Blue Microphones Blackout Spark SL XLR Condenser Microphone with Custom Shockmount, Cardioid Polar Pattern, for Recording, Broadcasting, Podcasting, Twitch Gaming Streaming, YouTube Videos – Black
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Custom Blue Condenser Capsule
Delivers Blue’s legendary broadcast sound quality with depth and clarity.
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Detailed, Transparent Sound
Blackout Spark SL excels in focused, transparent sound with superb detail.
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Precise Cardioid Pattern
Ensures accurate sound for recording and streaming.
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-20dB Pad
Keeps your stream free of distortion when things get intense.
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XLR Connection
Perfect for USB audio interfaces and mixers.
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High-pass Filter
Increases clarity, reducing rumble from your room or desk.
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Class-A JFET Electronics
Provides studio-quality sound quality with rich harmonic audio
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Premium Shockmount
Ensures crystal clear sound, free from bumps and vibration.
Comparison table
 Ember |  Blackout Spark SL |  Bluebird SL |  Baby Bottle SL | |
| Capsules | Custom Condenser Capsule | Custom Condenser Capsule | Custom Large-Diaphragm Capsule | Custom Large-Diaphragm Capsule |
| Pickup Pattern | Cardioid | Cardioid | Cardioid | Cardioid |
| Sound Signature | Open, Accurate Sound | Detailed, Transparent Sound | Clear, Modern Sound | Warm, Classic Sound |
| High-pass Filter & -20dB PAD | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone Type | Studio Mic for Recording | Studio Mic for Recording & | Studio Mic for Recording | Studio Mic for Recording |
| Mounting Option | Custom Mic Stand Adapter | Custom Shockmount | Custom Shockmount | Custom Shockmount |
| Transport Option | Laser-Cut Foam Gift Box | Custom Wood Box | Custom Wood Box | Custom Wood Box |
| Output | XLR Output | XLR Output | XLR Output | XLR Output |
| Weight: | 327 g |
| Dimensions: | 4.5 x 4.5 x 22.05 cm; 326.59 Grams |
| Model: | 988-000075 |
| Colour: | Black |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium ion batteries required. |
| Colour: | Black |
This is an excellent mic for recording acoustic guitar even for industry standard.
The mic came out great! Recorded a podcast on it great quality
Best Mic i ever use!!!! i stream and this Mic is the non plus ultra on the market!!!!!
BLUE Baby Bottle SL is worth it<3
Dieses Mikro ist klasse. Ich nutze es zum Streamen und fr Videos auf YouTube mit einem GoXlr Mini. Es lsst sich super einsteuern und auf die eigene Stimme anpassen. Fr Anfnger habe ich daher nur vier Sterne gegeben, da man sich schon mit Mikrofontechnik und Steuerung beschftigen muss. Auerdem braucht man natrlich ein Gert, dass das XLR – Signal aufnimmt. Ich bin sehr begeistert.
A wonderful mic without an outstanding sound to money spent ratio. Very aesthetically pleasing also. The physical buttons are also useful in a pinch. I’m using both for singing and game streaming and have had great success with both.
Bin mit dem warmen Klang sehr zu Frieden. Nutze es fr Rap und Gesang. Die Hhen sind nicht zu hoch.
Das Design ist nicht relevant fr den Klang, aber mir gefllt die Optik sehr gut.
Das Mikrofon schlgt einige Mikros die wesentlich teurer sind. Auf YouTube finder man Vergleichsvideos.
No es un micrfono de alta gama, pero es muy superior a muchos micros del mercado que he probado, aparte me encanta su forma, ofrece un aspecto vintage muy atractivo, a la vez que tiene un grato registro de sonido. Recomiendo no dirigirlo directamente a la boca, es decir que tu voz apunte de manera leve hacia un lateral, as evitas las explosivas y ruidos molestos. Ten presente que la gracia de este micro es su forma, colocar un filtro de espuma en la cabeza o pantalla circular sera matar completamente su imagen, para eso buscate otro modelo. El filtro -20 db ayuda mucho a reducir el ruido ambiental, si a ello le sumas el filtro de ruido del OBS por ejemplo, podrs grabar en una habitacin sin tratamiento acstico (como es mi caso) y an as obtener buen resultado. Por mi parte estoy muy contento. La araa que trae hace un buen trabajo, la tengo en un brazo El Gato, y el conjunto va muy bien. La caja de madera para guardarlo es un buen toque pero algo incmoda para cargar, no es un micro para andar por all transportandolo, es un aparato para dejar en el estudio.
J’utilise ce micro tout les jours et il est vraiment top par contre selon utilisation not bien que le support de fixation n’est pas directement sur le micro comme pour le SHURE SM7B mais sur un support antichoc qui est beau mais reste trs visible donc pas trs discret devant une camra. Mais sinon rien redire
I would love a mute button but maybe that’s the usb mix user talking. Mic sounds great. Even for deep voice acting / streaming
Pour le prix ce micro est au top, pour stream dsicord etc..
Mi presupuesto se ajustaba a unos 300/450, y tuve la oportunidad de probar muchisimos microfonos que rondan ese precio y aseguro rotundamente que, al menos para mi, esta ha sido la mejor opcion sin duda.
Tuve en mis manos el famoso Neumann TLM (ahorano recuerdo si el 102 103) y de todos las marcas de micros y modelos de estas marcas que pude probar, os aseguro que el SL es el que ms se le parece (siempre que respetemos la brecha de los 400 euros).
Es increible lo parecido que suenan en salas con tratamiento acustico. Aunque he de decir que yo lo uso en una habitacion normal y su resultado es genial. Siempre que puedas grabar lo mejor posible y luego los archivos tengan una edicion de mezcla minima, este micro tiene una calidad excelente.
Para los que se fijen en lo estetico como yo, su diseo es unico. Y esto no es broma. Tiene un diseo muy llamativo que siempre atrae la curiosidad de todo el mundo que lo ve. No he visto muchas cosas iguales que no sean de bobina. su cuerpo fino y liso junto con la esfera lo hacen muy elegante. Ademas viene un con una caja de madera con acolchado en su interior que finalizan la presentacion del producto.
No es perfecto, obviamente. Para empezar no viene con ningun cable XLR, cosa que algunos de sus competidores con productos mas baratos si lo tienen. Otra cosa que me he fijado es que tiene bastante volumen y si tienes mucha reverberacion donde vas a usar el microfono se te cuela mucho ruido. Al margen de lo mas llamativo, hay algunas especificaciones tecnicasque por el precio se podrian mejorar, pero creo que esto es algo mas personal y no quiero entrar en tanto tecnicismo aburrido.
Lo aconsejo muchisimo. A lo mejor no para gente muy iniciada, pero para quien sepa lo que se hace su calidad/precio es de lo mejor que me he encontrado, y os aseguro que he buscado mucho.
Alright so I have a recording studio. I produce and record bands and I already owned an AT4040 and a Shure mic. Bought this to recording harmonies, doubles and acoustic guitars to add different textures.
I was totally surprised by the quality of this mic and the sounds I caught with it. It became in only a couple of months my go to for every single vocal takes. You won’t be disappointed in a studio context, can’t tell for the podcast view cause I don’t use it for that.
*Note that I have a fully treated room, a pop filter and a Troy Studio isolated box while recording.
only complaint that I have is the lack of supporting materials for how best to set up the mic for my own use. Being new to a formal mic set up, it would have been helpful to have a list of “pro tips” to be successful
Micro trs bon, prix assez lv quand on voit la difficult du micro rester dans un ton trs stable et a ne pas satur trs vite. Le micro est trs solide, mais pensez prendre un comprsseur audio ou un autre son qui en a une intgrer. Sinon trs bon micro.
Want to eavesdrop on your apartment neighbors? this might be the mic for you! Crystal clear clarity, amazing tones and just overall a joy to use. My dad thought it was a $1000 mic after I was speaking to him in the headphones from the next room, so value for money is through the roof! Buy the extra insulation with this one!
Posseggo oltre 50 microfoni di budget anche molto elevato. Questo microfono mi ha coplito per la sua forma strana, per la silenziosit e per la qualit complessiva. Il costruttore una ditta seria e lo consiglio a tutti. Grazie
Nicely designed with some top quality outputs, but lacking in simple, clearly accessible instructions for a simpleton like me. Solved through some online research and probably not relevant to most, but otherwise a neat product which delivers what you’d want from the price point. Better quality and far easier to use than the Rode USB mic I have had.
I love the sound of this condenser microphone, as soon as I started using it my friends all noticed the massive improvement in voice quality. They said “I sound more like a Chad” XD. Is very clean and clear. Would recommend.
The packaging is amazing, it come with a lovely wooden box, and contains everything you need.
It looks amazing, in a Retro way. I do a lot of web broadcasting, and I am using this as my primary microphone. Its plugged into a small desk with a power supplier. The quality is really impressive, across the full range.
I am not a sound engineer or expert, all I can do is comment on the quality of the sound I hear and the praise I have received. It is something that is built to last and is worth every penny. Could not recommend it more.
Not only does this look great it works great too. Excellent build quality and a subtle blue colour. Perfect for vlogging and other voice recordings, the sound quality is brilliant to what I’ve used before…..which is cheap little clip on mics. This doesn’t come with any tripod ect so you will have to get one if you don’t already have one.
