http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/ Engadget Comments for Blue Microphone presents the Icicle XLR to USB audio interface http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 11:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 6:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/
Poke around, and you will find that a good quality mic can go for thousands. This isn't for your crappy desktop mic.]]>Nov 7th 2008 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/(not professional)

Elctrovoice RE20 $400
Sennheiser 421MDII $380
Shure BETA 87A $250
Shure SM-81C $350
AKG perception 200 $160

Like someone else mentioned microphones can go into thousands, and that $60 device isn't even a mic. ^_^;;]]>Nov 7th 2008 11:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/
The Neumann U87 was one of the standard ones we used -- I think they currently go for around $4K to $5K right now.]]>Nov 7th 2008 12:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/
The following is a replica of a classic Neumann studio microphone, the U47. Take a gander at the price. :)
http://www.telefunkenusa.com/products/show_product.php?item=20&cat=mics

Anyway, $60 for a podcast-grade preamp and audio interface is pretty darned reasonable. I wouldn't disparage the 16/44.1 sampling, though; remember, you're ultimately going to turn that audio you recorded into a CD or MP3 anyway, so your 24/96 audio is getting cut down one way or the other (until you get into your own DVD-Audio authoring).

Where this device would fall short in the sound quality department is not due to its sample rate/bit depth, but rather the grade of componentry in its preamp, and in its ADC. But hell, for podcasting I'm sure this will be a fantastic tool; hooked to a good quality, professional mic, this will likely get you better results than any of the USB-connected mics currently on the market.

Andy, great start to your mic locker. Take a listen to the Audio Technica 4033 ($400) and 4047 ($550)! ]]>Nov 7th 2008 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/
You'd have reasons to worry if you were to record instruments with this, but voice is much much easier on the bits...]]>Nov 7th 2008 4:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/
Also, Musician's Friend has the Icicle for preorder and claims it will be available 11.7.08 -- hey, that's today! As a podcaster, I've been waiting for someone to do this right, so I'll be picking one up for sure.]]>Nov 7th 2008 11:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/
http://www.centrance.com/products/mp/
]]>Nov 7th 2008 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 12:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/I run a digital recording studio and have tons of extremely expensive equipment, i would love to add a few of these to my collection.]]>Nov 7th 2008 12:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 1:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/
BT audio sucks]]>Nov 7th 2008 4:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 10:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/
So, my point is: there are many other ways to go wireless than bluetooth. Bluetooth is a consumer technology so if you want better results go pro.]]>Nov 8th 2008 10:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/Nov 7th 2008 5:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/blue-microphone-presents-the-icicle-xlr-to-usb-audio-interface/http://www.micport.com. MicPort offers zero latency monitoring and 24-bit/96kHz audio quality. They tell me this is why BBC field reporters all over the world use it as well as Oprah for conferencing in guests to the show via Skype.]]>Dec 19th 2008 11:35AM