I really like podcasts! Hmmm. That might be a bit understated.
I love podcasts!
That’s better. Ever since I first discovered podcasts (thanks to the The Dave Ramsey Show), I have loved them.
I’ve also wanted to be a part of one…and now I am!
Thanks, ChurchMag!
Now, I’m such a noob that I’m in no place to tell anyone how to do a podcast, but how about I review what I use to podcast? Ok?
Awesome.
So what’s the first podcast-specific piece equipment you just have to have?
A mic.
Thus, allow me to introduce to you…
The Blue Snowflake USB Mic
Like its name implies, the Snowflake is one of the smallest mass produced mics by Blue Microphones. It’s compact and portable, folding up nicely into a medium-sized rectangle that can be transported rather easily in a laptop bag pocket. But don’t let its size fool you: the Snowflake has some weight to it, the kind of weight that makes it feel well-made and sturdy.
As far as its ease of use, the Snowflake couldn’t be any easier—for Mac users. (God bless you folks on Windows.) Just plug the mic in via USB, verify that it has be set as the input device in System Preferences and then start recording.
The Snowflake is a cardioid condenser mic with a nice sound, but it does seem to pick up a lot of extra noise. That’s why I record with the microphone on the table as opposed to the on a laptop as in the pictures provided on Blue’s website and on Amazon. I tried that when I first go the mic, and I kept picking up a clicking sound in the background. It was the mic picking up the noise from my laptop’s hard drive. Other than that small thing, I have no complaints.
Of course, I’ve only had the mic for about a month, so I’m still experimenting. I think I might try to place a small but thick towel or blanket under the microphone to further absorb vibrations from the table and to reduce the chance of my voice echoing off the table and back into the mic.
Currently, the Snowflake is selling for about $35, which is a fairly good deal in my book. If you’re looking for a decent mic for recording music demos, podcasts, or for conference calling, the Snowflake is a great option that you should definitely consider, especially if your budget is on the small side.
You can find out more about the Snowflake at Blue’s website, and you can order it and read more reviews at Amazon.com.
Here’s a quick sample of me using the Snowflake:
And if you want to hear the Snowflake in the wild, check out the amazingly epic ChurchMag Podcast or my tiny little podcast..
What are you looking for in a USB mic?
And just for grins, what are your favorite podcasts?
John Wilkerson says
I used the Snowflake for years for podcasting. It’s a great little mic. BTW, all I had to do was plug it into my Windows machine.
Phil Schneider says
That’s great to know, John! Thanks for the comment.
Eric J says
Sounds good Phil! I’ve always looked at the Yeti but for $35 the snowflake is a great deal!
Phil Schneider says
Yeah, I really wanted a Yeti, too, but I don’t really have an “office” that I’m in every day. That’s why the Snowflake really clicked for me: I’m so mobile. It’s definitely an option to consider, especially if you are testing the waters of recorded audio.
Tim Smith says
I use a Samson G-Trak for my voice recording http://www.samsontech.com/samson/products/microphones/usb-microphones/gtrack/
I also got a pop screen, which gives a big boost in quality for a small outlay.
Don’t know if anyone else has found this but I’m sure the output from the microphone is much quieter in Win7 than WinXP and Linux. Since upgrading I’ve had to get the mic really close to my face to get a decent level.
It’s also very heavy, I ended up hanging a back on the other end of my mic stand to stop it from tipping over!
Phil Schneider says
I actually looked at the G-Track before I bought the Snowflake. I kinda wanted something a little more mobile because (as I told Eric J) I’m pretty mobile. I will say that the Snowflake is definitely heavier than it looks, but it doesn’t need a counterweight!
I would like to be able to add a pop filter, thought I’m not sure how I would do that.
Thanks for the comment!