Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum)
- Price: $66.99
- Free Shipping (USA)
- In Stock
The Blue Snowball incorporates Blue's revolutionary Ball microphone design with the added convenience of a USB output. The USB output allows an audio signal to be fed directly to software-based recording applications without unnecessary preamplifiers or hardware. The Snowball incorporates 2 separate capsules to give you a choice between cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns.
The cardioid polar pattern has a more focused pickup and generally "hears" whatever the mic is pointed at, while the omnidirectional pattern picks up sounds in all directions. The sensitivity and signal character of the Snowball result in outstanding clarity and detail while capturing vocals, guitars, drums, and more at CD-quality rates of 16-bit/44.1kHz. A -10dB pad switch provides added headroom and minimizes distortion when capturing audio at excessive levels. The mic comes complete with a desktop stand and a USB cable so you can begin recording right away.
- USB Output
- The USB output enables direct integration with a desktop or laptop computer, allowing CD-quality recording to software-based applications without a preamplifier
- Dual Capsule Design
- The dual capsule design incorporates omnidirectional and cardioid elements to give you a choice of what the mic "hears"
- -10dB Pad
- A -10dB pad switch eliminates noise and distortion when capturing signals at extreme volume levels
- Accessories Included
- A desktop stand and USB cable are included so you can begin recording right away
| Transducer | Pressure-Gradient Condenser with USB Digital Output |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid and Omnidirectional, Selectable |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz to 18kHz |
| Dynamic Range (Typical) | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Maximum Input Sound Level | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Power Requirements | USB Bus-Powered |
| Output Impedance | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Output Connectors | USB Output |
| Pad | -10dB Pad |
| Low Frequency Roll-Off | No |
| Dimensions | 12.8" (325mm) (Circumference) |
| Weight | 16.2 oz (460g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 44 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
98%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (41)
- Good audio (34)
- Versatile (22)
- Compact (20)
- Lightweight (11)
Cons
- Bulky/heavy (7)
- Limited functions (3)
Best Uses
- Amateur recording (31)
- Home studio (24)
- Professional recording (10)
- Outdoor events / games (6)
- Performances (6)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Experienced (23), Novice (13), Professional musician (4)
Most Liked Positive Review
Great mic for band practice and WoW
This mic has worked out great for streaming audio from our band practice. The mic is heavy and durable with three switchable patterns on the back. I use #3 setting which is Omni for ...Read complete review
This mic has worked out great for streaming audio from our band practice. The mic is heavy and durable with three switchable patterns on the back. I use #3 setting which is Omni for band practice. We place the mic a few feet from the PA with it's back to the room. It picks up the drums and sound great without distorting.
I also use this mic when I play World of Warcraft with Ventrilo or Vent as we call it for chatting online with friends during gameplay. It sounds great compared to my webcams mic.
You might not want to use this mic with Cubase or other DAWS though. It requires it's own ASIO driver to work, and so I can't seem to get it working along side with my normal Firepod rig.
Anyhow, it's a fantastic USB mic for louder environments as well as for podcasting. You will have to get close to the mic for podcasting, though. If you want a more sensative mic for quiet talkers, I think Samson also makes a nice Condenser USB mic.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
A little flashy, but works ok
I bought this mic for a friend so that he could do some narration work for me on his laptop computer. For this it works fine and sounds almost as good as much more expensive...Read complete review
I bought this mic for a friend so that he could do some narration work for me on his laptop computer. For this it works fine and sounds almost as good as much more expensive "pro" mics. You can work it fairly close with the usual pops and blasts, too. It seems to work fine on a Mac with the free Audacity recording software, though I wasn't able to get it to work using Quicktime Pro's recording option. The mic's output level is pretty low, so it's probably not well-suited for recording multiple people in a "roundtable" setup.
I was surprised by how big the thing is--about the size of a softball. I expected maybe tennis-ball size. It's also fairly heavy, so the little stand that comes with it is not very secure or stable.
The USB cord that comes with it is pretty short. It's long enough for a laptop but if your desktop tower is on the floor, you'll need a USB extension cord.
