Can’t find a headset/mic combination you like?  Do you have a favorite pair of headphones but no mic?  Wouldn’t it be great to just add a microphone to your own headphones anytime you like?  You may remember my own attempts at using a hot glue gun to attach a microphone to my own comfy headphones…  Fortunately, the AntLion Audio ModMic detachable boom microphone solves this problem.

Oh, THAT'S an antlion

Made in Oregon!

Specs:

• Jack: 3.5mm
• 
Pattern: Omnidirectional
• Sensitivity: -26 ± 3 dB
• Response: 30 Hz–17.5 kHz ± 3 dB
• SNR: 58+ dB
• Impedance: 2.2 KΩ
• Operating Voltage: 1 to 10V
• Max current at 2.0V: 500 µA
• Max input SPL: 110 dB
• Boom Length: ~5 inches (~12.7 cm, stock), ~6 inches (~15.2 cm, maximum length)
• Clasp Height: 0.5 inches (1.27 cm, attached), 0.2 inches (0.5 cm, detached)
• Microphone Weight (mic and clasp): 4 grams (0.14 ounces)
• Total Weight (mic, clasp, and cable): 20 grams (0.71 ounces)

The NeoClasp magnets have a peel-off adhesive on one side, and a four-pronged “tooth” system that lets you adjust the mic angle.  If you unscrew the cap, you can adjust the length of the mic boom.

Closeup of the NeoClasp magnet

Length adjustment

To attach, simply attach the adhesive NeoClasp magnet to your favorite headphones.  You’ll need a flat surface, since the magnet itself is flat.  In my case, my Sennheiser PX100-II folding headphones don’t have a flat surface, so I cut a tiny piece of double-stick foam tape to do the trick.

Favorite headphones + boom mic = goodness

How does it sound?  Sounds great!  I called up my brothers-in-law, who I usually use to try this sort of stuff out with, and they could not tell I was using something that was essentially completely custom.  Voices sounded almost booming, as if the mic was too close.  The 6mm electret capsule condenser microphone at the end of a 5″ long boom is flexible, so you can move it closer or further away from your mouth.  The cable is a VERY generous 11.5 feet long to reach the back of your computer.

If there’s one thing I would improve on is the design of the magnet “teeth”.  Because there are four teeth, you can only rotate the mic at 90 degree increments.  Perhaps 8 or 16 teeth would have allowed a more usable coarse adjustment for mic-to-mouth alignment, while the bendy bit works for fine tuning.

Now I have no excuse for NOT having my favorite pair of headphones to use for that next Skype session or fragfest!

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Gaming Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Gaming, Headset, microphone, skype, VOIP speaker/mic

AntLion Audio ModMic Detachable Boom Microphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 23, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Blue Microphone recently released the Radius shockmount for their Yeti and Yeti Pro microphones (both microphones have the same mount and form-factor). A shockmount is used to isolate your microphone from vibration while recording. The mount is specifically designed to work with the Yeti and Yeti Pro, but could be used with almost any microphone with a standard mount.

Blue sent me a Radius to use with the Yeti Pro I recently reviewed. I was happy to give it a spin.

Packaging

The mount comes in standard plastic clamshell packaging. The only directions come from the two photos in the front displaying a Yeti with a desktop stand, and Yeti Pro on a boom stand. The lack of extensive directions is understandable, it is a simple device. Here is a picture of the mount:

At the bottom of the picture is the connector that attaches to your stand. The radius does not include a stand, but will screw onto any standard microphone stand. As you can see in the picture, the inner ring that attaches to the microphone is attached to the outer ring only by the elastic cords. This prevents vibration from the microphone stand transferring to the microphone.

Looking from the bottom, you can see the Yeti Pro mounted on the Radius. While on the Radius, you can rotate the microphone a full 360 degrees to get the right direction for the microphone. Of course, with the USB or XLR port on the bottom of the microphone, you are limited to a range slightly less than 360 (you need space to plug it in), but that is sufficient to provide flexibility in setting up the microphone. In this case, the microphone is rotated 180 degrees, and the XLR port is blocked. Since this would be pointing the microphone back at the stand, this is not a big issue, but you should be aware of it.

Here is the Yeti Pro installed on the Radius. In this case the microphone is centered in the radius, and points away from where the Radius mounts to the microphone stand.

Here is the microphone and Radius on a boom stand. Notice, when the microphone is positioned in the center, both the XLR and USB ports are uncovered. It is very easy to rotate the microphone in the mount to get the ideal microphone placement.

Conclusion

The Radius works very nicely with the Yeti. It is very easy to install, and very flexible as you tweak your microphone placement. If you have a Yeti, or Yeti Pro and need a shockmount, this is a great option. Even if you do not care about vibrations, using the shockmount provides increased flexibility in positioning your microphone.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: microphone, Mounting bracket

The Radius for Yeti Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 29, 2011 at 4:30 pm.

Last year I reviewed the Yeti USB microphone. At the time, I really liked the microphone, and over the last year using it, my opinion of it has only improved. Honestly, when it comes to my needs, the Yeti was definitely a 10. When they released the Yeti Pro, I was intrigued to see what they did to improve on it, and fortunately I was offered the opportunity to review one.

So, as the philosopher Nigel Tufnel once observed: “You’re on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, … Where can you go from there? Where?” Where indeed. Let’s take a look at the Yeti Pro, and see how it compares to it’s non-pro cousin.

The Yeti Basics

Just like the Yeti, the Yeti Pro has a triple capsule design that can be used to cover four different recording patterns:

• Stereo
• Cardiod
• Omni
• Bidirectional

The Yeti Pro Additions

The first thing you will notice about the pro is color. The pro is decked out in black instead of the silver finish of the original Yeti.

