Blue’s pricey planar magnetic headphones feature a built-in amp

Blue may be a company known more for its studio-grade and USB microphones, but in 2017 it's taking a deeper dive into headphones. After the 2014 introduction of Mo-Fi, a set of headphones with a built-in amplifier, the company released Lola last year...

Blue’s first wireless headphones nix the cord, keep the built-in amp

Blue is a name most people associate with USB microphones for podcasting and desktop recording. But the brand has a stellar reputation for studio mics as well. Back in 2014, the company released its first set of headphones, Mo-Fi, which featured a bu...

The Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $50 on a Nespresso coffee maker

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals atTheWirecutter.com. You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends atThe Wirecutter. N...

Blue Microphones’ Nessie now available, promises enhanced sound in real time

DNP Blue Microphones starts shipping Nessie

Blue Microphones' Nessie is now out on the market, months after we took it for a spin at this year's CES. Named after a cryptid like its older sibling the Yeti, Nessie comes with three modes -- one for raw audio, another optimized for richer vocals and one that enhances instrumental music. The company claims the USB microphone delivers studio-enhanced sound in real-time, and you don't need to go through manual post-production unless you chose to record in raw audio. Made to work directly with both PCs and Macs, you can also use Nessie with iPads using a 30-pin to USB or a Lightning to USB adapter. Available now for $99 at Apple's retail and online stores, Nessie will also surface on Best Buy, Guitar Center, and other Blue retailers at a later date. Before you whip out those credit cards, though, check out the sound samples and comparisons recorded using the device after the break.

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Source: Blue Microphones

April Fools’ Day roundup: hamster beats, pirate’s booty and Play-Doh printing

AF RU

April Fools' Day is tough. Believe us. We know. It's 24 hours of fake news, bad jokes and Gangnam Style references. But not all of it is the internet equivalent to lining a toilet with plastic wrap. Sometimes, good stuff manages to slip through the proverbial cracks in the web. After the break, check out some of the holiday's highlights. If you dare.

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Hands-on with Blue Mics’ Nessie: a USB mic that masks your flaws (video)

Blue Mics unveils Nessie

Blue Microphones is known for its top notch USB microphones. Heck, the Yeti is a staple around the Engadget compound for recording podcasts and voiceovers. The company's latest, Nessie, continues the audio maven's fascination with cryptozoology while delivering some interesting new features along with another fantastic retro design. At the top is the mic itself, which looks quite a bit like the Snowball. It sits at the end of a long arm with some slight articulation. The small extension allows you to either focus Nessie up for tall casters or down for recording the occasional acoustic guitar track. At the opposite end is the round, surprisingly heavy base that is home to the headphone volume knob as well as a few other controls. Around back is the 3.5mm jack itself, right above the three postion mode switch. The first position is raw audio, which applies no effects at all. Second is vocals, which boosts mids and applies a slightly agressive compressor and limiter to beef up recordings of people speaking or singing. Last is music mode, which pulls back on the compression and boosts the highs to add a bit more brightness. The knob on the prototype was quite stiff -- in fact it was alost impossible to turn with one hand -- but the company says the final version wont suffer such issues. Lastly, at the bottom of the neck is a red capacitive button that mutes the mic. Simply brush you finger across it and the blue LED in the base gently pulses to let you know it's muted.

Inside the housing is some specialized circuitry that helps mask the most basic common mistakes you make while recording. The processor dynamically alters the EQ and levels, while also applying a de-esser to keep your latest bedroom podcast crisp and clean. The pop filter and shock mount also helps keep noise from shaking and plosives to a minimum. Most importantly, Nessie also keeps Blue Mic's history of affordability with a price of $99. Head on after the break for a video tour of the hardware along with an audio sample.

Continue reading Hands-on with Blue Mics' Nessie: a USB mic that masks your flaws (video)

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