We’re focusing on the Ice for this review, though.
Blue’s Snowball Ice is a really affordable little soldier of a USB mic. We already mentioned that the Blue Snowball microphone is very easy to set up since we just needed to plug it in, wait for the drivers to install, then we were all set to use the device; the mic even set itself as the main recording device on our Windows settings so we didn’t really have to tinker with the sound settings of the PC. Admittedly, I've never been the biggest fan of the Blue Snowball. It will last you forever and is on my list of top Buy It For Life technology out there. The Blue Snowball microphone is set in a sturdy and durable box so you definitely know that the company ensures to keep their products safe during shipping. Indeed, the 325mm (12.8 inch) circumference around the mic capsule itself is small enough that you could throw it in a backpack on the way to a studio. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, The mic is actually completely spherical but despite this, you can still find a threading on its base to be able to use this with the regular mic mount. 25 people found this helpful. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. From there, it's just a matter of switching on your software and hitting start (or record). Nvidia Says Feature Similar to AMD's Smart Access Memory Tech is Coming to Ampere, Raspberry Pi Robotic ISS Model Moves in Real-Time, Ryzen 7 5700U Flies Past Ryzen 7 4800U in Geekbench 5, Microsoft Office to Lack Native Apple Silicon Support at First, WD Changes 5400-RPM Hard Drive Model Numbers, Corrects Reporting (Updated), MiniUSB to USB cable, removable stand, boom arm adapter, Doesn’t handle distance or extreme closeups well, Feature-rich Snowball only marginally pricier. The Omni or Omni-directional mode is the third option of the mic; it captures sounds from every direction so it’s perfect for your live music sessions with diversified instruments or for round table discussions. That’s not a problem for streaming over compressed formats like Twitch, but outside of real-time broadcasting the keen-eared will hear a difference. New York, If you’re wondering if there’s a big difference between the Blue Snowball microphone and the more expensive ones, then yes, they do have differences: the number of capture sequence and the fact that the Snowball comes in a handy desktop mount. So it becomes a matter of whether you only need a cardioid pickup pattern, or you’d prefer to have omnidirectional too, which you’ll get from the higher-end Snowball.
So at least in part, the appeal of the Snowball Ice is that it’s a known quantity in the market. If you look at the front portion of the package, you’ll see the microphone’s name – Snowball – as well as the image of the device. The Blue Snowball microphone is a very easy to use US?B microphone that gives you three selectable arrangements for sound capture; it features a three-position slider on its back which changes the mic into a cardioid, cardioid with -10 dB pads, or Omni. This option is excellent especially if you have more than a single person in the room for interviews on your podcast, or if you have a guest lecturer with you. They are a unique design but always interesting. Blue Microphones' Snowball, now available in the UK, is a USB condenser microphone designed to be used by anyone who needs to record professional-level audio on their Mac. 7.5. good. We also tested the signal character and sensitivity of the Snowball and it resulted in excellent clarity and adequate detail when it captured sounds from drums, guitars, vocals, percussions, and more. Discuss: Blue Microphones Snowball Professional USB Microphone review: Blue Microphones Snowball Professional USB Microphone Sign in to comment. There was a problem. The stand also has three solid legs that fold out from its base which is necessary to keep this steady on any flat and hard surface. Do you know why my Blue Snowball has mic stand made out of plastic? The Snowball is covered in plastic with Blue’s logo fixed on the front portion of the mic; it also has a three-position switch that is used for the microphone patterns located at the back of the device; also, the Blue Snowball microphone that we have comes in the Textured White shade which is really nice and clean-looking – something that we really liked a lot. Its sturdy metal construction really tells you all you need to know about how much Blue cares about build quality, and it’s easily detachable for storage or transport. However, for around $10 more, the non-icy Snowball seems to melt into the Snowball Ice’s appeal.
I sent my Blue Snowball to warranty and Blue replaced it with new mic and stand upper part made out of plastic. The Blue Snowball’s a popular podcasting mic, let’s run through its pros and cons. That said, you will have to do some fiddling when it comes to sound. However, we call into question how well-equipped a newcomer might be to hitting on these rather finicky settings. And unless the software in question’s offering something really valuable and easy-to-use, like the Yeti X’s Blue VO!CE suite or Elgato’s Wave Link for the Wave:3 -- and let’s face it those two are rarities -- we’d always rather not have to install more bloatware to control the exact RGB setting of the mute indicator. Visit our corporate site. Cardioid is best for speaking directly into the mic, so it's for podcasts, Twitch streams, and voice-overs. Hello! For the – 10 dB pad switch, it specifically gave us additional headroom while simultaneously decreasing distortion when capturing audio with excess levels. Your email address will not be published. Refreshingly, the Snowball Ice doesn’t require any software at all -- not even a driver.
