Recording Item ID: #224Blue Microphones Snowflake USB MicrophoneProduct Information:
Product Warranty:
Item DescriptionSay hello to the Snowflake, the first professional portable USB microphone.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! Item Reviews5 Responses to “Blue Microphones Snowflake USB Microphone”Leave a Reply |
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The sound is clear and it’s easy to use. I’m using it to make recordings for violin auditions. It’s not a studio quality sound but for the price the sound quality is excellent in my opinion.
This item is definitely not plug-and-play. Neither my iMac nor my MacBook Pro sees this mic when it is connected to a USB port. It is not available in System Preferences>Sound>Input devices.
There is no troubleshooting info available in the product packaging. In fact, there is nearly no information at all in the packaging, except instructions that promise it will work once plugged in. I left a message at the company website [...] about the problem. The reply screen says they will respond “as soon as possible.”
I have low expectations for service when I buy an inexpensive product like this one. But, I have normal expectations that what I bought will actually work as advertised.
I would like to be more positive here, but simply cannot right now. I bought this to record face-to-face interviews. The size is perfect. It should come with a cover or bag of some sort, but that is a quibble. I’ll take care of that myself. I hope I/they can get it to work. BlueMic will get a week to reply and solve the technical problem, else this little promise is going back for a refund.
4/910 Update: So, initially the guy at BlueMic just said send it back to us because you obviously have a defective unit. I asked that they pay shipping, and they agreed to that (FedEx Ground). I just sent it off today. They promised 4 day turn around time plus shipping. Watch this space…
4/14/10 Update: I just received a replacement Snowflake from BlueMic. It is obviously a refurbished product; both the product packaging and the product itself show signs that it is not new. The package was retaped using clear packing tape. This is not how new products are sealed. And, the the plastic inside the outer packaging is noticeably scuffed and not clean/clear. Also, the white base of the microphone itself is scuffed, indicating that it has been used, or handled roughly on an engineer’s bench.
Add to this that the instant I plugged the USB cable into the back of the ball, and turned the mic around, the ball opened, revealing all the circuitry inside. I have pictures.
I just sent an email to the same customer service guy who handled the first product failure issue. I asked for another shipping label and that we try this all over again. We will see what happens. My ultimate recourse, of course, is to return it via Amazon.com. At least then I know I can get my money back. BUT, I would like to give BlueMic a chance to send me a product that works…and, a NEW one at that.
Watch this space…
I purchased the Blue Snowflake USB Microphone about a month ago. The sound reproduction quality on it is very good, and it has no problems picking up sounds from very far away. I use it for my VoIP speakerphone system, and people I’m talking to can clearly hear me even when I’m talking normally over thirty feet away from the microphone. The sound reproduction isn’t studio quality, but it’s good enough for most other consumer applications, such as SIP Phones, VoIP, Ventrillo, or TeamSpeak. It’s by far and away the best value area microphone I’ve ever purchased, and I’m glad a friend recommended it to me. The picture can be kind of misleading though, as the microphone folds out of the base, and you have to plug the USB cord into the bottom of the microphone that folds out, rather than into the base itself.
No idea why two reviews that bombed the Snowflake claimed it didn’t work in Windows 7. These are either old reviews (before Win 7 actually shipped and these were public beta tests), or these folks had totally unrelated problems.
It ain’t the mic. I plugged it into a USB hub hanging off my machine, Win 7 immediately recognized it, I recorded some signing, end of story.
Actually, I was impressed that for a cardioid pattern mic, advertised as omnidirectional, in a carpeted office, it picked up practically zero ambient noise such as keyboard clicks.
My need was for a road mic–not a webcam mic or other talking head purpose, but to actually capture relatively acceptable hi-fi singing, announcing, and musical instruments for video production.
Is it better than an old EV, or a Shure, or otjer workaday musician’s mic? Nope; you get what you pay for–no need for drivers, truly plug and play, truly portable.
I’m happy with it. I gave it five stars when it deserves four, just to offset a couple of the flames here concerning it not working.
Oh, and the Retro look of the Snowflake and other Blue Microphones products is charming. Onlookers are going to ask what the heck it is.
I have been using this mic for Teamspeak and skyp and have found it works great. The sound is very clear. I have yet to check the recording quality but feel it will hold up well. Can see this mic used easily for on-the-road lap use. Very convenient as it all fits together in a nice compact box.