This is a beautiful microphone. However, it is a condenser microphone and this means it is very sensitive. Therefore, it will pick up on a lot of sound that you won’t want to pick up if you’re working in a sub-optimal recording space. If your recording space is noisy, then you may want to pick a dynamic microphone, which are a little less sensitive. However, if you’ve got a quiet recording space, this is a great choice. I’ve got mine set up with a Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 audio interface, and it works great.
What an amazing microphone – from the minute you open the gorgeous box, you know this is going to be quality. The colour and styling is stunning, the attention to detail perfect, and this will definitely be eye-catching in a stage, vlogging or podcast setting, especially with the shockmount which adds even more style.
The microphone features a High Pass Filter to eliminate any background rumble (and is good enough to dispense with any need for a pop shield), and a -20dB pad to deal with any potential distortion that might occur during recording. If you’re using this at a basic level for podcasts or singing, it might be more expensive than you need, but it will definitely raise your game. The sound quality absolutely lives up to the claim of a warm and deep sound, which is great for singing but nice for podcast quality too – and the round shape and sensitivity of the microphone make it perfect for podcasts where you might have another person joining in. With this sat in the middle of the table it easily picked up both voices and recorded them clearly and without the tinny flat sound that cheaper microphones can give.
This doesn’t come with a cable, so you’ll need to have your own (which anyone buying a microphone at this level is likely to already have). The wooden box fits so snugly that it’s perfect for carrying around to studios/gigs or for recording podcasts in different locations. You can definitely spend less if you’re not a professional, but if you are a professional (or aiming to become one) then you couldn’t do better than this top quality microphone.
This is a great quality mic from Blue Microphones. It offers that same great audio quality I’ve come to expect from them. The XLR connection means you can use it with USB audio interfaces such as the one I have from Behringer. The mic comes really well packaged in some of the nicest mic packaging I’ve ever seen the and the mic and shockmount are well made. It’s a solid mic that won’t let you down.
The Blue Microphones ‘Blackout Spark SL’ condenser microphone is supplied in a very snazzy wooden box. The microphone itself is further packed into a wooden box creating a sense premium material with the price your paying. The set consists of the microphone, microphone cage and minimal instructions . No lead or XLR amplifier are supplied however which is a slight bummer as you have to spend extra money for them and nor is there a stand available straight out the box which can be annoying. There is some plastic and foam packaging to ensure that the product is delivered safely with no damage at all.
The Blue brand is part of the Logitech group meaning already it would be high quality as myself i already own masses of products from the Logitech group. Within use, the microphone works superbly. Out of the box, it is quite low gain and certainly benefits from the extra volume boost from hooking it up to an XLR amplifier or mixer. It is a bit like a turntable or Bluetooth can be with out pre-amplification, you need to turn the volume up to hear it. The downside can manifest itself as hiss or noise. This is how it is when one tries to step up a very low gain source to audible levels without some boost in between.
Properly set up and with suitable ancillary equipment this microphone rewards with very clear and dynamic sound. Just what you want for a top quality set up. As such the ‘Blackout Spark’ is very good value even when you factor in the extra cost of the necessary gubbins. Perhaps not for the absolute beginner without some extra advise/help but with a little effort and perseverance the results are well worth it. On the plus side, once it is all set up, there is little else you need to do but enjoy what it can do.
We are a musical family and have all done the lockdown sounds singing/playing thing. This new microphone is the first step in setting up a dedicated music recording room in our house. Hopefully, everything will stay unlocked and open but if not we will be prepared for on-line music sessions, as well as we can be. I would recommend this product with the proviso that you are prepared to add or already have the necessary extras. Otherwise, there are some very good plug and play alternatives out there and other options in the Blue Microphone range is as good a place as any, to start your short list.
I have tried a variety of microphones in the past and none of them come anywhere close to the quality of this. From the moment you receive the box everything about this screams quality of the highest order. Pick up the microphone itself and you know that you have a beautifully made piece of equipment. But of course the real test is the sounds it produces and here it simply excels.
Of course it is expensive – but it is a premium product aimed at the professional market so one expects it to have a premium price.
Not often do I consider a product flawless – but this is.
This is a bit of a caveat emptor moment as this Blue Microphones XLR Condenser Mic is fabulous for the price … but, it is not plug and play, and does assume that you have the right kit to plug into.
The construction is bulletproof and the performance for the price is excellent.
It’s almost scary how much detail this Baby Bottle SL from Blue Microphones reveals and it might make you rethink your abilities as a vocalist or voice-presenter while at the same time giving a warmth and depth you hadn’t quite heard before. Of course it depends what you’re used to and my other condenser microphones aren’t in this league either in price or quality and so I’d expected to hear a difference, I just hadn’t expected it to be so significant. In truth if you’re doing presentation work, such as your own podcast or vlog, this is a highly desirable bit of kit but not an essential one and cheaper mic’s in the Blue range will deliver perfectly good results at lower cost. On the other hand if you like a close, intimate style of presentation or you’re a singer or vocalist then this mic can help raise your game to a new level and is probably worth every penny. It’s obviously most suited to a natural untreated voice, heavy Auto-Tune is likely to filter out a lot of the detail this mic can capture anyway, but it renders any voice with a flattering vintage-style warmth and tons of detail. There’s nowhere left to hide but that’s a good thing isn’t it? Probably.
It arrives nicely packaged and inside that nice package is an even nicer wooden box, like an old-fashioned school pencil case, to keep it safe in. You also get a really good quality shock mount but of course you’ll have to supply your own cables and pop-filter if desired. I’m not the biggest fan of the shape of the mic but I do like the overall vintage styling and when you’ve heard how good it is you can forgive almost anything. It makes you want to perform better and maybe that’s the best compliment I can pay it. If you’re used to the more strident top-heavy sound of other mics the retro-warm sound of this one might be a surprise but it’s a really good one.
I was a bit surprised at just how thin this mic is, but that’s not really anything to do with sound quality. It just looks bigger in the pictures.
After my initial test record I was delighted with the sound quality. It’s really good – not a big surprise I guess, given the manufacturer.
The proof of the pudding with any mic is the sound quality, which you can hear on the video I’ve uploaded here. It’s worth a quick watch because you can hear the difference compared to the iPhone 12 Pro built in mic.
As to packaging, very very premium. In fact I think it’s overkill. The wonderful wooden box it comes in isn’t really needed in my opinion, but boy does it leave a feeling of quality and luxury.
One thing I didn’t expect is how good it is with off-axis sound. If I’m moving my head a bit to look at something this doesn’t drop the volume drastically like some mics would.
All in all I think this is a fantastic mic. It looks great too, which shouldn’t really matter (but it does!)
You will need your own cable and audio interface so this isn’t a complete “package” as such – it’s just the mic. Since I had cable and interface it was no issue for me, but it’s something to bear in mind.
What a piece of kit, I’ve been using the built in microphone to my razer headset, whilst on zoom my colleagues heard me breathing and couldn’t hear me speak I couldn’t ever get a happy medium so I upgrade to this, and rather cheap from Blue but still with studio quality recording capabilities, no one person has complained the can hear me breathing and compliment on how clear I am and ask which microphone I’ve upgraded to
XLR to usb or 3.5mm jack is needed for standard desktop setups
Very well made and packed well and was a bit overwhelming at first by the array of bits and pieces. However It is easy to set up IF you follow the instructions step by step. The sound quality is the best I have heard from any microphone I have ever heared!
Really do love this device and it is now my preferred mic when I am at home. However… this is still over 200. FOR A MIC. Unless you want absolute perfect sound recording, I would shop elsewhere for a cheaper alternative.
I asked my nepohew to hel;p with the reivew of this item. He loves it!, said its the best one he has used, very easy to set up and sounds amazing.
I have to take his word as he is much more up on things such as this, but if he says its cool its cool.
Easy to install and set up, he had it working within minutes.
Will be used constantly, has a lovely rich sound. No more shrill squeaky feedback.
It arrives very well packaged, in my opinion is superior quality in looks and function.
Would 100% recommend.
It arrived on time.
This is one of the best top range professional microphones that you can put your hands on. Many people might be deterred when they see the price for the first time, but if you are reading this review I would suggest going to the Blue website to check the sound samples recorded by this microphones, both voice-overs and instruments.
This is Blue Microphones Baby Bottle SL XLR Condenser Microphone. The baby bottle is the fanciest in the spark-blue bird-baby bottle range and it is worth the title in my humble opinion.
Starting with the fancy unboxing experience, Blue doesn’t seem to leave any room for compromises. The wooden box where the microphone is stored is one of the best storage units I have ever had. It is vintage-like, smells like fresh wood, and protects the microphone perfectly well. Amazing unboxing experience is the least I can say.
Like the spark and Bluebird, the baby bottle also packs the latest technology from Blue. It features a -20dB switch that allows you to prevent the microphone from capturing loud noises. Usually this takes a lot of effort post production especially if you record in noisy environments. Having a switch that does the job effortlessly is just incredible. It also packs the high-pass filter which prevents sudden uncontrolled noises. These usually include sudden movements, something falling, etc.
