Blue Snowflake USB microphone sounds good

I’ve noticed a common denominator in some of the netbooks I’ve seen of late: the integrated microphone is sub-par. And while many folks don’t use a netbook for audio recording or voice communications, I’ve found that the form factor makes for a great little Skype machine. If only the microphone worked as well as the camera. That’s why I was interested in the Snowflake USB microphone from Blue. The folks at Blue sent over a review unit and I’ve had a few weeks to give it a go.

The Snowflake works with both PC and Mac computers without any drivers needed. I tested it on both a PC and my Mac; since to the computer it’s simply a USB microphone, you just plug and play. Does it meet my requirement for better sound on a netbook? Absolutely, but then again you couldn’t get much worse. I find that I need to sit just a few inches away from the integrated mic on the Wind in order to be heard.

Here’s a very short, sample audio track from the Snowflake when clipped to my display. I looked for the option to make me sound like Josh Groban, but couldn’t find it.

So there’s no question that the Snowflake is an improvement over the integrated solution I’ve been struggling to use. Other features make it a nice add-on as well:

• The Snowflake slides into a plastic base so you it can easily "stand-up" on its own.
• The base doubles as storage for the included USB cable.
• Conversely, you can slide it out of the base to expose a hanging-clamp mechanism. This lets you attach it to a display.
• The microphone itself swivels 360-degrees on the clamp.
• It’s simple to use: just plug in the included USB cable to your computer.

Why might it not be a good choice for some? While the audio quality is very good, it’s not as mobile of a solution as I’d prefer, mainly due to the weight and size. The white base is a light plastic, but the hanging-clamp is metal. Size-wise, it can also seem to overpower smaller screened devices.

In the end, I think I’m better off with a USB or Bluetooth headset for voice on a netbook. For anything bigger, the Snowflake is a definite contender. Expect to pay around $60 for this high-quality USB microphone.