Just like farm-to-table, your guitar, voice, and whatever else youāre cooking up needs a reliable delivery source.
If you're putting your first home recording rig together, or have been at it for years, you simply can't undervalue the importance of a good microphone or twoāor five. There are hundreds of great options, so where to start? Here, to assist you on your search, we've rounded up a small gathering of solid ribbons, dynamics, and condensers.
Bluebird SL
This mic's onboard switchable 100 Hz high-pass filter and -20 dB pad opens the flexibility to track a wide variety of sound sources, from detailed vocals to full-frequency guitar recordings.
SM57
Long considered a studio and stage staple, this versatile and affordable dynamic mic is uniquely designed to handle the high-pressure sound that explodes from amps and cabs.
MD 421-II
Continuing in the tradition of the companyās popular MD 421, this dynamic micās full-bodied cardioid pattern and 5-position bass control makes it a solid choice for many instruments.
ATM650
This neodymium-magnet-equipped dynamic mic features a multi-stage, flat-grille design for precise, close-in positioning, and has a frequency response tailored for the clear sound reproduction of guitar cabs.
NTI
Whether recording vocals, acoustic instruments, or amp rigs, this 1"-diaphragm condenser features a handmade capsule designed for the smooth sound players expect from a vintage, solid-state mic.
C414 XLII
This condenser mic doesnāt come cheap, but it provides nine polar patterns to choose the ideal setting for multiple applications/environments, and boasts an impressive dynamic range of 152 dB.
R-10
This passive ribbon mic is said to offer a balanced sound field with a flat frequency response and a maximum SPL of 160 dB at 1 kHz, so players can close-mic loud sources without fear of overload.
X1 R
The tough construction of this mic was designed to handle any SPL, and its hybrid old and new ribbon technology provides all the organic qualities of ribbon sound, but with more versatility.
M 160
This double-ribbon mic thatās been used on countless rock classics in many applications features a hypercardioid pickup pattern, and is known for its transparency, transient response, and warmth.
CR-14
The dual, low-mass ribbon element of this mic is reported to possess a better sensitivity rating than most single-ribbon designs, leading to fast and accurate transient response and a 148 dB SPL capability.
[Updated 7/26/21]
The new mic is ideal for multitrack recording and capturing professional sound for YouTube video production and live-streaming.
Westlake Village, CA (January 7, 2019) -- Blue, a 20-year leading innovator in audio technology and design, announced Ember, a premium, cardioid XLR condenser microphone designed for pristine capture of vocals and instruments. Ember is ideal for multitrack recording, and capturing professional sound for YouTube video production and live-streaming. Featuring premium components and precision design, Ember is perfect for on-camera applications.
Ember is designed to help musicians, vocalists, and video creators deliver professional productions from their home studios with superb detail and depth,ā said Tommy Edwards, director of product management at Blue Microphones. āIts precise cardioid pattern and ample, clean headroom deliver clear and focused sound, while the sleek design ensures optimal placement or low profile for on-camera productions. Ember is perfect for home studio creators who want their productions to stand out with rich, professional-quality audio.ā
Featuring a proprietary, hand-tuned custom condenser capsule, Ember delivers superbly clear, open, and detailed performance for recording or streaming a wide variety of voices and instruments. A tight cardioid pickup pattern focuses on the sound source and minimizes room noise for a clean, up-front sound with excellent isolation. Emberās streamlined form factor and compact side-address design is ideal for placement in tight spaces or limited on-screen real estate.
Custom-designed phantom power circuitry and a precise cardioid polar pattern ensure remarkably consistent frequency response with minimal noise for a rich, smooth vocal sound. Clean, high-output gain ensures impressive headroom for even the most dynamic speech and instruments. Ember comes with a mount for any standard microphone stand and is also compatible with Blueās S3 Shock suspension mount and Compass boom arm accessories.
Pricing and Availability
Ember will be available in February at Guitar Center, Amazon and other authorized Blue Microphones dealers for the suggested retail price of $99.99. Ember is currently available for pre-order at select retailers.
For more information:
Blue
A unique pivoting head enables free range of motion for fast and precise positioning.
Westlake Village, CA (April 24, 2015) -- Blue Microphones announces the availability of Hummingbird, a versatile and precision-engineered Class A small-diaphragm microphone. With a precisely tuned diaphragm based on Blueās B1 capsule, Hummingbird is ultra-responsive and delivers extended frequency response, making it the perfect studio and stage solution for drum overheads, acoustic guitar, strings, harp, or any other instrument with fast transients and rich overtones. Hummingbird features an adjustable pivoting head that allows for 180 degrees of rotation so users can set the mic at any angle to unlock the tonal nuances of their instruments.
āWith fast transient response, high SPL handling and extended high frequency, Hummingbird is an exceptional small diaphragm microphone. To take it further, we designed the capsule to rotate 180 degrees for easy placement and now you have an undeniable weapon for drum overheads, acoustic guitar, piano and more,ā said Tommy Edwards, Director of Product Management at Blue. āLike its avian counterpart, the Hummingbird is compact, able to fit precisely into tight spaces, and can nimbly change positions where others canāt.ā
Featuring a premium pressure gradient cardioid capsule based on Blueās āB1ā capsuleāfrom the flagship āinterchangeableā Bottle Caps āand a proprietary Class A, fully discrete circuit, Hummingbird offers balanced character with plenty of sparkling high end. With no ICs in the signal path, the mic exhibits maximum detail and the lowest possible noise floor. The sonically versatile Hummingbird can capture the nuances of a wide range of instrumentsāthough its agility, extended high-frequency response, and ability to handle high sound pressure levels make it an ideal mic for recording drums. Hummingbirdās transparency and superb dynamic range deliver superior sound reproduction every time.
Inspired by the Dragonfly and Mouse microphones, Hummingbirdās unique 180-degree pivoting head enables free range of motion for fast and precise positioning, making it possible to achieve better sound, quickly and easily. When using two Hummingbirds as stereo overheads, the 180-degree rotating head allows an engineer to precisely dial in the stereo field in secondsāa task that can be long and tedious when using traditional mics on mic stands.
Hummingbird comes with a rugged, road ready protective carrying case, along with a mic clip and foam wind screen. Hummingbird (MSRP $299.99) is now available at authorized retailers.
For more information:
Blue Microphones