What to get for the guitar-playing, at-home rockstar dad? What to get for the music-loving recent grad who will only be a Skype call away? We have a few suggestions!

Dads & Grads:

USB Meets XLR
Taking USB recording to the next level – Yeti Pro is the world’s first USB microphone combining 24 bit/192 kHz recording resolution, the highest digital resolution on the market, with analog XLR output. Like the Yeti, Yeti Pro features Blue’s premium condenser capsules set in a proprietary triple capsule array, offering the flexibility of four recording patterns.
Yeti Pro is designed to provide the highest performance possible in a digital microphone. With recording resolution of 24bit/192kHz, Yeti Pro captures audio with four times greater detail than CD-quality audio. Building upon the technology in the No. 1-selling Yeti, Yeti Pro offers Blue’s custom condenser capsules in a triple array with four distinct recording patterns (cardioid, omni, stereo, bi-directional) for both digital and analog recording. Like Yeti, Yeti Pro also maintains zero-latency headphone output with volume control for direct monitoring, adjustable gain control and a digital mute button. The Yeti’s angle can be adjusted on its custom-designed desk stand or secured to a stand with its standard mic thread. Like all of Blue’s USB microphones, Yeti Pro is compatible with both Mac and PC. For analog recording, Yeti Pro also includes an XLR stereo breakout cable for simple attachment to analog equipment.
Works with iPad: With the latest iOS 4.3 update and the camera connection kit offering a USB hookup, the doors reopened for professional-quality recording on the iPad. Yeti and Yeti Pro can be connected through a powered USB hub, along with Apple’s camera connection kit for the highest quality digital recording to your iPad.
Yeti Pro is available now for $249.

Summer is coming and with it comes music festival and concert season! Does dad or grad love live music? Or imagine if your soon-to-be college student could replay a difficult lecture to help with a homework assignment or to prep for a big test—
Record straight to your iPod, iPod touch or iPhone 3G with Blue Microphones’ Mikey (www.bluemic.com/mikeyforipod), a plug-and-play, CD-quality microphone that simply connects to the dock and will work with any recording app.
Now with improved circuitry for superior recording at higher volumes, Mikey features two custom-tuned Blue capsules for professional-quality, stereo recording capabilities with three sensitivity settings to capture everything from a concert to soft vocals. Keeping your iPhone 4 free for calls and texts, Mikey can turn your previous gen iPod, iPod touch or iPhone 3G/S into the ultimate recording device. Mikey includes a 3.5mm line-input for direct recording of other sound sources such as a guitar, mixer or even another iPod to overdub audio.

Whether Dad/Grad is an amateur musician, weekend podcaster, or will be spending time on Skype as the grad moves away from dad, this year get them a gadget they’ll love-
Snowball (www.bluemic.com/snowball), the ultimate in studio-quality home recording, is Blue’s iconic professional USB microphone. Featuring a dual capsule design, Snowball allows three recordings patterns (cardioids, omni, and cardioids w/10db pad for instruments) giving him incredible versatility to produce great recordings in a wide range of situations, i.e. podcasts, conference calls, instruments, home video voiceovers, bands, etc. Easy to use – Snowball can be adjusted on its custom-designed desk stand and features driverless installation and works with both PC and Mac. Also compatible with iPad via Apple’s camera connection kit! Snowball is available now for $99 at Apple Retail Store, Fry’s Electronics, Amazon.com and more.