Skipper Tip: Side address mic – How to use Yeti, Yeti Pro correctly

August 10th, 2011

Are you using your Yeti or Yeti Pro correctly? Find out how to make sure you’re getting quality recordings with your Yeti or Yeti Pro. Blue Mics founder, Skipper Wise, explains how these mics were designed to capture sound.

The triple capsule arrangement inside of Yeti and Yeti Pro was designed to be as versatile as possible. The capsules are positioned in a unique configuration that allows for multiple patterns of cardioid, stereo, bi-directional and omni. In order to achieve this versatility, the capsules have been positioned in a side address manner, meaning they capture audio from the sides of the mic grill, not the top. You will lose presence if you speak directly into the top of the mic.

Side address mic: Capsules face OUT, not UP inside mic grill

For Cardioid and Stereo: When facing the Blue logo on the Yeti or Yeti Pro, you are in position for achieving the best sound.

For Bi-directional: Imagine the Blue logo is also on the opposite side of the Yeti or Yeti Pro, address the logos for achieving the best sound.

For Omni: The triple capsule array allows Yeti and Yeti Pro to capture the best sound 360 degrees around the mic when addressing the sides of the mic.


 

Shock & Awe – Breakdown of Blue Mics shockmount accessories

July 27th, 2011

Blue Microphones ships specific custom shockmounts with some of our pro mics including Reactor, Spark, Woodpecker and Mouse. BUT we also have shockmounts that work for multiple mics and can be purchased separately. Find out which shock would work for you:

S2 Shockmount was designed to work with Blue’s Dragonfly, Blueberry and Cactus microphones. All of our shockmounts and pop filters are composed of solid brass and individually hand-built and soldered.

S3 Shockmount was designed for use with Blue’s Bottle Rocket Stage 1, Bottle Rocket Stage 2, Kiwi, Baby Bottle, Bluebird, and Spark mics. Isolates mic from stand vibration and protects mic capsule from shock, while built-in thumbscrew assembly allows easy positioning.

Radius is the shockmount for the Yeti and Yeti Pro USB microphones. Combining cool vintage styling with rugged durability, the Radius isolates the microphone from ambient vibration. Radius works with Yeti/Yeti Pro as well as virtually any mic with a standard thread mount.

The Ringer is a vintage-style suspension mount designed to isolate the microphone body from ambient vibration when mounted on a mic stand. The Ringer works with Blue’s Snowball USB microphone as well as virtually any mic with a standard thread mount.


 

9 Sounds of the Bottle Cap series

June 28th, 2011

The Bottle Caps are Blue’s innovative system of nine interchangeable capsules, each offering the recordist a different tonal characteristic and pickup pattern. From airy highs to larger-than-life lows, the Bottle Caps capture anything from vocals to bass, wind instruments to horns — and everything in between with a level of detail and clarity found in only the most expensive and rare vintage classics. The Bottle Caps work with Blue’s Bottle, Bottle Rocket Stage Two, and Bottle Rocket Stage One mics, or any microphone with a foundation for interchangable capsules. Each capsule in the series is numbered from B0 to B8, and each has their own unique sound, let’s find out what they are…

B0

Sounds like: Airy top end, silky vocal sound

Bottle Rocket Stage 1, Bottle, Bottle Rocket Stage 2

B1

Sounds like: Ultimate for acoustic instruments

B2

Sounds like: Vintage rich ribbon sound with muted top end & detailed midrange

B3

Sounds like: Accurate, neutral sound

B4

Sounds like: Best for live & orchestral applications

B5

Sounds like: Dramatic top & bottom

B6

Sounds like: The renowned Blue sonic signature –smooth, liquid presence

B7

Sounds like: Today’s vintage sound

B8

Sounds like: All-purpose, our “TPO” (The Popular Opinion) sound


 

Skipper Tip: Avoid Signal Loss with enCORE 200

June 24th, 2011

Worried about signal loss with your live mic on long cable runs? Not an issue with enCORE 200.

The enCORE 200 can be thought of as your own personal security guard to protect you from inconsistent sound. The unique circuitry in this phantom powered dynamic live microphone stabilizes the tone and avoids any signal loss do to long cable runs. Your focus can now be on your performance, knowing that from show to show your sound is secure.

–Skipper Wise

Founder | President


 

Blue Mics Gift Guide for Dads & Grads

June 14th, 2011

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:

Yeti Pro

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.

Mikey

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.

Snowball

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.