The black finish is a nice touch, and the stand on the Yeti Pro also has a titanium finish. There is no longer a THX logo on the front of the microphone. I asked about this, and the rep explained that the THX certification for microphones is not continuing, but all the specs on the Yeti Pro meet or exceed the Yeti.

A less cosmetic change are the connections. The Yeti Pro has the USB and Headphone jack of the Yeti, but also adds a stereo XLR jack on the bottom.

It also retains the standard threaded mic stand mount.

First Impressions

As with the Yeti, and other blue products, a lot of thought and design went into the packaging. The Yeti comes with a short manual, an XLR breakout cable (for the right and left channels of the XLR output) and a USB cable.

Not only is the packaging design attractive, it is also very informational. They include a nice chart to break down which of the four recording patterns are best for different applications.

The Specs

Having XLR outputs is enough to label this a Pro, but they also bumped the specifications of the microphone. Here are the specs for the Yeti Pro, with the Yeti’s in blue and parenthesis where different:

Microphone

Power Required/Consumption: 5V 500mA (USB)/48V DC (analog) (up from 150mA)
Sample Rate: 192 kHz (up from 48 kHz)
Bit Rate: 24bit  (up from 16bit)
Capsules: 3 Blue-proprietary 14mm condenser capsules
Polar Patterns: Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, Stereo
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Sensitivity: 4.5mV/Pa (1 kHz)
Max SPL: 120dB (THD: 0.5% 1kHz)

Headphone Amplifier

Impedance: >16 ohms
Power Output (RMS): 130 mW
THD: 0.009%
Frequency Response: 15 Hz – 22 kHz
Signal to Noise: 114dB (up from 100dB)

Setup

As with the Yeti, setup with the Yeti Pro was fairly simple. It is a little different in terms of drivers, but I was able to plug and play on my MacBook Pro, and after installing the driver for Windows 7, had not issue using the microphone with Bootcamp on my MacBook Pro.

Controls

The Yeti Pro has a dial to control gain (sensitivity) and the recording pattern on the back of the microphone:

The front of the microphone contains controls to mute the microphone and to control the volume on the headphone:

These controls only work when you are using the microphone in USB mode. If you are using the XLR connections, the headphone volume and mute do not work. The Blue tech I talked to explained that the this part of the microphone is powered by the USB port, so naturally they are not available in XLR mode. This should not be an issue, though, as all those functions are better controlled on the mixing board when using the XLR connections.

When using the USB connection, a solid red light on the mute button means the microphone is on and working, a blinking light means that mute is on. I find this an odd way of displaying the information. If the the LED was not on the button, I think it would make more sense. It does not take long to keep that straight, though. Also, since volume can now be controlled digitally, the volume button does not have a clear minimum or maximum setting. You simply turn clockwise to make it louder, and counter-clockwise to make it softer.

Performance

I have replaced my Yeti with the Yeti Pro and have had no issues with the new microphone. I think my demonstration from my review of the original Yeti on recording patterns still suffices for those features.

Unfortunately, I am not a pro, so I can’t really show off the difference in quality. My primary use for a microphone is to record audio for web-delivered content. Frankly, the higher sample and bit rates offered by the Yeti Pro are not going to be readily apparent in my use of the microphone, since I tend to compress the audio and was not utilizing the full quality from the Yeti. I guess the best analogy is my dSLR. Sure I take a 10 Megapixel picture, but by the time I resize them for the web, you are not getting the full effect. However, it captures more information when I first take the picture, so the end-result is better than my camera phone.

Is It One Louder?

As I mentioned up top, I was a huge fan of the Yeti, and I wondered how will they would improve it. Did it go to 11? Actually I think it goes to 12. The bump in specifications (even if I can’t fully exploit them for my applications) takes it to 11, and then the addition of the XLR output takes it to 12.

I am not a professional musician, but I have good friends who are. I have also filled in on sound boards at times, so I know professionals can get a little sentimental about their microphones. The flexibility of using this microphone as a USB mic in casual settings, and then turning around and hooking it up to a professional sound board should be appealing to pros and semi-pros.

Is It Worth It?

The answer to this is the universal answer: it depends. If you are looking to have the best microphone you can for USB, Blue has taken their top-of-class Yeti and made it more responsive. If you are looking for the ability to go beyond USB and hook up your microphone to a professional sound board, the stereo XLR output will be worth it. If you need a microphone for recording podcasts, and you don’t need the XLR outputs, then you are probably better off saving a $100 and sticking with the Yeti. You are not really settling with that microphone.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Musical Gear, Reviews

Tagged: microphone, xlr, yeti

Yeti Pro by Blue Microphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 12, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

Blue Microphones announced the Radius, a suspension shockmount for the Yeti and Yeti Pro. The Radius is designed to isolate the microphone body from ambient vibration when mounted on a mic stand. It is similar to the Ringer, which is designed for the Snowball USB mic. Radius allows the Yeti or Yeti Pro to sit upright on a mic stand or be mounted onto a boom stand. It lists for $69.99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: microphone

Blue Microphones Announces Radius Shockmount for Yeti, Yeti Pro originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 22, 2011 at 8:00 am.

CompuExpert, a division of Digital Interactive Systems Corp. extensively searches the globe for the most innovative and unique electronic gadgets and peripherals and brings them exclusively to the North American market.  They are introducing the i-Microphone, a convenient and affordable device to enhance the recording capabilities of your US smartphone and other US mobile devices.  The i-Microphone has a weatherproof brass body, and it records up to 12 db louder than the microphones built in to most mobile devices, and RF shielding reduces interference and feedback and can improve recording quality up to 83% over built-in mics.  The i-Microphone has a suggest retail price of $29.99.

Filed in categories: Android related, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: microphone, Spotlight Gadgets

Improve Your Smartphone’s Recording Abilities with the i-Microphone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 22, 2011 at 6:30 am.

