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michaelsoundsBrilliant Low-Cost Vocal Mic
Published on 11/05/14 at 07:13When I made the decision to start recording vocals in my home studio I decided to buy some low cost mics to experiment with and just to get myself comfortable with the whole recording process. I ended up buying several mics but none of them really impressed for one reason or another. I eventually opted to buy the Blue Spark after doing some thorough research and it was a great investment.
The Spark is an XLR, cardioid mic with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The build quality is very good and it has a solid and polished feel. It's quite heavy for a mic of it's size, weighing in at 567 grams, with a height of 7.71 inches. It comes packaged in a wooden box and has a custom...…
The Spark is an XLR, cardioid mic with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The build quality is very good and it has a solid and polished feel. It's quite heavy for a mic of it's size, weighing in at 567 grams, with a height of 7.71 inches. It comes packaged in a wooden box and has a custom...…
Read more
When I made the decision to start recording vocals in my home studio I decided to buy some low cost mics to experiment with and just to get myself comfortable with the whole recording process. I ended up buying several mics but none of them really impressed for one reason or another. I eventually opted to buy the Blue Spark after doing some thorough research and it was a great investment.
The Spark is an XLR, cardioid mic with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The build quality is very good and it has a solid and polished feel. It's quite heavy for a mic of it's size, weighing in at 567 grams, with a height of 7.71 inches. It comes packaged in a wooden box and has a custom shock-mount and pop filter which is quite handy if you don't already those items separately. It also comes with a user manual which explains how to setup the mic, store it and tips on recording different sound sources. The mic is mainly targeted at the low-budget market and home/project studio owners. I use mine mostly for in-studio recording of R&B, reggae and hip hop vocals.
Being an XLR condenser it requires phantom power which you can obtain from many mixers and audio interfaces. I use mine with an Avid Mbox Mini 3 and the pair works great. If you don't have a mixer or audio interface to provide phantom power but are still interested in getting this mic you can consider buying the Blue Spark Digital which is a USB version of the mic or buy an XLR to USB converter which will use power from your computer.
One unique feature of the mic is that it has a "Focus" button which when activated acts as a high-pass filter and rolls off frequencies below 100Hz and adds some boost to the lower . Aesthetically it's a very beautiful and unique-looking mic.
OVERALL OPINION
What I like most about the mic is the sound quality. The self-noise of the mic is very low and when used with a good preamp it produces stellar results, enough to make you forget its low price.
When the "Normal mode" is activated it captures bass and low frequencies very well. The sound is very forward and in-your-face, perfect for hip hop which normally needs powerful vocals. None of the other mics I've used within the same price range capture the bass element of a voice as well as the Spark.
It generally performs very well under most of the conditions which I use it for, which is mainly vocal work (R&B, hip hop and reggae vocals) and recording sounds to use in my music (things like hand claps, shakers, tambourines, beat-boxing, custom sound effects, etc). Since it captures vocals so well this should be usable usable for voice-over work and podcasts.
Following are the pros and cons of the mic that I've noted:
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality at its price point
- Attractive design. It's solid and feels expensive.
- Dual mode to increase/decrease low-end sensitivity
- Comes with its own shock-mount and pop filter (free stuff is good)
Cons:
I'm hard-pressed to find any real cons with the mic, because it performs exceptionally well considering it's cost. But the main thing is the quality/usability of the included accessories. Much as I appreciate that they're free the pop filter is not effective at close range, so I have to use an additional pop filter. The shock-mount is also cumbersome. It doesn't hold the mic very well, it shakes a lot. I've found that it works best when hanging upside down.
With that being said I would not hesitate to buy this mic again. It really gives more bang for your buck and shines above most mics in its price range and even some in the slightly higher price bracket.
The Spark is an XLR, cardioid mic with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The build quality is very good and it has a solid and polished feel. It's quite heavy for a mic of it's size, weighing in at 567 grams, with a height of 7.71 inches. It comes packaged in a wooden box and has a custom shock-mount and pop filter which is quite handy if you don't already those items separately. It also comes with a user manual which explains how to setup the mic, store it and tips on recording different sound sources. The mic is mainly targeted at the low-budget market and home/project studio owners. I use mine mostly for in-studio recording of R&B, reggae and hip hop vocals.
Being an XLR condenser it requires phantom power which you can obtain from many mixers and audio interfaces. I use mine with an Avid Mbox Mini 3 and the pair works great. If you don't have a mixer or audio interface to provide phantom power but are still interested in getting this mic you can consider buying the Blue Spark Digital which is a USB version of the mic or buy an XLR to USB converter which will use power from your computer.
One unique feature of the mic is that it has a "Focus" button which when activated acts as a high-pass filter and rolls off frequencies below 100Hz and adds some boost to the lower . Aesthetically it's a very beautiful and unique-looking mic.
