| Blue Microphones Snowflake USB Microphone | 
 enlarge | List Price: $79.00
Buy New: $55.98
You Save: $23.02 (29%)
Buy New/Used from $55.98
Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 6 reviews)
Sales Rank: 20
Category: Musical Instruments
Publisher: Blue
Studio: Blue
Brand: Blue Microphones
Label: Blue
Media: Electronics
Special Features: Blue Microphones, a leading innovator in microphone technology and design, follow on the success of their popular Snowball Professional USB Microphone with a new portable design, aptly dubbed the Snowflake. The Snowflake is the first professional quality portable USB mic and embodies everything Blue has become known for; stylish looks and exceptional sonic quality. Blue has combined a USB bus powered capsule with a class compliant design to make the Snowflake truly plug and play on both Mac and
Warranty: 1 year, tubes 90 days
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 6 x 4 x 2.4
MPN: SNOWFLAKE
Model: BLU SNOWFLAKE
UPC: 836213001899
EAN: 0836213001899
ASIN: B0012AUHXW
Release Date: April 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Professional recording quality on the go | | • | Unique design fits on your desktop or laptop | | • | Plug and playno driver needed | | • | Perfect for podcasting, internet telophony, voice recognition software, movie narration, music | | • | Mac & PC compatible |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Say hello to the Snowflake, the first professional portable USB microphone.Whether you're recording your newest podcast, talking business on the web, or just narrating your latest great family movie, the Snowflake can capture it with amazing clarity and depth that's head and shoulders above any comparable portable USB on the market!The Snowflake works on both Mac and PC with no complicated drivers to install: just connect it to your computer's USB port, follow the prompts and you'll have high-fidelity sound in no time. It's perfect for podcasting, voice recognition software, iChat, and VoIP software such as Skype and Vonage. Or use it for dictation, field recording, lecture recording, and narration for slideshows and PowerPoint presentations. The sky's the limit. It's even great for recording music via GarageBand and other multitrack recording software.Designed with the traveler in mind, the Snowflake's unique design allows you to place it on a desk or flat surface near your computer, or mount it to the screen of most laptops. Because it simply connects to your USB port, it offers a wide range of applications coupled with an ease of use never before offered in a professional-quality microphone. In the tradition of Blue's line of renowned studio microphones, the Snowflake features Blue's superior proprietary capsule and circuit design, optimized to make sure that you always get the best sound possible into your computer, and sets a new standard for digital recording on the go!
From the Manufacturer
Say hello to the Snowflake, the first professional portable USB mic. Whether you're recording your newest podcast, talking business on the web, or just narrating your latest great family movie, the Snowflake can capture it with amazing clarity and depth that's head and shoulders above any comparable portable USB on the market! The Snowflake works on both Mac and PC with no complicated drivers to install: just connect it to your computer's USB port, follow the prompts and you'll have high-fidelity sound in no time. It's perfect for podcasting, voice recognition software, iChat, and VoIP software such as Skype and Vonage. Or use it for dictation, field recording, lecture recording, and narration for slideshows and PowerPoint presentations. The sky's the limit. It's even great for recording music via GarageBand and other multitrack recording software. Designed with the traveler in mind, the Snowflake's unique design allows you to place it on a desk or flat surface near your computer, or mount it to the screen of most laptops. Because it simply connects to your USB port, it offers a wide range of applications coupled with an ease of use never before offered in a professional-quality microphone. In the tradition of Blue's line of renowned studio microphones, the Snowflake features Blue's superior proprietary capsule and circuit design, optimized to make sure that you always get the best sound possible into your computer, and sets a new standard for digital recording on the go! Specifications - Transducer Type: Pressure Gradient w/USB Digital Output
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Sample/Word: 44.1kHz / 16 bit
- Frequency Response: 35Hz - 20kHz
- Maximum SPL (THD 0.5%): 120 dB SPL
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 A Good Mic, maybe too Good July 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I got this mic for recording podcasts and web-based training presentations. The installation is a snap and its small size is ideal for when I am traveling.
My only complaint about this mic is that it seems to pick up lots of room noise. This is probably a good thing if you are recording music, but for voice I don't want it picking up road noise and computer fans. I've been able to reduce some of this, but I can't control what's going on outside (mowing, cars, etc).