I would agree with Blue in describing the sound output tone as classic with rich mid-range tone, a smooth top end and neutral bottom. This is what sets the baby bottle apart and makes it slightly richer compared to the Spark variant. This cardioid capsule gives a more professional tone to the baby bottle and is definitely more accurate in terms of recorded tones or voice-overs.
A premium shock mount makes this even more ready-to-use out of the box as long as you have the right XLR connection, the device (Computer) and audio outlet (even a cheap one would do).
The question here is whether this is worth it? Well the range includes the Spark and Blue Bird which I would argue are equally amazing and robust. However, if you are a perfectionist recorder, professional podcaster with income generating podcasts, or professional singer/studio owner/instrument player, then the Baby bottle is a worthy investment. If you are an entry-level artist, a pro streamer, or a beginning podcaster then you would be more than fine with the Bluebird or the Spark.
The Blue Microphones Baby Bottle SL XLR Condenser Microphone is a great product and well known for its status in the music industry. It is very popular among musicians. The price does not break your bank if you are starting your career. Blue started around 1995, having lots of experience this particular model is not only combined with experience from the past but with technology of todays age. This product of blue can also be described as a ‘Workhorse’ reason behind it that this will make it suitable for recording vocals, drums, and acoustic instruments. Electric and Bass guitars through speakers are also within its remit. Overall a great product and highly recommended.
I ordered this microphone as I have been doing a lot of home Karaoke during lockdown and want to record some home demo’s as I think I’m pretty good.
Wow this Ember blue microphone looks fantastic in branded casing which would make an ideal gift.
Metallic blue microphone is premium quality and comes with a mic stand mount, looks smart and modern.
Not for a beginner, I thought I could just plug in microphone using USB port and off I go. Unfortunately that is not the case as you must have XLR Input and 48V power supply, these are standard for musicians but not so much if just starting out.
Once I did get set up about 3 weeks later and 80 pounds poorer I was delighted with this microphone feels very professional.
Nice clear vocals without picking up unwanted background noises.
Overall, good quality professional microphone. You must have XLR input and own power supply.
I would recommend this product.
If you want specs, graphs and charts there are plenty of youtube video showing this written review is just going to be my experience with this microphone.
Retail packaging is smart, retail sleeve inside suave black box with simple logo. Open it up and there is a wooden box, real wood!! Inside is the microphone itself well protected inside pre-cut foam bed. In the other half of the box is just the shock mount and this mount is heavy and big.
The build quality of the mount is great – really suspends unwanted vibration away from actual mounting point via tightly wrapped corded elastic. The mic screws into mount via a proprietary collar/threaded ring.
Microphone itself is all metal and you can tell when you pick it up. Feels solid however there is some slight play in the anodised blue body against the core of the mic. As this mic was a free review item I’m sure that final retail versions should be tight.
Lesser articulated mic arms may sag due to the weight of the mic and shock mount if on full extension so bare this in mind. It requires an XLR connection so if you use this with your computer you will need an audio interface which range from 50 to skies the limit, factor the cost of this if you are on a budget.
Without adjusting the sound via software the audio quality is what you would expect. I am a professional photographer and occasional videographer so my real life usage is normally video calls and voice over for short product videos. Spoken word audio is nice, as opposed to saying it is very natural sounding I can hear a difference in my old 30 karaoke mic (XLR too,) and it is significantly fuller sounding. Seems to be able to capture nice bass in the sound but not over powering.
For my usage I would say that it is a very nice and significant upgrade. Would I recommend it for someone who is in a similar role to me? YES .. definitely
For some reason, this review is being shown on Amazon as a review of a Spark SL XLR condenser microphone but it is actually a review of a Bluebird XLR condenser microphone.
You can that this is a very high quality microphone from the moment the deliver driver hands you the parcel, because it is exceptionally heavy. Part of this is due to the microphone being packaged in a smart wooden box (which I love) but it is mainly due to the microphone being manufactured from high quality materials and being built to last.
Included in the box are the microphone and a mount however, a microphone stand is not supplied (which isn’t surprising). What is slightly more surprising is the fact that a cable (with an XLR connector) and power supply are not provided but I guess this does illustrate the point that this is a specialist microphone and if you are planning on using a microphone such as this, you will more than likely already have these items.
Blue microphones are well known in the sound industry for making some of the best equipment in the industry and of course, this microphone doesn’t disappoint. I sometimes find it hard to distinguish between differences in sound quality of various devices however, the clarity of sound recording delivered by this microphone is noticeable.
Of course, this quality all comes at a price and at the time of writing, this price is 270. It’s a lot of money for a microphone, particularly if you aren’t planning on using it in a professional environment but depending on your circumstances, you may well consider it to be a good investment.
I was recently thinking about starting podcast creation and I was looking for a decent microphone that can deliver stunning quality without the need for post-production effects and adjustments. This Blue Spark SL XLR is one of the best microphones I ever tried, and one that I would blindly recommend for out of the box unaltered performance.
First, the packaging. This comes in a fancy wooden box that gives a unique look and a charm to the microphone. Blue definitely surpassed all other brands in terms of its packaging. The unboxing experience was quite straightforward and once I saw the wooden box it really caught my attention and made me want to use it even more.
In order for this to function you would need an audio interface which might be costly depending on your preferences. People approaching this microphone would know what they are looking at. It is as investment and a proper audio interface is preferable to get the most out of this microphone. Still, if you are a beginner podcaster, streamer, musician, singer, then rest assured as even if you go with an affordable audio interface, the sound would still prove amazing and crisp.
This microphone, which comes with a sturdy shock mount, packs several features out of the box. The high-pass filter allows for getting rid of rumbles, noise, movements, and even unnoticeable noises like a little chair movement. Usually this noise-clearing step is done post-recording, but thanks to this feature, it can be done while recording.
The high-pass filter doesn’t filter out huge noises, say a car sound, a door being shut, something falling, etc. This is where the -20dB Pad comes in handy as it is useful for managing loud noise.
The shock mount provided is really useful as it ensures stability and allows streamers to avoid any movement that can result in massive noise.
The resulting sound before effects and manipulation is deep and suits podcasters and streamers.
In sum, if you are willing to invest in a robust microphone then this one is definitely one of the best out there. Visiting Blue’s website for clear voice samples would be the next thing you should do. This microphone requires an audio interface, you can go with an affordable one and upgrade as your project prospers.
Pros
High quality and well machined XLR condenser mic.
Focused cardioid pattern for frontal sound pickup.
Fairly good sound suppression of noise from the top, sides and the back.
Thin profiled mic which is fairly unobtrusive when angled horizontally.
Audio is deep and rich.
Cons
Minimal content if you’re looking for a mic kit.
A high quality mic that suits many recording scenarios from voice work, Vlogging and internet content creation to vocal session recording (to an extent).
This is definitely a mic for those who already own or are familiar with using XLR mics as you will need your existing kit to use it. If you’re buying a gift for somebody then they will need extra kit and equipment if they don’t already have it (this is NOT a USB Plug n Play mic and will require an XLR cable, 48v Phantom power and additional cabling or an audio interface to connect it to your machine).
Details and things to note (See pictures and video):
Just the mic and holder, so treat this as a new mic only and not a mic kit (no XLR cable, shock mount, pop filters or wind foams).
Frontal cardioid pattern so audio capture is from the front (above the ‘Blue’ branding), noise is suppressed from the top and three remaining directions.
Removable screw thread adapter set into the holder which can be removed to use on larger swing arm pins, and there’s a tightening ring for connection to the mic so you don’t have to screw the mic in, just seat it and rotate the ring until it’s fully connected to the base of the mic.
Tested with my own mic rig but without adding my shock cradle. Audio interfaces used were my Scarlet Solo and a behringer U-Phoria UMC22.
Final thoughts:
The mic captures deep, warm tones so it works great for my reviews, Vlogs, content creation and voiceovers. I didn’t clean up the audio in any way so the demo is just as it is without any post production.
Happy to recommend this if you have similar uses or you’re looking for a good mid-range XLR mic.
I am in no way a professional nor do I consider myself one so I would not know to tell you all the technical details and aspects of this baby bottle microphone. But I can say it has a great quality sound. Are used to sing in our worship band at the church and we use standard normal microphones. And because at home I don’t have any way of connecting it to my laptop I was only able to test it at church. Not what a difference between the standard microphones and this. It’s incredible. It’s gives the voice a warmth and clarity that the other one just can’t. It also picks up sounds better and from much more distance than the usual ones so even if you would stand quite far from it it’s still catches your voice and has a lot of volume to it. With the normal microphones I’d have to be quite close (like touching the mic) in order to have my voice heard while with this you can stay apart from it and still use it on the lowest setting of the volume and your voice being clearly heard.
The support it comes with it it’s also very sturdy and of good quality and it doesn’t wobble or there is no chance for it to fall down from it so really good quality stand. I was able to place it on top of a standard microphone stand and it stayed there without problems. It is nice because it picks the sound from all around so if there are more they need to sing using the microphone they can and it will pick up their voices as well.
Comes with no cables so you will need your own microphone cable and I also think it needs an interface to work. It is packed really well and the mic is really protected in the wooden case it comes in everything very well protected and there’s hardly any chance to get it damaged during transport.