There's very little documentation with this mic, but I did find it's pretty much plug-and-play with Mac OS 10.6.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 44 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-20
Previous | Next »
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
When i first saw this mic for this price I nearly fell out my chair. I don't know if that's a reasonable price in the states, but for Canada, that's about half of what I would normally pay! So kudos to B&H for being awesome. As always, shipping and handling to Canada is about as much as the actual product, but I've learned to deal with that one. Still paid way less than I would have here!Now onto the mic. I'll give it 4/5 stars because i think it could be a better mic in just overall quality. I thought it would be a hefty, durable mic, but I find that the feel of it is pretty cheap. I think that the original white plastic one is better if you're tough on electronics. For [$] i won't do any more complaining, though. As far as looks, it's freakin' sweet. I love the tripod type holder and the vintage-y microphone look. The usb cord is MEH, but it's not really a big deal. And lastly, discussing sound. I think this mic would be great for little projects, podcasts, or a band just posting youtube videos/anything casual. It's obviously not something you can use for any huge projects. I usually use this to replace the terrible sound on my laptop for recording lectures in class or close up podcasts. It's got a nice range (1-3) of settings to use depending on your situation, super easy to use (plug in and go!), and looks pretty darn sleek. Such a great value!
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Very Affordable
Cons
- Bulky/Heavy
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Professional Recording
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
This mic works well in my studio bit eliminates the echo created in the room. I am satisfied with this mic so far. However only downside is that it needs to be close to your mouth at times. But I find that setting the switch to 3 makes you voice louder.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Events
- Home Studio
- Performances
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
the major use is for broadcasting, video conferences and recording lectures, still is quite suitable to record room conversation and friendly jam session with acoustic instruments at amateur level. Still the best results are with a talking voice and acoustic guitar.
I like the retro aesthetic joined with a very friendly and easy use, plug and play is for real. The level of voice recording is one of the best in this range of price. The slim pedestal gives the freedom to set the mic wherever there is some flat square inches, while the pro mic needs a bulky and annoying pedestal. The limits are dictated by the flexibility and the number of possible uses.
I would strongly recommend to a friend to buy the Blue Snowball
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Cool looking
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
- Not much depth to sound
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Podcast
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
I was looking for a simple USB mic to unclutter my desk without sacrificing too much audio quality. I sometimes add narration to simple travel videos for the web, so vocal clarity is my priority. I used to use an M-Audio interface with an MXL mike -- good quality for my purposes, but it seemed like every time I wanted to use the equipment I had to fiddle with it for 10 minutes. With the Snowball, I just plug it in to a USB input, and I'm ready to record. Loved the price, love the way it looks and love the build quality. I've heard better audio, but not for the price.
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
fantastic
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
This product does exactly what it says it can do. It is an easy setup, not a lot of cords you have to deal with. You just plug it in and off you go!
Also it has very good quality and people have to trouble hearing me at all!
Over all, very satisfied with my purchase and would definitely recommend it to a friend.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Durable
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Events
- Performances
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
We use this for internal recordings/trainings. This microphone is top quality. I would buy one for personal use as well. Best purchase this year.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Events
- Home Studio
- Performances
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
good quality sound recording. Looks smart[...]Would recommend this as a great USB mic - I bought it for the ipad2 which it worked a treat.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
- Wide dynamic range
Cons
- No off button
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Professional Recording
- Skype
- Video Conference
- VOIP Radio Interviews
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
I needed a better microphone than the one built-in to my MacBook Pro. This microphone is far and beyond an upgrade of the built-in microphone.
A wide dynamic range with great bass capture and it has a rich clear audio capture.
All in all bang for the buck.
I highly recommend it.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
Works well
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Events
- Home Studio
- Mobile DJ
- Performances
- Professional Recording
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
Easy to setup, sounds crystal clear, and LOOKS GREAT
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
- Breaks Easily
- Bulky/Heavy
- Pricey / Poor Value
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Mobile DJ
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
It captures voice very well with three options. The design is difficult to handle, difficult to position, very rigid and goes off balance easily when handled. A big disappointment is that it only shuts off when unplugged no power on button available in this model.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Solid build
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Professional Recording
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
Need a Microphone for podcasting? Voice overs? or even something to record that song you've been working on for the past 10 years? Then look no further. The Blue Snowball Microphone is for you. Set up was a breeze. I was able to set up the Snowball within 7 mins and begin to use it the moment after. On setting [1] I recorded some voice overs to test the quality of the audio to see If this infamous Snowball was all it was cracked up to be. I was shocked and Impressed! The audio the Snowball had captured was crisp and clear with no unwanted noise in the background. So here's the verdict.
Pro's: Clear Audio, Easy to setup/use, Multiple audio functions, Sturdy build.
