All user reviews for the Blue Microphones Spark

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.

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.

This is a micro-capacitor attenuator but devoid equipped with a kind of low-cut. It comes in a beautiful wooden box with a antipop fixed position and proper suspension but has trouble keeping up because of a cheap screw (see below for explanations).

I use the Spark almost exclusively for my singing voice, or to do some acoustic guitars, mounted on a table leg.

OVERALL OPINION

It must be nearly two years that I have and it is the microphone that I keep permanently on a table leg, close to a vote as soon as I need. I bought it because, without ruining me, I was looking for something that is simpler than my tube microphone M-Audio Sputnik (the transformer and câblasse were quick to make a mess in my corner Home Studio) and me allows to vote for my models. From this point of view, I am very happy because unlike many condenser microphones input range, the Spark is not aggressive in the treble and has a nice sound with no shortage of bottom: I not spent two hours fiddling with my EQ and my in-esser, and is a very good thing.

Obviously, since this is a cardioid, was quick to nab a proximity effect which can be interesting ... or annoying depending on the objectives. However, my biggest concern about the remains in accessories: an anti-pop that I would like more distant from the capsule to an even better filter, especially a suspension mounting system which is really bad. In fact, to fix a foot, it has very little latitude in the application and you really tighten like a nag to prevent the microphone, yet lightweight, does not tilt forward, which inevitably occur in . It's a shame not to have this neat detail that would not have made the micro much more. In short, if you buy it (and for the price, I recommend it to face what you can find Behringer Studio Project or at the same price), plan to buy another suspension.

It is a condenser microphone cardioid transistors with a switch "focus" which changes the frequency response to be considered a low-cut.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 years, I have a pair, I used a lot of different configs:

- Over heads for battery: very satisfactory result, treble are not too garish for Chinese, switch focus avoids having too low, it has done its job in times of different styles (metal and post rock).

- Female Voice: a catastrophic result in a very high pitched voice, too much air, "hhhh" abominable, despite several attempts at placement - I finally made the decision with a ribbon. However a very convincing results on a deeper voice, recovery duo with a guitar, placing the micro although I had enough rejection of the guitar (who played in the same room) while not having either the micro glued to the singer (he was about 30 cm). The outlet is a little hard but very satisfactory.

- Male Voice: excellent on male voice, a less convincing falsetto.

- Acoustic Guitar: placed on the bottom of the handle with the focus switch I got a very natural and convincing result.

In summary: a good mic go anywhere for the home studio, with a limited budget. The spark has shown its limits on acute voice that typical defects of low-end microphones are usually felt.

A good choice in this price range.

cardioid condenser circuit components discrete class

OVERALL OPINION

purchased for singing and for that alone. but I testerais later on my my piano (a Yamaha u1, for now I must make the grant).

We will keep it simple ..... before I bidouillais with sm 58 and CO01 (low-end cardio). I did a number of shots singing incalculable and never satisfied (I had more the impression of singing false). I take the blue spark, I rule and I make a decision, it is in the live box (the timbre of my voice is respected and I just sing, unbelievable). I believe that there is nothing else to add. I recommend this mic which I think is an extra job for a home studio.

audiofanzine highly deserved award 2011. I put a second! b wale award 2013!


retested tonight, and I can confirm! which is a good sign is that the sound is "neutral" (well in theory because nothing is 100% neutral I think) and works easily with eq, when we add a prampli sounds on (that is that I have too much hassle with co1 and 58 sm setting prampli) finally leaves the microphone "manipulate" in all situations (I mean sound mix obviously) .... proof that c is good material base (it will never be worth a course neumann). can make model with a "pro" and in any case his own and flattering without breaking the bank. But I did an art tube preamp to 38 euros (a low-end away from perfectly sound), well, the microphone preamp more than my mobile prsonus firestudio = the "beautiful" sound workable. thank you the blue spark.

next purchase: a good amp!

Condenser microphone accurate enough for miking guitar, vocals ...

OVERALL OPINION

Used for several months. I tried other micro and was a favorite ... What I like most is the sound and look (from a distance). What I like least is the cheap side of the microphone as soon as you look more closely. The packaging is perfect, the suspension medium and the anti-pop useless!
In any case the value for money is excellent, according to my ears but after multiple takes of her by the artists in question!
I must say that the voice he gave me an excellent result in not singing too close. On acoustic guitar sound is "harder".
The output level is very good without too much background noise.
In conclusion, for the price, this is a very good choice quite versatile.

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.

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.

