Blue Microphones Mikey Features:

• Uses the iPhone/iPod dock connector
• Dimensions: 2.5in x 1.75in x .5in
• Head bendable 90° both back and forth
• Stereo condenser microphones
• Hardware switch for three gain settings
• Compatible with:
  iPod Touch G2 & G3
  iPod G5 and classic
  iPod Nano G2+
  iPhone 2G/3G/3GS

Performance:
Blue advertises that the Mikey is an “award-winning” recording solution, and I can certainly see why – recordings sound great, as long as it’s properly configured. Fortunately, this is easy to do because  the Mikey features a hardware switch with three gain settings, something that similar microphones lack. This may sound a little complicated, but it’s actually very simple. The high gain setting is for long-distance 100+ foot recording, the medium setting is for 20-100 foot recording or group speaking situations, and the low gain setting for very close-range environments such personal dictation.

The Mikey can record almost anything on high gain, even at long-distance. I tested it with a noisy intersection and construction zone roughly 100 feet away and it picked up the humming and clanging clearly. This is an example of the hardware gain switch at work; a microphone not specifically configured for long-distance recording would have only picked up unrecognizable noise. The Mikey is no miracle worker though; it misses the highest highs and lowest lows, and won’t provide a CD-quality audio recording. However, what I experienced was much better than what would normally be expected from a small iPod/iPhone-powered accessory, and is far better than the iPhone’s built-in microphone. At medium gain, the Mikey does an excellent job picking  up lectures and other group dialogue. It’s great to see the Mikey perform as advertised. And as a tip to owners or prospective buyers, while the high-gain setting records everything, flipping the switch to medium makes such background noise muddled and helps focus on in-range sounds.

The low gain setting claims quality recordings for close range dialogue. Unfortunately, it was not as good as its counterparts. To test this, I spoke directly into the microphone at regular speaking volume. I was  disappointed to discover that my voice sounded quiet and slightly muddled. It’s best described as though I were speaking through a few layers of clothing. The low-gain setting seems like it would be best reserved only for very loud situations and close environments. This setting seems out-of-place and impractical compared to the great performance of its medium and high counterparts. While it is a shame that the low gain setting does not live up to expectations, the medium-gain setting still serves it’s purpose for close-range situations.

As a whole, the Mikey’s performance isn’t for everyone. If you simply want a microphone to record basic dictation and be able to understand it later, the Mikey’s price tag might be more than you need to spend. If you desire the capability of distance-recording or value the audio quality, then the Mikey’s custom settings and performance certainly make it worth looking into.

Look and Feel:
The Mikey rocks the classic angular, hole-punched microphone look. There are three blue LEDs on the lower neck of the device that light up to indicate the current gain setting. The gain switch is directly behind the indicator lights. The head of the microphone rotates back and forth 90 degrees and clicks with a satisfying snap as it bends. The Mikey plastic body feels sturdy and there was only the tiniest bit of flex as I squeezed the hole-punched surface. I’m sure the Mikey could stand up to the abuse of being thrown around inside a bag or jacket pocket. When it comes to style, the Mikey isn’t the sleekest-looking or smallest microphone out there, but then again, it’s is a function-over-form recording device.

I have only one complaint about the Mikey worth mentioning. The small, somewhat recessed switch for the gain setting requires a little too much digging in with a fingernail to tweak the gain for my taste. Although it does prevent accidental adjustments from being an issue, it might be an issue for those with close-cut fingernails.

A note on hardware and software compatibility:
When plugging the Mikey in, iPhone users will see a pop up that recommends enabling airplane to prevent possible GSM interference while recording. This is a minor annoyance, but you probably wouldn’t want a call interrupting a recording session anyway. The Mikey will still work if you choose to ignore the warning. Other users’ results may vary, but I did numerous tests of Mikey without airplane mode enabled and faced no interference.