Last year I reviewed Blue Microphone’s Yeti. It is a great microphone for using at home, and I have read of some folks hacking things so that it works with their iPad, but it is not really a portable solution. For that, Blue released the Mikey.

The Mikey is designed to work with the iPhone and iPod Touch (except for the latest versions). It plugs into the standard iPhone/Touch connector and can be used by with Blue’s Blue FiRe application, or a number of other applications. Blue FiRe is available for free in the iTunes store.

What’s in The Box

Not much. But that’s a compliment. This is designed to be portable, and it is very minimalistic:

• Mikey
• Case
• Manual

The Hardware

Again, the Mikey is about portability, so it is designed to be light. This means, plastic. It doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy, but it is light. The technical specs include:

• Condenser, Pressure Gradient
• Cardiod pattern
• 35Hz – 20kHz frequency response
• 44.1 kHz/16 bit Sample/Word
• 2.5″ by 2.5″ by .5″

The stats are not that far off of the Yeti. It doesn’t have the multiple patterns, or go quite as low in frequency, but it is an impressive set of stats for a portable microphone.

The Mikey has a mini-USB connector and a standard 3.5 mm stereo input. The USB port allows you to power and charge your iPod or iPhone while using the microphone. It will not let you sync your iPod, it only provides power. The stereo port allows you to connect typical audio sources to record on your device. When connected, the microphone is automatically turned off.

Compatible Devices

Now, if you pay attention to the bylines here, you will know that I am an Android guy. I have to admit, however, that one of the advantages of the iOS system is standard hardware (for the most part, but I’ll cover that later). As much as I wish there was a Mikey for Android, I recognize the difficulty that Blue would face making one that would work with all the Android hardware, or the headache of stocking various versions. However, if they could make a Droid X version, I would be thrilled.

The Mikey works with most iPod devices. It even works with the iPod Nano 2G-5G, the iPod classic and the iPod 5G. However, since they are not iOS devices, you are limited to the capabilities of the built-in recording features. To really unlock the Mikey, you need an iOS device. Remember how I said an advantage of the iOS environment is standards? Well, unfortunately, Apple change physical connector with the latest iPhone 4 and iPod Touch. This means that the Mikey only works with iPod Touch 1G-3G and iPhone 3GS and earlier. Again, this is a physical change to the hardware, so this Mikey will not work with the current devices, there will need to be a new design.

Fortunately, I own an iPod Touch second generation, and this gave me a reason to upgrade the iOS on it, and download the application. I had no problems finding and loading the application, and was up and running in no time.

Mikey and iPod Touch

Attaching the Mikey is very simple. I did not even have to remove the protective case for the iPod Touch:

In the picture, you can also see the BluFiRe application. More on that later.

The Mikey rotates to a number of positions. It is very flexible. Here is an example of how you might use the Mikey on a table:

Here is another picture with the Mikey attach to my old Nano:

Controls

The only control on the Mikey itself is the sensitivity switch. This is a 3-position switch that controls how sensitive the microphone is. The blue LED indicates which sensitivity the Mikey is set to. The label for the lights show 1, 2, or 3 wavy lines. Think of the lines as representing how loud the source is. They suggest the following:

• 1 Wave: most sensitive, for recording soft sound sources like un-amplified lectures or distant sources.
• 2 Waves: medium sensitivity, for recording speaking voices in interviews and meetings, or acoustic instruments,
• 3 Waves: low sensitivity, for recording loud sound sources.

It is easy to experiment with, and you will want to try different settings to see what works best for you. I found the lowest setting (3 waves) best for me when talking into the microphone since I was talking close to the microphone, and frankly, I have a loud voice.

Playback

Since you are recording on a device designed to play, playback is straightforward. The only issue I had was that the headphone jack on my iPod Touch is next to the connector, so I was unable to use the headphones while the Mikey was attached. This was not a big issue for me, but is an inconvenience.

Applications

You can download Blue Microphones BluFiRe app on any iOS device for free. It is a fairly simple, straightforward application that has some really nice features. I will cover that in more details in a moment. For more sophisticated needs, the Mikey is compatible with FourTrack from Sonoma Wire Works. It is a $10 app in the App store, and looks like a great tool for musicians. If your interest lies there, check out the demos on Blue’s web site.

Since I am cheap, and my primary application is voice, I stuck to the BluFiRe application.

It is not the most intuitive application I have used, but after spending only a little time with it, it is easy to pick up. Here is a look at the main screen:

In addition to listing the current recordings, the bottom of the screen provides quick links to browser access (more on that later), playing, and a plus sign to start a new recording.

The recording screen displays control buttons, and sound meters. I found this really easy to use, especially when determining which of the 3 settings to use. Right from the recording, you use an FTP link to FTP the file to a web site.

This is a nice feature, but the applications provides in even nicer, in my opinion, way to get recordings off of your device. They call it browser access.

Once you click on the Browser access icon from the main screen, you get this screen:

If you iOS device is connected to the same wireless network, you can then use your browser to access the recordings. Here is an example of what that page looks like:

You can choose MP3 or AIFF from the format drop-down and then download the file. The number after the “:” in the address changes each time. If you look closely, you can see I took the screen shot from the iPod Touch (:49316) at a different time than the browser window (:49315). So you can’t bookmark the address for later, but it is still an excellent way to download the recordings quickly.

Sound Quality

I found the sound quality to be very good. As a sample, I recorded myself on my Yeti and Mikey at the same time, and combined the two tracks in Garageband to demo. It’s basic, I did no tweaking, but I think it will give you an idea. Most is from the Yeti, when I talk about the Mikey, it is from the Mikey.

