Product Details
Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone Bundle

Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone Bundle
From Blue

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Product Description

Includes: tripod stand. Blue Microphones Snowball - Round and white, the Snowball lives up to it's name, and features a retro style that harkens back to the early days of audio. But on the inside, the Snowball represents only the most modern in microphone technology. Bringing you professional quality audio recording on the PC or Macintosh via USB. It's perfect for everything from soft vocals to a loud garage band. It's also ideal for professional sounding podcasts. PC Requirements - XP Home or Professional Edition, USB 1.0 or 2.0 port, and a minimum of 64MB of RAM Mac Requirements - Mac OSX, USB 1.0 or 2.0 port, and a minimum of 64MB of RAM

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #28 in Musical Instruments
  • Brand: Blue
  • Model: BLU SNOWBALL
  • Released on: 2008-04-22
  • Original language: French, English
  • Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 2.50 pounds
  • CPU: PowerPC G4 2.1 GHz
  • Memory: 2000MB
  • Hard Disk: 1GB
  • Processors: 1

Features

  • Uniquely designed plug-and-play USB mic connects to either a Mac or PC
  • Dual capsule design and unique three-pattern switch can handle everything from soft vocals to loud garage band
  • Switchable mic patterns for a variety of recording applications, including podcasts
  • Swivel mount located on the bottom center of the mic body
  • No additional software required

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
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,™ theworld’s first 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 before 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.

Podcasting Perfected and More
Golly. What is that thing?
Simply put, the Snowball is Blue Microphones’ revolutionary new USB microphone—the first studioquality USB mic on this (or any other) planet. It’s never been easier to get live audio into your Macintosh or Windows desktop or laptop. Just plug it in, adjust your input level and you’re up and running!

Ok. But what’s so great about it?
Aside from its simple direct interface, the Snowball is simply the best-sounding USB mic on the market, and with two pickup patterns and a separate setting for really loud sounds, it’s versatile enough to cover a wide range of recording and real-time applications, from high quality podcasting and telephony to vocal and instrument recording in both home and professional studios. Whether you’re recording a podcast, a guitar at your kitchen table or the whole band in the studio, the Snowball can capture it with detail unheard of in a USB mic.

iPod, therefore iPodcast.
Of course you want to do your own podcast! Enter the Snowball — the perfect solution for professional-sounding results in an affordable, easy-to-use package. Ideal for any application where you need to get high-quality audio into your computer, the Snowball unites the heritage of vintage classic microphones costing thousands of dollars with cutting edge technology and an ease of use never imagined! Engineered to be heads and ears above built-ins and "computer store" mics, the Snowball can handle everything from vocals to sound effects and, of course, just about any musical instrument!

Yep, it’s included.
The Snowball includes a shielded USB cable and a spiffy desktop mic stand. You also get an easy-to-understand manual with loads of recording tips, so you can literally set-up your Snowball and be recording in just a matter of minutes. Plus, a variety of software recording applications are compatible with the Snowball,* including Apple’s new GarageBand 3. Give it a listen — you won’t believe your ears.

The world’s first professional studio-quality USB mic, from Blue.
The world’s first professional studio-quality USB mic, from Blue.

