If you’re looking for a new microphone, you’re likely to come across Modmic or Blue Yeti. They’re both great microphones with excellent sound quality, but which one is better? Most buyers are often confused about which brand to invest their hard-earned money in without knowing what to look out for.
In this comparison guide, we take an in-depth look at the two microphones to help you make an informed decision.
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Mobmic vs Blue Yeti Overview Overview
| Modmic | Blue Yeti | |
|---|---|---|
| Polar Patterns | omnidirectional and cardioid | cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo |
| Frequency Response | 100 Hz–10 kHz | 20Hz - 20kHz |
| Sample Rate | 48 kHz | 48 kHz |
| Bit Rate | 16 bit | 16 bit |
| Max SPL | 110 dB | Max SPL: 120dB (THD: 0.5 1kHz) |
| Connectivity | 3.5mm jack | USB |
| System Requirements | n/a | All modern Windows and Mac OS, USB 1.1/2.0, 64 MB RAM |
| Features | • Clever design • Extremely versatile • Easy plug and play mechanism • Great for use on the go • Modular and flexible • Great for video gaming • Great choice for users who can’t afford expensive microphones | • Strongly built with metal • Four pattern mode selection switch • Superior quality audio recording ability • Comes with gain control function • Mute button is also available • Zero latency transmission • Great choice for podcast and YouTube recording |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
Blue is a well-known USB microphone brand, and Blue Yeti is one of its innovative products for podcasts and streamers. Its outstanding recording ability and pocket-friendly price have made it one most popular microphones. The microphone has a wide range of useful features for the price range.
Blue Yeti is also a versatile microphone, providing plenty of options to record audio in different settings. The mid-size model is available in a wide range of colors and has additional features that cannot be found on other devices in the same price range.
Features
Blue Yeti is strongly built from high-quality material. The outer casing and base are made from metal. Rubber pads at the device’s base provide a firm grip on any surface you place it on. The microphone’s strong base allows you to position it at different angles.
Yeti also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and mic monitoring, which allows you to hear yourself accurately. This feature eliminates the need to raise your voice to make sure you are heard.
On the front part of the mic, there’s an adjustable volume control knob and two knobs on either side for gain control and pattern selection. These features are essential in recording audio on the go as they allow you to make corrections in-person rather than in post.
One of the most powerful features of the Blue Yeti is its ability to record four different sound patterns. This is unlike most microphones in this category which have only one sound pattern. The four sound patterns include the cardioid mode, omnidirectional, stereo mode, and two-way. We’ll discuss them later in this article.
System
Blue Yeti is an easy-to-setup microphone. You simply need to plug it in and play. The device works well with most versions of Windows – you don’t need additional software.
All drivers are installed automatically once the device is plugged in and the system reads the microphone as a default audio input device. For beginners, this is quite an easy-to-use microphone that won’t take much of your time setting it up.
Blue Yeti is a high-performance microphone designed to deliver high-quality audio for podcasters, streamers, and all users in general. The mic captures exceptional quality audio, which makes it particularly great for YouTube recording. Also, when compared to other microphones in the same category, Yeti does not produce ‘hollow’ and weak sound.
Blue Yeti Sound Patterns
As mentioned earlier, Blue Yeti has four sound patterns/modes. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Omnidirectional
As its name suggests, the omnidirectional mode records sound in all directions. Although this mode may reduce the sound quality, it’s the best for recording sound in meetings, group discussions, and similar settings. These environments require a microphone that can easily record the voices and sounds of all the people present instead of capturing sounds background sounds, and Blue Yeti can do just that.
Bidirectional/two-way
Bidirectional mode records sound from two opposite sides of the mic, which is great for people facing each other. You can go for a dual-mic setup for the best sound recording experience if you regularly host interviews.
Cardioid
Cardioid is the default sound mode, so you’ll be using this mode most of the time. This sound pattern allows you to record audio while sitting directly in front of the microphone, meaning sounds from the back of the mic are not picked. It’s the best mode for streaming, podcasting, and doing voiceovers.
Stereo
The stereo mode is great for recording music, particularly sound from acoustic instruments.
Strengths
Versatile – Blue Yeti is an extremely versatile microphone with four sound recording patterns, which allow you to record high-quality audio.
Great for quiet spaces – The microphone provides high-quality video recording in quiet spaces
Excellent recording features – Yeti has a great range of recording features such as gain dial, mute button, volume knob, and polar pattern switch.
Great choice for roundtable discussions – The different sound patterns allows for high-quality sound recording. The Stereo pattern is particularly great for recording podcasts as it easily separates multiple voices.
Great price – The Blue Yeti microphone delivers excellent sound quality, and plenty of features at an amazing price.
Weaknesses
Mute button looks cheap – This might not be a deal-breaker, but some users have voiced their concerns about it being inconsistent.
Not portable – Yeti is a streaming mic, meaning you’ll have a USB running from the mic to the computer.
