recordinghacks

Blue Microphones Snowball

Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone

USB-powered mic with two capsules and three operational modes: omnidirectional, cardioid, and cardioid with -10dB pad. The mic has built-in A-to-D converters, and outputs digital audio via the USB port at 44.1 kHz, 16 bits.

SoundOnSound

The omnidirectional pattern behaves more like a wide cardioid at most frequencies and the sound picked up at the rear is much duller than the sound picked up at the front…

The presence peak [of the Omni mode] is much higher than that of the cardioid modes. When the mic is used on-axis, the omni setting produces a nice airy sound which makes the cardioid modes sound slightly dull by comparison — almost like listening to a typical dynamic mic next to a capacitor mic.

Electronic Musician, 2007
Blue intended the Snowball to be simple and easy to use, and it is. Like most of the other USB mics, the Snowball’s A/D converter has a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz resolution. However, the Snowball doesn’t give you the option of selecting a lower bit depth or sampling rate. A company spokesman noted that although there are newer USB chips offering a greater bit depth, it wouldn’t be of interest to the typical Snowball user: anyone wanting a higher resolution would use a regular mic with a dedicated converter.

As of July, 2009, BLUE has sold over 300,000 of the Snowball microphone.

Permalink: Blue Microphones Snowball

The mic was released in 2005.

Specifications

Frequency Response - OmnidirectionalClick Graph to Compare!
Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Omnidirectional (40 - 18,000 Hz) Cardioid (40 - 18,000 Hz)	Pad: -10 dB (Via Switch)

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

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
460g (16.23oz)	95mm (3.74'')	95mm (3.74'')	USB (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power

Did we get anything wrong on this page? Please let us know!