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Blue Mics' Nessie adaptive USB microphone perfect for desktop recording
Most of us here at TUAW are in love with the products designed and sold by Blue Microphones. The company makes some amazing gear for recording podcasts and the like, and now there's a new member to the Blue Mic family -- Nessie (US$99, expected to ship in the first half of 2013). Nessie works with both Macs and PCs, and can be adapted to iPads for portable recording with the addition of an Apple Camera Connection Kit (not included). Besides the cool design, which mimics those images of the legendary Loch Ness Monster swimming with its head above water, Nessie is designed to make all of your recordings sound a lot better than what you'd hear from a standard USB microphone. The adaptive capabilities provide onboard equalization and boosting, creating a full and rich sound for voiceovers and podcasts. There's a built-in pop filter to eliminate those nasty plosives, and a shockmount to eliminate rumbling if you happen to touch your desktop during recording. To hear just how good Nessie can make you sound, the company supplied sample recordings of a voiceover and a guitar demo. Check 'em out, and then keep your eyes open for this newest addition to the Blue Mic family.
Daily Update for January 8, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Blue Microphones unveils Nessie: an adaptive USB mic with built-in features to improve recordings
Adding to its line of capable USB recording tech, Blue Microphones has pulled the curtain back on the Nessie at CES 2013. This latest offering looks to get cozy on your desktop and lend a hand with vocal, instrument and voiceover recording all while adapting in real time to keep those captures free from extra editing or mixing. The Nessie touts a built-in pop filter and shock mount to keep unwanted noise down alongside adaptive processing that includes EQ, de-esser and level control that adjusts automatically during the session. Using a single, custom-tuned condenser capsule and cardioid pattern, the mic features three recording modes configured to capture vocals, instruments and raw audio that you'll want to tweak afterwards. Controls for headphone volume and muting with support for zero-latency headphone monitoring are all on board as well. The unit is also optimized for recording with Apple's slate, but you'll need to pick up an adapter to do so. No word on when the Nessie will hit shelves, but when it does, it's expected to carry a $99 price tag. If you're jonesin' for a few more details, consult the full PR after the break. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Hands-on with Blue Mics' Nessie: a USB mic that masks your flaws (video)
Blue Microphones is known for its top notch USB microphones. Heck, the Yeti is a staple around the Engadget compound for recording podcasts and voiceovers. The company's latest, Nessie, continues the audio maven's fascination with cryptozoology while delivering some interesting new features along with another fantastic retro design. At the top is the mic itself, which looks quite a bit like the Snowball. It sits at the end of a long arm with some slight articulation. The small extension allows you to either focus Nessie up for tall casters or down for recording the occasional acoustic guitar track. At the opposite end is the round, surprisingly heavy base that is home to the headphone volume knob as well as a few other controls. Around back is the 3.5mm jack itself, right above the three postion mode switch. The first position is raw audio, which applies no effects at all. Second is vocals, which boosts mids and applies a slightly agressive compressor and limiter to beef up recordings of people speaking or singing. Last is music mode, which pulls back on the compression and boosts the highs to add a bit more brightness. The knob on the prototype was quite stiff -- in fact it was alost impossible to turn with one hand -- but the company says the final version wont suffer such issues. Lastly, at the bottom of the neck is a red capacitive button that mutes the mic. Simply brush you finger across it and the blue LED in the base gently pulses to let you know it's muted. Inside the housing is some specialized circuitry that helps mask the most basic common mistakes you make while recording. The processor dynamically alters the EQ and levels, while also applying a de-esser to keep your latest bedroom podcast crisp and clean. The pop filter and shock mount also helps keep noise from shaking and plosives to a minimum. Most importantly, Nessie also keeps Blue Mic's history of affordability with a price of $99. Head on after the break for a video tour of the hardware along with an audio sample. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Blue Microphones Spark Digital review: a solid iOS / USB mic for recording on the go
It was all the way back in January, when Blue Microphones made its CES announcements, that the Spark Digital first broke cover alongside two other mobile recording devices. Our interest was immediately piqued thanks to the mic's USB 2.0 and iOS connectivity, which allows it to support the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch via the 30-pin jack. After a grueling wait that lasted until just a few weeks ago, Blue's latest offering finally arrived. Was the long wait worth it? Does the Spark Digital do its part to bolster Blue Microphones' reputation for stellar recording wares? Join us past the break as we put the peripheral through its paces and give you answers to those very queries.