I am really impressed with this and I think it is a really really good quality.
This Blackout Spark SL XLR condenser microphone is a fantastic microphone, but you do need some other kit for it to be useful to you if you’ve not already got the accessories for an XLR mic -but more of that later. If you didn’t know already, Blue Microphones are made by tech giant Logitech.
The microphone set is well packaged. The microphone sit in protective foam inside its box – if you want to store the mic, then you could re-use this box though it’s a bit big for that. If you don’t want your mic out in the same place all the time, you may want to consider spending a bit more and getting Blue’s Blackout Spark set as you get a dedicated wooden storage box for the mic.
The mic itself is superbly engineered – great build quality.
If you’ve not already got kit for an XLR mic, you’ll need to get yourself an XLR cable, an amplifier of some sort and a stand, arm or tripod. For PC/laptop use use you can simply buy an XLR to AUX line in converter cable and plug that in to the PC/laptop mic port, and this will only cost you a few quid.
The mic performs best when connected to an amplifier to boost the gain. The resulting sound is beautifully clear without any interference or noise and without being too harsh either. You will not be disappointed with the resulting recordings, whether that’s speaking or singing.
This Blackout Spark SL XLR condenser microphone is a fantastic microphone, but you do need some other kit for it to be useful to you if you’ve not already got the accessories for an XLR mic -but more of that later. If you didn’t know already, Blue Microphones are made by tech giant Logitech.
The microphone set is really well packaged. Within the box is a cherry wood box with a slider lid. Inside this box, smothered in protective foam, is the mic. This wooden box is excellent and gives your mic proper protection when not in use. The only other items in the main box are the mic cage and a brief manual. The mic and the cage are both superbly engineered – great build quality.
If you’ve not already got kit for an XLR mic, you’ll need to get yourself an XLR cable, an amplifier of some sort and a stand, arm or tripod. For PC/laptop use use you can simply buy an XLR to AUX line in converter cable and plug that in to the PC/laptop mic port, and this will only cost you a few quid.
However, the mic performs best when connected to an amplifier to boost the gain. The resulting sound is beautifully clear without any interference or noise and without being too harsh either. You will not be disappointed with the resulting recordings, whether that’s speaking or singing.
Blue microphones always ooze quality, and this one is no exception
Recording quality is excellent, so clear and crisp
This professional XLR connection integrates perfectly with USB audio interfaces and mixers is supplied in a very nice box.The set consists of the microphone, microphone cage and minimal instructions.This is really great quality product and working with no any errors.Great value for money for sure.
Before I ordered this microphone I didn’t really know too much about high-quality microphones but I have started to WFH on a permanent basis and needed a microphone for not only meetings but for recording voiceovers. After using this for just over a month here are my initial impressions:
Before I start, it’s worth noting to anyone looking to buy this microphone fresh you’ll need to have/buy a XLR compatible amp, XLR lead and stand/boom arm to be fully set up. They can be found online at a pretty reasonable price.
Sound Quality:
First and foremost the quality of the audio is absolutely amazing. Having used an array of microphones in the past ranging from a cheap headset to Blue yeti this microphone is leagues ahead of them. The audio it produces is so crisp and clear and without any distortion. I run it at about 55% volume within windows and that’s the perfect level for me giving me a lot of range and means I don’t have to mess around with gain.
Design:
I absolutely love the design of this microphone. I ordered the Bluebird SL which comes in a deep blue colour and gives a nice splash of colour to my setup. The compact design of the ‘head’ of the microphone makes it a lot easy to hide from video than my previous Yeti microphone. The XLR connection is on the end of the microphone making it very easy to route the cable across a boom arm. It also has two switches one of which is a high pass filter that cuts out sounds below a certain level which is amazing for me as it completely removed the white noise from my PC and laptop fans. The other switch is a -20db Pad which helps deal with distortion at high volumes. I’ve never had to use these but it’s a handy feature to have.
Overall I absolutely love this microphone, it’s on the expensive side but in my opinion, the quality you get from it justifies the price tag for people seeking high-quality recording.
This review is for the baby bottle version.
I particularly love how this microphone looks as it looks old-fashioned yet modern at the same time.
The sound quality is brilliant and I have no hesitation about giving the sound quality five stars. This is an ideal microphone for both speaking/voice overs and also singing. It is advertised as broadcast quality and that is definitely true.
It seems to have the perfect balance of filtering out some of the background noise but yet still keeping the rawness of the sound without the filtering effect. You really are left with a clean, crisp, high-quality voice piece.
It does feel quite delicate in parts but as with anything of this price and quality, you would want to handle this with full care and attention anyway.
It comes very well packaged with a wood a box which does ooze quality just like the rest of the product.
I would say this high-quality microphone would definitely be ideal for someone who is singing or wanting to get into some kind of vocals that way as this is such a high-quality high-end piece of kit that it definitely it’s for something like that. If it is just for vlogging and YouTube videos then yes other items would do the same job at a fraction of the price.
If you’re wanting quality from both the product and the voice recording then this is absolutely your item
I’ve had this now for around a month and this has given me a good amount of time to test it out.
The presentation of the microphone is second to none. The box that it comes in looks higher end and the microphone itself looks beautiful. It has a metallic blue tint that contrasts between the microphone head and the neck. It has a fairly decent weight to it and feels premium.
Upon opening you’ll find that you also get a holder for the microphone but unfortunately you do not get a tripod? I already have a microphone stand but be aware you will need something to attach the inbox holder bracket to.
The connection is XLR and you will need a way to power the microphone, again I already have a 48v phantom power supply which also has a line out for easy connections to my pc and laptop.
I found the microphone to be inline with a Tonor I use for recording sessions on guitar and it worked well. I actually noticed a significant reduction in background pickup.
I normally record using Audacity and have to up the line in volume but I found at base this was good enough to record acoustics without any need for significant gains.
I also use a pop filter with my Tonor to reduce background nose but as mentioned, this wasn’t really needed when using this which is surprising.
What I loved about this microphone was the quality of the sound it recorded.
Playing Hotel California with a capo on sixth produced a crisp and rich tone, base was clear as well as mid pickup. No drops or crackling was observed on playback.
I decided to try windows own recorder as this generally records audio with worst playback quality in comparison to Audacity and to my surprise found the quality in line. A little lower in volume but crisp and clear.
Vocally I found the microphone to be excellent too. There was zero noise or interference when playing guitar via an amp. Ordinarily I would get some feedback but it didn’t happen when using this.
My only issue is the fact you don’t get a tripod. I’m going to buy one separately and then have this on my desk area and revert to my Tonor for vocals.
It perceives well any sound even from a distance of 5m it perceives really light noise like
the sound of the lips touching while you speak into the microphone but you can still put the filter to remove some of these background noises.
Is also good for musicians of whispering ect
Okay for those who just want to sing or talk but remember that only one side works, so the back side no.
If you are not familiar with this brand check more about it bicause is a very well known and good brand and has multiple microphones some with different prices for your pocket or your needs.
The bad side is that you need a good sound bar to use the microphone…
And the unboxing was a nice experience it came in a cool wood box…
It’s a beast when it comes to the mid-range frequencies. I’ve been recording vocals and acoustics (using an acoustic guitar), and it produces such a beautifully rich audio piece that it’s hard to believe it’s been recorded in my bedroom.
I’ve always found it difficult to capture the full tone of my guitar with my previous mics, but it was an absolute breeze with this one. That impressive midrange makes it ideal for other instruments in the studio too – electric guitar, drums, etc.
It captures bass and high range tones flawlessly as well, keeping the fullness of the bass and accentuating the highs.
The mic also comes with a built-in high pass filter, which is a must for recording vocals (particularly musical vocals). It helps reduce any unwanted plosives when talking – a great feature considering they often need to be purchased separately for many other expensive mics. With this built-in filter, I would rarely (if ever) need to purchase and use an actual pop shield with the mic.
The design is sleek and professional, much like Blue’s other microphone models. The golden accents certainly make a statement. The mic feels durable and well-built, and the shock mount is excellent for accidental shoves or sudden movements.
Highly recommended!
If this review helped, please click on the ‘helpful’ button to let others know! Thanks
Wow, what a beautiful and high quality microphone! The microphone came beautifully presented with its accessories amongst a foam packaging with a hard-back branded box. Everything arrived safely and well packaged, no concerns here. The build is truly elegant and I love the compact design and the colour complimenting of both the pastel blue and black. This modern aesthetic will fit beautifully amongst your setup.
It is easy to set up and assemble, but if you’re stuck, there is a handy instruction manual that comes with it which is super easy to follow. The microphone connects via USB to your laptop/PC/Mac. After testing this for my Skillshare art class voiceover, I was blown away by how good the audio is. This is because of the XLR condensing capabilities during recording that essentially isolates your voice and removes all that unwanted background noise. This also allows the elegance of your voice to really shine thanks to the sheer depth and clarity in your voice that this microphone captures. This also means that post audio editing won’t be necessary so you can get ready to save some time from using Audacity and the rest of those softwares.
