Blue Snowball iCE USB Condenser Cardioid Microphone

92
GEARANK

92 out of 100. Incorporating 28250+ ratings and reviews.

Street Price: 

$50
Blue Snowball iCE Condenser Cardioid Microphone

Gearank High Notes

Gearank Recommended

The Snowball iCE appeared on our recommended list for Microphones Under $50 when we published the first edition in February 2018 and it has remained there ever since.

It also appeared on our list for Condenser Mics Under $100 from March 2021 until it was out-ranked by other mics in March 2022.

Overview

Not to be confused with its similarly named brother, the iCE version of the Snowball by Blue has a fixed cardioid pattern rather than the original snowball's multi pattern feature.

This omission enables the Snowball iCE to be positioned at an even more affordable price point than its sibling.

The Blue Snowball iCE features a cardioid polar pattern, tripod desktop stand and a USB cable.

It's a plug and play mic that's very easy to set up and get running - basically just plug it into your USB port and you're good to go.

The included stand is a bit flimsy as well as lacking in stability and protection against accidentally knocking it over, so handle with care.

Pops and plosives are easily picked up at close proximity so we recommend the use of a separate pop filter.

Applications

Home Recording, Podcasts, Content Creation, and Streaming.

Features

The Blue Snowball iCE features a cardioid polar pattern, tripod desktop stand and a USB Cable.

Compatibility

Windows: Windows 10 or later with USB 1.1/2.0/3.0
Macintosh: macOS 10.13 or later with USB 1.1/2.0/3.0

Specifications

  • Type: Large Diaphragm Condenser
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 40Hz –18 kHz
  • Sampling Rate: 44.1/48 kHz
  • Bit Depth: 16 bit

Polar Pattern

 Snowball iCE Polar Pattern

Frequency Response

Snowball iCE Frequency Response

About the Author

Raphael PulgarRaphael Pulgar

I've been an audio engineer for 20 years specializing in rock and metal recordings. I also play guitar and produce original music for my band and other content creators.