Features & Functionality

  1. What exactly is this Snowball all about?
    The Snowball is a revolutionary microphone. Leave it to Blue to reinvent the wheel… err, microphone once again! With USB connectivity, it has never been easier to get live audio into your Macintosh or Windows desktop or laptop. Just plug it in, adjust your input level and you’re up and running.
  2. Is The Snowball a dynamic microphone like the Blue Ball, or a condenser like the Blue 8Ball or Kiwi?
    The Snowball is a condenser, which, according to the audio wonks we know, has a smooth open sound with a nice, natural high-end.
  3. I’ve heard that condenser microphones require something called phantom power. Do I need to concern myself with this? Does The Snowball need batteries?
    No. The Snowball derives its operating voltage from something called bus voltage, which is always present on your USB port. As long as the red LED is glowing, you know you’ve got power. The Snowball does not require batteries.
  4. Do I need any special software to use The Snowball? Do I need any drivers?
    Technically, no. Depending on your application, your OS may have sufficient features to utilize the capabilities of The Snowball. But, to get the most out of your Snowball, you’ll want to have some kind of software that allows for digital signal processing and non-linear editing that will accept audio from the USB port. Some examples of these programs are listed below. As long as you are using Windows XP or Apple OSX, you will not need any drivers.
  5. Can I use The Snowball with a traditional analog audio mixer?
    No. The Snowball features digital output only. It must be connected to a USB port in order to function.
  6. What sample rate and word length does The Snowball use?
    The Snowball’s digital output is set to 44.1 kHz / 16-bit, just like an audio CD. But this is something that only audio geeks really need to worry about.
  7. How can I select a different sample rate?
    Because The Snowball is designed for the greatest ease of operation and setup, sample rate / word length are not user-definable. Sorry, geeks.
  8. Can I use more than one snowball at a time?
    Some audio editing software allows for multiple USB connections. Check with your software vendor – they should have technical support staff who can answer all of your questions about their product.
  9. What does cardioid and omnidirectional mean? Why should I care?
    These are the two polar patterns The Snowball is capable of producing. If you think of polar patterns as the shape of the area that a microphone "hears," omnidirectional hears everything at equal volume from all angles (in a 360o sphere surrounding the mic), while cardioid only hears what’s right in front of it at full volume and other sounds at increasingly diminished volume as the sound source moves further away from the center of the mic (audio techs call this off-axis). You should care because one of the most useful features of a microphone is the ability to control its pickup. We like polar patterns so much, that some of our professional studio microphones have as many as nine different patterns! With The Snowball, we’ve given you the two most likely to be useful to you.
  10. What is The Snowball used for? Is it a vocal mic, an instrument mic or both?
    The Snowball was designed to provide a wide range of applications where a high-quality transducer (a fancy way to say microphone) is needed, but so is ease of use and setup. Though most professional engineers prefer certain microphones for certain applications, we designed The Snowball for use with a wide variety of sources. Here are some suggested applications we came up with when we were locked in Blue’s patented anechoic think tank: instrument and voice for music production / pre-production / demos, DV-looping / dialog, podcasting, sound effects, audio sampling, interactive programming, video sweetening / post, internet telephony, internet conferencing, recording lectures, poetry slams, spoken word performances and speeches by your favorite politician – generally anywhere where you need an easy-to-use microphone and you have access to a computer with a USB port. Happy recording!
  11. Do I need to keep The Snowball in the freezer when I’m not using it?
    No. This is one snowball that won’t melt!

With the proper hardware and software, it’s easy to create your own podcast

Please note: as there are so many different software packages that are compatible with The Snowball, we are compiling a list of software we’ve tested and assured compatibility. We will publish that list shortly along with detailed instructions explaining how to use The Snowball with each package because, as you can imagine, they are all different! In the mean time, we suggest consulting your software’s manual, user forums and technical help lines. Here are a few to get you started:

Software Setups
How to get audio from my Snowball with…

  • Garage Band
    1. Go to Preferences->Audio and select the Blue mic as the input device (it will only show up when The Snowball is plugged in).
    2. Create a vocal track and select the Blue mic as the input device for that track.
    3. You may need to adjust the Snowball’s input level in the control panel if you experience any distortion (crackling).
  • Logic 7
    1. Open the Audio and MIDI setup program in your Apps->Utilities folder.
    2. Create an Aggregate Audio Source (Audio menu - open Aggregate device editor).
    3. Add the devices you want to use to the aggregate device (Built in audio and Blue mic).
    4. Change the audio device in Logic's audio preferences from Default to Aggregate.
  • Sonar
    1. Select "USB Audio Device" ( 1, in, 0 out) from an audio track.
    2. From within that subcategory, there are 3 selections: Left USB Audio Device, Right USB Audio Device, and Stereo USB Audio Device.
    3. Select Left or Right for mono audio tracks.
    4. Press "R" to arm the track for recording.
    5. Roll disk.
  • Adobe Premier Elements 4 (Windows Vista/XP)
    1. First, make certain that your Snowball has the latest firmware update. With this latest update installed, you'll be good to go. If you should experience any problems getting the program to recognize the mic, Adobe recommends the following:

