Comments on: Yeti: excellent sub-$100 microphone http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 10:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Buddy Bradley http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1661214 Buddy Bradley Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1661214 <blockquote>Bitrate for a vocal-oriented podcast should never be below 96K. </blockquote> So I guess there's an exception to "never" then? Regarding Gweek, I can think of several reasons. First of all, I doubt it would make a difference to 95% of listeners if it was encoded in 64k or 128k (and if you feel there are sound problems with Gweek, they won't be solved by a higher bitrate). Also, longer unnecessary download times, unnecessarily larger files, more bandwidth usage.

Bitrate for a vocal-oriented podcast should never be below 96K.

So I guess there’s an exception to “never” then?

Regarding Gweek, I can think of several reasons. First of all, I doubt it would make a difference to 95% of listeners if it was encoded in 64k or 128k (and if you feel there are sound problems with Gweek, they won’t be solved by a higher bitrate). Also, longer unnecessary download times, unnecessarily larger files, more bandwidth usage.

]]> By: Gerald Mander http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1661094 Gerald Mander Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1661094  Ah, sorry to have misunderstood.  Ah, sorry to have misunderstood.

]]> By: Gerald Mander http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1661093 Gerald Mander Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1661093  Recorded in professional studios using compression, EQ, ducking, and high-end dithering algorithms to re-encode them from .wav to mp3 or aiff. They have massive bandwidth considerations that have to be balanced against quality recording. I can't think of a reason why a podcast on Gweek's level shouldn't be 128k.  Recorded in professional studios using compression, EQ, ducking, and high-end dithering algorithms to re-encode them from .wav to mp3 or aiff. They have massive bandwidth considerations that have to be balanced against quality recording. I can’t think of a reason why a podcast on Gweek’s level shouldn’t be 128k.

]]> By: PaulDavisTheFirst http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660975 PaulDavisTheFirst Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660975  such a device would constitute a "dedicated A/D-D/A unit" for the purposes i was describing above. what matters is the single sample clock inside the device, rather than different clocks for input and output.  such a device would constitute a “dedicated A/D-D/A unit” for the purposes i was describing above. what matters is the single sample clock inside the device, rather than different clocks for input and output.

]]> By: Buddy Bradley http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660966 Buddy Bradley Thu, 21 Feb 2013 01:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660966 Well both BBC and NPR both use 64K for their non-music podcasts and they sound fine. Well both BBC and NPR both use 64K for their non-music podcasts and they sound fine.

]]> By: Gerald Mander http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660939 Gerald Mander Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660939 Mark, you have a lot of room echo & resonance in your recordings. If you can't afford sound baffles & deadeners (decent ones are expensive), hanging blankets on walls and reflective surfaces still improves things drastically. There are a lot of articles online about sound-treating for home recording. The S-E Electronic Reflexion Filter is a terrific solution as well.  It attaches to your mic and acts as a kind of portable sound booth for deadening the audio. I use the Pro with terrific results.  http://www.seelectronics.com/se-reflexion-filters/ Mark, you have a lot of room echo & resonance in your recordings. If you can’t afford sound baffles & deadeners (decent ones are expensive), hanging blankets on walls and reflective surfaces still improves things drastically. There are a lot of articles online about sound-treating for home recording.

The S-E Electronic Reflexion Filter is a terrific solution as well.  It attaches to your mic and acts as a kind of portable sound booth for deadening the audio. I use the Pro with terrific results.  http://www.seelectronics.com/se-reflexion-filters/

]]> By: Gerald Mander http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660932 Gerald Mander Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660932 Totally agree!  Bitrate for a vocal-oriented podcast should never be below 96K.  You can hear artifacts being introduced at that bitrate, but below that it's insufferable. 128 is better and doesn't eat up bandwidth (generally, 1 minute = 1MB mp3 @128K) Totally agree!  Bitrate for a vocal-oriented podcast should never be below 96K.  You can hear artifacts being introduced at that bitrate, but below that it’s insufferable. 128 is better and doesn’t eat up bandwidth (generally, 1 minute = 1MB mp3 @128K)

]]> By: Gerald Mander http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660930 Gerald Mander Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660930  For the price of a dedicated A/D-D/A converter, you can get a high-quality audio interface with good mic pre-amps (Presonus AudioBox, Native Instruments Komplete, M-Audio M-Track, etc.) that will have a dedicated headphone output, mic boost, multiple in/out combinations, etc.  For the price of a dedicated A/D-D/A converter, you can get a high-quality audio interface with good mic pre-amps (Presonus AudioBox, Native Instruments Komplete, M-Audio M-Track, etc.) that will have a dedicated headphone output, mic boost, multiple in/out combinations, etc.

