recordinghacks

Blue Microphones Nessie

Cardioid Condenser Microphone

The Nessie is a unique new USB microphone from Blue. It is a small-diaphragm electret condenser with onboard DSP (digital signal processing) intended to make home recordings sound better with less effort.

The DSP circuit has three modes:

• Voice mode: Incorporates de-essing, EQ, compression and limiting to produce a “broadcast” sound for a podcast or vocal track. The fixed EQ in this mode delivers a “big vocal with presence,” according to BLUE. The compression and limiting help compensate for uneven delivery technique.
• Instrument mode: Incorporates EQ, compression, limiting, and a harmonic exciter. The fixed EQ in this mode delivers a “larger frequency spectrum [with] more detailed and less forceful output” than the Vocal EQ, according to BLUE.
• Raw mode: disables DSP processing entirely; the unaltered sound of the capsule is passed to the USB host. The sound of this mode has been described by BLUE as “similar to the Snowball in Cardioid mode.”

The capsule is shockmounted to reduce handling and mechanical noise. The mic’s grille incorporates a blast/pop filter to reduce plosives when close-miking vocals.

A trim ring around the mic’s base glows in blue when USB is connected. It pulses when the mic is muted (via the onboard mute button).

The Nessie has a headphone jack, which provides zero-latency monitoring of the live source. A headphone volume control is also provided.

The mic was initially announced during Winter NAMM, January 2013, and began shipping in June 2013.

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The mic was released in 2013.

Specifications

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Cardioid (n/a mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Capsule diameter: 14mm	n/a

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
640g (22.58oz)	286mm (11.26'')	n/a	USB (1)

Power Specifications

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