Blue Microphones Raspberry Premium Mobile USB Microphone Review
Reviewed by Debbie Talbot
My daughter and her dad love any gadgets as much as myself, so when the Blue Microphones Raspberry Premium Mobile USB Microphone (described as the “Ultimate Mobile USB Microphone for PC, Mac, iPhone and iPad”) arrived for review I left trying out this fantastic USB microphone to them.
The microphone arrived well packaged and came with a lightning cable and integrated stand. This meant that my daughter could have her hands free when making her YouTube videos. Being a huge fan of hair and make-up products and making YouTube videos about them, the microphone is ideal.
Firstly, here are all the boring tech specs and requirements;
The microphone features:
Patented Blue premium capsule circuitry, Internal Acoustic Diffuser (IAD) focuses on your voice, 24-bit/48kHz resolution for pristine sound, Headphone volume control, Headphone jack for no-latency monitoring, Mic level and Mute control and a Removable, collapsible stand.
It is compatible with:
iOS Compatibility: Made for iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone SE, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Pro (12.9-inch), iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad mini, iPad (4th generation), iPod touch (6th generation), iPod touch (5th generation).
System Requirements:
For Apple: Mac OSX (10.7.5 or newer), USB 2.0 (or newer), 64MB RAM (or better).
For Microsoft Windows: Windows 7, 8 or 10, USB 2.0 (or newer), 64MB RAM (or better).
Technical Specifications:
Power Requirement: Powered via USB or Lightning connector, Transducer Type: Electret Condenser, 14mm, Polar Pattern: Cardioid (Unidirectional), Bit Depth: 16-bit/24-bit, Sampling Rate: 44.1/48 kHz, Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz, Adjustable Gain: 0 to +40dB, Maximum SPL: 120 dB SPL (THD: 0.5% 1kHz), Mount Thread: 1/4″ diameter, 20 threads per inch (standard camera mount), Microphone Stand Adapter: 5/8-27 thread (standard microphone stand mount), Headphone Jack: 3.5mm (1/8 inch), Headphone amp impedance: 32 ohm, Dimensions and Weight (Microphone): Weight: 167.1 g; l: 39.5 mm; w: 50.5 mm; h: 123 mm, Dimensions and Weight (Microphone with Stand collapsed): Weight: 272.3 g; l: 46.75 mm; w: 58.5 mm; h: 147.5 mm.
Raspberry comes with a USB cable compatible with PC and Mac, along with a Lightning cable for iPad and iPhone connectivity. Raspberry is also compatible with most popular Android devices via the OTG accessory cable, which is not included.
Now that all the tech stuff is out of the way, what did they think of it? Both my daughter and her dad found the microphone so easy to use. It was very easy to switch between her laptop, iPhone and iPad, without the need for loads of technical knowledge.
They were amazed at the quality of the sound, as was I. You would think you were in a professional radio station or recording studio. My daughter has never enjoyed making YouTube videos to this extent (I now feel she’ll never stop). She has a vlogging camera on her Christmas list now. The microphone can be connected up to a number of camera and video tripods.
I would recommend anyone using this gadget plugged straight into a USB port and avoid using a USB hub where possible.
If you have an interest in recording, whether it be YouTube videos, podcasting or voice overs, music or even video calling, then the Blue Microphones Raspberry Premium Mobile USB Microphone is perfect. It is a quality build and the recording from it are extremely clear with little handling noise.
While it is not cheap at £170, it is a quality professional microphone which you can certainly notice the difference with.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £169.99
Available to buy from Amazon here. For more information visit www.bluedesigns.com.