It is an unfair comparison, but the Mikey does pretty well. I find the Yeti to be a little crisper and clearer, but am impressed by the Mikey.

Who is it for?

It seems to me, this is a great product for a musician who wants to do some impromptu recording. The Four Track demo on the Blue Microphone site shows how flexible it can be. For myself, this will make an excellent portable recording option.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPhone, microphone

Blue Microphone Mikey for iPhone and iPod Touch Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 4, 2011 at 12:05 pm.

The Samson Meteor Mic is a chrome plated USB microphone with an interesting fold-up design. It has a large 25mm condenser diaphragm, a cardioid pickup pattern, flat frequency response of 20Hz – 20kHz and records in CD quality, 16-bit, 44.1/48kHz resolution. It can function as a Skype microphone and is great for all sorts of recording applications from Podcasts to music. It will be available for $99 (retail) on April 15 at all Best Buy locations.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: microphone, Spotlight Gadgets, USB

Samson to launch new USB Meteor Mic today at CES originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 6, 2011 at 8:04 am.

Not sure what’s going on, but all of a sudden it seems that everyone thinks that the Flip Video camera has crappy audio and needs to be fixed. Ok, not everyone… But just yesterday I posted a news item about the Mikey Mic from Blue Mic and now today we have news from Scosche with a similar offering. Their new FreedomMIC features a high performance condenser microphone with DSP noise cancellation. Recording and stop functions can be controlled wirelessly from the Bluetooth enabled microphone transmitter which can be clipped on subject. The freedomMIC will be available at scosche.com and from retailers that sell the new Flip cameras that feature the new FlipPort line in mid to late December 2010 for $99.99 MSRP.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Flip Video, microphone, Spotlight Gadgets

Scosche Wants to Boost your Flip Video Camera’s Audio Too originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 21, 2010 at 8:53 pm.

Blue Microphones has announced the Mikey for Flip, a professional-quality external microphone that lets Flip Video camera users capture even better sound for their Flip videos. As part of their new Designed for Flip accessory line of products, Mikey for Flip connects to all FlipPort-enabled Flip video cameras and features Blue Microphone’s premium capsules for enhanced recording of everything from a whisper to a rock concert. Full press release after the jump.

Blue Microphones Announces Mikey for Flip,
Microphone Accessory for Flip Video Camera
 
Mikey for Flip is an enhanced-capability microphone offering professional-quality audio for FlipPort™-enabled Flip video cameras
 
(Westlake Village, CA—September 20, 2010) – Blue Microphones, a leading innovator in microphone technology and design, announces Mikey for Flip (www.bluemic.com/mikeyforflip), a professional-quality external microphone that lets Flip Video™ users capture even better sound for their Flip videos. As part of the new Designed for Flip™ accessory line, Mikey for Flip connects to all FlipPort™-enabled Flip video cameras and features Blue Microphone’s premium capsules for enhanced recording of everything from a whisper to a rock concert.
 
“We are excited to offer this new Mikey model to provide Flip Video owners with expanded audio recording capabilities,” said John Maier, CEO of Blue Microphones. “Mikey for Flip helps users maximize the audio quality of their Flip videos with an easy-to-use, portable microphone that connects directly to the camera, and delivers great audio in any situation.”
 
Mikey for Flip features two of Blue’s custom-tuned condenser capsules for professional-quality stereo recording.  Users can choose between ‘Loud’ or ‘Automatic’ sensitivity settings, allowing users to record any volume level clearly, from a marching band to a wedding.  Mikey for Flip also features a mic input jack for easy plug-in of additional microphones like a lavalier, handheld or corded interview microphone.  Mount the Flip video camera on Mikey’s built-in tripod mount or stand it upright on Mikey’s wide base design for hands-free recording.
 
Mikey for Flip is plug-and-play with automatic power-on, using a AAA battery to conserve power on the Flip video camera for longer recording time. The compact and lightweight design of Mikey for Flip makes it easy to connect and use, while the included soft carrying pouch keeps it protected on the go.
 
Mikey for Flip, MSRP $69, will debut at CES 2011. For more information, visit www.bluemic.com/mikeyforflip.
 
###
About Blue Microphones
Blue Microphones designs and produces an extensive line of award-winning microphones and recording tools for audio professionals, musicians and consumers.  Founded in 1995, and headquartered in Southern California, Blue continues a lengthy tradition of innovative, cutting-edge design and astounding performance. Named as one of the fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine in 2010, Blue offers a range of recording tools for almost any application in both professional and consumer markets. From Blue’s flagship recording tool, the Bottle, to the enCORE line of professional live mics, to our new Mikey iPod Recorder, Blue has just the tool to capture your creativity. Check out the complete range of Blue products at www.bluemic.com.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: microphone, Spotlight Gadgets, Video Camera

Improve the Flip Video Camera’s Audio Capability with Blue Mics Mikey Mic originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 20, 2010 at 10:00 am.

Blue Microphone has extended their USB microphone line to include the Yeti. The Yeti is a retro-looking microphone that has the flexibility to use four different recording patterns to adjust to your recording needs. These include:

• Stereo
• Cardiod
• Omni
• Bidirectional

When Julie asked if anyone would be interested in reviewing this microphone, I became Horshack to her Mr. Kotter (and yes, I DID just make a mid-to-late ’70′s reference). My day job is instructional design which increasingly involves more and more e-learning projects. I have been looking for a USB mic, and this was definitely a contender.

Who is Blue?

Blue has a very good reputation with musicians. They have a very high-end line of microphones. Their tube-based Bottle microphone runs $6,000, so they should know quality microphones. Their USB line started with the Snowball microphone, a softball-sized USB mike that they claim was the first professional USB mic. They kept the theme with the smaller Snowflake microphone. So when they brought out the huge microphone I am reviewing here, they must have thought… “hmmm, it’s Big… kind of like the Abominable Snowman… I know… Yeti!”.

