Blue Yeti is one of the most popular USB microphones. However, it’s rather expensive so not a lot of people can afford it. That’s why we have created this list to help you find which microphone you can use as an alternative.
1. Blue Snowball
The sound quality of Blue Snowball is very similar to Blue Yeti. However, Blue Yeti supports various patterns which include cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional & stereo. Blue Snowball, on the other hand, supports only cardioid or omnidirectional mode. So if you need to use Blue Snowball for interviews or any kind of two-sided podcast, you can only do it with cardioid or omnidirectional mode.
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When it comes to the features, Blue Snowball is very easy to use. You don’t need to install any drivers whether you use a PC or MAC. You can just plug it in and play and you’re good to go. It also has a frequency response of 40 – 80 kHz.
If you’re not an audiophile, you likely won’t notice a lot of differences in sound quality. Just like Blue Yeti, the Snowball also puts an emphasis on low frequencies. Also, a lot of the reviews stated that output level is a bit lower on Blue Snowball. Also, while Blue Yeti is very sensitive to the noise and it can pick up anything in your room, Blue Snowball isn’t as much. That can be either positive or negative depending on what you prefer and what you need a microphone for.
- Very sturdy and durable
- Good frequency response
- Easy to use
- Quite similar to Blue Yeti in general
- Only supports two modes
- Might be less sensitive than Blue Yeti
2. Audio-Technica ATR2100
Audio Technica ATR2100 is affordable (or budget-friendly) alternative to Blue Yeti. When it comes to the build quality, the microphone is very light. It’s very easily mounted on any desktop and you don’t need to worry about its weight. It’s also easily handled because it’s so lightweight. It has an aluminium body as well as grill.
The ATR2100 also features an LED light which turns on automatically when you turn on the microphone. There is also an on/off toggle switch. On the bottom of the microphone, there is the USB port, XLR port, 3.5 mm jack for monitoring and volume rocker for the audio output.
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Additionally, you also get the basic XLR cable, mini USB cable, microphone stand and a shock mount. However, it doesn’t come with the windshield so you’re going to need to purchase it separately. The ATR2100 is a USB dynamic mic. This means that it won’t pick up a lot of background noise.
What’s also interesting is that it has two connection options – the XLR port and the USB support. There is also a 3.5 mm jack which helps you monitor your own recordings. It’s a full audio output from the PC.
The sound quality of the ATR2100 is very good as well. It is very well-balanced but it’s also boomy at the low end. The highs are also very rich and crispy. The frequency response of the mic is from 50Hz – 15kHz, with a cardioid pattern. Because the microphone is less sensitive to the background noise, you need to speak very close to it. You also might need to connect it with a professional grade mixer, preamp or an interface for a better sound quality.
- XLR and USB features
- Lightweight and easily handled
- Well-balanced audio quality
- Less sensitivity means you need to speak very close to the microphone
3. Zoom H1
Zoom H1 isn’t only a microphone, it’s also an audio recorder. The greatest thing about Zoom H1 is that you can use it in many different ways because of its versatility. Not only can you use it on PC but you can also use it as a standalone voice recorder while on the go.
Zoom H1 can be used as a desktop USB mic with a USB cable, you can even mount it on a DSLR with a shoe mount and you can use it as a handheld microphone while mounting it over a holder. It’s also better if you purchase it with an accessory package because it comes with very useful things. This package comes with a windshield, hard case, mic holder, tripod, AC adaptor and also USB cable.
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Zoom H1 is very portable and small so you can carry it wherever you want to. The microphone has an XY microphone setup for stereo recording. You also get an option to toggle low cut filter, gain level, choose between MP3 and WAV formats, and much more.
- Compact and portable
- Very versatile
- XY microphone setup
- Many features
- Accessory package needs to be purchased separately
Conclusion
These are just few microphone alternatives for Blue Yeti but they are certainly the best of the bunch. So take your pick.