      If the device does not allow you to record, then your microphone is not being detected as a valid input device in Premiere Elements. You can use an open source program called ASIO4ALL, which is a device driver that essentially wraps existing WDM devices, like USB microphones, as ASIO-compatible sound devices. Use the following steps to utilize this tool:

    2. Quit Premiere Elements.
    3. Visit the following web page and download the latest available version of ASIO4ALL: http://www.asio4all.com/
    4. Install the software, and restart the system if asked to do so by the installer.
    5. Make certain that your microphone is plugged in.
    6. Launch Premiere Elements.
    7. Go to the 'Edit->Preferences..>Audio Hardware' menu option.
    8. For the Default Device, choose the ASIO4ALL option.
    9. Click the ASIO Settings button, then select your microphone from the list of devices, click Exit, and then click OK on the Preferences dialog. Close and then restart Premiere Elements.

Hardware Platforms

  • Windows Setup Procedure
    1. Under START MENU open SOUNDS AND AUDIO DEVICES control panel.
    2. Select AUDIO tab; insure BLUE BALL USB MIC is selected as DEFAULT DEVICE.
    3. Click on VOLUME; select appropriate volume level.
    4. Exit control panel.
  • Macintosh Setup Procedure
    1. 1. Open Apple menu -> SYSTEM PREFERENCES.
    2. Double-click SOUND preference file.
    3. Click INPUT tab.
    4. Double-click BLUE USB BALL MIC under CHOOSE A DEVICE FOR SOUND INPUT dialog box.
    5. Set input volume to the appropriate level.
    6. Exit SYSTEM PREFERENCES.

From the Manufacturer
Manufacturer's Review (December 10, 2008)
Designed for desktop recording applications, the Snowball from Blue Microphones combines high style with versatility and easy of use. The mic's universal driver and plug & play USB compatibility make recording into your laptop or DAW quick and easy, while its dual capsule design and three-position switch dial in the desired sound for many applications.

Compatible with either Mac or PC--with no additional software required--the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band thanks to its unique three-pattern switch (cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad, and omni). It's also ideal for podcasting.

The Snowball uses two separate capsules to offer you a wide variety of applications. The first capsule generally "hears" what's right in front of it in a fixed cardioid pattern with a neutral sonic signature (unidirectional, for the technically minded). The second capsule generally "hears" everything around it with a brighter overall sound (omnidirectional). The Snowball features a unique swivel mount located on the bottom center of the mic body.

A Variety of Uses

  • Vocals: For a “big” vocal sound, position the vocalist within one to four inches of the diaphragm. With the input volume properly adjusted in your computer's settings, there is no need to worry about overloading the microphone, but be sure to use a high-quality sonically neutral pop filter. Tilt the microphone slightly upward (toward the forehead) for more projection and head tone, straight on at the mouth for maximum brightness and intelligibility, or down toward the chest for more robust full lows and smoother highs
  • Electric Guitar: Because of its neutral response and solid bottom end, the Snowball is an excellent mic for any clean or distorted guitar amp. Position the diaphragm toward the center of the speaker or dust cap to capture more highs, or toward the edge of the speaker cone for a fuller sound with more low end. For overdriven or distorted tones, move the mic towards the outer edge of the speaker cone, or back it away from the amp a foot or more to blend room tone with direct pickup and soften high frequencies.
  • Acoustic Guitar: For a balanced sound with plenty of sparkling high end, position the diaphragm facing the neck where it joins the body (usually between the 12th and 14th frets.) Initially, keep the mic as close to the instrument as possible, tilting the diaphragm toward the soundhole to capture a blend of low frequencies and pick sound. If you need more low frequencies, move the Snowball closer to the soundhole.

