- Anthony
Learn more about the Blue Baby Bottle Microphone Review below. With their bottle-shaped baby microphones, a new company is vying for your attention. This company paints a baby container to make it look like a mic and sells it as a novelty item.
They claim to have successfully created nostalgia and interest, and their latest product is Blu baby bottle-shaped microphone.
Blue
Since 1995, Blue has existed. Blue was founded in 1995 as a joint venture by an American session musician with a Latvian recording engineer. Blue is not trendy. It is simply an acronym. It stands for Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics.
Over a short time, the company has seen a few ownership changes. It was sold in 2008 and 2013 to Logitech. Blue is now based out of California.
They produce a variety of condenser and dynamic microphones, as well as USB and ribbon microphones. They also make preamps, mic accessories, and headphones. They are well-known for their unique designs and solid reputation.
Today we will review Blue microphones baby bottle, you can refer to another version Bottle SL.
An Overview
This Bottle can be described as a studio workhorse. It has many strings and offers a wide range of options. It is the most versatile microphone you’ll find in its class.
Microphones Baby has a classic sound, and it is vital in middle-range frequencies. The bottle is suitable for recording vocals and drums as well as acoustic guitar.
It can also record electric and bass guitars via speakers. Blue Microphones Baby Bottle can also be used to record the sound of complex musical instruments, like the sax and flutes.
This Bottle mic is not what some would call a specialist microphone. For smaller studios or residences that need numerous functions, the microphone is ideal. Blue is quite right in saying that vocalists love singing into this mic.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Very quiet (self-noise is rated at 5.5 dB) and output
- Resistant against mechanical noise
- Unusual and attractive styling.
Cons
- The shock mount/pop-screen option is expensive.
Summary
This Baby mic is a performance, unique product with a beautiful price tag. It has clarity, classic, crisp sound, and a large-diaphragm condenser microphone.
Due to its output electronics, the mic preamp isn’t as stressed, so it makes less noise. It doesn’t have an output generator, and there are no integrated circuits in the way of the signal. This lets the sound be changed to electrical energy (transduced) very accurately and without coloration.
The Build/Design
The Bottle’s design is based on the company’s flagship, the substantial Bottle. This big valve microphone with swappable capsules costs about ten times as much as its little brother. The Baby Bottle’s unique look extends to its vintage packaging and shock mount.
The new mic is 222mm long and 45mm wide, while the amplifier electronics bottle is 135mm.
The condenser mic weighs in at 350g, and the exposed metal is given a brushed satin finish. The Bottle body is shiny black. The front of the cardioid pattern is marked with a BLUE logo. On the top of the casing are switches for the pass filter and a -20dB pad.
A plate attached to the rear indicates the model type and the place of manufacture. However, I need help finding a serial number on the mic’s exterior, which might be a problem for your insurance company.
The hand-built capsule houses the microphone behind a spherical dual mesh metal grille. Bottle mic contains a one-inch diaphragm made of mylar film and sputtered in a mixture of gold and aluminum.
The capsule is held above the mic’s Bottle by a thin stalk. This minimizes reflections and allows the capsule to be used where larger mics cannot.
The simple stand bracket (5/8 inch) bracket is attached to the base of your mic around the XLR connector.
Unfortunately, it was not equipped with a thread adaptor that would fit the 3/8-inch European mic stands. As an option, an elastic suspension cradle can be purchased. However, it clamps around the mic body and not the threaded base.
Although the cradle is quite expensive, it comes with a pop shield attached to the capsule stalk. The mesh also has the BLUE logo, which gives it a professional and elegant appearance.
It also comes with a sleek cherrywood box and a sliding lid. The velvet bag is perfect for storing the microphone. This is a beautiful thing that should be treasured!
All impedance converter electronics use solid-state, discrete, and transformerless components. They also have a Class A topology. The Bottle mic has a self-noise of 5.5 dBA and a max SPL of 133dB (for 0.5 percent distortion). This allows it to be used in many applications, including remote miking positions.
It has a very low 50O output impedance, allowing long cables to be used with no problems. It has a frequency of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio of 87 dB. Standard 48V Phantom power is required for the mic.
Although the handbook does not provide a response plot, it indicates that the mic is flat from 60Hz to 15kHz. There is a small mid-frequency peak between 1.2 and 2kHz and approximately 2dB.
