BLUE Snowball Condenser USB Microphone Package

No longer available at zZounds
Upgrade from your computer's built-in mic with the Blue Snowball USB condenser microphone, with switchable omni/cardioid pickup patterns and a -10 dB pad.

If you're looking to upgrade from your computer's built-in mic, make it an actual upgrade with the Blue Snowball USB condenser microphone! Blue Microphones makes some of the best-sounding and best-selling studio microphones around, and their engineering and recording know-how translates brilliantly to the Blue Snowball USB microphone. Like all Blue products, it looks striking, with practical features and brilliant sound.

Blue Studio Quality in a USB Condenser Mic

The Blue Snowball is based around a Blue condenser capsule. More sensitive than dynamic capsules, condensers mics are preferred for recording vocals -- whether spoken or sung -- and delicate acoustic instruments. Because the Snowball is a USB microphone, there's no need for a preamp or audio interface -- just a computer with a USB port. Over the included USB cable, the Snowball sends audio information and receives +48V phantom power for the condenser capsule. Connecting your Snowball couldn't be simpler. As a studio-grade recording mic, the Blue Snowball can be mounted on a standard microphone stand and placed just about anywhere -- though it does ship with its own desk-mount tripod stand for simple podcasting sessions and songwriting demos.

Podcasting to Music Recording, Snowball Does It All

This sensitive microphone is superb at picking up the nuances of quieter acoustic instruments, but in cardioid mode there's also a -10 dB pad you can engage for recording loud singers or even guitar or bass amplifiers read more without distorting the incoming signal. Making the mic even more versatile, Blue gives you the option of switching the polar pattern from cardioid to omnidirectional. The cardioid pickup pattern is more directional, rejecting noise to the sides and back of the microphone, and features a flattering bass and presence boost as you get closer, making it perfect for radio-style voice over. But sometimes you want a more neutral, roomy sound. Omnidirectional mode picks up sound from all directions, and also features a flatter frequency response. Try omnidirectional mode for recording round table meetings, or for tricky acoustic instruments like harp, piano, upright bass, etc.

Features:

- Package includes Blue Snowball microphone, USB cable, and tripod desk mount
- USB 1.0 or 2.0 plug-and-play compatibility with Mac or Windows PC
- Works with iPad using Apple's Camera Connection Kit
- Captures CD-quality 44.1 kHz/16-bit digital audio
- +48V phantom-powered Blue condenser capsule
- Switchable omni and cardioid pickup patterns for vocals and more
- Switchable -10 dB pad for capturing loud sources
- Three-position switch: Omnidirectional, cardioid, cardioid -10 dB
- Distinctive Blue design

With one simple connection -- and at a very nice price -- the Snowball turns your computer into a professional recording studio. When you're ready to upgrade to better computer audio, trust Blue to make a mic that sounds every bit as good as it looks.
read less

Acoustical Operating Principle: Position 1-2: Pressure Gradient; Position 3: Pressure

Polar Pattern: Position 1-2: Cardioid; Position 3: Omnidirectional

Frequency Response: Position 1-3: 40-18,000Hz

System Requirements:
Macintosh: Mac OS X; USB 1.0 or 2.0; 64 MB RAM (minimum)

PC: Windows 7, Windows Vista, XP Home Edition or XP Professional; USB 1.0 or 2.0;
64 MB RAM (minimum)

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 818-879-5200

BLUE Snowball Condenser USB Mic Pack

Finally, a USB mic that's not only easy to use, but sounds as good on your desktop as it does in a professional recording studio. Meet the Snowball, the professional USB mic.

Whether you're recording a guitar at your kitchen table or a complete band in the studio, the Snowball can capture it with detail unheard of in a USB mic.

The Snowball is a direct plug n' play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC -- no additional software is needed. With its dual-capsule design and unique three-pattern switch (cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad and omni), the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band -- and it's ideal for podcasting. Check it out and you'll see why it's the coolest mic in town.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (40 ratings)
Submitted June 3, 2009 by a customer from hexibase.com

"When it works, it rocks."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Overall, my happiness with this mic now is on par with my anticipation when I was waiting for it to get here. Aside from the minor USB compatibility issue (and I say minor because it worked with 7 of my 8 computers,) the Snowball is the mic to get if you want to record high-quality vocals (maybe instruments too - I don't know; I'm not a musician.)

Sound
Obviously, this is subjective. Until the Snowball, I've used regular dynamic microphones with XLR running through a mixer and into the AUX in on my sound card. With the Snowball, the sound (voice) is more airy, crisper, and carries more of the baritone. It will make you a lot more comfortable with your voice. As long as you can find a relatively quiet room in the house (away from the fridge, AC unit, etc...) background noise isn't a problem, especially if you're mixing a voice-over into something that already has some sound - what little background noise there is, becomes inaudible. Also, software like Adobe Audition can learn and subtract noise from the selection altogether.

Features
With the two capsules and 10dB pad, this mic has more features than you'll find in mikes costing several grand.

Ease of Use
I have to come down to an 8 here. Depending on the USB chipset and the operating system, you may or may not be able to install this mic. Worst case scenario: Upon plugging it in, your "Found New Hardware" wizard will pop and read more ask you to select how you'd like to install this USB device. Whether you choose automatic or advanced install, it will invariably tell you that Windows couldn't find the proper drivers. Just something to keep in mind. I wanted to use it with my main workstation but it wouldn't install so I'm using it with my laptop which took it no problem.

Quality
If I was to re-build this mic on 10 times the budget, I wouldn't be able to make it as solid feeling / looking as it is. No rattles, creeks, pops, squeaks... While I record, I can pick up the mic by the stand and you'd never even know in listening to the playback.

Value
Excellent. A lot of it comes down to how you use it but, assuming you use all your equipment correctly, the Snowball will outperform a lot of far more expensive microphones.

Manufacturer Support
I don't know yet. I e-mailed BLUE about the above mentioned driver issue and am still waiting to hear back. Then again, it's only been a day.

The Wow Factor
Besides being a microphone to me, it's a conversation piece to anyone who sees it. It doesn't really look like anything. Could be a giant web cam, could be a small fan, could be an alien probe. It gets a lot of attention and, even if for some reason I stopped Podcasting, I would still wouldn't give away or sell this mic. I want it. It's mine. Hand's off--get your own.

Musical Background:
Podcaster

Musical Style:
Spoken Word
read less
51 of 59 people (86%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

No longer available at zZounds

In most cases, a product is unavailable because it has been discontinued by the manufacturer