone that will be handy in many situations with the sound quality assurance of a THX certification.

The THX certification for Blue Yeti USB mic represents an endorsement for the low distortion, high fidelity and balanced frequency response of this product. The Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone is not yet THX certified although given that it is built on top of the Yeti USB and has even stronger features, I doubt the lack of the certification as yet, matters.

Zero Latency

The microphone also gets rid of one of the biggest annoyances of any USB and XLR microphones and that is the latency between when the sound is produced and when it is rendered on your headset. Blue Yeti USB Microphone and Blue Yeti Pro Condenser Microphone provide zero-latency output to the headphone!

Direct Digital Sound Input

Both the Blue Yeti USB and Blue Yeti Pro microphones use the power source coming out of USB channel and sends digital sound directly to your computer freeing the analog to digital conversion job from the computer which already is doing a lot while processing your music through your favorite sound recording software.

Additionally, the Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser Microphone offers an advanced analog to digital converter that provides sampling at a whopping 192 Kilohertz with 24 bit word depth while providing both the options of USB connectivity direct to your computer and XLR connectivity to standard sound recording equipment like analog mixers or audio interfaces. That is four times the clarity of sound coming from CDs.

The Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone captures sounds at a sample rate of 48 kilohertz using a word bit depth rate of 16 bits which is sufficient for standard quality sound recording.

Standard Mic Stand Compatible

You can use both the microphones with a mic stand through a standard thread mount - the desk stand provided with the microphone is removable.

Mute Button
The microphones have a mute button for instantaneous cut out of sound.

Mic Gain Control Knob

They also have a knob for controlling the mic's sensitivity to sound source called "mic gain control" that allows you to control how sensitive the mic will be in relation to the source's decibel level. This allows for distortion control by reducing the gain - always start with the middle point and then go lower or higher based on what you need.

Four Microphones in One

There are four recording pattern choices that you can choose from for both the Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone and Blue Yeti Pro Multipattern Condenser microphones :

The Stereo mode allows for recording right and left channels and integrates two of the three condensers from the triple array to produce a stereophonic signal. This is very handy when you would want to record either centered sounds or sounds from left or right channels. For instance, some instruments could be playing to the left side of your mic and some to the right while vocals could be right in front of the mic allowing for the recording to produce a more surrounded feel to the performance.

The Cardioid mode helps you record in a unidirectional pattern such that only the frontal sound source close to the mic is sensed by one of the condensers in the triple array. The cardioid mode cancels sounds that emanate from the left, right, and rear side of the microphone. Also, typically the closer the sound source the higher the proximity effect producing a bass boost. This is ideal for recording podcasts, or vocals in a home music recording session.

The Omnidirectional mode is the exact opposite and employes all three of the triple capsule array recording sounds all around the mic - ideal for situations such as recording an orchestra or picking up sounds from a drama on a stage or any other live recording setup.

The Bidirectional mode uses the front and the back of the microphone as sound sources. This is most typical of studio microphones aka figure-8 microphones or ribbon microphones. The Yeti uses similar top and bottom portions of the microphone unit for this purpose when set to Bidirectional mode. This is ideal for duet song recording or for recording interviews. In my view, this mode captures close enough sounds near the microphone superbly and the sound quality is awesome. The Cardioid mode, in my view, is well suited for rooms where there is other background sound that needs to be eliminated.

The microphone works plug and play with Windows and Mac :-)

The Yeti USB and Yeti Pro microphones are the ideal high quality investment at a low price for your home recording needs and will help fulfill that dream of producing your own single or album records that you could potentially go on to even sell on iTunes of Amazon.com - this is a great opportunity for you to finally achieve.

Blue Yeti and Blue Yeti Pro Shockmount
Blue Microphones Inc. has come up with a dedicated Shockmount for Blue Yeti line called the Blue Radius. This shockmount is brand new addition since March 2011 and a perfect fit that allows you to get a professional studio level experience. Be sure to buy the Blue Radius along with your Yeti purchase.

Blue Radius Shockmount For Blue Yeti USB and Pro

Note that the Blue Ringer Shockmount is designed for their spherical line of mics such as the Blue Snowball and not for the Yeti.

Are you facing the Microphones correctly?

BTW, I have seen posts where the mic's top portion is facing the person's mouth instead of being upright as in pro recording microphones. This microphone is intended to be used facing up and not towards your sound source. The Cardioid mode particularly is located on one of the sides of the mic ( you can test this out with a headset and speaking around the mic's top sides). Knowing where the condensers are located will help you get the best out of this mic.

In summary, this is a very hi-tech high quality USB microphone to purchase for your sound recording needs and produces awesome quality recordings at a very good price point.

So Why Should You Buy Yeti ?

Blue Yeti USB and Blue Yeti Pro Microphone stand out for many reasons.
Besides the 4 polar patterns affording you multi pattern recording capabilties in a single microphone, Yeti has the most important of all requirements for a pro quality condenser microphone -

My Home Setup : Blue Yeti USB, Pop Filter, Radius Shockmount

The Blue Pop Filter does fit the Blue Yeti stand unlike earlier reports - See photo alongsidefrom Blue Microphones themselves.
Zero Self-noise - the mic has almost no sound of its own coming in the way of recordings.
Strong mid-range capture - The single most important aspect you want in a good mic for vocal and instrumental frequencies is a good mid range support. Many expensive microphones do not have it. With the Yeti, you can be certain to be able to record bass, sharp and fully rounded mid range voices - making it perfect for vocals (both speech as in podcasts and singing), and for instrumental recordings.
High Quality Shockmount Blue Radius makes it great overall Studio quality investment
$85 - $100 price range for Yeti USB - its a real steal at this price given all the features and its versatility and quality.
$200 - $235 price range for Blue Yeti Pro offers you incomparable sampling rate of 192 Khz and 24 bit word depth with flexibility of USB and XLR based sound capture - that's 4 times the clarity found on CDs - No other mic in the world offers you that at that price point so it is a great professional sound investment.

Resources

Here's my blog entry on a recommended microphone stand for Blue Yeti USB microphone.
Blue Yeti USB Voice Sample : If you are looking for a voice sample using the superb Yeti USB microphone, here's a Tamil Film song I recorded in my voice playing supporting keyboards : (Cardioid Mode with Mic Gain set close to 60% i.e. left of middle, with Yeti on a mic stand, about 8 inches away from my mouth and mic facing up )

For comparison with the lower priced Blue Snowball USB Microphone, check out my review here.