OVERALL OPINION
What I like most about the mic is the sound quality. The self-noise of the mic is very low and when used with a good preamp it produces stellar results, enough to make you forget its low price.
When the "Normal mode" is activated it captures bass and low frequencies very well. The sound is very forward and in-your-face, perfect for hip hop which normally needs powerful vocals. None of the other mics I've used within the same price range capture the bass element of a voice as well as the Spark.
It generally performs very well under most of the conditions which I use it for, which is mainly vocal work (R&B, hip hop and reggae vocals) and recording sounds to use in my music (things like hand claps, shakers, tambourines, beat-boxing, custom sound effects, etc). Since it captures vocals so well this should be usable usable for voice-over work and podcasts.
Following are the pros and cons of the mic that I've noted:
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality at its price point
- Attractive design. It's solid and feels expensive.
- Dual mode to increase/decrease low-end sensitivity
- Comes with its own shock-mount and pop filter (free stuff is good)
Cons:
I'm hard-pressed to find any real cons with the mic, because it performs exceptionally well considering it's cost. But the main thing is the quality/usability of the included accessories. Much as I appreciate that they're free the pop filter is not effective at close range, so I have to use an additional pop filter. The shock-mount is also cumbersome. It doesn't hold the mic very well, it shakes a lot. I've found that it works best when hanging upside down.
With that being said I would not hesitate to buy this mic again. It really gives more bang for your buck and shines above most mics in its price range and even some in the slightly higher price bracket.
See less
00
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kondwanikaphaiziBrilliant Low-Cost Vocal Mic
Published on 07/10/14 at 06:01When I made the decision to start recording vocals in my home studio I decided to buy some low cost mics to experiment with and just to get myself comfortable with the whole recording process. I ended up buying several mics but none of them really impressed for one reason or another. I eventually opted to buy the Blue Spark after doing some thorough research and it was a great investment.
The Spark is an XLR, cardioid mic with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The build quality is very good and it has a solid and polished feel. It's quite heavy for a mic of it's size, weighing in at 567 grams, with a height of 7.71 inches. It comes packaged in a wooden box and has a custom...…
The Spark is an XLR, cardioid mic with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The build quality is very good and it has a solid and polished feel. It's quite heavy for a mic of it's size, weighing in at 567 grams, with a height of 7.71 inches. It comes packaged in a wooden box and has a custom...…
Read more
When I made the decision to start recording vocals in my home studio I decided to buy some low cost mics to experiment with and just to get myself comfortable with the whole recording process. I ended up buying several mics but none of them really impressed for one reason or another. I eventually opted to buy the Blue Spark after doing some thorough research and it was a great investment.
The Spark is an XLR, cardioid mic with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The build quality is very good and it has a solid and polished feel. It's quite heavy for a mic of it's size, weighing in at 567 grams, with a height of 7.71 inches. It comes packaged in a wooden box and has a custom shock-mount and pop filter which is quite handy if you don't already those items separately. It also comes with a user manual which explains how to setup the mic, store it and tips on recording different sound sources. The mic is mainly targeted at the low-budget market and home/project studio owners. I use mine mostly for in-studio recording of R&B, reggae and hip hop vocals.
Being an XLR condenser it requires phantom power which you can obtain from many mixers and audio interfaces. I use mine with an Avid Mbox Mini 3 and the pair works great. If you don't have a mixer or audio interface to provide phantom power but are still interested in getting this mic you can consider buying the Blue Spark Digital which is a USB version of the mic or buy an XLR to USB converter which will use power from your computer.
One unique feature of the mic is that it has a "Focus" button which when activated acts as a high-pass filter and rolls off frequencies below 100Hz and adds some boost to the lower . Aesthetically it's a very beautiful and unique-looking mic.
OVERALL OPINION
What I like most about the mic is the sound quality. The self-noise of the mic is very low and when used with a good preamp it produces stellar results, enough to make you forget its low price.
When the "Normal mode" is activated it captures bass and low frequencies very well. The sound is very forward and in-your-face, perfect for hip hop which normally needs powerful vocals. None of the other mics I've used within the same price range capture the bass element of a voice as well as the Spark.
It generally performs very well under most of the conditions which I use it for, which is mainly vocal work (R&B, hip hop and reggae vocals) and recording sounds to use in my music (things like hand claps, shakers, tambourines, beat-boxing, custom sound effects, etc). Since it captures vocals so well this should be usable usable for voice-over work and podcasts.
Following are the pros and cons of the mic that I've noted:
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality at its price point
- Attractive design. It's solid and feels expensive.