First Impressions

I really like the packaging. It is creative, entertaining, and very informative. The mike and stand come packed in a styrofoam, and they include a USB cable and a short manual.

This microphone is big. And it is heavy. But I am not complaining. The weight feels comfortable to me, it feels very stable on the desktop. I really like the stand that it comes with, but if you need to, it has a standard threaded mic stand mount on the bottom between the micro-USB and headphone jack:

Setup

Setup is very simple. Plug the USB cable in the mic, plug the other end in the computer, then use. I tested on my MacBook Pro with Garageband with no issue. The mic is immediately recognized by name on the Mac.

Most of my work with this mic will involve Adobe Captivate, so my next task was to use it in Windows. Again, it shows up fine in Windows as a Blue Yeti mic (I run Windows in VMware Fusion). I will include a sample captivate demo at the end of this review.

Use

The controls on the microphone are pretty simple. The back of the microphone has a Gain dial to control how sensitive the mic is. There is also a 4-position dial to control the pattern the mic will use. From left-to-right you have Stereo, Omnidirectional, Cardioid, and Bidirectional.

The front includes a mute button (it flashes red when mute is on, solid red when plugged in and ready to go) and a volume knob for the headphone jack.

Performance

I was immediately impressed by the performance of the mic. The recordings I made on the Yeti were significantly better than the ones on the built-in mic (to be expected) and to other mics I have used in the past.

My only concern with reviewing this mic was my lack of professional experience (beyond voice-overs for e-learning). For that, I carted it up and visited a friend who is a first-rate musician named Tony Miracle. He is part of the band Venus Hum (who use a number of Blue Mics themselves) and releases solo projects under the names Satellite City and Tony Miracle.

I let him play with it a little bit, and he was able to do things with the Yeti I could only dream of. Obviously with his own home studio, he has better (and far more expensive equipment) but he was impressed by the capabilities.

The only performance issue I encountered at all was some occasional lag in the recording. This is due to the USB nature of the mic. Tony had expected it, and I have learned that most USB mics can experience lag, and it is dependent on your system. The only implication for me is I wait for a few beats after starting record to talk, and wait for a few beats after talking to stop the recording.

Demonstration

I wanted to give a demonstration of the Yeti in this review. To do this I went to the tools I use. And that is Captivate. Captivate lets me record audio, but keep in mind, this is no Pro Logic, the recording is for voice-overs. I did almost no work on the recordings. In the finger-picking example, I used a feature in Captivate to normalize volume since it was far softer than other recordings, but other than that it is unprocessed.

I kept the setup pretty basic. This was done in my living room, and I used my Tenqa SP-109 speakers as an audio source for the pattern demonstrations. Tony Miracle graciously allowed me to use a cut (Song for Charley Harper) from his album Cincinnati Modern to provide a consistent sound. SO the setup was:

• Yeti Microphone
• MacBook Pro
• Adobe Captivate
• VMWare Fusion
• Tenqa SP-109 bluetooth speakers
• T-Mobile G1 phone to play music
• Alvarez Yairi Guitar

Disclaimer

I did not spend any time tweaking the audio, beyond the normalize feature on the finger-picking section. I wanted to give as raw a look at the mic as possible. I am sure I will learn a lot how to further enhance the recordings later, but this review focuses on the mic. I also did not spend a lot of time scripting it out. I hope this helps give you a better picture of the microphone’s capabilities.

Conclusions

For some, the size of the Yeti might be a con. It  has a big footprint, but I like how stable it is. It is a USB-only mic, so you won’t be using it without a computer, but it is a very nice USB microphone. I won’t be exploring other options for my microphone needs, this fills it very nicely.

Filed in categories: Gear, Musical Gear, Reviews

Tagged: microphone

Yeti by Blue Microphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 11, 2010 at 11:30 am.

The Communicator Earphones have a thick cord that resists tangles and come with 3 earbud tips – in latex or “deep-fit soft foam” – so you can find your best fit.  They minimize ambient noise, and their 10mm drivers reproduce 20-20,000 Hz for full, rich sound.  There’s a built-in microphone so you can use it with phones.  If you’re using an iPhone or Blackberry, you can answer the phone and stop the music with a single button push.  The earphones are compatible with devices using a 3.5mm jack, such as iPods, iPhones, most mp3 players and laptops.  The Communicator Earphones are available in grey(shown), blue, or all black from the A + R Store for $65.00.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Earphones, microphone

Communicator Earphones Let You Listen to Your Music or Talk on Your Phone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 3, 2010 at 3:00 pm.

I recently did a review of the Arctic Cooling E361-WM earphones with microphone.  The E361 earphones worked flawlessly as a playback device for both my computer and my iPod touch.  The microphone worked great with my touch, but I had some problems recording with it on my laptop.  I felt that the problem was probably caused by my computer, because the microphone did work with the touch.  The people at Arctic Cooling expressed concern that I had a problem.  Because I did use the included splitter cable with my laptop (which had separate jacks for the microphone input and earphone output), the people at Arctic Cooling wanted to provide me with a replacement splitter cable so I could give recording another try on my computer.  Instead of just a splitter cable, they sent a pair of E351-WM earphones with a splitter cable.  They also sent along a pair of E352 earphones;  these are made of wood for a warmer, richer sound.

I used the new splitter cable with the Arctic Cooling E361-WM earphones.  Recording on the laptop worked beautifully using the new splitter cable, and I updated the E361-WM review with new sample files to illustrate this.  Now I’m going to give a closer look at the E351-WM and E352 earphones.