Miking vocals and instruments

OVERALL OPINION

Superb packaging, nice wooden box, well laid out inside. At the opening, the microphone is very "kitsch" with a particular look and a membrane which seems small for a sound recording voices but ...
During assembly, the beautiful packaging quality not found in the microwave which is a bit fake for my taste.
After test recording: big disappointment compared to other mics that I own (Rodes, Audio Technica): the sound is not very precise, with a big bump in the midrange. In short: rather disappointed with this mic I expected more in terms of tests published on AF, and the microphone remains in its pretty box ...
However, I will do further tests in other conditions (including instrument jacks) and return the notice to correct a bit harsh if necessary.

condenser cardioid condenser microphone, multi-use.

OVERALL OPINION

used female voice for 3 months.

in static, tested microphones: Rode NT1, EV Cardinal, beta 87a. Spark the colors much less than the Cardinal, of course, it is also much more accurate than the NT1 (which is a bit messy), it "compresses" not like the b87a: the spark is more sensitive to the effects of near the shure but not as much as the Cardinal, the spark is more of him with a switch "low cut" which limits a little pop in this case.

most: a quality mic in this price range, excellent sound, finishes ok but not perfect: product purchased then exchanged for problem thread is not properly adjusted, a defective copy, it can happen, everything is back to normal after exchange standard.
the least: the anti-pop provided, sympathetic attention but in practice it is not very effective, it remains in the box and we put a real anti-pop is better. the Shockmount is ok, but could be improved, on the other hand I do not know if we can screw the spark of another Shockmount "standard" may be better than that provided, personally I prefer but I have not done any research at this level so is done with for now and it's going. In sound, it also has a small side which I find somewhat "metallic" sometimes because of his slight bump in the 12k I think but it also gives him a nice presence, up to you

value for money very well, all is not perfect but for that price, this mic to do everything seduced by its excellent design and a serious concessions apart from a few accessories 2-3 (the thread, accessories of bundle) to put on the account of the budget, the key is definitely there, ie the sound and general construction. other than that, the packaging and "atmosphere" that emerges of the overall product when you unpack and install is really nice and warm, without spoiler, you will see for yourself ... It's also a little about it that we recognize that we are not there in front of an nth product "Chinese low-cost" lambda.

yes I do it again this choice is a good product that has its place within a micro park due to its seriousness and its low price. its sonic characteristics allow it to be comfortable I feel on lead vocals m / f (for backing voc least because of its relatively neutral color), acoustic guitars, wind instruments, woodwinds and brass, percussion congas bongos in stereo for the piano and a choir as it can do (but they are not sold paired, shame ...), on the other hand for archaea or string electric guitar, I am wary of his side metal mentioned above I think it might be a little too "boring". or harmonica or bass drum, I feel bad ^ ^ "
in short a very good GP who can provide many services if this is your first micro but also a good choice in a park with other microphones to specs, colors and different profiles for specific records.

It's a nice mic for making voice and great for taking instruments like guitar or wood. In the studio it really does its job.
It is a condenser type microphone.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost a year

I tried few other mics, but I love the Blue microphone products, the opportunity was given to me to have a cheaper and also good quality.

I like the clear recordings with this mic, no frills.

I do not like the fact that he takes everything he has around, the slightest noise, hence the importance of having a reflector or decision-making sounds in the cabin.

The price / quality ratio is more than correct.

I remake that choice without problem, and more, with good experience of this product, I decided to invest in this brand by investing soon in his big brothers.

The Blue Microphones Spark is a condenser microphone for your studio, designed with the consumer in mind who is on a budget. It's definitely going to be found primarily in home studios since it's an inexpensive microphone that still shares the same classic look as the other Blue mics, and has a nice sound quality to boot. It's a small microphone that has a cardioid pick up pattern and a frequency response ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. I definitely like it's sleek vintage look and the orange color is nice as well.

OVERALL OPINION

For the price, the Blue Microphones Spark is one of the best that I've seen. Over the past couple of years there have been endless microphones put out in this price range aimed at the home studio owner, so it's no surprise to see Blue doing the same, as they've done in the past with the Snowball mic. Having said this, I think that Spark is one of the best overall condenser microphones out there for the price of $200 US dollars. The mic is a great all purpose mic, as it's nice and clear for vocals and is perfect for acoustic guitar. While I don't own one of these in my home studio, an engineer friend of mine has this at his home studio and I've used it over there a couple of times for doing a vocal and acoustic demo. For this application the mic was perfect as it was just a studio basically in my friends living room which he uses for simple projects and an at home base. This is really the best environment for the Blue Spark as I don't think you'll see the mics in any pro studios, which would most likely have the Blue Mouse, Kiwi, or even Blueberry instead of this less expensive version. Still, the Spark is a nice mic for your home studio if you're on a budget and is one of the best mics you can get for cheap that I've seen.

