Blue Microphones is a young, hip microphone company that shines through
with innovative and creative designs.
They take an extra step with their vintage microphone store and Blue University,
a free education in microphone technology available through their website.
Since 1995, Blue has evolved from just two guys building
mics by hand to an international manufacturing company with their own fleet of
mics. Jazz music was the common interest
between the two founders. Both are
highly-achieved in the music industry, and they aim for excellence and
affordability.
Blue offers 14 microphones, each with its own unique qualities
and applications. Each mic is its own
cartoon character: Dragonfly, Woodpecker, Blueberry, etc. One of their signature models is the
Bluebird, a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser.
Its strength is in its versatility, but makes a superb vocal mic.
Some of Blue Microphone’s other notable characters are the Kickball
(for low frequency apps, like a kick drum), Snowball (a USB mic), and Cactus (a
nine-pattern condenser vintage tube mic).
Blue makes three different cables, and provides recommendations for
which mic works best with which cable.
They also make a funky-lookin’ pre called Robbie.
Most microphone manufacturers offer specs and colorless
information about products. Blue offers
an entire online course at BlueMic-University.com. It breaks down concepts regarding how sound
works and how their microphones excel at capturing sound. As you “graduate” up to a PhD, you are scored
with chapter tests and even a final exam.
The course is designed to help you make the right decision when
purchasing a microphone and how to max out the one you take home.
All of Blue’s “spherical mics” are $99. Their most expensive model, Cactus, runs for
about $2,500. The Bluebird is about
$500.
