JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum Blue microphones

Hi all,

Does anyone have any experience with Blue Microphones, specifically the bluebird and the Baby Bottle? How do they compare to others in a similar price range? Looking to record voice and acoustic guitars.

Thanks very much,

John

I think you'll find the baby bottle better suited to instruments and the bluebird to vocals.
As always, any microphone will be a bit different for each voice and instrument as well, depending on how it's played.

Thanks Dak,

Wish I could try out a bunch before buying...

John

They are pretty good judging by reviews and reports from friends.....for those kind of bucks though I would go Neumann bottom range or better still mid range second hand. I have used the Blue mousy mic once (I forget the model but it looks like Mickey Mouse) is about $1000
Have not used bluebird or bottle so cannot really help.

Big Jim,

How's $400 for a K2? Fair price?

John

I'm not Jim but US $400.00 for a Rode K2 is an excellent price if it's new and from a reputable dealer. (ie not a fake) They normally run nearer US $700.00.

I am not sure about prices in the USA but I know brand new here in UK they are about £400-£440.

Jim, about US $600.00 to US $660.00 at the exchange rate of 1.49 US Dollars to BPS.
Pretty good, in comparison to new prices at most places here for that mic. The only place I've found with a comparable price is Audio Lines out of Chicago who advertise the mic at US $575.00. Everyone else I've found, MF, Sweetwater, ZZounds & etc, are at US $700.00

Thanks Dak. The £ has taken a hammering in recent months against the dollar and euro.

Just the other day I saw a second hand K2 to 295 Euros here in Denmark.

I did get a blu baby bottle so far. The bad news is that I can only compare it's performance with a Shure Beta 57 and Beta 58. It is MUCH louder and quieter and seems to have a considerably fuller I really like it quite a lot so far. It also sounds very clear and full on the guitar, although i haven't tested it out on the 12 string yet. Still looking for a K2 to add.

John

Hi John yes there is a big diff in tone and volume. Now when you record watch the levels do not allow clipping. Use a pop shield... if you have one great..... if not buy one they are not expensive. Try various trial and error recordings for levels and to find the optimum mic distance and placement for voice and guitars. Have fun!

I got my son a Blue USB mic for his laptop. He loves it. It really is a versatile tool. Has a really cool isolator and mic stand. Just a 'C' note for the mic, ended up being about a buck and a half for the whole caboodle. I think that the Blues have a good rep.

OK guys, now I don't think this really belongs here, but I did get to record a new song, and believe it or not it is for adults, for the Philadelphia songwriters contest. I got it done barely in time to enter it. Writing the song was very easy. Recording, not so much.

Big Jim (and anyone else) You've heard the kids stuff with the old EV Mic. Could you please give a listen and see how you think I'm doing. I think it's lots better. The 12 string is hard to get sounding right...

Thanks,

John
It is: The Words Get in the Way

http://www.myspace.com/johnduniganmusic

I used the Blue Baby Bottle for voice and Shure beta 57 for the guitar. Recorded "live." I did try two mics on the guitar, but is sounded awful. I think one mic cable was bad.

Thanks very much again.

John

This sounded so much better especially the vocs. Still a way to go though. Interested to hear what set up you have and how exactly you go about recording and editing. To take it to the next level you really have to adopt a different approach than recording a one take live performance. You will get better results if you record each part separate on diff tracks with multi takes then edit it all together using a DAW like cubase or protools or reaper. Do not buy cheap cables as they can produce poor quality sound with extra unwanted noise.
As I said before you have to experiment with levels distances and mic placements to achieve optimum quality. It might help by placing padding and cushions etc around to help deaden bounceback. Once you have figured out best settings you will know for the future. One tip never record next to shiny surfaces or a wall. If you have to then a couple of cushions or pillows placed behind mic makes a diff. Best of luck.

Thanks Jim,

I am going through a Mackie Onyx820i mixer and from the main outs into an IMac using garage band. I do have the vocals on one track and the guitar on the other, but there is certainly some bleed between the two mics. I have just used one of the presets in Garage band called R&B, and then I use a little of the built in compressor to bring up the level. This is the best I've gotten it to sound so far, but I was really out of time to send the song into the contest. I did get a compressor that will go from the inserts on the Mackie, to the compressor, and back to the mackie. It's a FMR Audio RNC, which is supposed to be a GREAT little compressor.

for this song, I really didn't do much to improve the sound as I was out of time, but the raw sound was so much better than the other's you've heard, that I just went with it.

I do record in a big room away from walls, and will hopefully get a K2 on ebay here shortly.

When recording, I have a whole ritual I go through, I just turn it on and go after fooling around with mic placement on the guitars. I'm not very happy with what the beta 57 is doing, but I did just hear from a guy in the biz who says to keep the mic as it is the mic for a National Resophonic, which I do play. I do check the levels to see if I'm clipping, but I don't put any eq on it, on the new song, I did'nt even touch the eq after I was done...I will try recording both with the Baby Bottle, and see how it goes, but I really do want a K2, especially with it's variable pattern. That should be very interesting.

I really appreciate your help!

Best wishes,

John

I am impressed that you did virtually no editing and still got the sound pretty much OK. I think you are on the right road. It is all a steep learning curve. My next move would be to get something like Cubase or protools. That will give you more scope for producing better finished demos and learn more about editing and using plugins and FX. K2 is a good mic but I would get a better editing facility first. That is the engine room.

The Mackie came with a copy of Tracktion. Have you ever heard of that one. Free is GOOD! I was looking at ebay for copies of Logic--sometimes only about 200US.

I have Tracktion...it also came with a Mackie mixer I bought. Sorry to say I have never ran it or even looked at it as I have Cubase 5. I had a quick look at specs and the Mackie blurb it seems pretty good. I have use Mackie stuff for a long time now and if they recommend it then that is good enough for me. Give it a go. It looks pretty easy to use. I am not sure if it is a lite version they give away...that might not have all the bells and whistles.

Hey Jim,

How about a Rode classic 2 for under $1000 used in great shape? For a couple hundred more than a new k2, would you recommend that one?

John

There is a big diff between the classic and the classic 2. Personally I would not spend 1000 on a two. The later Rode models are not as good as the old stuff. I would still prefer the K2. To be honest I think the mic you already have is pretty good for your purposes. I think you need to spend more time and possible cash on the other side of recording techniques like editing and mixing. Spend your cash on protools or Cubase and learn how to use them...then worry about the best mic to use. Perfecting that area will get the best out of what you have rather than wasting money on great mics but not being able to get the best from them.

Will do. I did get tracktion basic with my mixer and might upgrade it. It is the same core as the others, but doesn't have all the bells and whistles. Once I get my feet wet, i'll upgrade. It does get excellent reviews. When you talk about editing and mixing techniques, can you give me any idea what you are talking about. Obviously there are levels for the guitar and voice. I do have a compressor that I will use in the inserts on the mixer. Truthfully, I'll have to figure out what to do with any of the stuff. Got a good book you'd recommend?