It also comes with a mic stand mount which allows the microphone to be attached to microphone stands and even boom arms. Blue Microphones do offer their own stands though I bought an off brand one from amazon which did the trick, obviously not as robust and stable as Blue’s ones, but if you are a start up such as myself this could be a great place to start on a lower budget.
I have absolutely no complaints to make about this product. The build quality and audio quality is superior to any microphone I have ever tried, and far better than the Blue Snowball ICE microphone that I tried a few years ago (despite being about half the price).. A 5 star product! Worth the money and it will exceed your expectations for sure!
At this price point, you can be pretty damn sure this is a solid microphone! There are plenty of reviews and videos out there showcasing the audio quality, so there’s really no reason for me to delve into that any further. Just know that it’s very good!
I really like the custom shockmount as it works great to dampen out vibrations and movements. Why is this a good thing? Well… If you’re a PC gamer, then you’re sometimes going to be mashing on your keyboard and aggressively clicking your mouse. This will cause your whole desk to shake/vibrate, and this could be picked up by your microphone. With a shockmount like this, it works exactly like a vehicle suspension and cancels out any movements – fantastic thing!
The high pass filter is also brilliant in my opinion. If you’ve got a gaming PC or a lot of devices in your room, these will likely have fans. These fans will be producing a low frequency constant murmur that can be easily picked up by top notch microphones like this. While listening back, it’ll sound like you’re in a plane or something! With the high pass filter, anything under 100hz is essentially just “ignored” by the microphone, and all your annoying fan sounds disappear – brilliant for streaming!
The -20dB pad is good, but a bit of a faff to use in my opinion. This button essentially decreases the gain on your microphone, so the overall volume of your mic drops. The description says “Keep your stream free of distortion when things get intense”. I agree, this would be a great feature in theory. When you’re getting a bit heated in game and start screaming at your monitor, you’re likely going to get some distortion in your microphone! However…. if you’re in the middle of a super intense moment in the game, or even if you’ve just died a stupid death and need to rant, is the first thing you’re going to do, to reach for the switch?
Perhaps if you’re a “screaming” streamer, then you can prepare for your loud bits by pressing the button in advance of when you plan to scream…
I think the only other thing to mention is the XLR connection. This is great for people who are really into their audio and want to use balanced cables to have balanced audio etc. However, this requires some pretty expensive cables, and an suitable amp. This means that this approach is most certaintly not for a beginner and it isn’t a plug and play option… However. If you’re not bothered about getting the absolute most perfect audio you can get, you can simply use an XLR to 3.5mm adaptor/cable and be on your merry way with a plug and play approach.
Overall, I think this is a very solid choice for any streamer or anyone looking to regularly record their voice for whatever reason, and I highly recommend it!
Blue are legendary and this microphone is no exception to the case, it comes in a lovely wooden box that snuggly fits the microphone body, and comes with the basket as seen in the pictures.
I have this as my main audio input to my desktop so you will need an xlr cable then a amplifier capable of powering the 45w to use the microphone, I have a USB interface amp and it’s perfect for the job. Once is all plugged in, let the asmr commence! This is paired with the blue boom arm in the pictures and I find the angles this can achieve are not intrusive to me on the pc. The microphone has two settings that you can adjust, a high pass filter and a -20dB filter to remove any ambient noise, i have had a play with the combinations but I use nvidia broadcast to clean up my audio through software (what does a brilliant job cleaning up the signals from this mic)
I predominantly stream and discord audio and the quality is far superior to any microphone I have had before, and miles beyond any headset wireless or wired model, the quality of the sound can be heard across the entire spectrum of human ear frequencies, their is a lovely warm tone to the voice and human feel to the audio, the feedback has been great all round since I’ve started using this. I would give some feedback on singing with this mic but I sound like a cat in the blender what isn’t pretty at all.
Overall for a serious streamer or serious audiophile, this microphone is a fantastic piece of equipment, even with my setup the difference has been extremely noticeable, no more raspy wireless headset comms from me! The body is nice and compac
This is no joke, a mid range microphone that captures the voice beautifully with very little in the way of artifacts or spurious noises. It’s XLR connection allows it to be connected directly to a mixing desk or to a computer, via a bridge. The packaging is lovely, the feel of the mic and guard is lovely, it’s a retro look that is superb for those who need to capture high quality voice. Given the amount of work that people out into their podcasts, videos, voice work, it’s a no brainer at this price.
The microphone itself rests in a wooden box. A shock mount is included, but is not meant to be in the same box as the microphone. Build quality of the microphone and shock mount are excellent with all-metal construction. Microphone feels solid and substantial. My favorite characteristic of this microphone, as a compliment to its versatility, is that you can use it to record full musical sessions. It’s quiet, clean, with a strong output level with low noise. You can sing with the instruments playing and all comes in clear. The Blue Blackout Spark SL is a terrific studio microphone for serious-minded streamers, content creators, and musicians.
When this package arrived it screamed quality. The design of the box is lovely and upon opening there is a wooden case specifically for the microphone. I have used many mics over the years including good brands and I use them for everything from recording music to filming interviews and this is by far the best quality one I have tried. The tone is perfect and the custom mount is made from very sturdy materials. This has now replaced my other more modest mic as the ones I use in the studio for voice over and general recording. High quality from top to bottom.
Professional microphone from Blue. This product corresponds to the quality and affordability. Although I do not understand all its details, I can say simply and clearly that it is a good microphone, which works perfectly and has a clean sound, doesn’t had any problems with it since I use it. It is very easy to use it and also to connect it, it is light weight , easy to carry. Delivery was fast and well packed. I’m
Very happy with this produc
This is the 2nd blue microphone I have used. This is much more affordable, it doesnt have the sound patterns or any software but it works brilliant and uses the stardard XLR microphone connector. This is a durable microphone. I usually base quality mics over the years by their weight. The heavier they are used to mean the better they were. This has a bit of weight to it but nothing heavy. It is streamlined so you can hold it in your hand or use a mount. The quality is fantastic. This would be perfect for podcast and recording vocal. There is nothing cheap in terms of quality and performance. There is no distortion and sound comes across loud and clear. Blue has a great name and this is another fantastic microphone from them.
I ordered this Spark SL condenser microphone for my gamer son who’s into making video logging and game streaming.
Everything about this product is impressive, it just screams quality in every aspect, from the packaging, the design of the microphone itself and the crisp and clear sound it produces. Together with the microphone, you’ll receive a shock amount and simple instruction booklets. There’s no stand included in the package, but my son already has a decent quality stand, so it’s not a problem.
According to my son, for this microphone to work, you will need to run it through an audio interface, anything with an XLR input and phantom power, in order to add it in your setup.
He said the audio quality is simply superb and delicious. The 100Hz high pass filter boosts the vocal clarity while tuning out any other surrounding noises. While the -20dB pad will keep your voice clean and crisp.
Such a huge improvement in the audio and sound quality from the basic-entry level microphone that he was using before.
Overall, a great quality large diaphragm condenser microphone that’s ideal for game streamers, voice over works, video loggers etc. Priced at 168.22 (at the time of writing), a premium product that is worth every penny.
Thank you for reading. Hope you have found my review helpful.
This is the pinnacle of mic brands and this Ember is a more budget friendly version of their recording mics.
The quality is felt straight from the unboxing. The build quality is fantastic of the mic itself housing a beautiful metal frame with a nice polar blue colour and silver accents.
– To power this you need an XLR cable which is not included in the box.
– It comes with adjustable stand for housing it.
So how does it sound. Absolutely fantastic to be honest. It is crystal clear and perfect for recording video or even singing which it is marketed towards. Testing it on discord with my mate was fun as he was blown away with the clarity.
Overall it is a fantastic recording mic which is made up well.
I have to record voice-overs for presentations and podcasts these days — before the pandemic it was an occasional task which I did in a recording studio at work, but now it’s a more frequent task and I have to do it from home, without any technical help. I have used some of the microphones I have for other purposes (making calls, using speech recognition software) and the results are poor — lots of echo and background noise. This microphone is therefore a huge step up in quality — my colleagues and students will be significantly relieved at the difference.
As an amateur, it has taken me some time to work out how to make this work. On opening the very luxurious box, it’s surprising that there are no cables — none at all! On researching I realised this is because the microphone might be connected to a wide variety of things, from mixing desks for recording music, to a laptop for recording basic speech on commonly used software packages. So I needed a way of getting the microphone connected to a USB (the only input on my Surface Pro). This is a condensing microphone so it needs “phantom power” and/or a pre-amp. This is at the very limits of my technical knowledge so I ordered a cheap little unit which supplies phantom power and is the “bridge” between the mic and the laptop.
The packaging is quite luxurious; the only contents are the mic itself, which is cushioned with fitted foam inserts in a special wooden box, and a stand which can either sit on a flat surface (such as my desk) or, by means of the attached clamp, can be attached to a mic arm or other fitting. The instructions in the box are minimal and I found limited information on Blue’s own site — but this is, I think, a symptom of my being an amateur encountering professional-level kit.