Blue Microphones Spark Digital now available, wields USB and iOS mobile recording for $199
The final member of the Blue Microphones trio that we saw introduced back at CES is finally hitting shelves. Blue's dual-connecting Spark Digital is now shipping from Apple and Best Buy with other retailers soon to follow. If you'll recall, the mobile recording peripheral touts the label of "the first true studio condenser microphone made for both iPad and USB." An adjustable desk stand, all of the requisite cables and six month subscriptions to both Gobbler and SoundCloud Pro are included right out of the box. You can snag one for yourself for $200 just as fast as you can click. However, if you've already splurged for a new iPad, iPad mini or the iPhone 5, you'll need a Lightning adapter before you can get started.
Blue Microphones Mikey Digital takes iPhone and iPad recording up a notch
When it comes to microphones for the iPhone and iPad, I have to admit that I haven't been too impressed with what's been delivered over the past few years. For example, the original iRig Mic from IK Multimedia was quite noisy, although the iRig Mic Cast improved on that somewhat. The original Mikey from Blue Mics was also an improvement, but now the company is shipping the new Mikey Digital (US$99.99) that works with recent iPhones and all iPads to capture stereo sound with clarity. Design The exterior of the Mikey Digital is similar to that of the the second-generation Mikey; a small rectangular dongle that plugs into the dock connector port of your iPhone 4 or 4S, or any model of iPad. One concern about using the dock connector port is that persistent rumors are pointing towards a new and more compact connector for iOS devices. Should that happen, it's likely that some sort of adapter will allow dock connector peripherals such as the Mikey Digital to work with newer devices. %Gallery-164122% The Mikey Digital is much larger than the iRig Mic Cast, which plugs into the headphone port of your iOS device. The Blue device also features a swivel, so you can "aim" the microphone at your subject for the best possible sound. There are two other goodies in the box, a small carrying bag and a guitar jack adapter. The Mikey D., as the user guide affectionately refers to it, has a sensitivity switch that toggles among loud, auto and quiet settings. Each setting has an LED associated with it so you get visual feedback of the switch setting. In addition, there's a 1/8" stereo input port (you use the adapter to plug a guitar or other instrument in for recording) and a micro-USB port in case you want to charge your device while recording. Functionality No microphone is useful without an application to receive the input. When the Mikey D. is under the control of a recording / editing app such as GarageBand, all three LEDs light up. During recording, those LEDs will flash red if you're overloading the mic and clipping sound. To test the Mikey D. under real-life conditions, I recorded the closing words from the Daily Update using both my regular setup -- a Blue Mic Yeti attached to my iMac -- and an iPhone 4S with the Mikey D. attached. In both cases, the app used for recording was GarageBand. First, the Blue Mic Yeti on my iMac: Now, the Blue Mic Mikey Digital on my iPhone: Both sentences were recorded simultaneously, with the two microphones located as close to each other as possible. On the Mikey Digital, I set the sensitivity to "auto." The Blue Yeti is set in such a way as to be unidirectional, and the audio sounded somewhat more realistic and with less background noise from the fan in my iMac. The Mikey Digital picked up a bit more background noise, and the sound was less "warm" and "full" than what was captured with the Yeti. It's important to note that neither of these recordings were post-processed. Removing background noise from both of the recordings would help, and the Mikey Digital recording could probably stand to have the low end boosted a bit. The important thing to remember with the Mikey Digital is that it is meant for portable recording, and for that purpose I think it does the job better than any portable mic I've tried so far. For off the cuff recording, I'm probably not going to carry along a MacBook Air and my bulky Yeti. Pulling an iPhone out of one pocket and the Mikey Digital from another is the perfect way to have a very capable sound recording studio for music or voice anywhere. Conclusion Blue Mics really hit the ball out of the park with the Mikey Digital. Compared to earlier models of the Mikey and to other "made for iOS" microphones, the capabilities and sound quality of the Mikey Digital are significantly better. Pros