Kina Grannis trying out the Woodpecker

Kina’s new album will be dropping on April 15th and we got a sneak peek of her sound on the Bottle. Check it out here:

She self-released her debut full-length Stairwells in February of 2010 debuting on Billboard’s Top 200 and #5 on iTunes’ Pop Chart. On April 5th, Kina will re-release a remixed and remastered version of Stairwells – which will feature 4 brand new tracks – as well as a deluxe version that will include additional original music, select cover songs from her YouTube channel, exclusive videos and the offical music video for “Valentine,” which has amassed 7-million views on YouTube.  Also, Kina’s North American World In Front Of Me headline tour will begin on April 2 at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall.  Kina’s music is both sweet and melancholy, but always filled with hope.

Podcast

In 2007, Kina joined YouTube, made a music video and entered herself into a contest. A few months later, her video for “Message From Your Heart” aired during the Superbowl and its 97 million viewers (or 194 million eyeballs, depending on how you’re keeping track) and she walked away with a record deal.

Get to know Kina and learn how she turned a YouTube video into a Superbowl ad in our podcast.

(Westlake Village, CA—October 19, 2010) – Blue Microphones, a leading innovator in microphone technology and design, announces Spark (www.bluemic.com/spark), a cardioid, solid-state condenser microphone, with high-quality, fully discrete components and an innovative Focus control offering two sonic signatures. Along with its striking design and ability to capture a wide range of recording situations, Spark also comes with a custom shockmount and pop filter in a professional wooden case for $199.

“With Spark, we are excited to offer our proprietary capsule technology to a wider audience in an exceptionally versatile microphone,” said John Maier, CEO of Blue Microphones. “Spark is a high-quality recording tool that comes with everything needed for a truly professional recording experience at an affordable price. Even our new Focus control technology is designed to make it easy to record and get professional results right out of the box without requiring processing.”

Spark features Blue’s premium condenser capsule, delivering low noise, high efficiency, and rapid response in any recording situation. Out of the box, the sonic signature of Spark is crisp and powerful with an enhanced low end. To achieve a more present sound, Blue introduces the Focus control, which when selected results in a tighter, more direct and focused sound. Spark utilizes custom-matched circuitry with the same professional-quality, Class-A discrete components found in Blue’s extensive line of professional microphones. The circuit design also pairs Spark’s condenser capsule with a phantom-powered outboard amplifier to drive the capsule with linear control and accuracy.

To complete the experience, Spark comes inside a high-quality wooden box, with a custom shockmount and metal pop filter. This all-inclusive professional microphone package also provides a detailed recording guide showing complete setup and recording tips for a variety of instruments and vocal sounds. Spark comes with a three year manufacturer’s warranty.

Spark, MSRP $199, will be available in November at authorized Blue Microphones dealers. For more information, visit www.bluemic.com/spark.

In addition to having his remix chosen and listened to by multi-platinum artist, Xzibit, Maxwell received an amazing prize package, including: an all expense trip to Los Angeles, where he attended DJ Skee’s live DJ show, SKEETOX, at the world famous Roxy Theatre; a Blue microphone; tour of Blue Microphones studio headquarters; an interview for DJ Skee’s Radio Show, Live from L.A..; and a premium Monster Cable prize pack, with over $3,200 in gear, including instrument, mic and speaker cables, the Pro 700 Power Center, two 1000 Power Centers and the Turbine Pro Gold In-Ear headphones.

We have captured Maxwell’s amazing “Hurt Locker” remix experience on video – check it out!

Jamie Hill

We sat down with Jamie to talk about how he uses the Dragonfly mic to get the best sound:

1. How do you use the Dragonfly?

I’ve been using the Dragonflies as cymbal spot mics lately for some live work. Not as overheads — the act I’m mixing at the moment has a lot of backing tracks, which takes up a considerable amount of space frequency-wise, so I’m finding myself needing to use spot mics with severely band-limited EQs all around the kit in order to leave space in my mix for everything that’s going on. To this end, I’ve been high-passing the Dragonflies at like 3,500 Hz! My goal is to reject as much of the rest of the kit as possible, not to mention the clang-ier parts of the cymbals themselves. I’m just going for that higher-end sheen.

3. In what ways are you using the mic to get the best sound for your  purpose?

I’m using my Dragonflies to capture the high-end sheen of our drummer’s cymbals. In other words, I’m trying to pick up as little of the rest of the kit as possible, and as little stick sound as possible. With that in mind, I’m positioning each Dragonfly over a cymbal pair (left and right), in-between said cymbal pair, at the outside of the kit (on the opposite side of the cymbal from where the drummer hits it). I’m aiming the capsules maybe 10 degrees outward from straight down, and they’re about 26 inches above the cymbals. I’m actually using the cymbals to block the mics’ line of sight from the toms, the better to minimize any spill that I can. The snare still gets in there a bit, but only the top end of it as I’m high-passing the Dragonflies at 3,500 Hz, and the top-end snare spill actually helps the snare poke through the mix a bit, so it all works out well in the end.

Given that, I feel largely unqualified to talk about anything below 3,500 Hz on these mics! From 3,500 cycles up, though, they’re super. The high end is smooth, detailed, and not crispy in the least — even in 25,000-person concrete amphitheaters, which will quickly betray any shrill tendencies a mic might have.

Also, I especially love how the capsule rotates. For live work, this is a life-saver — loosening and tightening a mic stand to hone in on a position is a drag when your console is 125 feet from the sound source! I can just have a stagehand rotate the capsule a bit if need be, and the rest of the mic stays put. Genius.

4. What is your best advice to other artists/producers using this mic?

Get rid of the case it comes with and put it in a case that allows you to leave the shock-mount on!

Stardust Galaxies on iTunes

At Blue Studios:

Kahn Morbee, lead singer of The Parlotones, at Blue studio

Find out when you’ll have the chance to see this phenomenal touring act by observing their Events Page.

Be sure to also follow The Parlotones on Twitter

During a quick jam session with Travis Barker, Yelawolf drops some beats and lyrics on the Kiwi:

Yelawolf on the Kiwi

See the full video below or here

DGTLXWW: Yelawolf “A Day In the Hustle” (Extended Version) from DGTLX WW on Vimeo.

Don’t forget to subscribe:

The Blue Microphones Official Podcast is hosted by Tyler Barth from Blue Studios located in Westlake Village, California where we invite our favorite artists to come out and co-host the show. Get to know more about our special guests and the music they both play and enjoy. Each podcast features a track that our special guests will cut in the Blue Studio.

This is your one-stop solution for getting the legendary 3-mic technique recording, but why is this the best way to get the best sound? Blue’s Microphones’ founder Skipper Wise explains -

“The unique sonic signature of the Dragonfly was created by boosting the upper bass frequencies at 100-150hz to help thicken up thin signal sources. This character coupled with a slightly depressed mid range at 400hz and an extended top end at 12-15kHz, helps cymbals to be recorded with a live and present rich timbre. The rotating grill which house the Blue hand tuned large diaphragm condenser capsule can be positioned for the optimum placement with ease.

Filling in the deeper bass frequencies, the Mouse microphone takes on the chore of handling loud signal sources (SPL) such as the kick drum. Known for its durability in the recording environment, the Mouse is as versatile as it looks with its shockmounted rotating head.

These three microphones complete the sonic spectrum needed in producing a full-bodied, live recording session for the most discerning drummer and engineer.”

Blue Pro Drum Kit Kit