Many years ago, circa 2010, I wanted a microphone to record my songs. I was going to be a rock star one way or another and the questionable muffles recorded on my laptop microphone weren’t going to get me far. I’d been playing guitar for a few years but knew nothing about audio equipment.
After a little research, I ended up with the Audio Technica AT2020. I was impressed that I could simply plug it in to a PC over USB and it not require any ‘phantom power’ or other fancy audio devices. With its official look, it made me feel like I was on my path to superstardom, but there were a few problems. It felt fragile, standing on angled tripod legs that could be knocked over by a strong gust. Then I went to university, and it was knocked over aplenty, until one day it stopped working. Oh well, time for a replacement.
I bought the Blue Yeti and never looked back.
The Blue Yeti is great for starters and experienced recorders
Nowadays, the audience for creators who want great quality audio is plentiful: independent podcasters, streamers, musicians and vocalists alike. The Yeti has great sound quality for the $129.99 price point and is a huge step up from built-in mics or even Blue’s lower end Snowball model. The ease of use and awesome quality make it a good device for those looking to create media.
The Yeti is approachable and easy to use
Audio devices are generally intimidating for non-experts. The Audio Technica AT2020 sounds like something a sound engineer in the Sub Pop production studio would use. Everything about the Blue product line-up and brand screams “unintimidating”, from the fun names like Yeti and Snowball to the cartoon graphic art on the packaging. People may know they want great audio but might not know what a condenser is, and the Yeti is for them.
Using the Yeti is dead simple, just plug in the USB cable to your computer and you’re ready to rock. Nowadays, there are lots of USB microphones that work this way, but circa 2012 they were few and far between.
The hardware controls succeed at adding options yet keeping it understandable for non-audiophile folks. They consist of a mute button, a volume knob, and a knob for picking the audio configuration. The audio configurations are described by use case. For example, one can be used for two person podcasts and another being for a full choir set up.
The retro hardware design is also brilliant. The big and bold silver cylinder with a wide stand is sure to grab your dinner guest’s attention and make you look like a professional.
It is extremely sturdy. Unlike with other microphones I’ve used, I’ve never once worried about damaging or accidentally hitting my Yeti over. The foam on the bottom and large base make it tough to accidentally move. The stand can be adjusted to change the angle without losing stability.
The market has grown but the Yeti is keeping pace
The classic Blue Yeti mic has been around since 2009 and remains largely unchanged. A growing market and a price point of $129 left the door open to copycats and lower margin competitors. Blue has done the right thing and invested in other models such as the smaller Blue Yeti Nano at $69.99 and a variety of higher end models to keep themselves competitive at different price points.
The Yeti has a huge amount of brand power in the space, consistently topping ‘best microphone’ lists. If they continue stick to their strengths in quality, versatility, approachability and industrial design, then people will continue to pay a premium for their devices over the competition. The market of people wanting to record high quality audio will continue to grow with the creator economy.
A suggestion I have for Blue and the rest of the audio creator industry is to improve the experience for creators with better vertical integration of audio hardware and software. I’d love to see a world where, upon plugging in my mic, I’m prompted to download an app that could both record my audio and help me distribute it to Spotify, Apple podcasts, and other platforms.
Who is the Yeti not for?
For people looking to outfit a high end recording studio, the Yeti isn’t going to cut it. They aren’t targeting audio professionals.
Being a rather hefty condenser mic, it is fragile and isn’t an on-the-go mobile solution for recording audio either. This mic is made for a desk or home recording studio.
In conclusion
The Yeti is an amazing and versatile product for audio content creators who want to take their first step into high quality audio, and Blue is well situated to keep succeeding in the market if they stick to their strengths.