Arctic Sound E351-WM Earphones

Let’s start with the E351-WM earphones with microphone.  At first glance, the E351 earphones look very much like the E361 earphones I previously reviewed.  They are available in black or white, and I received the white.  The body of the ear buds is milled aluminum and the cables are white.  These earbuds are not marked to indicate left/right.  Having the earbuds in the “wrong” ears won’t destroy your enjoyment of the music, but I prefer to know I am hearing the music the way it was intended.  I compared the sound coming out of the E351 to the sound coming out of the E361 earbuds and determined that the lozenge-shaped microphone is in the cable going to the left earbud. 

What’s in the package:
E351-WM Earphones
3 sets of silicone caps – small, medium, large
Cable splitter
Protective case
Cable clip
User’s manual

Technical specifications:
Frequency response – 18 Hz – 22,000 Hz
Impedance – 32 Ohm
Sensitivity – 104 dB/mW
Output power – 15 mW
Cable 1.3 m with 3.5 mm stereo plug
Weight – 5 g

The E351 earbuds have a large driver that Arctic Cooling says “leads to ultimate bass performance” and a gold-plated 3.5 mm stereo plug for best signal transmission.  Three pairs of silicone caps are provided so you can select the best fit for your ears.  The medium caps are pre-installed, and they fit my ears best.  Music sounded clear and bright.  Bass response was good, but it didn’t rattle the fillings in my teeth, of course.  I tried them with a variety of music – vocal, orchestral, and hard rock - and they sounded good with all types.  Naturally, I heard great stereo separation when I tried them with Art Garfunkel’s “I Only Have Eyes for You”.  The panning effect in that song was so strong I could almost feel it.  Documentation on the Arctic Cooling web site says the “seal in the ears blocks ambient noise efficiently so that you hear only the sound from the earphones and nothing more. Even when you are on a plane, with the ARCTIC SOUND earphones, you will hear your favorite music instead of the ambient noise.”  I found that I could hear ambient noises with the earbuds in my ears.  The E351 earbuds are comfortable, but I do think the E361-WM earbuds I reviewed earlier fit my ears better.  I suppose the bent shape of the E361-WM earbuds allowed them to fit in my ears more comfortably, but the E351-WM earbuds are almost as comfortable in my hard-to-fit ears.

Microphone

I tried recording using the E351′s built-in microphone.  I had to use the included splitter cable when recording on my computer, which has separate jacks for the microphone input and earphone output.  Recording was clear with the E351 earphones on my computer.  arctic-cooling-351-352-earphone-review-on-computer   I did not need the splitter cable with my iPod.  I found that recording using the voice recorder app on my iPod touch worked equally well.  arctic-cooling-351-352-earphone-review-on-ipod

The E351-WM earphones come with the wonderful Arctic Cooling protective case.  The case is made of a heavy-duty black fabric, like the kind used for luggage.  The case is round, about 2 5/8″ in diameter, 1.25″ thick, and closes with a zipper.  Inside is a trumpet-shaped cup to hold your earbuds, and you wind the cable around the body of the trumpet.  There’s room inside for the extra ear caps and the splitter cable.  This little case is hard, and it should protect your earbuds from most anything.

I like the Arctic Sound E351-WM earphones.  They are comfortable, they sound good, and they include a microphone.  Arctic Cooling shows a MSRP of $42.20 for these earphones.

Arctic Sound E352 Wooden Earphones

What’s in the package:
E352 Earphones
3 sets of silicone caps – small, medium, large
Protective case
Cable clip
User’s manual

Technical specifications:
Frequency response – 18 Hz – 22,000 Hz
Impedance – 32 Ohm
Sensitivity – 104 dB/mW
Output power – 15 mW
Cable 1.3 m with 3.5 mm stereo plug
Weight – 5 g

The Arctic Sound E352 earphones come with three sets of silicone caps, with the medium pre-installed.  Apparently the same silicone caps are used for all the Arctic Cooling earphones I’ve tested, because the medium once again fit me best.  The E352 earbuds are made of a beautiful medium brown wood; they have a black cable, and a gold-plated 3.5 mm stereo plug.  The earbuds were comfortable in my ears.  I could hear ambient sounds with these earbuds.  The E352 earbuds are not marked left/right.  I used another pair of earbuds to determine left/right channels, and I found that the Arctic Cooling logo at the juncture of the two earbud cables should face away from your body to have the proper placement – at least for the particular pair I was sent.

Arctic Cooling documentation says the wooden chassis produces a “warm and natural sound.”  It’s hard to describe sound, but I was blown away by these earbuds.  I tried them with a variety of music, and they sounded good with everything.  Bass response was good, but not head-rattling.  Stereo separation was great.  These earbuds sounded fabulous with vocal music.  Peter Gabriel recordings have never sounded better to me, and a Rush song with Geddy Lee singing accompanied by Alex Lifeson’s acoustic guitar gave me chills.  The music did sound warm and round – if you’ll pardon my clumsy attempt at describing the quality of sound. 

The E352 earphones also come with the sturdy Arctic Cooling protective case.  The MSRP for the Arctic Sound E352 earphones is $69.95.

I can recommend either of these earphones.  If you prefer “heavier”, harder music, you might be happier with the Arctic Sound E351-WM earphones.  If you like acoustic or vocal music, you can’t go wrong with the Arctic Sound E352 earphones.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Earbuds, microphone

Arctic Cooling E351-WM and E352 Earphones Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 2, 2010 at 8:56 am.

I think there must be something unusual about the shape of my ears, because I have never been able to find a pair of ear buds that I can stand to wear for more than a couple of minutes.  The ear buds that come with iPods sound okay, but they hurt my ears so much that my ears feel bruised after listening to only a couple of songs.  Most ear buds with the silicone covers that fit into the ear canal don’t hurt, but I often find that even the smallest cover doesn’t fit in my ear very well.  I was happy when Julie chose me to try out the Arctic Cooling E361-WM earphones.  I was hoping they would prove to be the ear buds that would finally fit my ears and sound good, and I was excited to see they also had a built-in microphone that would allow me to use some of the capabilities of my touch I’ve never tried.