This microphone sounds good on most sources. Great on acoustic guitars, percussion i.e. shakers, tambourines etc, drum overheads, and in front of electric guitar amps. Can sound great on vocals with the right voice. I purchased 2 of these for stereo recording acoustic guitars and as drum overheads. Even though they are not consecutive serial numbers or a matched pair, they excel in these 2 areas.

OVERALL OPINION

Disengage the focus switch (just a fancy name for a high pass filter) and acoustic guitars are full sounding and detailed, with all frequencies represented well. With the focus switch engaged, extra low end energy from the kick and floor toms are nicely controlled when used as drum overheads. This mic is strongly built. No flimsy plastic or cheap looking contraction anywhere, it is all top notch. It even comes in a cherry stained custom wood case. Presentation is first class.

The only negative that keeps this from being a 5 star mic is the flimsy shock mount and a mediocre pop filter. The shockmount is made of aluminum and looks fantastic, but the screw mount on the base is very hard to turn, as the machined aluminum binds on itself. Also the wingnut to tighten the adjustment pivot does not seem to hold very well, so a bump to the stand can cause the mic to move from position. The custom pop filter looks amazing as well, but cannot handle hard plosives that a good pop filter should and the shock mounts makes a lot of noise if the mic is bumped. That's disappointing cause with the quality of this mic I don't want anything else to get in the way.
Overall I strongly recommend this microphone to anyone looking for a professional sound at a project price The blue spark is a high quality condenser mic, but if you have a little more money go with the higher model from Blue.

The Blue Spark is a relatively new microphone from Blue. This small but powerful cardioid, solid-state condenser mic should be the first choice for anyone looking for a mid to low cost mic for recording. Built into this mic are Class-A discrete electronics resulting in superbly detailed and uncolored output, making it the ideal microphone for recording vocals, drums, guitars, pianos, brass, woodwinds, and just about anything else you can light a fire under. Unlike most of the cheaper condenser microphones, the Blue Spark features unique button on the back called Focus Control, providing two different usage modes at the push of a button: the Normal mode (out position) providing increased low frequency sensitivity for recordings with great impact and definition, along with the Focus mode, (in position) for even greater clarity and detail. In addition, this mic features:


- Blue's legendary condenser capsule design
- Includes custom designed Shockmount and pop filter
- Professional wooden carrying case
- Detailed manual with proven recording tips


OVERALL OPINION

What i like most about this mic is how much it weighs. When you first look at it, it looks very light and very small. But when you pick it up, it feels 5 times heaver than you first thought. What does that mean? It means that Blue packed a lot of stuff into this mic. I also love how great the mic looks in my studio. The orange and silver both look like they glow, and man is it a sexy look. For the price, this is a great buy. $200 is very cheap for a mic with this kind of sound, and you can probably find it cheaper. In addition, it comes in a beautiful wooden box to keep it safe. This was my first mic in my studio, and it is making me professional sounding recordings. I ended up buying two!

The Blue Spark is a great condensor mic that I use for strictly home recording. As you can see from the picture above that it looks pretty sharp too.. It's got a great build and an even better sound.

OVERALL OPINION

For the price this microphone is awesome! For one, it's orange - you can't beat that. On a seriouse note, the sound is definatly within the range of Blue's top of the line mic's.

I bought the mic because I read good reviews, listened to some audio demos, and knew that Blue was an excellent microphone company. I figured if their Baby Bottle and high end mic's were great than they have to make a good mic within my price point too...and they did.

Besides the fact that this mic looks really cool, comes with a shock mount, and a popper stopper it's a great mic. It's a sturdy build and if you buy it at Guitar Center it comes with a 2 year warranty so you know it will last you a while as well.

To get to the sound though, there is no doubt that you can create professional sounding mixes with the right talent using this mic.. To be specific, this mic is a little bright. Nothing that isn't good but it's not as warm as the Sterling ST51...overall though it sounds better than that microphone. I'm running a crappy M - Audio FastTrack USB interface with it an dit still sounds good. I'm actually thinking that a new interface would be a good purchase because my mic is being bottle necked by my interface.

One really cool feature about the Blue Spark is the "Focus" button located directly on the mic. It is a high pass but I believe it is also a high shelf. It just makes it more brighter basically. I've yet to use it extensively because I've been liking the results of the mic without this feature turned on.

Overall for the price of $200 I wouldn't hesitate to get this mic again and I'd definatly recommend it. It's no surprised because of the brand but the value is still impressive.