When you’re starting your career as a professional DJ or performer, there are a handful of tools you’ll need to invest in. For some, the first purchase will be a controller that they can use to mix and play amazing sounds.
Others might start by buying and playing with different kinds of software.
Eventually, though, virtually every DJ will end up acquiring a professional-quality condenser microphone. A high-level microphone is a must-have for DJs when they’re creating vocals for their tracks, making social media videos, recording podcasts, and more.
You might even need to take a microphone with you to your events so you can interact with and engage the crowd.
The good news for beginners in the DJ world is that a great microphone doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Products like the Yeticaster USB microphone adapter kit give you all the functionality you need for a reasonable price.
Is the Blue Yeticaster any good? (in short)
If you want a microphone that includes everything you need, then the Blue team has you covered. It’s hard to find a similar USB recording device that comes with the same rich selection of features for such a low price.
Watch this neat introduction of the Yeticaster USB microphone from the guys at Blue themselves:
Blue Yeticaster: Features
Blue is a popular name in the audio world. The company stands out for its professional range of professional-looking (and sounding) equipment, delivered at an affordable price.
The Yeticaster is just one of the solutions on the market from this brand.
The Yeticaster is the world’s leading USB microphone, equipped with a Radius III shock mount, a compass premium microphone boom arm, video, and voiceover work.
Promising stunning sound quality, an amazing range of features, and sophisticated aesthetics, the Yeticaster is an excellent choice for any aspiring or professional DJ.
The Yeti USB microphone is a plug-and-play solution that helps users to stream powerful unparalleled sound quality directly to any computer. Include tri-capsule technology produces pristine recording for a range of settings.
Features include:
- Plug-and-play USB microphone functionality
- Multiple pattern options – stereo, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and cardioid
- Mac and PC compatible
- Gain control
- Mute button
- Zero latency headphone output
- Compass microphone boom arm
- Hand-tightened friction hinges
- Hidden cable management
- Custom shock mount (Radius III)
Blue Yeticaster: Setting Up
One of the things that makes the Yeticaster USB microphone kit so appealing, is how easy it is to use. Most DJs need a high-quality microphone for recordings and presentations, but they don’t want to spend hours setting everything up when they get to their venue.
The Yeticaster makes it quick and simple to get up and running.
This device comes in a tapered cardboard box, with everything you need well-wrapped for protection.
The Radius 3 and compass arm products are included, and you also get a handy set-up guide.
Assembling your Yeticaster when it arrives is simple enough. The screws included to connect the sock mount, microphone, and boom arm are strong and dependable.
The mounting system ensures you can connect your device to your desk with little issue. After you mount the microphone to the desk, you can easily adjust the boom arm.
The Yeticaster arm included is highly flexible, so you can adjust it in any direction.
It’s also worth noting that the Yeticaster works well with both Mac and Windows. Windows will detect the drivers for you and install them using the standard method.
However, this only gives you the basic headphone output and input options. If that happens to you, don’t worry, you can visit the Blue Website to download the drivers available.
Blue Yeticaster USB microphone kit
In Use
Setting up your Yeticaster USB microphone kit is a quick and simple process. Everything from plug-and-play functionality to diverse accessibility makes this product a dream for any busy DJ.
It’s best to position the microphone, so it’s hanging upside down, with the boom in front of your face (without being in the way).
You can also add an optional pop filter to stop extra sounds from filtering through, but you don’t necessarily need to always use this.
If you want to use your pop filter for podcasting or video recording, and you’re using your computer speaker for audio, there’s a headphone socket included in the microphone itself.
You could also simply use the headphones attached to your desktop or laptop.
On the rear of the Yeticaster microphone, you’ll find your control and microphone gain pickup pattern selector feature.
Polar Patterns
One cool thing about the Yeticasteris that it’s fantastic for a wide range of recording options.
You can change polar patterns in seconds, so you don’t need to retrieve different microphones every time you want to switch between performance or recording a video.
The tri-capsule microphone array is proprietary to Blue tech, and it’s another feature that makes this microphone so appealing for any DJ.
You can easily switch between various polar patterns, switching the way that your Yeticaster collects sounds. Your options include:
- Omnidirectional mode: Omnidirectional mode ensures that you can collect sounds from all directions easily. Although you will have some more distance in your audio, this is a great feature for conference calling and similar situations.
- Bidirectional sound: Bidirectional mode is great for interviews or when you’re sharing the microphone with someone. However, you may find that using a single microphone isn’t ideal for this either.
- Stereo mode: This mode could be an excellent choice if you want to separate your right and left channels. Stereo will work well for recording instruments, though you might find that cardioid is a better choice overall.
- Cardioid mode: Cardioid mode ensures that you can pick up sound directly from you, rather than collecting noise from a wide space. This can be ideal if you want a highly focused stream of speech or sound.
Headphone and volume control
The Blue Yeticaster USB microphone kit is unique compared to other microphone solutions because it comes with a headphone jack and volume control built-in.