The handbook does not provide a plot of the frequency response. However, this tends to increase the apparent detail and resolution of mics. It is subtle and musically complementing.
It is a broad cardioid condenser with proximity effects, according to a listening test.
These large-diaphragm mics also have typical characteristics. Low frequencies are sub-cardioid condensers, whereas high frequencies are hyper-cardioid.
Which is The Best Place To Use It?
This Baby mic’s versatility in a particular environment is a significant plus. This mic is not designed to compete with the SM58 and 57 in live performance. This is not the purpose of the mic.
As we mentioned, this baby mic is a studio mic that can be used for many different purposes. This mic has many great attributes, and it is very versatile.
It will make a great studio for a new or growing studio. Studio budgets are often tight in the beginning. This budget may not allow for specialized mics. You will therefore need a microphone that does a few things well.
These cheap mics are great for vocals. Because of its neutral mid-range response, it will be great for electric guitars. For six-stringers, aim the cheap mics toward the middle of the speaker. Or towards the edge for essential sound. That’s the bass. Either accentuated highs or richer fuller sound can be achieved.
It is not easy to achieve the perfect sound with a guitar. Large-diaphragm condenser microphones at the 12th fret capture an instrument’s full resonance. This is what the Bottle can do.
Its high SPL and fast transient response give it an advantage for drums. The mic records drum well and are affordable. It can also record other acoustic instruments, which may not be as standard in a small studio.
Saxophones have a big edge over other instruments because their sound is heavy in the middle. Other reed instruments and flutes, as well as stringed instruments, are huge.
It is a very ‘crisp’, handling transients well on percussion and acoustic, for example.
The microphone’s presence zone must be carefully placed and angled to avoid harshness. However, it performs well within a mix by cleanly cutting through other sources.
Despite the simple stand bracket, the Bottle seemed very resistant to rumble and handling noises.
The recording doesn’t have to be sound. You could also record interviews and dialogue for podcasts. It will excel in this regard.
The new mic offers many options, as we said. It isn’t what you might call brilliant at any one of them. It’s just good at them all. This is a significant asset for a new venture, especially in its early recordings sound.
The Performance
After the last section, we don’t believe it is necessary to discuss the performance. You will see that it does a great job.
We have found that equipment that can perform multiple functions at a reasonable price is crucial in the beginning stages of a studio.
It can have a significant impact on the initial cost. As we have already stated, this mic performs well in a wide range of applications. This is something not all mics can claim at this price.
Extras
This Bottle mic is not an exception. However, you do get a shock mount and a primary pop filter. An external pop filter is required for vocals and other recordings.
The wooden storage box is also beautiful and protects the product. This is something that many manufacturers will not give you at this price.
The Bottle was 4dB less sensitive and 2dB noisier than the somewhat more expensive Neumann TLM103, but still amazing!
The BLUE mics definitely have more presence than the Neumann, but the Neumann seemed to have a little less “air” and openness. However, you wouldn’t notice this slight difference unless you listened to them side by side.
FAQs
Is Blue a good brand for microphones?
Most people know Microphones for its very famous USB microphones, such as the Yeti and Snowball. This company also makes high-quality professional XLR, FET and tube condensers, and ribbon microphones.
Is the bottle in need of phantom power?
Bottle has a very high sensitivity of 34mV/Pa. This won’t strain your console mic preamps. The 500 output impedance is unusually low, allowing you to use long cables without any problems. Standard 48V Phantom power is required for the mic.
Does the Blue Baby Bottle come with a pop filter?
Bottle SL Studio Condenser with 20′ XLR Cable & Pop Filter.
Is the bottle mic in need of a shock mount?
The S3 Shock is handmade from solid brass. A built-in thumbscrew allows you to position the microphone for precise placement. This shock mount is both professional and indispensable.
Conclusion
If you are a fan of microphones in the shape of baby bottles, you may want to purchase one. These microphones are unique and fascinating; you can choose from many models.
These microphones in the shape of baby bottles are colorful and attractive. They’re a great way to brighten up any room with some novelty.
This baby bottle will grab your attention. You can have one for as low as $10. This mic is highly recommended.
You could not ask for more. You can see the product in action by clicking on the video below. Or, read Hooke audio complete reviews.
