Blue Yeti microphone review

Our Verdict

The Blue Yeti microphone remains a favorite for recording and podcasting, thanks to its ease of use and relative affordability. Whether recording by yourself or in a roundtable discussion, the Blue Yeti is upwards to the task.

For

• Easy to employ
• Expert recording quality with multiple modes
• Reasonably priced
• Sturdy design

Confronting

• Sensitive to pops and shocks/bumps
• No XLR output

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Bluish Yeti microphone remains a favorite for recording and podcasting, cheers to its ease of use and relative affordability. Whether recording by yourself or in a roundtable discussion, the Bluish Yeti is up to the task.

Pros

• +

  Like shooting fish in a barrel to use

• +

  Good recording quality with multiple modes

• +

  Reasonably priced

• +

  Sturdy blueprint

Cons

• -

  Sensitive to pops and shocks/bumps

• -

  No XLR output

From the moment I saw the Blue Yeti microphone, I just knew it had the look. As a podcaster and erstwhile radio host, that studio design and feel is important for actuality, and the Blue Yeti had both to spare. Especially the Blackout Edition seen here.

Blueish Yeti specs

Connexion: USB

Ports: USB-C, iii.5mm aux out

Condensers: 3

Directional patterns: Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, Stereo

Size: 4.7 x 4.9 10 11.6 inches

Weight: 3.iv pounds

I'd gotten past with a handheld dynamic mic and a digital voice recorder, and after using the Blue Yeti, I could tell information technology wasn't only nigh studio aesthetics — it was a clear step up on from my old setup on recording quality too. It's not perfect, but every bit you'll read in this Blue Yeti review, it's easily one of the all-time microphones for beginners and pros alike.

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Blue Yeti review: Price and availability

With an MSRP of $130, the Bluish Yeti microphone is an affordable gateway into the world of recording or podcasting. It'southward available on Amazon, Best Buy and Blue'south own website.

There are both more "professional" options that cost effectually $300, and slightly cheaper USB mics like the Blueish Yeti Nano and the JLab Talk. Just the flagship Blue Yeti is more than sufficient in terms of its function and way, while maintaining a very reasonable price. Notably it has a very similar characteristic set to the EPOS B20, and that has a list toll of $199.

Bluish Yeti review: Pattern

(Image credit: Ken Makin)

While the Blue Yeti comes in diverse colors, the Coma Edition is the sleekest of the agglomeration. It'due south then smooth-looking that one almost forgets nigh the clunky base at the bottom. This base is a pocket-sized inconvenience, though if you add together a boom arm, it becomes a virtual non-cistron.

With its traditional wait and unproblematic pattern, the Blueish Yeti makes y'all feel similar you're in the studio, even if you're recording at dwelling house or on the road. The front end of the mic has a mute button and a volume knob for easy access and aligning. On the dorsum, there'south a gain knob and a switch for four directional pattern modes — cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional and stereo.

Information technology's not just attracting, either. The Blue Yeti is tough — and tested by my iii-year-old son, to be verbal. In his endeavour to record his own podcast, or only try on dad'southward headphones, my son has pulled over the Blue Yeti mic at least thrice. Save for a couple of dings, the Blue Yeti hasn't missed a beat. Even without a case, it travels well and doesn't have upwardly much space. Yous tin literally tape from anywhere with a estimator and the Blue Yeti. Trust me, I've done it.

There's no difficult setup with the Blueish Yeti, either. You literally accept it out of the box, plug in the USB cable from your mic to your computer, and you're fix to become. I'thousand an Apple user, and the mic works smashing with Garageband. Whether y'all're a PC person or an Apple user, the mic is extremely user-friendly.

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Bluish Yeti review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Ken Makin)

The cardioid way icon looks like a center, which is plumbing fixtures for me because information technology'due south the pick I love the most. It'due south the ideal mode of operation for nigh podcasters. This setting is good for not simply podcasts, only gaming, streaming and musical recording as well. I've even used the Blue Yeti to record voice-over advertisements and have integrated music onto those commentaries seamlessly, with professional results.

The manner of choice for one-on-i interviews is the bidirectional mode. Information technology records from the front and back of the microphone with clarity. Remember how I used to record with a

digital voice recorder? The Blue Yeti has largely eliminated the demand for this, because I can either record in person or take an over-the-phone conversation via speaker that the mic picks upwards clearly.

It goes without saying that the upgrade in quality is calorie-free years improve, with less work done to remove pops and bumps. Most of my experience in editing at present is removing folks' inclination to say "um" in the midst of a dialogue.

(Image credit: Ken Makin)

All interviews aren't monologues or mano a mano, though. That's when the omnidirectional mode comes into play. It'due south a neat feature for roundtable discussions or group chats, with one caveat — it picks up every bump and shock imaginable. During my experience with interviews, I've often told guests to try to go on their easily to themselves and not fidget or tap their hands unless they're making a profound point. This is where, even in imperfection, the Blue Yeti is withal impactful. An important point followed with a pounding of the fist onto a table tin be "felt" in the omnidirectional mode and adds a little "oomph" to a word. With that said, a pop filter is almost mandatory for the Blue Yeti, and is relatively cheap.

Stereo mode, which tin record audio to left and right sound channels, is more for musical recording than podcasts or streaming. But I consulted some musicians, who all had proficient things to say about the Bluish Yeti's stereo recording quality. Between this and the other three modes, all your bases are covered as a content creator.

Blue Yeti review: Verdict

For $130, the Blue Yeti mic is a small price to pay for earth-class sound and convenience. In a earth with perpetual innovation in recording and podcasting, the Blue Yeti retains its staying power fifty-fifty after years in the game. Fifty-fifty more dedicated mics like the Rode PodMic or streaming-focused Elgato Wave: 3 aren't necessarily a ameliorate choice.

Peradventure you don't desire to spend more than $100 on a mic, in which case the JLab Talk is also one of the best USB microphones worth considering.  Only if y'all're serious about podcasting, or serious about creating content in full general, it'southward worth the actress $thirty for another of the best mics in the business.

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Ken J. Makin is a tech and entertainment writer for Tom'southward Guide, and has nearly 20 years of feel as a journalist. He'due south an gorging podcaster and freelancer for various sites, including ESPN's The Undefeated and The Christian Science Monitor. When he's non podding or writing, Ken is likely spending time with his wife and children.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/blue-yeti

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