- Dual mode to increase/decrease low-end sensitivity
- Comes with its own shock-mount and pop filter (free stuff is good)
Cons:
I'm hard-pressed to find any real cons with the mic, because it performs exceptionally well considering it's cost. But the main thing is the quality/usability of the included accessories. Much as I appreciate that they're free the pop filter is not effective at close range, so I have to use an additional pop filter. The shock-mount is also cumbersome. It doesn't hold the mic very well, it shakes a lot. I've found that it works best when hanging upside down.
With that being said I would not hesitate to buy this mic again. It really gives more bang for your buck and shines above most mics in its price range and even some in the slightly higher price bracket.
The Spark is an XLR, cardioid mic with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. The build quality is very good and it has a solid and polished feel. It's quite heavy for a mic of it's size, weighing in at 567 grams, with a height of 7.71 inches. It comes packaged in a wooden box and has a custom shock-mount and pop filter which is quite handy if you don't already those items separately. It also comes with a user manual which explains how to setup the mic, store it and tips on recording different sound sources. The mic is mainly targeted at the low-budget market and home/project studio owners. I use mine mostly for in-studio recording of R&B, reggae and hip hop vocals.
Being an XLR condenser it requires phantom power which you can obtain from many mixers and audio interfaces. I use mine with an Avid Mbox Mini 3 and the pair works great. If you don't have a mixer or audio interface to provide phantom power but are still interested in getting this mic you can consider buying the Blue Spark Digital which is a USB version of the mic or buy an XLR to USB converter which will use power from your computer.
One unique feature of the mic is that it has a "Focus" button which when activated acts as a high-pass filter and rolls off frequencies below 100Hz and adds some boost to the lower . Aesthetically it's a very beautiful and unique-looking mic.
OVERALL OPINION
What I like most about the mic is the sound quality. The self-noise of the mic is very low and when used with a good preamp it produces stellar results, enough to make you forget its low price.
When the "Normal mode" is activated it captures bass and low frequencies very well. The sound is very forward and in-your-face, perfect for hip hop which normally needs powerful vocals. None of the other mics I've used within the same price range capture the bass element of a voice as well as the Spark.
It generally performs very well under most of the conditions which I use it for, which is mainly vocal work (R&B, hip hop and reggae vocals) and recording sounds to use in my music (things like hand claps, shakers, tambourines, beat-boxing, custom sound effects, etc). Since it captures vocals so well this should be usable usable for voice-over work and podcasts.
Following are the pros and cons of the mic that I've noted:
Pros:
- Excellent sound quality at its price point
- Attractive design. It's solid and feels expensive.
- Dual mode to increase/decrease low-end sensitivity
- Comes with its own shock-mount and pop filter (free stuff is good)
Cons:
I'm hard-pressed to find any real cons with the mic, because it performs exceptionally well considering it's cost. But the main thing is the quality/usability of the included accessories. Much as I appreciate that they're free the pop filter is not effective at close range, so I have to use an additional pop filter. The shock-mount is also cumbersome. It doesn't hold the mic very well, it shakes a lot. I've found that it works best when hanging upside down.
With that being said I would not hesitate to buy this mic again. It really gives more bang for your buck and shines above most mics in its price range and even some in the slightly higher price bracket.
See less
10
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BeyondRPublished on 01/06/13 at 12:36
Blue Spark is a Studio Condenser Microphone that can be used for recordings in a studio or a home studio.
It uses a condenser technology that captures a wide dynamic range and a high quality sound , it doesn't have a noisy effect, it captures great the texture of the recording and the timbre.
OVERALL OPINION
The thing that I like most about it is how well it captures the frequency range, the sound provided contains all the necessary frequency in order to achieve a high level of quality needed in some vocal performances.
I really do like the design provided by this product, that vintage style microphone is such a turn when it comes to working with the product itself and recording.
It uses a condenser technology that captures a wide dynamic range and a high quality sound , it doesn't have a noisy effect, it captures great the texture of the recording and the timbre.
OVERALL OPINION
The thing that I like most about it is how well it captures the frequency range, the sound provided contains all the necessary frequency in order to achieve a high level of quality needed in some vocal performances.
I really do like the design provided by this product, that vintage style microphone is such a turn when it comes to working with the product itself and recording.
Read more
Blue Spark is a Studio Condenser Microphone that can be used for recordings in a studio or a home studio.
It uses a condenser technology that captures a wide dynamic range and a high quality sound , it doesn't have a noisy effect, it captures great the texture of the recording and the timbre.
OVERALL OPINION
The thing that I like most about it is how well it captures the frequency range, the sound provided contains all the necessary frequency in order to achieve a high level of quality needed in some vocal performances.
I really do like the design provided by this product, that vintage style microphone is such a turn when it comes to working with the product itself and recording.
That red , shiny surface changes the whole atmosphere when you're working with this microphone.