The Mikey is compatible with Apple’s Voice Memos app on the iPod Touch and iPhone. Additionally, there is Blue’s free App Store application called Blue FiRe (iTunes link), Evernote (iTunes link), and a multitude of other applications that will recognize external microphones. The Mikey uses Apple’s built-in software on standard iPods, Classics, and Nanos. Regardless of the device, simply plug the Mikey in, and it will automatically be detected and behave as if it’s part of your iPod or iPhone.

Bottom Line:
The Mikey delivers crisp, high-quality recordings, and unlike many other microphones, it can do so even from over 100 feet away. Additionally, the integrated gain setting switch allows for quick, on-the-fly sensitivity adjustments, which is a major convenience. While I did critique the low gain setting for reducing audio fidelity, the Mikey still remains a highly versatile microphone even with just the medium and high settings.

At $79, the Mikey is not cheap, and there are competing microphones out there for less than a fraction of the price. For those of you who need a microphone simply for short-range recording of dictation or interviews, you may not benefit from paying a premium amount for the Mikey. However, those of you who do desire an easy-to-configure, compact, powerful microphone should definitely give the Mikey a try. It’s certainly worth it if you are a student in a lecture hall, a businessperson at a conference, or an interviewer stuck in a noisy environment.

With that being said, if you are ready to purchase the Mikey now, you may want to hold out. That’s because Blue Microphones is launching a new and improved second-generation model. The new model arrives this summer and boasts improved iPhone compatibility plus a refined design. Skatter Tech will definitely get a unit in for review, so stay tuned.

Links: Blue Microphones | Mikey by Blue
Buy: $51 on Amazon

Hardware: 5/5 stars
Blue Microphones includes all the essentials to get started with podcasting or recording audio. The box includes the baseball-shaped microphone, a tripod stand, and a USB cable. The tripod extends upwards, rotates a complete 360 degrees, and even allows tilting the head back and fort. Rubber tips on the legs of the tripod are a neat addition as they offer a strong grip and reduce vibrations. The unit also has a standard threaded connector, so it can attached onto any standard microphone stand. There’s a red LED indicator on the front and the USB port resides right below the mode setting switch on the back. The unit stands sturdy and has a unique retro look that catches glances.

Compatibility: 5/5 stars
Starting with Windows 7, the Snowball was detected and automatically configured in seconds. Windows Vista was also able to recognize and setup the device instantly. Windows XP with Service Pack 3 took a bit longer, it required contact Windows Update before it worked. Mac OS X Snow Leopard also detected the device right out of the box. To use the external microphone, I had to either set it as the default device in the control panel or manually choose the device from within an application such as Audacity.

Sound Quality: 3/5 stars
There’s no question that the Snowball is a huge jump up from just about any integrated laptop microphone or cheap auxiliary jack one. It will definitely make podcast recordings, audio chat, and voice overs sound a lot better. In fact a co-worker and I used Snowball microphone to create a screen cast to show off Six Apart’s Movable Type last year. The microphone works great, but it’s still not on par with decent condenser microphones. There are three modes on the Snowball: Cardioid, Cardioid with -10dB to filter loud sounds, and Omni Capsule. There’s a switch on the back to choose between the three modes. If you aren’t too tech-savvy, the manual even has suggestions for which mode to use in which environment. The device does a great job of filtering out unwanted static, wind, and background sounds. Regrettably during the process, I also noticed that vocal sound also seems to be a bit lower. I found myself having to speak close up to the unit and even adjusting levels afterward in my audio recording program. But despite that, for the price it goes for, it’s satisfying.

Conclusion:
The Snowball is a great semi-professional microphone for anyone interested in podcasting or producing better quality audio. It’s also a great tool for video and audio conferencing in for casual and business users. As demonstrated in our video and emphasized by Blue Microphones, it has also been designed to record instruments such as Drums, Guitars, Saxophones, or the Piano in our case. Plus, one of these is available for as low as $70 if you shop around. And it’s an all-in-one solution as well, no other components other than a computer’s required. A decent condenser microphone and mixer will easily cost at least 2-3 times as much. If you are interested in doing any of the mentioned audio related activities, the Snowball USB microphone is a great place to start.

