Review: Blue Microphones Yeti THX Certified USB Microphone

Professional musicians around the world use Blue microphones both on tour and in the studio. When I was offered the chance to take the Yeti on a test drive, I couldn't resist. While I could produce a decent review of this USB microphone myself, I decided to pass it along to my husband and get his take on it. Why, you may ask? He has been singing for over 20 years; started in theater productions and in the '90's fronted a rock band. Currently, most of his singing takes place online at karaoke-type websites, which he does just for fun. He may call himself an amateur, but if there's one thing he knows, it's when a microphone sounds good (or in this case, great!). Here is what he had to say:

When my wife said she wanted me to review a new microphone, I was happy to do so. As soon as I saw the name Blue on the box, I knew it was something special. So special, in fact, that a few musicians I know ONLY use the Blue brand. I couldn't wait to try it out! This particular model is the Yeti. As soon as I took the microphone out of the box, the first thing I noticed was how stylish it is. I was also impressed to see several tools and recording capabilities on the mic which usually require the use of several microphones and/or devices. Here is a quick rundown of the features: on the front of the microphone there's volume control, along with a mute button; on the bottom you'll find the USB input and headphone input. The back has a knob offering four pattern settings (stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional) to be used based on the singing environment or function you need it for. I read the instructions on the proper setting for me, which is "cardioid," plugged it into my computer (it's compatible with both PCs and Macs), and the mic was ready to go. It was easy, I didn't have to install any type of disc or drivers - it was truly plug and play! Oh, and did I mention the Yeti is the first THX Certified microphone?

I've got some singing to do, so I'll let my wife takeover…

At the time of the review, this was the only model Yeti available. Announced in January at CES, Blue unveiled the Yeti Pro, the first USB microphone combining 24 bit/192 kHz digital recording resolution with analog XLR output. It also features an A-D converter chip and separate analog circuit path for use with professional studio mixers and preamps. Priced at $249, you can find out more information at www.bluemic.com/yetipro