  • Strings: The Snowball is an excellent choice for miking all members of the bowed string family. In general, the diaphragm should be angled toward the instrument's bridge to pick up a blend of body resonance and bow sound. On bass and cello, placement from 3 to 6 inches in front of the bridge is usually ideal. For violin and viola, it is preferable to position the microphone 1 to 2 feet above the instrument. Angle the diaphragm toward the bridge for more bow sound and low tones, or toward the tuning pegs to capture a more diffuse, brighter sound.
  • Drums: The Snowball's excellent transient response offers numerous advantages when miking drums. For kit and hand drums, begin by placing the microphone two to four inches above the rim or hoop (where the head is secured to the shell). Angle the mic toward the player's stick or hand to pick up more attack and definition. Orienting the diaphragm toward the shell will soften the sharp attack of a hand drum, or pick up more of the bright, crackling buzz from a snare drum. Moving the microphone closer to a drum generally increases the low end, shell resonance, and separation from other sound sources, while more distant placement emphasizes the interaction of the drum and the environment, producing a blended, airier sound.
  • Saxophones, Flutes, and Reeds: For soprano sax, clarinet, oboe and related instruments, position the Snowball directly above and in front of the keys between the middle of the horn and the lowest pads. Try moving the Snowball up or down along the length of the body to adjust the balance of airy highs (toward the mouthpiece) and cutting midrange (toward the bell). On flute, start by placing the Snowball above the middle of the instrument, and move the diaphragm closer to the mouthpiece if more high frequencies and breath sounds are desired. For other members of the saxophone family, start by placing the Snowball two to six inches in front of the lip of the bell. Angle the Snowball upward toward the mouthpiece to capture more air, brightness, and high notes. For a mellower sound, orienting the diaphragm toward the floor will emphasize the low range of the sax, and will tame the biting upper midrange that projects straight out of the bell.

Technical Specs

  • Transducer Type: Condenser, Pressure Gradient with USB Digital Output
  • Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional or Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: Position 1-3: 40-18kHz
  • Sample/Word Rate: 44.1 kHz/16 bit
  • Weight: 16 ounces
  • Dimensions: 12.8 inches (circumference)

System Requirements

  • Macintosh: Mac OSX; USB 1.0 or 2.0; 64MB RAM (minimum)
  • Windows: Vista or XP; USB 1.0 or 2.0; 64MB RAM (minimum)

END ASIN: B0012AUHXW TITLE: Blue Microphones Snowflake USB Microphone SOURCE: Amazon.com Product Description PRIORITY: 7449 AUTHOR: Amazon.com REVIEW: Featuring Blue Microphones' renowned circuitry, the Snowflake is a professional quality portable mic that combines a USB bus powered capsule with a class compliant design to make the Snowflake truly plug and play on both Mac and PC. Not just an eye-catching design, the Snowflake is highly functional. The mic folds into a single compact case which also houses a USB cable for easy transport in a laptop bag or even a pocket. Unfolded, the case serves as a desktop stand or a laptop clip, making the Snowflake a natural for everything from podcasting, calling over the web, narrating a home video, or sketching out a song idea on the go.
Where Do You Put It?
The Snowflake's unique design allows you to place it on a desk or flat surface near your computer, or mounted to the screen of most laptops. Gently grasp the top and bottom halves of the Snowflake mounting box and slide them away from each other (figure 1, on the right). You'll find the USB cable snugly fit inside. The top half of the mount can then be positioned on any flat surface (figure 2), or hung over the back of most laptops (figure 3). The Snowflake capsule also pivots back and forth and rotates side-to-side for optimal positioning.

When not in use, just disconnect the USB cable and store it in the mounting box, sliding both haves together to close. When traveling with the Snowflake, gently swivel the active side of the round capsule head (with the metal grille) so that it faces down and into the box (figure 4). This will help protect the precision capsule from damage.