Attractive and well-built, without the cheap plasticky look of competitors Excellent stereo sound capture Ability to plug a musical instrument into the microphone via the 3.5 mm stereo input port and the included guitar jack adapter Clipping indicator helps during setup of microphone to make sure you're not overloading it Adjustability of the Mikey Digital swivel provides a way to capture the best quality sound while still keeping an eye on the recording app Cons Dock connector might not work with future iPhones and iPads, or may need an adapter to work with them Who is it for? Professional and amateur musicians, reporters, podcasters, bloggers, or anyone who needs to accurately reproduce sound in stereo from an iPhone or iPad
Blue Microphones Mikey Digital portable microphone for iOS devices hits shelves, offers mobile tracking for $100
The second of Blue Microphone's CES trio has broken cover. Mikey Digital, a mobile recording peripheral for the iPad and iPhone is now available at select retailers. If you're in need of a refresher, the retooled version of the original Mikey tracking unit connects to you Apple smartphone or tablet via the dock connector. The mic houses the same two condenser capsules found on the more robust Snowball and Yeti USB mics while sporting built-in sensitivity control and CD-quality analog / digital conversion. A 3.5mm audio jack is included for monitoring or either stereo line-in or mic-in -- if you're looking to tack on a few more gadgets when recording with the 230-degree rotating kit. USB pass-thru allows for charging while in the midst of a session and a LED clipping indicator keeps tabs on volume levels to ensure the best results. If all of that sounds too good to pass up, the Mikey Digital will hit your wallet for $99.99 just as soon at you can enter your shipping info.
Blue Microphones Tiki USB microphone review: a thumbdrive-sized mic for mobile recording
More Info Blue Microphones outs Tiki, Spark Digital and Mikey Digital; looks to feed your mobile recording habit Blue Microphones Tiki USB mic now available at Best Buy, coming to Apple stores July 15ths Apogee MiC review In recent years, mobile and compact recording gear has, like so many other gadget types, become smaller and smaller in stature. We've seen add-ons for smartphones and tablets that aren't much larger than a quarter, along with mobile mics that boast USB compatibility. The Blue Microphones Tiki continues the trend, offering the same premium aesthetics we've come to expect fromthe company, along with top-notch audio quality. The Tiki is said to perform at its best with Skype-style video chats and voice recording, thanks in part to an intelligent mute and noise isolation features. Let's be honest, though. Purchasing a USB microphone for the sole purpose of video chatting will be a tough sell for most folks. People like podcasters will expect a bit more functionality from a peripheral like this. Luckily, the unit boasts a "Natural Recording Mode" that promises instrument-tracking capabilities as well. But does the Tiki handle online banter, voice recording and guitar sounds well enough to warrant a $60 purchase? And exactly how smart is the intelligent mute? Read on to see what we discovered when we gave this flash drive-sized microphone the full-on review treatment. %Gallery-162897%
Blue Microphones Tiki USB mic now available at Best Buy, coming to Apple stores July 15th
Remember that miniature USB mic we saw back at CES from Blue? Well, the outfit just announced that the Tiki is hitting store shelves with the same $59.99 price tag we expected. The mobile recording peripheral is now available at Best Buy and is slated to hit Apple stores and other retailers at the month's half-way point. In case you're in need of a refresher, the diminutive unit features Intelligent Speech mode for recording interviews or meetings and Natural Recording mode for capturing your best Jack White guitar riffs. You can also expect proprietary noise cancelling technology, voice isolation and intelligent mute with the kit that is sized similar to a USB flash drive and connects via said ports. If you're itchin' for a closer look before adding one to your mobile recording setup, take a peek back at our hands-on for a few detail shots.
IRL: Blue Mics Yeti, Western Digital My Passport and Razer's Naga Hex gaming mouse
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. It's been a busy week for tech writers. Capping out a week populated by not one, not two, but three smartphone reviews, we're happy to take a breather and return our attention to life's littler pleasures. Like USB mics and portable 2TB hard drives. And also, gaming mice.