Too sensitive – The mic may pick unwanted noise when you press a keyboard or bang the table. If possible, use it with a shock mount and a broadcast boom arm.
Conclusion
Blue Yeti has a high-quality audio output that would closely rival studio quality under the right setting. Although they’ve been a few complaints about the microphone going mute by itself during sessions, it’s not a common problem. Most users have been able to use the microphone without experiencing this issue.
With a frequency range of 20Hz to 20 kHz, Blue Yeti can record high-quality audio within our hearing range. Also, the device’s audio sampling rate of 16bits ensures top-quality audio sound. Despite the minor ‘muting’ issue, Blue Yeti remains a high-quality microphone for recording audio.
Modmic Wireless
Modmic is a great microphone for gaming. Its audio output quality is exceptional, and it’s cheaper than Blue Yeti. The mic is also versatile. It can conveniently snap onto any headphones without the need for annoying wires.
The price of Modmic microphone ranges from $50 to $100, making it one of the most affordable microphones on the market. There’s no better way to add functionality to your favorite pair of headphones than using them with a Modmic wireless microphone.
Features
Modmic comes in two parts: wireless microphone and USB receiver. The microphone is a gray plastic capsule that connects to a larger plastic capsule (control and transmitter) through a flexible black metal arm.
A button below the tip of the microphone capsule helps you switch between cardioid and omnidirectional mode. The transmitter has a single large button and three lights. The blue light shows the mic is on and working with the receiver, the yellow light indicates the mic is charging, while the red light shows whether the mic is muted.
A magnetic mount on the back of the transmitter allows you to attach and detach the microphone from your headphones. The USB receiver has the same three lights found on the microphone.
The microphone offers the perfect blend of practicality and affordability. It can be mounted on virtually all types of headphones, making it a great option for people who cannot afford high-end pro-level microphones. The microphone and its accessories can fit perfectly into a zip-up hard-shell case and be stored away when not in use.
System
The Modmic microphone has a compact design and integrates quite easily into almost any setup. You don’t need additional software to set up this microphone. Simply plug in the USB receiver into your PC and turn on the mic.
The receiver is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux Operating Systems, and PlayStation 4. Unfortunately, it does not work with Nintendo, Xbox One, and other devices with a headphone jack. This means you can’t use it to make calls on your mobile device.
Modmic Sound Patterns
Modmic has two sound modes: omnidirectional mode and cardioid mode. The modes allow you to choose whether to go with a wider frequency and better sound quality in the omnidirectional mode or minimize reflected sound in cardioid mode.
The sound modes are a useful feature, depending on whether you want to record a podcast or YouTube video in a noisy room or quiet studio.
Strengths
- Modmic is a wireless mic that works with virtually any headphone
- Delivers high-quality audio
- Supports two sound recording patterns: omnidirectional and cardioid
- Excellent build quality and easy to set up on headsets
- Plug and play microphone that only needs a USB port and doesn’t require any additional software
- Mute and mode buttons are easy to find and use
Weaknesses
- Does not work with Xbox One
- No onboard gain control
Conclusion
Modmic is a high-quality microphone with a clever design. It has excellent sound quality and lets you add a flexible and functional microphone to your headphones instead of using a separate desktop microphone. Unfortunately, it’s only limited to PC and PS4. Also, it does not come with an onboard gain function.
The microphone has a frequency range of 100 Hz–10 kHz, which does not cover our hearing range. Therefore, if you’re looking to do some fine editing to your audio, you may miss out on a few clips. However, these should not affect users recording audio for podcasts and YouTube.
Blue Yeti Vs. Modmic: Which One Should You Choose?
One of the major concerns about the Blue Yeti is that it tends to pick background noises. This issue has been reported by a number of users who have found it difficult to reduce background noises with this microphone. Luckily, there are a few tricks, which, when employed with a bit of experience, can help you cut background noises.
On the other hand, Modmic is not sensitive to background noises, making it a great choice for gaming or making Skype calls. It performs much better in terms of noise cancellation.
When it comes to recording, Blue Yeti performs better than Modmic. Blue Yeti can record sound in four different modes that make it easier to record audio, depending on your environmental setup. The sound quality is also of superior quality, allowing you to create high-quality audio for podcasts, YouTube videos, and even voiceovers.
Blue Yeti is a bit more expensive than Modmic but worth it. The microphone boasts a solid structure with an easy-to-use design that doesn’t require you to be tech-savvy to set it up. It’s also a versatile microphone.
If you’re a gaming enthusiast looking for an affordable, reliable, and long-lasting microphone, Modmic is the best choice for you. However, it might not be the best option for users looking for more functionality, such as the ability to capture sound in different styles and fine-tune your audio.
Blue Yeti delivers better quality audio and offers so much more when it comes to features and standards compared to Modmic. The Blue Yeti also comes with a 2-year warranty, which gives you peace of mind. If you have to choose between the two microphones, Blue Yeti is definitely the best option.