I was horrified when the package was delivered to me from China.  The shipping box was in such bad shape the delivery guy didn’t just chuck it on my porch and leave.  He wanted me to inspect the package because it looked like it had been dragged behind the plane all the way from China.  I stuck my hand in the ripped box and pulled out the Arctic-Cooling package inside.  The cardboard part of the packaging fell off in my hand, but the ear buds themselves were still packed nicely in the formed plastic.  I decided I’d give them a try.  Because of the sorry state of the packaging, I did snag the top picture from the Arctic Cooling web site so we could all see what it was supposed to look like.

What’s in the package:
E361-WM Earphones
3 sets of silicone caps – small, medium, large
Cable splitter
Protective case
Cable clip
User’s manual

Technical specifications:
Frequency response – 18 Hz – 26,000 Hz
Impedance – 32 Ohm
Sensitivity – 105 dB/mW
Output power – 15 mW
Cable 1.3 m with 3.5 mm stereo plug
Weight – 5 g

The Arctic Cooling E361 ear buds are available in white or black.  I was sent the white.  The 1.3 meter cable is long enough to reach your iPod in your pocket or in a bag, but not so long that it gets snagged on everything.  The ear buds are made of milled aluminum.  The part closest to the ear is shiny aluminum, and the part where the white cable attaches is a brushed silvery color on my white ear buds.  The black set has a black cable and a brushed anodized gray color where the cable attaches.  One thing I really like about these ear buds is that both wires attached to the ear buds are the same length.  (I really hate ear buds that have one short wire and one long wire.)  The wire for the left ear bud has a little in-line, lozenge-shaped plastic and metal microphone.  The 3.5 mm stereo plug is gold-plated, and it is a right-angle style so it doesn’t protrude so far from the bottom of the iPod.

First, how do they feel in the ear?  A set of the silicone caps were already on the ear buds, so I tried those first.  Not only did they fit well, but they felt very comfortable.  I never forgot they were in my ears, but they never bothered me at all.  Turns out the medium caps were preinstalled on the earphones, and they were a perfect fit.  With other ear buds I’ve tried, even the small caps feel a little large for my ears.  The Arctic Cooling medium cap is about the same size as the small cap with the Skull Candy Full Metal Jacket ear buds I have, and the large Arctic Cooling cap is about the same size as the Skull Candy medium cap.  The ear buds stayed comfortably in my ears without feeling like I had crammed them half way to my ear drum.

How do they sound?  Using the Arctic Cooling ear buds, I’ve spent quite some time listening to music in iTunes on my computer, and I’ve listened to music on my iPod touch.  Music sounds great.  I don’t have any way to quantify, but I found them to have decent bass response and good medium and higher range sound, even when listening at very low volumes.  Arctic Cooling documentation says the large drivers provide “deep bass and driving highs”. The bass didn’t rattle my head, but I’m way past the age where I would find this desirable.  I did find that music on my touch sounds better than music on my computer.  I think that’s because I don’t have the best sound card in my computer.

Documentation for the E361 ear buds says the silicone caps “minimize ambient noise and enrich bass response”.  I could still hear ambient noise while listening to music.  I could comfortably hear my television with the ear buds in my ears (no music playing), and I could still hear my television even while listening to music through the ear buds.  I don’t think you should count on these to help you sleep on an airplane.

In-line microphone

Since these Arctic Cooling E361 earphones have a microphone, they can be used with phones.  If you want to use them with Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung and LG mobile phones, you’ll need an adapter you can order from Arctic Cooling.  They can also be used with computers, and they come with a splitting cable for devices that have separate jacks for the speakers/headphones and microphone.  My computer required the splitter cable because it has separate jacks.  Attached is a file recorded on my computer.  During playback, the sound seems to be only in the left channel.   arctic-cooling-e361-with-computer

I was able to use the E361 earphones with my iPod touch.  For the first time since it was added, I was able to use the Voice Memo app.  Below is the file recorded on my touch.  It sounds great, and I hear the sound equally through both channels during playback.  Apparently, the microphone works fine, and the single channel sound I had on the computer recording was a result of something with my computer.  arctic-cooling-e361-with-ipod

The last thing to talk about is the storage case.  The round case is covered in a black, heavy-duty fabric.  (It looks like those sturdy nylon fabrics used for luggage.)  It’s about 2-5/8 inches in diameter, and about 1.25 inches thick. The top of the case has a silver-colored metal Arctic Cooling badge on top, and it closes with a zipper.  The case is HARD – I think you could use it as a hockey puck!  When you open it up, you see a trumpet-shaped center insert with slits in the side.  You place the ear buds in the trumpet, bring the cord out one of the slits, then wrap the cord around the body of the trumpet.  There’s even room to put the splitting cable around the trumpet and the extra silicone caps inside the trumpet.  Your Arctic Cooling ear buds are going to be safe in this small case.

I like the Arctic Cooling E361 ear buds.  They fit my ears well, and they are more comfortable than any other ear buds I’ve tried.  They have good sound reproduction, and they have a microphone – something I’ve been wanting for use with my iPod touch for quite some time.  These ear buds have a permanent place in my bag!

