In the last few years, the ease with which people can broadcast their Roblox sessions and musings on celebrity beefs has helped expand the market for professional USB microphones to more than 100 models. But long before that, there was the Blue Yeti microphone. In 2009, American company Blue Microphones introduced the Yeti ($129.99) as a “premium” USB microphone for professional, semi-professional and aspiring broadcasters, singers and musicians. At the time, even better USB microphones were more likely to resemble Blue’s own Snowball: a decent but novel microphone with a quiet input signal and few features.
Since then, the USB microphone world has exploded, with professional models matching and sometimes surpassing the older Yeti, and Blue, which Logitech acquired in 2018, has kept pace with a range of other Blue Yeti USB microphones to suit every need. However, with the added features of a standard setup, such as headphone output, four pickup modes and a sturdy metal stand, the OG Yeti remains a great, user-friendly choice for new podcasters, streamers and recording musicians who want a plug-and-play, reliable USB microphone with proven sound.
Sound Quality
With its cardioid mode and its heart icon, Blue Yeti offers the ideal mode of operation for podcasting. Not only will your podcast benefit from the sound settings of this microphone, but streamers, gamers and musicians will also get professional results. You can use the Yeti to record integrated music, such as out-of-frame commercials, where the audio input is explicitly merged with pre-saved comments.
Two-way mode is suitable for interviews because it allows easy recording from the back to the front of the microphone with excellent clarity. The Blue Yeti will eliminate the need for a digital recorder, as you can make one-on-one calls or have it pick up conversations on the phone.
The Yeti in your portfolio will be an upgrade that is light years away from any earlier setup you may have had. Less work is required to eliminate the bumps and pops that make all your editing experiences useless.
Setting up
Blue Yeti is a USB microphone, so it plugs directly into your computer. You don’t need an audio interface or digital recorder to run it.
This is perfect for beginners, but may be a bit limiting for those who want to gradually hone and improve their audio skills.
There are plenty of microphones on the market that are used as both USB and XLR (Samson Q2U, Shure MV7, and Samson Q9U, just to name three) if you want to eventually run a mixer and multiple mic setups. However, this route is definitely not for everyone.
The Yeti is a great looking microphone. It feels sturdy, durable and moderately heavy. You can be recording with the Yeti in less than a minute.
It’s a simple case of taking it out of the box, placing it on your desk, and connecting it to your computer using the USB cable provided. Your computer will quickly detect it and you can start using it as a recording device in any audio software such as Audacity, Audition or Alitu.
Swag And Performance
I wouldn’t use the word swag to describe things, but it was the first thing I thought of when I first saw this microphone. It comes with its own stand and looks portable and easy to move around. The Blue Yeti also looks sleek and blends in with anything on your desktop or desk. It also comes in a variety of pastel colors: midnight blue, plain red, blue-green, deep sky gray, and more.
In terms of performance, it has a fair enough pickup range that you can sing from up to two feet away from the microphone in whichever mode you choose. It will definitely stop any sound from going beyond its mode. This is all because it actually houses three condensers.
Thanks to the built-in volume/gain knob and its multiple modes, you have complete control over the sensitivity of the microphone when picking up sound and noise. The headphone volume knob and mute button are quality-of-life features you’ll love.
Yes! You can actually attach headphones to this microphone. It makes using your computer and phone much easier and simpler. Please note that you will definitely need a USB adapter to connect this device on your phone. The type of adapter you need depends on the brand and make of your smartphone.
Summary
The Blue Yeti USB microphone is a popular choice in the desktop microphone segment due to its extreme versatility. It’s easy to see why so many people use it for video conferencing, YouTube videos, and Twitch streaming. If you’re strapped for cash and want to start podcasting or producing videos, then this is the microphone for you. You can also find the best Blue Yeti pop filters here.
It’s far from the best vocal recording device, but it’s the perfect entry-level condenser microphone for many home studios. Keep going to YouTube and I guarantee you’ll see people using it there. It’s definitely up to the task!