Having worked out what I needed in terms of the power and the cable, I have found it simple to connect to the laptop and get it working. There’s no software to install (though I know there are applications available that this will work with, for more sophisticated recording). Having got it plugged in it is instantly working and I was able to record two voice-overs without knowing anything else. The sound quality is very, very much better than on my “everyday” microphones, and the noise cancelling function does seem to filter out the background traffic noise and focus on my voice alone. It copes well with a variety of volumes (I tried whispering and shouting, and both were equally clear on the recording) and doesn’t “fizz” the way a cheaper mic does on “s” sounds. This is really a good piece of equipment, sturdily built as far as I can tell, and easy to use once you know about the power requirements. It is pricey for an amateur/occasional user like me, but there is no denying that it produces a much clearer and more professional result than the cheaper options I have used in the past.
Having use this Blue Baby Bottle mic for the last week and a half i’ve really grown to love it. I’ve owned a couple of cheaper Blue mics in the past as well as Rode branded microphones and this has jumped to the top of my list.
It is a cardioid pattern mic and I found that although the most clear sound is picked up from directly in front actually it managed to handle 2 other voices sitting to both sides very well indeed, a bit quieter as expected but perfectly clear. I found for Podcasts and video audio it worked well without any post processing needed, the sound is warm, well balanced and natural. It picks up external instruments also quite well, there can be a little boom due to its high output but if you have a dedicated soundproof room I can’t see this being an issue. You can also switch on the high pass filter to help.
Build quality is exactly what you’d expect for a premium product. It’s a full metal body that feels luxurious and precise, it’s also very sturdy with no flex at all in the mic head. It’s nicely presented and comes with a wooden storage box which honestly looks great.
Having used this for the last 10 days I can honestly say it’s a fantastic microphone for a true and natural sound. It doesn’t sound too bright or unnaturally processed/amplified. It is rather pricey but in this case I think you get what you pay for from a well respected brand.
This arrived in a sleeved box with colourful images of the microphone on the outside along with details of the specifications. Once opened you get a bespoke wooden slide top box containing the microphone protected top and bottom with foam, in a separate box you get the shockmount inside a cellophane bag. The documentation included is limited to a small card showing the switch usage and identifying the XLR connection along with a warrantee leaflet.
First impressions: this is a very well presented package with an emphasis on quality from the packaging right through to the slide top wooden box containing the microphone. The shockmount is very nice with a brushed metal finish and feels very sturdy. The microphone has an immaculate finish to it with the gold being replicated across both switches and the blue logo complimenting the matt black finish, I went over both the shockmount and the microphone to check for any defects or rough finishing and it was perfect.
I set this up to my main computer using a Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 computer audio interface and XLR to XLR microphone cable, then connecting to the computer via USB and fitted it onto my microphone boom arm. After switching over to the Baby Bottle microphone from my previous one it was ready to go.
I don’t pretend to be highly knowledgeable on all the nuances of sound adjustment and processing so spent quite a long time with different tests and adjustments before I found the perfect result for me. I found the sound quality to be very rich with a really good midrange tone to it, capturing my voice really well. I have been using it since it arrived for voice chat over various platforms and recording, the change in quality was instantly noticed by the people I talked to.
My daughter who is a budding singer has been using the microphone for her recording and in her words was “blown away by the difference in quality from her normal mic”. I set the microphone up on a small microphone stand I have and on my laptop to give it a simple out of the box test using a basic voice recorder, without any adjustment pre or post recording, I wanted to do this to give a raw test out of the box rather than edited recordings, hopefully the processing of the upload won’t alter this too much and you can hear the difference.
Overall I am really impressed with this microphone, the switch adjustments work well allowing you to flick across to 20dB cutting out loud signals, and the high pass filter switch cuts out the unwanted sounds near to the lower end of the audio. In my opinion this is an extremely good quality microphone well presented that delivers great quality recordings from plain voice to singing, I have no hesitation in giving it top marks.
Blue is part of Logitech and it makes sense that it is a different brand – Logitech is reliable tech that doesn’t set the pulse racing. This Blue microphone is serious quality and is audibly a cut above anything else I have used. Now, being perfectly honest, while my son’s YouTube videos now sound better, it wasn’t the sound that made his channel have a small following, and in his case a top notch microphone wasn’t a ‘need’. But if you have got as far as reading reviews for this microphone you are serious about the need to a quality mic and be assured that this one delivers.
This microphone makes everything so crisp and clear and feels like a really solid microphone. The mic part itself arrives in a wooden box.
My daughter has been using this to record her singing and she is very pleased with the sound.
Overall this is an excellent mic at the current price of 184.
Captures sound in a natural flat tone and does a good job at making you sound clear even if you are not in the best environment great for those who want a top-end mic without the price tag as it has an XLR connector for hooking this up to a more high end set up one of the best microphones I have had suited best to podcasts and streaming.
Small points…
1. Get an XLR cable. I did not think that it wouldn’t come with one, but I had to wait an extra couple of days for a cable because I didn’t read everything… Duh…
2. Make sure to get a stand (if you are getting one) that is heavy duty. This thing makes my low clearance mic stand creak and sounds like it’s about to break. Will be saving up for a better one as soon as I can.
When you put this microphone through an amplifier it gives a very crisp, clear sound. It also looks fantastic. The microphone part comes packaged in a nice wooden box and then in an outer box complete with the other part and some instructions. It is great for singing which is what I love to do. But also would be great for a musician or an ASMR artist. This microphone is a quality item that is well made and sturdy.
This is genuinely an amazing piece of kit. The build quality, the standard of all the materials used is genuinely second to none. The design of the mic follows a retro style with a copper-mesh lollypop condensor head, brushed aluminium collar and a dark matt blue cylinder. The Blue logo looks great in raised copper relief and there are two hardware switches on the mic itself; a High-Pass Filter which will eliminate low rumble or background noise in your recordings, and a -20dB pad which will provide a useful top end buffer against distortion due to very loud sounds. The brushed aluminium custom shock cage is again a thing of beauty and the whole package feels like having a piece of art attached to your desk.
Moving beyond the physical, the sound achieved by the Blue Baby Bottle SL is just gorgeous. Having moved from a USB condensor mic, I was absolutely blown away by the difference in sound quality – immediately I was greeted by a warm, rich sound with real depth and presence, instead of the shallow, tinny sound of my old USB mic. Important to note this is a mic which requires an XLR cable connection – If you’re using this alongside standard audio amps etc it’ll likely plug straight in, if however you’re planning to use it on your PC you will need to pick up a USB Audio Interface to act as the middle-man between the Baby Bottle SL and your PC. I chose the Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 and it was simplicity itself to get up and running.
This mic is genuinely a next-level product for anyone seeking to really elevate the quality of their audio.
With podcasting and video growing in recent years, having the right sound quality starts with having the right microphone. On first impressions, one might argue that this one from Blue (a Logitech brand) is made to appear on screen but would the sound also live up to the looks?
One thing to note before we get into the review is that you’ll need a sound interface with phantom power if you want to plug this into a computer. It’s an XLR connection so will go directly into many sound desks and a sturdy mount is provided, though you’ll probably want something sprung or a pop filter to add to the set too.
In terms of build quality though this microphone is very solid and looks like it could handle a wide variety of situations. Perhaps for this reason, its provided only with the box it came in and the mount and no case or similar. Despite this it remains both portable given the small size and attractive on screen – you can get away with it being there but not too blocking of the face.
You’ll want to set this up to speak into the side of the microphone which is what makes it more suitable for podcasting or recording. Once done you get some very decent sound quality. The audio is all crisp, offers a good range and provides depth.
If you’re looking for an upgrade to your podcasting set up but don’t want to break the bank then overall this is a good option.
I have a hobby of using computer software to make entre songs. I do this for fun, not as a money making exercise but I do take it seriously.
For the most part I use sound clips and samples for these tracks but occasionally the sounds I need are not available – especially vocals- so I have to record my own.
Step up this beautiful baby blue Ember XLR Condenser microphone which works wonderfully with my software package.
The sound qualiry is excellent and rich which is just as well as I usually have to manipulate the sound of my own voice which would get me 2 seconds of air time in its raw form on ‘Britain’s Got Talent ‘.
This microphone, put simply is extremely good and well worth the price.
Very clear and professional sound, fitted our on-board rig on a Heritage train for a moving Quiz night
Lovely voice reproduction, our existing mike was a little fuzzy at the edges.
The mike seems well made and finished, well presented in an attractive box, so makes a decent present for the aspiring broadcaster or singer/ DJ.
This is by far the best Microphone I have ever used. The quality is almost irreproachable. I mostly record voiceovers for user training videos. With my cheaper Mics, I have had to denoise and remove hissing from my voiceovers. This Mic produces crystal clear audio recordings without significant background noise and hissing. This a real cardioid Mic.
The built quality is excellent, it really looks professional.
The quality of this blue microphone is outstanding. I love its amazing design. It works great and keeps the voice crisp and clear. It is ideal for recording, podcasting, broadcasting, YouTube videos, and twitch gaming streaming. It provides you a professional sound. Its high pass filter will increase the clarity and it will also decrease the rumble from the desk or room. Then the custom shock mount makes sure that the sound is crystal clear without vibration and bumps. Moreover, the cardioid pattern ensures that the sound is perfect for recording and streaming.
