Blue Microphones Yeti USB Mic - 2 Colors

First of all, all me to state that those who wrote poor reviews for this mic must be quite privileged musicians with a load of experience or audio engineers who have an allegiance to a certain brand, because they are all sorely mistaken. The Yeti is, in my opinion as a singer/songwriter searching for decent recording equipment for the last year, a fantastic, well priced microphone for people looking to record quality sound. It seems quite versatile and craftily engineered. I have spent the last year in a hotel in the middle of London recording my guitar and vocals on garageband through the mic on my computer. It sounded like complete crap...and not because I am an awful musician, but because the microphone my MacBook Pro wasn't up to the standards I need for recording, maybe I was too close or maybe too far away, the point is that it is not possible to judge a proper distance from the mic as it is minuscule, and difficult to locate. In addition, the plosives and many harder guitar strums were enrobed in static and just sounded awful. I tweaked the equalizer as much as I could to make them sound manageable, but, alas, I no longer need to do that. Thanks to my Yeti. Of course a usb mic won't sound as thrilling as a standard microphone suited up with proper impedance cables and monitor buddies, but when you buy a mic that connects via usb, one's standards cannot be held too high. This mic, with such appropriate standards in mind, met and surpassed what I had anticipated. The vocals are clear, the guitar is clear, and because of that effects through garage band work more effectively. No longer am I struggling with shrill sounds and bassy guitar twangs, no longer am I wasting all my time clarifying the songs, I am simply recording, editing, and feeling so much better about my music. It is true, I have never played in a studio, or used thousand dollar mics, but it is also true that I do not have the money neither for time in a recording studio in London, nor for the more expensive Blue microphones, thereby, I went this route and I couldn't be any happier. If you are struggling with clarity and play more mellow/soft rock/pop rock/acoustic/ambient/coffee shop etc music, then this is a real advantage for you in the small studio you are beginning to assemble in your room or basement or apartment. If you are a heavy rocker, maybe it isn't a good choice, but I haven't attempted screaming into this mic yet...probably wouldn't be smart in a hotel in central London. As for travel, it isn't a exactly the best portable size, but in this case I don't think a quality mic will be. Maybe you can try the Snowflake, but I'll bet my insignificant income that it will not be as munificent. Also, G-Band is the only program I have used with it. It is very compatible, though I will say I was confused at first as to why there was no sound coming out of my computer, but I quickly realized that there is a headphone jack built into the mic for a good reason. It may seem like a possible flaw, but I think it makes things much easier. And do yourself a favor, toss the earbuds and buy some real recording headphones, you know? The ones that cost more than six bucks at TJ Maxx. I am not saying to buy Beats, I am just saying that everything sounds like a band of gorillas pounding on tin cans through the buds--and maybe you're saying "no, I have some stellar buds!" Well good for you, I haven't found any so don't rub it in. I gave this five stars because I don't know any better, but four stars seems stupid and awkward, its like the age of twenty, not quite twenty one but have been drunk since eighteen, it is a four in the terms of mics that I have experienced, but under the given conditions it is definitely a five. I say buy it if you meet my described criterium, but who am I but a simple singer/songwriter. Enjoy!