Blue Snowball USB Microphone
Written by austinyb on March 1, 2010 – 11:09 PM -Recently, I purchased a new computer. It’s an eMachines system, running Windows 7 Home Premium, and I was planning on recording tutorials and podcasts with a microphone. But what kind of mic? I was looking for something affordable, easy to use, and good quality. After some research, I found the Blue Snowball. I have to say, my first impression was.. this is a microphone? You might be thinking the same thing, but don’t judge a book by its cover; this microphone is exceptional.
The name basically describes it. It’s shaped like a sphere and is colored white (there are different colors available). The packaging contains a tripod on which you can set the microphone, and it is quite sturdy, although the microphone sometimes gets loosened accidently. The microphone is heavier than it looks, though, so it may not be efficient for holding.
Nonetheless, this is a great microphone. On my Windows 7 computer, it was immediately recognized when I plugged it in. The USB cord is long, so there’s room if you would like to move it around your desk. The sound quality is incredible; I had crystal clear calls when I tested it on Skype. Sometimes the volume can be a bit quiet, though, and you might need to tweak some settings.
There is a switch on the back that lets you choose between three different settings. The first setting is default. You must be talking in front of the microphone, or it won’t pick up your voice. The second setting is suited for recording music or putting it next to an amplifier. The third and final setting records from all directions. This means that it will pick up sounds from all around the room. This is great if you need to record a conference.
The price is affordable for only $100, but you can get it for even cheaper (around $70) off Amazon.
To sum it up, this microphone is a great buy and I recommend it for use under all circumstances.
-Austin Berke
Posted in Reviews | 1 Comment »
July 2nd, 2010 at 10:04 PM
hey austiny, great to hear your blue microphone works just fine! i also recently got an emachines windows 7 home premium 64-bit, and i’ve had my microphone since my old XP computer. when i plug the mic in the new computer, it doesnt seem to recognize the device and it doesnt seem to work in recording programs like audacity and such. only thing that it works with is skype, but i’m hoping to record with this new computer and fantastic microphone some day. any suggestions on how to solve this problem? thanks