Blue brings the Mikey Digital and Spark Digital to Macworld | iWorld 2012
Blue Microphones are a favorite of ours around here at TUAW. We've used Blue's mics to record countless streams and podcasts, and most of our staffers have bought one or more with their own cash before. So it was nice to see them again at Macworld | iWorld 2012 in San Francisco this week, where PR Manager Hillary Money kindly showed us two new models due out later on this year. The first is the Mikey Digital, which is an update to Blue's Mikey, the company's original mic built to plug in directly to the iPod touch's 30-pin connector. This model is for the iPhone. Apple slightly changed the protocol between the two devices when the Mikey was first introduced, so this version is designed to work specifically with the phone hardware rather than just the iPod. But that tweak isn't the only difference -- there's also a three-setting switch between low, medium, or high gain (and the switch is hooked up to three LEDs that will provide some indication of where you're setting it, which is definitely a helpful improvement). And the middle LED will flash as well when the mic gets distorted, so even if you're not listening during recording, you can see when things are too loud. The other big update is that the 1/4" input on the outside of the mic now will also accept both line and instrument inputs, so you'll be able to just plug your electric guitar right into the mic, which is a nice bonus if you don't already have a solution for that. The Mikey Digital will retail for $99, and should be out later this spring. The Spark Digital is a new mic that's designed specifically for the iPad. It's a version of one of the company's most popular studio mics that instead plugs directly into the iPad's dock connector, allowing you to record straight onto Garageband for iPad, or any other audio recording app (more on that in a second). The Spark also comes with a USB adapter, so you can also use it as a standard PC or Mac mic as well. It also has a gain control and a port for monitoring the audio off of a splitter, and there's a button called "Focus Control" that will change the mic's pickup two different ways, for closeup sound or wider recording. The Spark is suspended by a cord inside a stand, which helps prevent vibrations from reaching the mic's sensitive equipment. We didn't get a chance to hear the output of either microphone, but Blue's microphones are always quality -- especially for the price they're available at, these mics are some of the best value for the money. The Spark will be available this spring as well for $199, and that includes all of the cables, as well as a six-month subscription to both Soundcloud and Gobbler, for storing and sharing audio. Finally, we asked about Blue's iPhone app, Blue FiRe, and if it would ever arrive natively on the iPad. Money told us that while the app itself is still being supported by its developers, Blue's deal with them has ended, so it's no longer funding development on that app. Blue is apparently looking into possibly making a brand new official app, but Money says the result will probably be a long way off. "It's on our radar," she promised. In the meantime, these mics still work with any app that will record audio, including Apple's own Garageband, so there are still plenty of uses for Blue's products. Always good to see Blue and what they're putting out. We'll look forward to getting our hands on these later on this year.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Blue (update: video embedded)
Blue's been making some noise, crystal clear noise that is, here at CES with its mobile trio of mics, following up on the fan favorite Yeti line. Blue stops by, live at 3:30PM ET.Update: Interview video now embedded.
Blue Microphones Tiki, Mikey Digital and Spark Digital hands-on
We swung by Blue Microphones' booth at CES to get our hands on its trio of new mics, and while the Mikey Digital and Spark Digital (the former for iPhone and iPad, and the latter for iPad only) looked very much like their analog counterparts, the cute little Tiki was quite the attention-seeker with its cyborg snail-like shape (and did we mention that there's a push button on its butt for toggling Intelligent Mute?). The new Spark's shock-mount desktop stand also intrigued us -- we'd say it's a nice blend of the old mount and the Yeti's stand. Other than that, there's really not much else to say about these funky-looking mics, so we'll let our photos below do the rest of the job.
Blue Microphones outs Tiki, Spark Digital and Mikey Digital; looks to feed your mobile recording habit
Blue Microphones have become a solid choice for podcasters and recording enthusiasts alike. But if you're looking to sidestep that Yeti Pro next time you converse with your mates, the company has three new offerings that were announced at CES 2012. Looking to keep you mobile and at the top of your audio game, Blue's new trio packs quite a punch, so let's take a look.