Technical Specs

  • Transducer Type: Condenser, Pressure Gradient w/USB Digital Output
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Sample/Word Rate: 44.1 kHz/16 bit
  • Frequency Response: 35Hz - 20kHz

System Requirements

  • Macintosh: Mac OSX; USB 1.0 or 2.0; 64MB RAM (minimum)
  • Windows: Vista or XP; USB 1.0 or 2.0; 64MB RAM (minimum)
END ASIN: B00061ZM2Y TITLE: M-Audio Fast Track US44010 USB Audio Interface with Session Software SOURCE: Amazon.com Product Description PRIORITY: 7449 AUTHOR: Amazon.com REVIEW: If you record music with Apple's GarageBand or other software applications, Fast Track USB is your new best friend. The USB interface lets you easily record your guitar onto the computer with professional results but without buying several clunky adapters. Simply connect Fast Track USB to the USB port on your computer and you're ready to rock. The device sports an input for such instruments as guitar, bass, and keyboards, plus a microphone input for recording vocals and other acoustic sounds. The included GT Player Express software, meanwhile, delivers killer effects and virtual stomp boxes, so you don't need any other effects pedals or gear to sound great. GT Player Express also plays such standard audio files as AAC, MP3, and WAV, letting you learn and jam along with your favorite music at varying speeds.

Add in a 1/8-inch stereo headphone output for monitoring, compatibility with both Windows (XP SP1) and Mac (OS X 10.2.8 or greater), and level controls for the headphone and main outputs and you have a versatile, professional means of adding guitar, vocals, and more to your computer music experience. The Fast Track USB measures 5.5 by 1.75 by 4.25 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

Bundled Software

  • Ableton Live Lite delivers much of the functionality of Ableton Live—the revolutionary, multi-award winning music production solution that allows you to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit your musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. Live brings your acoustic, electronic and virtual instruments—as well as your digital audio recordings and MIDI sequences—together in a single interface with unparalleled ease of use. details
  • inTone | Express Bundle: Your M-Audio hardware is compatible with a suite of creative applications that enable you to start making music right away. Designed by leading audio effects provider Audiffex, the inTone series provides a broad array of tools—from guitar and bass stomp boxes to virtual mixers and much more. Each software program lets you arrange channel routing and effects in a variety of ways, so you can develop a sound that’s truly unique. details

What's in the Box
Fast Track USB audio interface, GT Player Express software, user's manual

Customer Reviews

Impressive, clean cardiod sound, mac core audio, warm omni mode5
Okay, I own a lot of microphones. I am very picky when it comes to sound and I would gladly waste $40 in gas to return a microphone that just didn't have the sound I expect. I was delighted to hear the quality of this USB mic! It has a great clarity to it, without being "tinny" or "crispy", and without sacrificing on the lows either. No "boomy" or "hollow" sound, just a nice clean and full-range quality that I expect from my $500-range microphones (but thankfully, without having to fool with an audio interface or goofy proprietary driver software!) What a great find... plug it in and it is ready to record!!

If you are looking for an intelligent, clean, affordable microphone for voice-over projects, podcasts, quick-and-easy live recording (with your laptop, of course), or open-mic music composition before dragging all the gear out to record a full-blown multitrack, this is the best money can buy in this category. Not to mention, it looks great sitting on your desk! BLUE has definitely convinced me to buy again, solid construction and solid sound (and no stupid drivers like Samson's USB garbage). Maybe next I'll get a Bluebird or Baby Bottle, this company is worth a closer look now that I've heard the very smooth sound of their entry level -- BLUE has got my attention!!

Impressive5
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3A3NPEGALRHJK Always hold it close to your mouth to eliminate echo and get that deep, rich satin voice you're looking for!

This is a great microphone with a lot of options.5
When I started podcasting I began looking for a quality microphone that would provide me with quality sound while being inexpensive. This microphone has been GREAT for my podcasting efforts. There are three options: single vocal, live music, and a 360 degree vocal mic which allows me to share my microphone with other guests in the room without loosing sound quality.

In fact, I once did a podcast outside by the freeway and the outside noise was minimal. This is a great buy.