Three Essential Mics for Mobile Recording

There are a few pieces of equipment you need to create a solid mobile recording rig, including a laptop, tablet or iOS device, recording software, headphones, and most importantly—a high quality microphone. Your mic will have the single biggest impact on your ability to create excellent-sounding mobile recordings. Here are three superior mobile mic options from Blue that you can use to record great sounding tracks in the back of a tour van, in your practice space, or in a lonely shack on top of a mountain. 

THE VOCAL WONDERKIND: RASPBERRY

If you want to record incredible vocal tracks on the go, look no further than the Raspberry. This next-gen mobile condenser is packed with features every vocalist will love, including the new patent-pending Internal Acoustic Diffusuer (IAD). Here’s the background on IAD: most studios and concert halls are acoustically treated to minimize unwanted reverberation and facilitate a great vocal sound. But if you record vocals on the go, it’s more than likely that the space you’re recording in won’t be treated and will introduce unwanted and distracting artifacts into your vocal track.

Raspberry’s groundbreaking IAD design resembles the acoustics treatments you’ll find in the best studios and concert halls, minimizing the sound of the room sound and placing your voice front and center. Other features include true plug-and-play operation, a headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring, an insulated stand that minimizes vibrations and noise, pristine 24-bit sound quality and more. It’s literally a complete vocal studio in the palm of your hand.

THE CHAMPION OF VERSATILITY: YETI

Looking for a mic that can record just about anything? Yeti is the world’s #1 USB microphone—and for good reason. A proprietary tri capsule design delivers pristine sound quality, while four selectable polar patterns give you incredible flexibility to record a wide range of instruments and performance scenarios. Use Cardiod mode to record vocals and instruments with full-bodied sound. Switch to Stereo mode to record acoustic guitars, stringed instruments or even choirs with a wide and realistic sound image. Omni mode is perfect for capturing the ambience of a live performance. And Bidrectional mode is perfect for recording that Springsteen duet you’ve been dreaming about.

Yeti has built-in controls for headphone volume, pattern selection, instant mute and microphone gain—so you can record the quietest acoustic parts, or a hot guitar amp without distorting the signal. If you need recording software for your mobile setup, Yeti Studio comes bundled with Presonus Studio One and iZotope Nectar Elements. And if you want the absolute highest recording quality, Yeti Pro is capable of resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz, and and features an XLR breakout cable so you can connect to professional recording equipment in the studio. All from a USB mic that travels anywhere.

THE STUDIO STUNNER: SPARK DIGITAL

If you want a mobile mic that wears a suit and tie—and delivers a truly professional sound—the award-winning Spark Digital is the perfect candidate for the job. Featuring a hand-tuned cardioid condenser capsule and fully discreet Class A analog components with a transformerless output, Spark Digital delivers superbly detailed sound quality that’s perfect for vocals, guitars, pianos, brass, woodwinds, drums and more.

The Focus Control feature allows you to completely alter the sonic character of the mic by changing the capsule voltage. Normal mode boosts the low frequency sensitivity for robust and defined low end. Focused mode brings out the mids and highs, for capturing performances with crisp detail. It’s like two mics in one! Spark Digital also features zero-latency monitoring, an all-in-one control for input gain, headphone volume, and instant mute, a multi-colored LED meter, and y-cables for easy connection to any device—including your iPhone, iPad or laptop. And with USB and lightning connections, Spark Digital is plug-and-play ready on any device—no drivers required.

CHOOSE WISELY—OR CHOOSE THEM ALL

No matter which of these mics you pick, you really can’t go wrong. Each model features proprietary capsules and custom-tuned components to ensure premium performance, and true plug and play operation makes it easy to record in an instant. That’s enough talking for now—go pick one up, hit the road, and start recording amazing tracks! If you have any questions about our mobile mics, let us know in the comments section and we’ll help you find the perfect fit for you.