Something that I really liked was the fact that this product doesn't has any additional buttons or functions ,so it's basically very simple and straight-forward which I enjoyed so much and I totally loved the pop filter integrated which lowers even more the unnecessary frequency and noises.
My opinion about the value of the price is decent , this microphone doesn't cost much , around 200 $ , however the unique design and the simplicity of this product is worth the money without a doubt.
Precision and quality of sound is great, the recording sound complete in terms of frequency range , it captures all the necessary colors into the recording which make a huge difference to the listener's ear and perception.
I've tried many condenser microphones, however this is one of the most unique and cheapest that yet provide a great quality , a great design , and a very simple way to use it.
Knowing what I know , I would buy this product again.
It uses a condenser technology that captures a wide dynamic range and a high quality sound , it doesn't have a noisy effect, it captures great the texture of the recording and the timbre.
OVERALL OPINION
The thing that I like most about it is how well it captures the frequency range, the sound provided contains all the necessary frequency in order to achieve a high level of quality needed in some vocal performances.
I really do like the design provided by this product, that vintage style microphone is such a turn when it comes to working with the product itself and recording.
That red , shiny surface changes the whole atmosphere when you're working with this microphone.
Something that I really liked was the fact that this product doesn't has any additional buttons or functions ,so it's basically very simple and straight-forward which I enjoyed so much and I totally loved the pop filter integrated which lowers even more the unnecessary frequency and noises.
My opinion about the value of the price is decent , this microphone doesn't cost much , around 200 $ , however the unique design and the simplicity of this product is worth the money without a doubt.
Precision and quality of sound is great, the recording sound complete in terms of frequency range , it captures all the necessary colors into the recording which make a huge difference to the listener's ear and perception.
I've tried many condenser microphones, however this is one of the most unique and cheapest that yet provide a great quality , a great design , and a very simple way to use it.
Knowing what I know , I would buy this product again.
See less
00
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stompboxjonaffordable and clean recordings
Published on 06/19/12 at 22:58The price of the Blue Microphone Spark is very affordable I think they are right under 200 bucks brand new and can be purchased at almost any major store and some local ones. Most other Blue Mics are pretty expensive so im guessing this is one of the lower end models that most people can actually afford. The frequency response range is pretty standard for most mics. It think the best thing about the mic is its look. that’s probably what has been attracting most people to it over the last 2 years or so, with the bright orangish redish color and its classic mic style, it just flat out looks cool.
OVERALL OPINION
After hearing the mics performance. I say it’s a pretty good Condenser Mic...…
OVERALL OPINION
After hearing the mics performance. I say it’s a pretty good Condenser Mic...…
Read more
The price of the Blue Microphone Spark is very affordable I think they are right under 200 bucks brand new and can be purchased at almost any major store and some local ones. Most other Blue Mics are pretty expensive so im guessing this is one of the lower end models that most people can actually afford. The frequency response range is pretty standard for most mics. It think the best thing about the mic is its look. that’s probably what has been attracting most people to it over the last 2 years or so, with the bright orangish redish color and its classic mic style, it just flat out looks cool.
OVERALL OPINION
After hearing the mics performance. I say it’s a pretty good Condenser Mic that is well good enough to have in your house or small home setup. It doesn’t pick up a lot of external background noise and it does record very clean warm natural sounding vocals and that’s just how I like them. Though I havent used it for any instruments which I hear that some people do say that it sounds great with some instruments. I just know that it really does wonders for my voice tone which is pretty deep. I have used several different models o the Blue Mics and I will not say this is the best one because its not, its not even close really to some of the other ones they make . But it’s the most affordable one that you will see them put out and the fact that its one of the best looking ones they make just makes it that much better. If you are going to spend some money on a condenser mic than you should get this one, even if you didn’t plan on spending 200. Just save your money until you can afford it or try to get one used, it will be well worth it.
OVERALL OPINION
After hearing the mics performance. I say it’s a pretty good Condenser Mic that is well good enough to have in your house or small home setup. It doesn’t pick up a lot of external background noise and it does record very clean warm natural sounding vocals and that’s just how I like them. Though I havent used it for any instruments which I hear that some people do say that it sounds great with some instruments. I just know that it really does wonders for my voice tone which is pretty deep. I have used several different models o the Blue Mics and I will not say this is the best one because its not, its not even close really to some of the other ones they make . But it’s the most affordable one that you will see them put out and the fact that its one of the best looking ones they make just makes it that much better. If you are going to spend some money on a condenser mic than you should get this one, even if you didn’t plan on spending 200. Just save your money until you can afford it or try to get one used, it will be well worth it.
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00
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Tech. sheet
- Manufacturer: Blue Microphones
- Model: Spark
- Series: Essential
- Category: Large diaphragm condenser microphones
- Added in our database on: 10/20/2010
We have no technical specifications for this product
but your help will be much welcomed
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Other names: spark