]]> By: James Penrose http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660553 James Penrose Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660553 Please put in a word or two about bit rates;  I've dropped a couple of podcasts over the years because their creator used a bit rate so low it not only sounded like a tin can but not even a very *good* tin can. Worse than listening to AM radio on the earphone of a 60's transistor radio. Please put in a word or two about bit rates;  I’ve dropped a couple of podcasts over the years because their creator used a bit rate so low it not only sounded like a tin can but not even a very *good* tin can.

Worse than listening to AM radio on the earphone of a 60′s transistor radio.

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660431 Lemoutan Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660431 You're lucky. With me it's the tone of insufferable smugness I project. You’re lucky. With me it’s the tone of insufferable smugness I project.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660402 Dlo Burns Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660402 I hate that I just sound so <i>white</i>. I hate that I just sound so white.

]]> By: brandonmwest http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660327 brandonmwest Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660327 I've got the same mic, nice job for the price. Definitely recommend a pop filter. I’ve got the same mic, nice job for the price. Definitely recommend a pop filter.

]]> By: gws http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660235 gws Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660235 I have a better idea: use that $100 to buy some sound treatment for your room. I have a better idea: use that $100 to buy some sound treatment for your room.

]]> By: PaulDavisTheFirst http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660212 PaulDavisTheFirst Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660212 It is certainly true that if all you do is record, without a monitor path through the computer, then the sync issue doesn't matter at all. But most people don't only do this, and so ... It is certainly true that if all you do is record, without a monitor path through the computer, then the sync issue doesn’t matter at all.

But most people don’t only do this, and so …

]]> By: Mike Tufano http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660176 Mike Tufano Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660176 I bought a Yeti a month ago and have done my last few podcasts with it.  I agree 100%. I love how much better it sounds.   I bought a Yeti a month ago and have done my last few podcasts with it.  I agree 100%. I love how much better it sounds.  

]]> By: PrettyBoyTim http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660158 PrettyBoyTim Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660158 Could you go into a bit more detail? If you're just recording yourself speaking, what is it meant to be syncing *with*? Could you go into a bit more detail? If you’re just recording yourself speaking, what is it meant to be syncing *with*?

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660125 Lemoutan Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660125 I have a black Blue Snowball in a shockmount. I hate my voice. I have a black Blue Snowball in a shockmount. I hate my voice.

]]> By: Jason Weisberger http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660112 Jason Weisberger Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660112 I love the design. I love the design.

]]> By: Mitchel Ahern http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660059 Mitchel Ahern Wed, 20 Feb 2013 06:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660059 You do know that Gweek sounds terrible? I had to stop listening to it, despite interest in the subject matter. You do know that Gweek sounds terrible? I had to stop listening to it, despite interest in the subject matter.

]]> By: Thü http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660057 Thü Wed, 20 Feb 2013 06:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660057 The Yeti sure is a step up to most consumer grade mics in use, specially thinking of all those who use the video chat cam's mic. But there are some other USB mics available from more experienced producers with much better recording quality: the AKG Perception 120 USB, Audio Technica AT 2020, Shure PG 27 (the AKG and AT do not cost much more than the Yeti). I do not recommend the Samson C03U or C01U, they are too noisy. The Yeti sure is a step up to most consumer grade mics in use, specially thinking of all those who use the video chat cam’s mic. But there are some other USB mics available from more experienced producers with much better recording quality: the AKG Perception 120 USB, Audio Technica AT 2020, Shure PG 27 (the AKG and AT do not cost much more than the Yeti). I do not recommend the Samson C03U or C01U, they are too noisy.

]]> By: retepslluerb http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660035 retepslluerb Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660035 Hard drive? Fan? What are these noisy contraptions he's writing about? Hard drive? Fan? What are these noisy contraptions he’s writing about?

]]> By: coderedd http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1660007 coderedd Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1660007 I've used the Yeti for telecommuting connections and for connecting the a class to a remotely-located professor. I can't endorse these enough! I’ve used the Yeti for telecommuting connections and for connecting the a class to a remotely-located professor. I can’t endorse these enough!