I'm keeping the mic, I do really like it. I just wish it had more software controls (maybe a custom driver available) to optimize the mic for the environment I am stuck recording in.
Professional Results With a USB Mic July 12, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is the best modestly priced microphone I've ever tried. I spent 17 years associated with a public radio station and all our mics were analog which, in my estimation were fuller and richer than any digital product but I have to say that the Snowflake surely provides an excellent recorded result. It was equally valuable when using MacSpeech and Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation software as well. It is only somewhat directional as it is meant to be placed some distance away from the speaker, several feet still yielded an excellent result. In fact it could be used centrally to record a conference by leaving the mic flat in the case as you see it pictured.
The only downside I discovered had to do with my recording environment. The Snowflake is was sensitive enough that you really need a quiet room for all ambient noise is recorded as well. So if you have a quiet recording area which doesn't require without a noise canceling headset mic, this little unit is probably the best value you'll ever find. Oh yes, you can't use a set of computer driven speakers as a monitor if they are placed too closely to the Snowflake. Feedback is a real issue because of the sensitivity.
Very good computer mic July 1, 2008
I use this Blue Snowflake mic only for voice recording (spoken word, not singing) with my desktop computer. While it costs twice as much as a Logitech mic I returned, it is twice as good. The Logitech sounded very hollow in comparison.
The Snowflake is powered by the USB port on a computer and sets up easily. You may have to fiddle with your sound setup to enable it for some applications. I use it to record with the Audacity free software wav editor, which sometimes doesn't recognize it until it is unplugged and plugged in again after my computer is turned off.
It reproduces speech clearly, and I would be excellent for pod casting or other live applications. However, because of its reproductive clarity, recordings made with it can be improved significantly. This is easily done with the Audacity software. After you record, you can amplify, remove computer fan noise, and equalize for a professional sounding spoken word recording.
This mic is well made and compact in design. It can be twisted around to sit on a desk, hung on a laptop or held in your hand. For the best voice recording quality, and to avoid popping, use a folded hanky over the grill and hold it a few inches away. However, it can easily pick up sound a couple feet away, if used for live pod casting.
For convenience, size, and good spoken word recording quality, this mic is an excellent value for only $60. You would need to spend two or three times or more for a non USB condenser or dynamic mic to produce similar sound quality.
An Answer To Prayer June 24, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This microphone is an excellent alternative to trying to travel with a Snowball. I own both mics and love my Snowball as the best USB mic ever. However, traveling with the big box (I'm always concerned with damage) is a pain in the ... neck. So, when the Snowflake came out, I was excited and skeptical. Excited because its based on the same technology, skeptical because in audio smaller is very rarely better (or as good).
I am pleasantly surprised. It is true that the Snowflake is not omnidirectional, but when I need that I'll carry the Snowball. Otherwise, the Snowflake is the perfect travel replacement for the Snowball. Small, light, flexible, and fantastic sound quality. Who could ask for anything more?
Terrific conferencing microphone, good for podcasts too May 29, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I've had this a couple of days and am totally impressed. The sound quality is very good. You might not want to make that important demo CD of your band with it but for voice it is excellent. I've tried it to record my guitar but I just hear how bad I am so can't give an objective report on its music capabilities beyond saying they seem reasonable. I've recorded a couple of podcasts with it. The results are good. It's nice that it allows me to not wear a headset, when out of the office, which I just don't like to do. I have Blue Microphone's Snowball mic in my office for recording but that is not at all something I'd want to carry around and set up for portable audio.
The Snowflake is solid and seems very well made. It's just fits in my laptop bag, which is the reason I bought it. I'm doing more and more of my work on my MacBook, so a good quality mic is welcome. It opens up to stand on its own on a desk or clips to my computer lid. I put it right beside the built in video camera. It seems semi-directional. It seems to pick up everything in front of is and not too much from behind. And I don't have to lean in close or speak loudly to be heard. Three feet away works just fine.
This morning I used the Snowflake USB microphone to allow an absent member of my writer's group to participate via Skype. We've done this before, using the built in mic in my MacBook. Prior results doing this were marginal. Each time we've done so the person on the other end often had to ask for things to be repeated. Not today. Our absent member asked what was so different because everybody sounded so clear.
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