UPDATE

Someone from Arctic Cooling contacted Julie to express concern that I had trouble recording with the E361 earphones on my computer.  I had stated above that I felt the problem was in my computer because the earphones worked beautifully using the voice-recorder app on my iPod touch.  Since the splitter cable was another possible source, Arctic Cooling sent me another splitter cable to try.  I decided I’d use my husband’s laptop for recording to rule out my computer as a possible source for the new test.  First I tried recording using the E361 and its original cable.  The recording was not clear.  arctic-cooling-e361-with-original-cable

Next I tried the E361 earphones with the replacement splitter cable.  The recording is sharp and clear.  Since I had problems with the original splitter cable on two computers, it does seem that the original splitter cable was a problem.   arctic-cooling-e361-new-cable

The Arctic Cooling E361 earphones and microphone worked great, and they’ve gone right back into my gearbag.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Earbuds, microphone

Arctic Cooling E361-WM Earphone Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 22, 2010 at 8:34 am.

Continuing their tradition of snow theme product names, Blue Microphones is announcing today the Yeti, the world’s first THX certified mic, USB for studio-quality recording at home. I still like and use the Blue Mic Snowflake microphone and can vouch for the fact that they make great quality gear. The Yeti will be priced at $149.99 and will be available beginning December 2009, at Apple, CompUSA, Fry’s Electronics, Guitar Center and directly through Blue Microphone. Press release junkies can get their fix after the jump.

For Immediate Release

Blue Microphones Announces World’s First THX Certified Microphone, the Yeti USB Condenser Mic

Featuring condenser capsules in a triple array, Yeti is the latest, most advanced addition to Blue’s line of premium USB microphones

(Westlake Village, California –November 10, 2009) – Blue Microphones (www.bluemic.com), a leading innovator in microphone technology and design, announces Yeti, the first THX® Certified microphone. The latest addition to Blue’s new consumer line, the Yeti is the ultimate USB microphone for professional recording.  The Yeti features:

• The first USB mic to offer Blue’s premium condenser capsules in a proprietary triple capsule array for the highest quality, most versatile audio recording capability
• After rigorous lab testing, THX certification affirms the ultimate in recording and playback fidelity thanks to superior design and quality
• Four patterns (Omni, Cardioid, Stereo, Bidirectional) for incredible versatility and superior results in any situation
• Studio quality performance and features, with zero latency, amplified headphone monitoring, microphone mute, and hardware-based gain adjustment

Yeti is the first microphone to offer the quality and range of versatility to produce the best quality recordings in a wide range of situations, including podcasts, vocals, live or event recording, interviews, broadcasts, instruments, bands and more.

“Blue Microphones recognizes THX as a benchmark within the industry for professional audio production and playback. We, are honored to be recognized as their first partner for audio input,” says John Maier, CEO of Blue Microphones.  “Blue strives to provide the highest quality sound for both professionals and consumers alike and we are proud to provide such recognized quality with the new Yeti, the world’s first THX Certified microphone.”

Building upon the technology foundation established by the award-winning Snowball USB microphone, Yeti adds four distinct pattern modes, a zero-latency headphone output with volume control for direct monitoring, adjustable microphone gain control and a mute button. The Yeti’s angle can be adjusted on its custom-designed desk stand. Following suit with the rest of Blue’s desktop products, the Yeti features driverless installation and works with both PC and Mac.

“The THX Certified Yeti from Blue Microphones provides aspiring artists a recording solution that combines quality, usability and convenience for a wide range of audio applications,” explains Matthew Chrispen, director of certification at THX. “THX testing and certification ensures the fidelity of the recording always remains true to its source, allowing artists to accurately capture voice-overs, interviews and other sound elements with confidence.”

The Yeti, MSRP $149.99, will be available beginning December  2009, at Apple,  CompUSA, Fry’s Electronics, Guitar Center, other fine pro-audio and consumer electronics retailers and online at Amazon.com. For complete details, visit www.bluemic.com.

###

About Blue Microphones

Blue Microphones creates and markets award-winning microphones and accessories for audio professionals, musicians and consumers.  Founded in 1995, with headquarters in Westlake Village, California, Blue continues to lead the way with cutting-edge design and technological innovation. Our complete line of audio innovation ranges from our flagship recording tool, the Bottle, to our stylish Snowflake, the first professional quality portable USB mic. View our complete product line-up at www.bluemic.com

About THX Ltd.

From the big screen to your screen, THX ignites your passion for exciting entertainment experiences. Founded by George Lucas and recognized by audiences around the globe, THX is synonymous with the design and certification of world-class cinemas, premium audio systems, HDTVs, and blockbuster movies and games. Products featuring THX defy convention and define quality in their class, whether in the cinema, home or on the road.

THX and the THX Logo are trademarks of THX Ltd., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: microphone, Spotlight Gadgets, USB

The Yeti is no longer just a big hairy missing link originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 10, 2009 at 8:26 am.

The new iPhone 3G s has video recording capability, but the microphone faces the opposite direction when you’re capturing video, causing the audio quality to be weak. Brando’s Workshop has come to the rescue with their Flexible Mini Capsule microphone. It can rotate and bend to point at your subject, resulting in a much better recording. It’s compatible with all current iPhone models and is available for $14.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related

Tagged: microphone, Spotlight Gadgets

Flexible Mini Capsule microphone for the iPhone 3G S originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 8, 2009 at 8:18 am.

This is pretty cool. It’s a Mini Capsule Microphone for iPhone 3G / iPod Touch 2G / iPod Nano 4G from Brando.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related

Tagged: iPhone, microphone, Spotlight Gadgets

Spotlight Gadget – Mini Capsule Microphone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 25, 2009 at 7:00 am.

I really like compact (but GOOD) USB micrphones. Lately my favorite has been the Snowflake from BlueMic. But this new Go Mic from Samson looks pretty cool too. It can clip on top of your laptop screen or be used on a desktop (at least it appears to work on a desktop). I hope to be able to review one soon.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: microphone, Spotlight Gadgets, USB

Spotlight Gadget: Samson Go Mic originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 20, 2008 at 9:45 am.