Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone review
The Blue Snowball iCE USB microphone is a budget-friendly option for those looking for a good-quality microphone for podcasting, streaming, voice calls or gaming. Beginners can even use it for recording vocals and music. It has a cardioid (heart shaped) polar pattern, which means the mic can pick up sound directly in front and rejects sound from the back of the mic. This helps to reduce background noise and capture sound primarily from the intended source in front of the microphone.
Table of contents
Pros of Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone
Design
One of the main advantages of the Blue Snowball iCE is its plug-and-play design. One can simply plug the microphone into their computer’s USB port and start recording without any additional software or drivers. The mic supports both mac and windows. As soon as you plug it in, the computer should recognise it as an external mic. It also features a built-in headphone jack for real-time monitoring, which is a convenient feature for those who like to hear themselves as they record.
Portability
The Blue Snowball iCE is spherical and about 1.5 times the size of a tennis ball. It comes with a small tripod stand and a metre-long USB cable. Its compact design makes it easy to transport without any hassles. You may need to buy a pouch to carry it though.
Sound quality
The microphone’s sound quality is quite good even at this low price point. It records clear, crisp audio with minimal distortion. Noise floor is close to -45 dB which is good for this mic. The cardioid polar pattern obviously helps to reduce background noise. Thus making it a great choice for use in a home office or other semi-noisy environment. The recording happens in 16-bit, 44.1 kHz which is CD-quality audio. So that’s all good for streaming, gaming, podcasting, etc. Although not too great for vocals and guitar.
Build quality
The outer shell is made of cheap-looking plastic. Although it is tougher than it looks. The mic capsule is protected by a grill and Blue’s branding. connections are on the back portion and so is the mic screw. The mic screw matches well with the accompanying tripod. Good for keeping the mic steady on the desk beside your computer.
Negative points of Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone
The downside of this microphone is that it does not have any additional features like noise canceling or gain control, which could be a deal-breaker for some. Additionally, the Blue Snowball iCE is not the best choice for recording music, as it is not sensitive enough to capture subtle nuances in an instrument or voice. On top of that, there is only one polar pattern – cardioid. So, it can’t be used for ensembles or interviews.
Video review (curated)
Review score
Specifications
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Transducer Type | Condenser, Pressure Gradient With USB digital output |
| Polar Patterns | Cardioid |
| Frequency Response | 40 –18 kHz |
| Sample rate | 44.1 kHz / 16 bit |
| Weight | 460g |
| Dimensions | 325mm (circumference) |
Conclusion
Overall, the Blue Snowball iCE USB microphone is an affordable and user-friendly option for those looking to improve the quality of their audio recordings. It’s great for podcasting, streaming, or recording online lectures, while you might want to consider other options if you are looking to record music.
Price point
This is the price shown for the black version of the Blue snowball iCE USB microphone. The white colour version is bit more costlier though. Please check the rates on Amazon from the link below as prices often keep fluctuating.