Blue is a respected name in the world of microphones, and for good reason.
Basically, if you usually scream through streams, then this specific pattern will keep and maintain the level of your voice, preventing it from coming across like some messy audio clip. Today, we’re going to focus on their Blue Snowball microphone; if you are someone who’s just starting to get into podcasting, streaming, or recording voice-over videos, then this is the perfect device for you. For more. It’s the Yeti’s pint-sized sibling, looking like a sixties radio and ready to get you recording with a single USB connection and no fuss. I mean legs were made out of metal but upper part pure plastic.
The mic is actually completely spherical but despite this, you can still find a threading on its ba… If you tend to scream your way through streams, this pattern will keep your voice from coming across as a clipped mess.
The Blue is an acronym for Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics. Today's best Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone deals, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. Its 44.1 kHz / 16-bit sample rate is normal for non-professional mics; it is also referred to as CD Quality which is generally more appropriate for streaming since it’s the same sample rate as with MP3 files.
You can knock it around and it won’t show damage. Just to complicate matters, a non-icy Snowball is also available for $80, and that features an additional omnidirectional mode. I'm not an audio equipment snob. Super Mario Bros. 35 Review… The cardioid with -10 db pads has lesser sensitivity and its level peaks are decreased or even eliminated; this makes the microphone more useful when you’re in an extremely loud environment and you want to capture the best and clearest possible sounds. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, https://thestreamingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/snowball-setting1.mp3, https://thestreamingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/snowball-setting2.mp3, https://thestreamingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/snowball-setting3.mp3, Creative Labs Outlier Gold Wireless Headphones Review, Top 7 Budget Cameras that Are Ideal for Streaming, Transducer Type: Condenser, Pressure Gradient With USB digital output, Polar Patterns: Cardioid or Omnidirectional, Frequency Response: Position 1-3: 40 –18 kHz. You can stuff it into bags time and time again, and it’ll still be fit for purpose.
Its offerings range from the entry-level to professional, and each mic is well-made and excellent at capturing accurate, natural sound. The Blue Snowball is great audio upgrade for fledgling streamers and podcasters. Blue Snowball iCE Review: Entry-Level USB Mic A capable entry mic at a very nice price By Phil Iwaniuk 01 September 2020 The mic is also prone to popping plosives, so with no pop shield included you’ll need to aim your voice slightly above the mic. You just get a mini-USB cable leading out to your PC. For just $70, you get a multi-pattern USB mic that's is well-made, easy to lug around, and has a sturdy desktop stand too. The Blue Snowball microphone features a cardioid mode with – 10 dB pad which is the second option that is quite similar to the first option (cardioid); the only difference between the two is that this will capture much louder sounds while maintaining the same clarity and quality of these sounds. Although the microphone is much more cost-efficient, Blue claims that the mic can capture clear, clean, and crisp studio-sounding audio for music, vocals, gaming, as well as multimedia production. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Hardware. With a cardioid and only cardioid polar pattern to work with, you should be able to point the mic in your vicinity and get something decent. I can’t quite understand why Blue thinks they both need to exist - is anyone really that specific about how much they’ll spend on a mic? In the absence of any other polar patterns to switch between or a mute button, all you need to worry about is placing it. If you aren’t sure what cardioid is, it’s basically a great element for talking directly to your microphone so it’s great for podcasts, voice-overs, as well as twitch streams. In fact, as has been discovered by several YouTubers who use the mic, placing the Snowball Ice at a jaunty 45 degree angle to your mouth and talking just above it from about 6-8 inches away provides the best results. When we tested the Snowball, we can say that its audio / cardioid mode is something that we’d refer to as the indistinguishable alternative to using a basic pro-audio USB sound card on the computer; and for a majority of applications, this kind of full and close-range sound is what everyone needs since it provides accurate sounds with minimal hiss and a wide dynamic range. This being at the budget end of Blue’s range, it’s not overflowing with features. Just plug it in, wait for the drivers to install, and you're all set. 188. There's also a cheaper model, the Snowball iCE, that lacks the capture patterns of the standard Snowball, but otherwise the two are identical. Receive news and offers from our other brands? The Snowball, like the Yeti, is an absolute snap to set up. Tom's Hardware is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. If you want to buy the Blue Snowball Microphone, you can purchase this for only $69USD via Blue’s official website. Blue Snowball Microphone Review. What’s nice about the Snowball is that you can bring this anywhere you need it: you can bring this to school to record the teacher or even other students during a lively class. Your email address will not be published. A simple 3-position slider on the back changes the Snowball to either cardioid, omni, or cardioid with -10db pad. Blue’s family of USB microphones has shaken up the streamer gear market like no other brand, finding their way onto gamer desks and podcast studios the world over.
Plug-and-play ready.
Blue Snowball | A Podcasting Review.