New Blue Yeti Pro Mic stalking audio enthusiasts
Blue Microphones makes outstanding mics for musicians, podcasters and anyone else who needs to capture or transmit audio with great clarity and range. After using one of Blue's Yeti USB mics at Macworld Expo 2010, I bought one to improve my audio on TUAW TV Live and the TUAW Talkcast. That same mic has also been used for recording voiceovers, screencasts and a commemorative video, and it never fails to amaze me just how good the sound quality is. For many musicians, however, the Yeti just didn't do the job since it only had a USB connection. Now Blue has updated the Yeti with a new model, unsurprisingly called the Yeti Pro ($249.95 suggested retail price, available for less through some online sources). The Pro will make audio professionals happy, as it adds analog XLR output, an A-D converter chip, and a separate analog circuit path so it can be used with pro mixers and preamps. As with the existing Yeti, the Yeti Pro can be used in both studio and desktop environments. The four-position pattern selector knob is still on the mic's tubular body, providing a way to switch between stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional pickup patterns. There's still a mute button, gain control, and volume knob, and the base still has a standard threaded mic stand mount. %Gallery-121781%
Blue Microphones Yeti Pro review
USB microphones have come a long way in the past decade. We still remember our first experiences with them. Was it the 90's? It was the 90's, and it was a debacle: getting your drivers in line, wondering if the crappy plastic casing was going to snap off in your hand, and trying to figure out if you were going to be able to hear the audio through your Sound Blaster in the end anyway. We're happy to live in a 2011 that has the Yeti Pro, a seriously serious smooth operator that's likely to tickle grandma's fancy just as much as it will a jaded studio engineer's. Read on for the account of our engagement with the 3.4-pound beast.
Yeti Pro USB condenser microphone touts 24-bit / 192 kHz digital recording, XLR output, we go hands-on
Who says you have to wait until NAMM for new audio gear? Blue Microphones is on-hand here in Vegas to introduce its newest and Yeti-est USB condenser microphone to date: the Yeti Pro. Picking up where the original Yeti left off, this professionalized version offers a 24-bit / 129kHz digital recording resolution, analog XLR output and a proprietary triple capsule array. We got a chance to fondle a unit a little early and, as expected, it feels decidedly top shelf. Knobs turn smoothly and with just the right resistance, stand is heavy and secure. It'll ship later this month for $249, and you can catch the entire release just after the break. %Gallery-112569% %Gallery-112380%
Blue's Mikey microphone for iPhone and iPod finally shipping to picky recorders
If you need a little better acoustic recording from your iPhone or iPod, or if your portable device is simply fitting a little too easy into your pants pocket, Blue Microphones has your solution. Its Mikey microphone is finally shipping, after getting a debut nearly a year ago. The specs are still the same as we expected before, including CD-quality recording in stereo or mono with a swiveling base that lets it cover 230 degrees of your own little sound field. One thing that has changed, and quite nicely, is the cost: down to $80 from the previously expected $99 MSRP. Everybody likes that.
Second-generation Blue Microphones Mikey announced, uses free app
The audio wizards at Blue Microphones have wowed Mac and iPod fans with their Snowball, Snowflake, and Mikey microphones. Now, just before the start of CES 2010, Blue has announced the US$99.99 second generation Mikey Portable Recorder for iPod and iPhone. While the new Mikey hasn't yet achieved iPhone certification, it promises to be a powerful professional recording solution for iPhone owners when it arrives in the spring. Mikey still features two Blue mic capsules for pro-quality stereo recording, but now has improved acoustic circuitry for better recordings of loud events such as concerts. The new Mikey also has a 3.5mm line input for those times that you want to plug in a sound source like a guitar or mixer. There's also a USB pass-through connection for charging and syncing. A newly designed case makes Mikey usable with most iPhone cases, and the mic can be adjusted to seven fixed positions within a 230-degree range for optimum positioning. But wait, there's more! Blue is also throwing in a soft carrying pouch for Mikey, along with a headphone extension cable for playback monitoring with the iPod touch and nano. Blue has also put a high-fidelity field recording app for iPhone and iPod touch into the App Store. Blue FiRe [Free, iTunes Link] has been out for a few months and is optimized for the second generation Mikey. The combination of the high-quality mic and free software produces a complete mobile recording experience. Expect to see the new Mikey at Apple Stores, Guitar Center, and Amazon.com this spring. [via Engadget]