]]> By: PaulDavisTheFirst http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1659998 PaulDavisTheFirst Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1659998 If you're serious about recording audio, you will always use input and output devices that share  a single sample "clock". This can be done by using a single A/D-D/A converter unit (which defines the clocks for conversions in both directions), or by sending the clock from one device to the other (e.g. using word clock or the S/PDIF clock signal). These USB devices generally do not permit this, and I thus deem them to be useful, often elegant, but fundamentally amateur. Stop relying on your computer audio system to resample - starting sharing your sample clock. Sync wants to be free! If you’re serious about recording audio, you will always use input and output devices that share  a single sample “clock”. This can be done by using a single A/D-D/A converter unit (which defines the clocks for conversions in both directions), or by sending the clock from one device to the other (e.g. using word clock or the S/PDIF clock signal).

These USB devices generally do not permit this, and I thus deem them to be useful, often elegant, but fundamentally amateur.

Stop relying on your computer audio system to resample – starting sharing your sample clock. Sync wants to be free!

]]> By: gluther http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1659972 gluther Wed, 20 Feb 2013 03:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1659972 I still love a RE20 or SM7 + a decent preamp for voice work, but that combo is a lot more $$$ than a Yeti. having a multi-pattern option could come in handy for a guest mic in a pinch, and Blue makes mighty fine mics in general. I still love a RE20 or SM7 + a decent preamp for voice work, but that combo is a lot more $$$ than a Yeti. having a multi-pattern option could come in handy for a guest mic in a pinch, and Blue makes mighty fine mics in general.

]]> By: bill_mcgonigle http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1659970 bill_mcgonigle Wed, 20 Feb 2013 03:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1659970 I bought one to do radio ads for a local non-profit and it's really as good as they say.  Even better than my Roland USB interface with an XLR mic.  I assume it's because the Blue Yeti is specifically designed for voice. I got this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002CZW0Y/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002CZW0Y&linkCode=as2&tag=bfc03-20" rel="nofollow">pop filter</a> with it and it clamps on perfectly and makes a noticeable difference with plosives. I bought one to do radio ads for a local non-profit and it’s really as good as they say.  Even better than my Roland USB interface with an XLR mic.  I assume it’s because the Blue Yeti is specifically designed for voice.

I got this pop filter with it and it clamps on perfectly and makes a noticeable difference with plosives.

]]> By: suremann http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1659969 suremann Wed, 20 Feb 2013 03:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1659969 One of the best ways to decouple the mic from table/floor vibrations (aside from using a specialized shock-mount)  is to use blue-tak poster putty or Sugru.  Make 3-5 little 1/2" balls of putty and apply them to the microphone base as feet. Just don't smoosh them too hard on the table, let the feet lightly rest so the plasticity of the material can dampen the vibration.  Also, use a high-pass filter set to around 80Hz in your recording software to eliminate rumble. One of the best ways to decouple the mic from table/floor vibrations (aside from using a specialized shock-mount)  is to use blue-tak poster putty or Sugru.  Make 3-5 little 1/2″ balls of putty and apply them to the microphone base as feet. Just don’t smoosh them too hard on the table, let the feet lightly rest so the plasticity of the material can dampen the vibration.  Also, use a high-pass filter set to around 80Hz in your recording software to eliminate rumble.

]]> By: corydodt http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1659886 corydodt Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1659886 We bought a couple of these for our remote teams at work, since we're constantly having Google Hangouts and other kinds of teleconferences. Extremely good investment. We bought a couple of these for our remote teams at work, since we’re constantly having Google Hangouts and other kinds of teleconferences. Extremely good investment.

]]> By: Drew Golden http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1659870 Drew Golden Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1659870 I agree on the Yeti Blue Mark.  While not a podcaster, I record quite a few demos, and voice is everything.  With headphones on, and cheap pop filter in front (highly advised) I can give a cool smooth FM voice when delivering demos.  It's very ideal - and the Yeti Blue delivers in spades. I agree on the Yeti Blue Mark.  While not a podcaster, I record quite a few demos, and voice is everything.  With headphones on, and cheap pop filter in front (highly advised) I can give a cool smooth FM voice when delivering demos.  It’s very ideal – and the Yeti Blue delivers in spades.

]]> By: Dean Putney http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1659871 Dean Putney Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1659871 That's a handy tip! I've had this mic for about a year now, and while it does just fine on my desk I often wish it picked up less typing noise. That’s a handy tip! I’ve had this mic for about a year now, and while it does just fine on my desk I often wish it picked up less typing noise.

]]> By: Bill Sides http://boingboing.net/2013/02/19/yeti-excellent-sub-100-micro.html#comment-1659866 Bill Sides Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=214158#comment-1659866 I love my Blue mics. I have been looking to switch to USB though. Thanks! I love my Blue mics. I have been looking to switch to USB though. Thanks!

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