Buy: Blue Snowball for $70
Links: BlueMic.com Snowball

Andrea BT-200 Specs:

• Wireless: Bluetooth v2.0 hands-free
• Battery Life: 8-10 hours talk | 150 hours idle
• Special: Noise Cancellation + Boom Microphone
• Multi-device Pairing: Yes
• Notifications: LED Indicator
• Charger: USB

The headset fits snugly and securely onto your ear. Once it’s in, there’s no need to worry about it falling out unlike many headsets I’ve come across. However, as stated before, the microphone is an annoyance at times since I had to keep adjusting it so the person on the other end could hear me. Also, Andrea Electronics needs to keep up with the times. It’s not exactly fashionable any more to be walking around in public with a long wire extending from your ear lobe to your mouth. I personally wouldn’t mind using it in an office setting, at home, or possibly even in the car. The button configuration is fairly standard and simple to use. There is one button for answering and calling, another for control volume. The volume control buttons were a little stiff, but other than there, there were no issues.

Andrea advertises that the headset operates within a 10 meter range; it operated at even further distances from my testing while retaining clear call quality. Just like the Jabra BT2050, the BT-200 supports auto paring, multi-point connections, muting calls, voice dialing, redialing, call rejecting, and call waiting. Also, depending on the color and interval of flashing, the blue and red LEDs let you know when the headset is either on an active call, in standby, when the battery is low, or if it isn’t paired. The bottom line for usability is a gizmo that’s easy to setup and is friendly to use.

The Andrea BT-200 is an excellent headset and the most important aspect, call quality, meets the bar. However in a day and age where simplicity is an important aspect of style, the Andrea BT-200 falls short. And the price-point is a bit on the high end for the average consumer. If you have the cash and don’t mind the looks, I would definitely recommend this headset.

Links: Andrea Electronics BT-200

Every bluetooth headset hitting the market today seems to be getting new wild features, for example an LCD display for Caller ID. All the average consumer honestly needs is the ability to talk. foneGear has taken this approach with their Mini Blue (fG876) lightweight headset with no unnecessary extras. The Mini Blue isn’t exactly the most innovative feature-packed unit, but it’s simple and it works!

foneGear Mini Blu (fG976) Specs:

• Battery: 4 hrs talk | 75 hrs idle
• Range: 30 foot wireless range
• Wireless: Bluetooth 2.0 EDR+
• Weight: 0.4 oz (11g)
• Charger: AC Adapter

The layout of the Mini Blu is as simple as it can get. It’s got a multi-function button on the front which acts as the talk/end button as well as turns on/off the unit. On the side, you’ll find a plus and minus button to control the volume level. The volume down key doubles as the redial button as well as the mute control. Even after testing the headset with multiple phones, we still had issues getting the redial and mute functions to work properly. An LED indicator can be found on the front, which lights up red while charging and flashes blue while it’s on. The audio quality was decent, but not too great. The audio would crackle and the listener would also have a hard time hearing us if we turned up the volume too high. Despite this, the quality of voice calls on the Mini Blu is more than enough for most consumers.

The headset can be worn on either ear and was quite comfortable. The actual speaker portion is surrounded by a soft rubber, therefore will be easy on the ear even after hours of use. The headset is fastened to your ear with a thin plastic around-the-ear hook. With this hook, it is close to impossible for the headset to fall off even if you are actively moving. This can not be said for other headsets we’ve reviewed such as the Samsung WEP200, which is quite hard to keep in place.

In the package, you’ll find that foneGear includes the Mini Blu headset, a ear hook, and the charger. This isn’t exactly a high-end headset, but is a solid performer and is great budget headset. The fG976 Mini Blu is available on foneGear’s website for just $20! At that price, there shouldn’t be any complains for what this does offer. This is a great headset for teens and first time buyers. (Even works with the PS3!) And as we mentioned previously it does exactly what its suppose to do, allow making voice calls. If you are looking for a better headset, we suggest checking out our review of the Jabra BT5020. As for the Mini Blu it is available for purchase online.

Links: foneGear Mini Blu
Related: Jabra BT5020 Review