Con's: The only con I have found for the Snowball is that there is no "On and Off" switch so you have to unplug the little guy every time you want it off.
Whether or not you're a professional or a beginner the Blue Snowball Microphone will be sure to be a purchase that you won't regret.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
I recently purchase this microphone to create Breeze presentations for work after struggling with an old headset microphone. The difference in the quality of the recordings was astounding. This is a great microphone and it really helped me to create a top-notch recording.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Choir
- Handbells
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
I teach High School Choir, Handbells and Band and wanted to start recording their performances. Both the Choir and Handbells were picked up great! And the snowball is so easy to use.
When I used for my Concert Band, it didn't seem to pick it up very well - just sounded canned. But still the snowball worked good.
I recommend this product - it's easy to use and works great!
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Studio
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
I received the Snowball mic a few weeks ago and can tell it is going to be a welcome addition to my production desk. I ran some test voice over work on it and I was impressed with the sound quality. The design of the mic is really cool and looks great. For the price it seems hard to beat.
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
Use it for recording cello music! Works well with Mac!
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
- Bulky/Heavy
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Professional Recording
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
I use the mic primarily for podcasting. I have two (usually one for each person speaking), and have been exceptionally pleased with the quality. I was skeptical that the quality would be of the same level as professionally-recorded audio, but am happy to say that I was wrong: with the right room and setup, these mics sounds as good as any pro-audio interview mic I've heard.
The design is attractive and simple (a single USB port and switch), and the plug-and-play ease of use is wonderful.
The mics were heavier and slightly bulkier than I anticipated, but I'm willing to live with it given the price and quality.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Durable
- Easy To Use
Cons
- none
Best Uses
- Home Studio
- Performances
- Professional Recording
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
I use this product to record my songs (guitar, vocals, various instruments) and it is worth it. I am very happy with it's clarity, I use it with Audacity. The three different settings on the back give good possibilities and options for either recordings for right in front of the microphone, loud sounds, and conferences to pick up sounds all across the room. I would recommend this microphone to those who are on a budget but still want a quality microphone, this is it! It also durable while still not too heavy. I have no doubts that this was not worth it, I am in love with it!
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
- Poor Tripod Utilization
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Podcasting
Comments about Blue Snowball USB Condenser Microphone with Accessory Pack (Brushed Aluminum):
I started a completely amateur podcast with my friends and for the money, this mic does the job. Whether I'm just using my voice in the cardioid mode or setting it up in the middle of a convo in omni mode, it works as advertised. Very easy to use and plug and play. If you have any experience with computers and minimal experience with garageband or a similar audio production software, it should be easy for you.
The tripod stand could have been better utilized and really isn't tall enough, but stack it on some books and it's fine. I'd definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for an easy to use multipurpose usb microphone.
Displaying reviews 1-20
Previous | Next »
Shock Mounts
- Price: $49.99
Pop Filters
-
- Original: $22.95
- Save: $2.29
- Price: $20.66
Wind Protection
- Price: $67.50
This item is usually Drop Shipped from the MFR/Distributor within 7-10 days (subject to availability). Your order will be charged at the time of placing the order with the vendor. Item is non-cancelable or returnable.
What's in the Box
- Tripod Stand
- USB Cable
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
Why Shop at B&H
Make your online shopping trip personal with our online Live Chat representatives. You can easily reach an in-house expert while browsing our site for your shopping needs. We have the most highly-trained staff in the industry who are pros in their fields, and their professional expertise will help you get the most from your purchase.
Place your domestic order with us for shipment via UPS, FedEx Economy, or FedEx Priority by 4 PM ET Monday through Thursday or 11 AM ET Friday and your order will be shipped that day. Visit our Shipping Delivery Times page for further details. Delivery times are subject to payment verification.
We appreciate your purchase from us, and we understand that sometimes the products you buy don’t turn out to be the right choice for you. We guarantee your peace of mind with our 30-day return policy. With no standard restocking fee and few restrictions, you’ll enjoy a return process as easy as shopping with us. Please visit our Return Policy page for further details.
We’ve made iPhone and Android mobile apps available for your service and shopping convenience. Use filtered search to find and purchase almost any item we sell and ship worldwide. Download product manuals and guides for many popular items. See high-resolution product images in close-up detail. Manage wishlists and view order history. Visit our Mobile Apps page to download.
See sample Newsletter
Help
Company Information
B&H Resources
