Blue USB Microphones Spotlight-Easy Podcasting

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; the world’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.

Technical Specs

Transducer Type:	Condenser, Pressure Gradient w/USB Digital Output
Polar Pattern:	Omnidirectional or Cardioid
Frequency Response:	Position 1-3: 40-18kHz
Sample/Word Rate:	44.1 kHz/16 bit
Weight:	460g
Dimensions:	325mm (circumference)

Say hello to the Snowflake, the first professional totally 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!

Characteristics

• Professional recording quality — on the go!
• Mac and PC compatible
• Plug ’n play — no complicated drivers required
• Unique design fits on your desktop or laptop
• Blue’s superior proprietary capsule and circuit design
• Includes USB cable

Suggested Applications

• Podcasting, voice recognition software, iChat, VoIP software (such as Skypeand Vonage), dictation, field recording, lecture recording, narration, presentations
• Music recording

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

COMING SOON……..

The Icicle is Blue’s new stylish USB converter and mic preamp combo that allows you to connect any XLR microphonedirectly into your computer via USB! The Icicle features a studio quality microphone preamp, 48V phantom power, fully balanced low noise front end, analog gain control, and driverless operation. Setup is a snap! The Icicle works with both dynamic and condenser microphones, providing high quality and hassle-free connectivity with Mac or PC. Whether you’re using amicrophone for digital recording, podcasting, voice messaging, or voice recognition applications, the Icicle is the quick andeasy way to get connected.

AKG Releases C 214 Single Capsule Condenser Microphone!

The new AKG C214 offers a single-capsule, cardioid-only design that delivers class-leading performance with the same dual-capsule as the C 414, but using only one diaphragm instead of two.

Thanks to its 20-dB attenuation pad and AKG’s ultra-low noise electronic design, the C 214 can be used in sound fields as high as 156 dB SPL.

The AKG C214 features an integrated capsule suspension system that minimizes chassis-born noise and resonances for even greater sonic accuracy.

“The AKG C 414 has been successful for more than 30 years due to continuous improvement of technical specifications, useful features, and ease-of-use. The evolution of the C 414 has been informed by feedback from recording studios, broadcast stations, and live sound engineers,” explains Thomas Stubics, Product Manager at AKG.

“Our new C 214 was designed as a budget-friendly alternative to the leading-edge C 414 family. Because the C214 uses the same one-inch diaphragm as the C414, the essence of that heralded C 414 sound has been captured in this newest model.”

The AKG C214’s double mesh, all-metal grill protects the capsule and ensures high RF immunity without affecting acoustical performance.

The C214 has road-tough construction quality with a modern scratch-resistant finish, a dent-resistant, metal grille and a gold-plated XLR-type output. It comes complete with a spider-type shock mount, windscreen, and metal carrying case.

If the popularity of the AKG C 414 is anything to go by, then the AKG C 214 is certain to follow on its steps, as it can be seen as a more affordable version of the C 414, but with all the great sound quality and warmth you’d expect from a member of the C 414 family!

If you want to be amongst the first ones to own this new exciting mic from AKG, you can find it on Dolphin Music.

Main features include:

• Integrated suspension to reduce mechanical noise
• Rugged double mesh grill for unaffected acoustics and high RF immunity
• Switchable 150Hz, 6dB/octave low cut filter
• 143 dB of dynamic range
• Same capsule as the legendary C 414
• Gold plated XLR output
• Switchable 20dB Attenuation Pad
• All metal die-cast body
• Sensitivity: 20 mV/Pa
• Equivalent noise level 13 dB-A (IEC 60268-4)
• Attenuation Pad 20 dB, switchable
• Frequency Response: 20-20.000 Hz
• Polar Pattern: cardioid
• Max SPL 136/156 dB
• Phantom Power: 12-52V
• Dimensions (mm): 160 X 55

The official launch of the AKG C214 is 17th May 2008. The UK MSRP will be £499 inc.vat.