Likewise, the -20 dB pad makes sure that there is no distortion during the stream. Furthermore, an XLR connection is ideal for mixers and USB audio interfaces. If you will set this microphone properly it will surely provide you dynamic sound. It is perfect for music lovers. My family also loves music. It can be used for online music sessions, especially in this Covid-19 situation.
If you want higher-level clarity in the recordings, then you should go for this microphone. It will not disappoint you at all. Its price is also reasonable. I am very happy with this product. It is very useful. I highly recommend i
Super surprised, I had taken part in podcasts & never liked my voice, I tried this I wanted to try my own podcast & I had no idea I sounded how I do, I realise now the others had poor microphones I actually have a nice voice (not being big headed promise!), it is crystal clear, cancelled out background noise, no static, very crisp sounding & very easy to use/set up. Very impressed
This mic has character and classic quality sound , Blue microphone baby bottle SL XLR condenser microphone for recording and streaming. Delivers great sound with classic mid range , good smooth top end and neutral bottom . XLR connection and is perfect for my desktop computer audio interfaces and mixers . The high pass filter increases clarity , reduces rumble from my room or desk . -20dB keeps my stream free from distortion . This quality of microphone is a revelation to me , it screams professional and will not disappoint . Just the way it comes in a so well presented wooden box looks so classy it looks good so it must be good . I will use this every week at our well supported Line Dancing classes and my music centre at home . It is very expensive but the quality is top class !
From the family musician.
Opening the box, I was impressed by the build quality of the Blue Ember microphone. It’s not ridiculously heavy, but it feels solid and quite weighty. It looks smart and it has a relatively slim profile, which is probably a bonus for “on camera” video makers. A rigid microphone stand mount was also included. It would be nice to have a shock mount included, but perhaps that’s a bit much to expect at this price. In practice, at least during testing, I didn’t experience any problems with noise transmitted through the stand. There is no case – not even a soft one – but again I’m sure cost is a factor here and the money seems to have gone into the microphone itself.
The Ember is a condenser mic, requiring phantom power, so you need to make sure your interface can provide this. As the large notice inside the box lid says, this is a “side address” mic, so the source should be pointing at the face of the mic with the Blue logo, rather than the top.
It looks and feels good, but how does it sound? I didn’t have either of my normal vocal recording condenser microphones to hand, but I used a good quality dynamic supercardioid that was already plugged into my interface, so bear in mind that this was not a full comparison with another condenser microphone. I recorded a short piece of music featuring acoustic guitar and vocals (tracked separately), first with the dynamic and then with the Ember, taking care to match levels and proximity to the sources as best I could. On listening back, my preference was for the tracks recorded with the Ember on both the vocals and the guitar. The vocals had a greater sense of air, without ever sounding overly bright or harsh. Sibilance was not a problem. There was good off-axis rejection from the cardioid Ember. The acoustic guitar sounded fuller through the Ember at both ends of the spectrum, with a richer low end and a bit more presence in the upper mids, though not dissimilar to how bright acoustics tend to sound on modern recordings.
I was very surprised at just how well this microphone suited my voice, with a frequency response that gave a pleasing – perhaps even flattering – result. I recorded without a pop shield & although there were no horrible plosives, there were a couple of moments that came close to popping and I would recommend using a pop shield to be sure of keeping plosives under control.
Overall, I think this a microphone that performs above its price point and I’m looking forward to trying it on some other instruments & voices.
To compare, I recorded audio tracks on Sony Vegas; one for Blue and one for my BM-800. No anechoic chambers unfortunately and this is hardly an ultra-scientific test; so this review is just a ball-park comparison in performance. 1) Vocal performance is pretty equal. The high-end sibilance from my voice (I have a mid-to-high-end voice, with hardly no bass) were identical; I could not tell the difference in performance. 2) next: Ava Max — Sweet but Psycho — played through my Soundcore 3. The contrast couldn’t be starker; the BM-800 has far superior bass performance — leaving Blue attempting to offer dull-thudding to pass for the hit bassline. The mid-to-high-end performance was again similar, although the BM-800 seems superior in overall sensitivity. What these tests show is how good the BM-800 is – as a cheaper microphone — and should not detract from Blue as a quality Mic. The over presentation out of the box for Blue — is that of a high-quality studio Microphone.
The downside: as above — the bandwidth is not as good as it should be. But whereas the BM-800 came with all sorts of microphone stands and mounting (see the pictures I uploaded) Blue came with only a mounting holder. If I did not have the set-up for the BM-800 — I would not have been able to place Blue on a proper stand.
I can only recommend for vocal work. And if you have a Baritone voice — then you should look elsewhere to bring that out. Still, Blue is a great mic.
Blue Microphones bluebird SL Condenser Microphone with Custom Shockmount, Cardioid Polar Pattern, for Recording, Broadcasting, Podcasting, Twitch Gaming Streaming, YouTube Videos –
This is specifically designed to produce a very modern, almost hi-fi sound that is clean and crisp for articulate instrument applications. It’s a large diaphragm condenser, but it behaves more like a small diaphragm, highly-directional microphone. It is ideal for getting added dynamic response from acoustic guitars and pianos, and I just know it would take the skin off your nose with a horn section in front of it. If you are looking for clarity and punch in your recordings without having to run the source at high volumes, this is the Blue microphone for the task. It also makes an ideal alternative for a vocal microphone when several vocal tracks are used in one song and you want each to stand out from one another. As with any good microphone collection, the SL range offers some real diversity that allows you to multitrack single sound sources with different capsules for varying results. The Bluebird SL is the perfect microphone for doubling up your takes with when looking to add some sparkle to the mix.
This microphone truly sings. It gives truly excellent accuracy in vocal recording on both the highs and lows. It really stands out, however, when you mic an acoustic guitar. Position the mic about 8 inches away from the highest point on the fretboard and you’ll be amazed at how it sounds. Just play with it a little bit and you will be blown away.
The Blue Bluebird is a very decent mic. It’s highs are more pronounced than another mic with a flat frequency response. … It also makes a good over-the-shoulder mic for recording acoustic guitar.
BLUE are known for their offbeat designs and mostly source-specific microphones. However, over the past few years the Bluebird has shown to be a particularly versatile microphone, a great addition to your microphone cabinet and a welcome addition to the BLUE line of microphones…. You can’t go wrong with the bluebird!
Features……
Extended upper clarity with smooth mid frequencies for any voice or instrument,
Hand-built proprietary large-diaphragm cardioid capsule for full, open sound.
High-pass filter and -20dB pad for ultimate versatility.
Works great with home studio USB audio interfaces.
This comes very well presented in its own deluxe box, the bluebird microphone is then inside the deluxe box inside a wooden box, it’s very well protected from getting damaged in transit…….the Shockmount is in there too.. Along with instructions.
This has to be one of the best Microphones on the market, very impressive and deffinatly worth the money!
Can recommend highly.
I’m so enthusiastic to learn and get the best possible audio and video quality. When I was purchasing my audio equipment with a Focusrite 2i2 and a good microphone with positive reviews from a good brand, I thought this was the perfect kit for streaming and home music studio. Audio quality was impressed me when I hear for he first time. That was until I hear Blue microphone. Oh man, what a surprise!
Unboxing experience was so impressive and revealing the quality level of this price range.
Baby Bottle SL Large-Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone is ultimate in rich, detailed, professional sound.
Baby Bottle SL delivers classic sound with a richly present midrange, smooth top end and neutral bottom, reminiscent of the world’s finest vintage microphones.
Some highlights are;
* Custom Blue Condenser Capsule – Delivers Blue’s legendary broadcast sound quality with depth and clarity
Classic Warmth and Presence-Baby Bottle SL delivers classic sound with a richly present midrange, smooth top end and neutral bottom
XLR Connection – Perfect for desktop computer audio interfaces and mixers
High-Pass Filter – Increases clarity, reducing rumble from your room or desk
-20dB Pad – Keeps your stream free of distortion when things get intense
I’m hopeful that pro streamers and home studio musicians looking for the latest microphone technology will learn more about Baby Bottle SL.
The Blue brand is part of the Logitech group. Regular readers will know that I am a fan of Logitech and have speaker systems and computer accessories of theirs. In use, the microphone works superbly. Out of the box, it is quite low gain and certainly benefits from the extra volume boost from hooking it up to an XLR amplifier or mixer. It is a bit like a turntable or Bluetooth can be with out pre-amplification, you need to turn the volume up to hear it. The downside can manifest itself as hiss or noise. This is how it is when one tries to step up a very low gain source to audible levels without some boost in between. While I am on he subject some kind of level monitoring, like VU meters or automatic level setting control is a handy addition.
Properly set up and with suitable ancillary equipment this microphone rewards with very clear and dynamic sound. Just what you want for a top quality set up. As such the ‘Blackout Spark’ is very good value even when you factor in the extra cost of the necessary gubbins. Perhaps not for the absolute beginner without some extra advise/help but with a little effort and perseverance the results are well worth it. On the plus side, once it is all set up, there is little else you need to do but enjoy what it can do.
We are a musical family and have all done the lockdown sounds singing/playing thing. This new microphone is the first step in setting up a dedicated music recording room in our house. Hopefully, everything will stay unlocked and open but if not we will be prepared for on-line music sessions, as well as we can be. I would recommend this product with the proviso that you are prepared to add or already have the necessary extras. Otherwise, there are some very good plug and play alternatives out there and other options in the Blue Microphone range is as good a place as any, to start your short list.