A great thing about this microphone is that there’s a headphone knob included on the front of the microphone, so you can adjust your output quickly when you’re mid-performance.
You can easily use the Yeticaster for monitoring your streaming and recording performance with minimal delays.
Gain control
The gain control feature on the Yeti adjusts the sensitivity of your Yeticaster microphone. You can find a dial on the back of the microphone that makes it easy to adapt your sensitivity according to your specific needs in the moment.
This is a fun feature to have on the Yeticaster microphone, as most USB solutions don’t include the same adjustable functionality. With the majority of USB solutions, you’ll need to adjust gain levels with software, which can be difficult during a recording session or presentation.
When the volume starts to rise from the people around you, having the control available is a must-have. It’s nice to be able to quickly turn the gain down so you’re not overloading the microphone accidentally. If you overload the mic, it’s difficult to fix the issue later with your software.
Mute button
The mute button is another great feature to have which isn’t always available with USB microphones. This is a handy function when you’re in video conferencing sessions, or you want to take a moment when recording something.
There’s even a red LED right that goes from solid to flashing when you switch the mute function on. This should help you to ensure that you’re not accidentally recording when muted. However, it’d be nice if there were different colors.
Stand
The stand included with the Blue Yeticaster USB microphone kit is solid, much like the rest of the set. You can easily rotate the position of your microphone, but if you’re recording from just a few inches away, you might prefer to use the boom stand instead.
Remember, the Yeticaster is quite a heavy microphone, which means that it’s not likely to work perfectly with every stand.
You’ll need to double-check the requirements before you buy a separate stand if you don’t want the stand that comes with it.
Boom arm
The Yeticaster USB microphone comes with a premium microphone boom arm, called the Compass. This boom arm comes with internal springs and includes hidden cable management, which is ideal when you’re working on recordings or presenting somewhere.
The boom arm contributes to the sleek and professional image of the overall microphone, so you can ensure that you’re making the right impression on your audience.
Shock mount
The set includes a powerful Radius III custom shock mount. What this means is that your Yeticaster is much better protected against noise, vibrations, and anything else that may be distracting during your events or studio quality recordings.
Just keep in mind that the shock mount does add a lot to the weight of the Yeticaster, which might make it harder to transport for some people.
Software
The Blue Yeticaster USB solution is intended for plug-and-play simplicity. You don’t need any drivers or software to start using the system. All you need to do is plug the cable management into a USB port, select it from your audio settings, and you can start recording immediately.
However, that doesn’t mean that you’re not able to access the software if you want to.
The Blue Sherpa software is a free desktop solution that allows you to update any USB microphone from Blue and control a range of settings within your computer.
You can update your firmware, monitor volume, control gain, headphone volume, and mute through the same application.
Sound quality
Blue is a reliable company for DJs in search of excellent sound and durability at an affordable price. The Yeticaster USB kit offers full-range sound with a flat mid-range that gives a more appealing intimate tone (though at the expense of a little bit of presence).
If you’re looking for a microphone to record extended sections of speech, this could be an excellent choice for you.
The Radius 3 shock mount is fantastic for keeping the output clean, particularly when you have your microphone attached to a workbench where you’re DJing from.
The vibrations stop before they hit the microphone and cause bass thumps in the music.
Blue Yeticaster Pros and Cons:
The Yeticaster promises to be your all-in-one solution for YouTube streaming, Twitch, videos, and voiceovers alike.
With everything you need for stunning great sound quality and an excellent professional look, it’s hard to find anything not to love about this set.
Pros
- Rich sounding microphone quality
- Multiple mode options (4 polar patterns)
- Excellent included shock mount for reducing sound
- Brilliant cable management feature
- Mounting kit and boom arm included
- Very little sibilance to worry about
- Zero latency monitoring
- Built in mute and volume button
- Available headphone input
- Software available for PC management
- Simple plug and play functionality.
Cons
- Adjustment screws and knobs can be difficult to turn
- The mute light could be a different color
- Not the best instruction manual
Blue Yeticaster: The Verdict
Blue microphones have earned a lot of attention and respect over the years – and for good reason. These devices are designed to make life easier for people who want to record all kinds of high-quality audio.
Thanks to the plug-and-play functionality, you don’t have to spend hours setting up your workstation before you begin recording.
It’s also worth noting that the multi-mode capabilities of the Yeticaster ensure that you can easily jump between different styles of recording without having to switch out for different kits.
This ready-made system offers an excellent solution for live streamlining professionals, DJ presenters, and podcasters alike.
The fact that this is a condenser mic means you’ll have no trouble achieving a full, rich, and open level of sound.
The cardioid setting is also extremely useful when you don’t have absolute silence in your recording environment. The shock mount stops your microphone from taking on extra noise in an environment where jostling and bumps are common.
Overall, the Yeticaster is an excellent microphone that’s sure to appeal to DJs and audio professionals from all walks of life.
If you want a kit that includes everything you need, then the Blue team has you covered. It’s hard to find a similar USB recording device that comes with the same rich selection of features for such a low price.