This is a beautiful microphone. The design is simple and classy and the build quality is excellent. It comes only with a custom mount for a mic stand – there is no XLR cable with it, unfortunately – so you will need to purchase one to connect it with your sound mixer or other equipment. As for the sound quality, my 17 year old grandson is the family musician, as the lead singer in the band he has formed with his schoolfriends, and he is absolutely over the moon. The sound quality is the best he has ever achieved, both when playing live and when recording. This super microphone is not something he would normally have been able to afford and it not only has changed his perception of what is possible, it has also helped him realise the difference good quality equipment can make.
I’m reviewing the Baby Bottle version here, and there’s something inherently lovely about this microphone, spanning from its decidedly old-timey stylings to the vocal tone that you get out of it.
The richness of quality is the full five stars without doubt. I’ve tested it with both sung vocals and calm voiceover and am quietly blown away by the quality of the result. When the description says broadcast quality, it really means it. There is that middle-of-EQ warmth that pushes through the roominess of a limited recording space, and allows you to tweak away the room and get something really clean but which still sounds original, organic and unfiltered. It’s a sonic joy. It’s one of those mics where you feel guilty that the vocal doesn’t live up to the quality of the microphone, rather than the other way around.
It’s a surprisingly forgiving microphone in terms of placement, and the results retain their quality even when the performer’s mouth keeps changing distance or direction relative to the mic. I’ve used pro mics before that have been much, much fussier. The two switches above the logo are lightweight and quiet. They’re so lightweight in fact that it’s quite easy to knock them by accident when handling the microphone, so handle it with there. But this is a microphone that deserves to be handled with care already, and that just adds to it.
Though it’s not the largest of microphones, it’s still got a lot of eye-catching power. In a live gig or podcast, if your vocalist is using one of these or it’s in-vision as a presenter mic, it’s going to get noticed and commented on. The branding of it seems to lean towards that classic Americana and country vibe, which come through also in the really-rather-nice dark red wooden box, but to me the slightly glam and gold-and-silver-cross trim on the microphone itself also lends itself towards a steampunk aesthetic.
The unboxing is fairly satisfying, it’s a nicely presented mic. The wood box is certainly the best bit but the other packaging is a demonstration of quality here, and it comes with a good dollop of that “posh new kit that sounds better than the old kit” joy. It’s also quite weighty.
Yes, this is an expensive microphone, and yes vloggers and podcasters who are only doing hobby videos for Y’Tube will get decent results from something far cheaper. But this is an absolutely top-notch mic for people with quality vocals that need recording in the best way possible. It’s an investment, but a good one.
I’ve had this mic since 2018. I use it for voice overs and live streams. It has always sounded fantastic, even back when I was just using a phantom power supply and a cheap usb sound card. Now I have a GoXLR and the mic sounds amazing.
The build quality is great, it’s a bit heavy for cheap mic arms
All in all it has and still is serving me well, it sounds so much better than the yeti, plus it looks awesome
I’m a content creator for YouTube and I stream. This microphone is great for my voice. My voice is kind of unique in that I have a bassy mid-tone voice which allows me to pic up almost any mic and my voice will require minimum eq. This mic is FANTASTIC at picking up my low and mid tones. It gives a very pleasing warmth (think radio announcer) with great presence to my voice. Just remember that microphones are better suited to different tones of voice. I read somewhere that this mic is best suited for the low and mid toned voices.
One important thing to note is that I use a GOXLR Mini for my interface which is pretty much has the best preamp on the market and provides premium quality sound. Blue Spark SL + GOXLR Mini is a match made in heaven. It has made a huge difference in my work flow as I don’t have to waste time in post processing my voice overs. I record and go straight into post video editing.
It is a good microphone with dinamic range and has very good quality
Overall, this is a great microphone, especially if you are starting out in content.
I had my microphone for at least 4 days when I decided to just flip the switch on it to see what they do. After the 3rd time I’ve ever touched the switch it just falls off. Thanks
if paired with a decent xlr cable and a decent audio interface the sound is amazing. im using a xlr cable with extra shielding for low noise and a scarlett solo 3rd gen audio interface. beautiful sound and very detailed with low background noise. the high pass filter and 20db pad switches are very useful. great quality, great look. would reccomend to everyone. great value for the price as well.
This mic looks amazing. Feels like a quality build. I haven’t been able to use it with Logic Pro x for some reason. I do have an outdated logic program, but as soon as I get a new PC I will update. Looks great, feels great, and does sound pretty good through interface.
El microfono me da una definicin tan hermosa que no necesita masterizacin para mis proyectos de Youtube, sin duda alguna es un excelente microfono, como dato importante: lo uso con un cable con oro, para una conduccin de electricidad mejor.
Excellent mic and super top quality you would expect from blue microphones
I love this mic. It sounds amazing for a reasonable price. Would definitely recommend.
Doch wie das immer so ist, steigen mit der Zeit die eigenen und auch die Ansprche der Kunden was die Tonqualitt angeht.
Begeistert von Blue stand fr mich fest, dass es wieder Blue werden sollte – natrlich trotzdem noch ein zwei RODE Mikros getestet – aber die Klangfarbe, die Verarbeitung und das Design sprachen fr mich eine ganz eindeutige Sprache.
Verarbeitung:
Die Verpackung alleine ist schon der Hammer, eine Box in Kirsch-Holzoptik transportiert das Spark SL Blackout. Dazu gibts auch gleich die Spinne, die wie das Mikrofon selbst perfekt verarbeitet sind.
Die Schieberegler rasten ordentlich ein, die Metalle fhlen sich wahnsinnig gut an und das Gewicht trgt zu einem massiv-positiven ersten Eindruck bei.
Natrlich braucht man dafr auch einen ordentlichen Mikrofon-Arm oder ein stabiles Tischstativ. Bei mir ist es dieses hier geworden, das ich nur weiterempfehlen kann: Samson MD5 Mikrofon Tischstativ
Zusatzfunktionen:
Betrieben wird das Blue bei mir an einem iMac und ist per Scarlett 2i2 Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2G) USB-Audio-Interface mit Pro Tools angeschlossen.
Softwareseitig habe ich mit Logic, GarageBand und FinalCut ein paar Aufnahmen gemacht.
Nutzt man den -20dB-Switch, reduziert sich das Grundrauschen des Mikrofons, der angeschlossene Verstrker, kann dann das mglichst rauschfreie Signal verstrken und die Aufnahmequalitt nimmt deutlich zu – soweit die Theorie.
In der Praxis benutze ich das Mikrofon um z.B. VoiceOver ber Video-Bedienungsanleitungen zu legen bzw. Textteile einzusprechen – sobald das Video auf einer der gngigen Online-Plattformen landet hrt man da keinen groen Unterschied mehr.
Ich denke da habe ich auch den falschen Usecase, im Gesangsbereich wird man von dieser Funktion deutlich mehr profitieren.
Der zweite Switch, links, ist ein Low-Cut-Filter, er schneidet automatisch alle Gerusche unter einer bestimmten Hz-Zahl automatisch raus – in diesem Fall 100 Hz.
So bietet sich die Option, z.B. Trittgerusche, das Surren von Festplatten, Wind/ Luftzug usw. direkt schon vor der Aufnahme aus dem Tonspektrum zu schneiden – bei dieser Funktion merkt man selbst bei Audioaufnahmen mit einem schlechteren Codec deutlich die bessere Qualitt.
Klang:
Jedes Mikrofon/ jeder Hersteller hat seine eigene Frbung, hnlich wie bei Analogfilm. Blue gibt seinen Mikrofonen eine sehr warme Stimmfarbe. Beschreiben lsst sich sowas in Textform sehr schwer, am bestem mal auf die Seite von Blue schauen und die Stimmproben hren.
Diese Frbung kriegt in meinen Ohren kein anderer Hersteller so gut hin, RODE mag gute Mikrofone bauen, ein zu cleaner Ton ist aber fr den Hrer oft etwas komisch.
Tne die zu klar sind, zu sauber und zu neutral – wie ein komplett weier Raum – lenken oft viel mehr vom Inhalt des Videos und Tons ab als dass sie die Verstndlichkeit verbessern.
Und nein, dass soll nicht heien, dass das Spark SL unsauber aufnimmt oder den Ton verzerrt, die Frbung macht es aber zu einem perfekten Mikrofon fr Stimmen, den man gerne zuhren soll.
Zusammenfassung:
Will man dieses Mikrofon ordentlich betreiben, sind neben den >200 fr das Spark auch noch knapp 200 fr einen guten Verstrker, XLR-Kabel und Tischstativ zu berechnen – wenn man diese Investition aber wagt, dann gewinnt man ganz klar an Aufnahmequalitt.
Auch hat man in der Nachbearbeitung deutliche Vorteile. hnlich wie RAW-Bilder knnen mit diesem Mikrofon viel breite Spektren abgedeckt werden, so hat man hinterher deutlich mehr Spielraum fr die eigene Kreativitt.
estock itthis is the best microphone for streaming and gaming then baby bottle sl