Here we will explain How to Change Blue Yeti Microphone Settings along with technical specifications, system requirements, etc:
While assessing the quality of content, the quality of sound plays a very important role. While making a choice for recording equipment, there are a variety of professional tools, but one name that helps create unparalleled recordings is undoubtedly Blue Yeti, which is a renowned product from the family of Yeti USB microphones.
In this tutorial, we will look at how to optimally we can use the settings of the Blue Yeti microphone to get studio-quality recordings.
Let us start by understanding the various features of the Blue Yeti microphone.
Table of Contents:
Blue Yeti Overview
Compatibility
Blue Yeti is a popular choice for creating supreme quality recordings. One of its unique features is its simplicity and ease of use. It is a plug-and-play mic compatible with PC systems and MAC, which can be directly connected to a PC with the help of a USB cable. It is known for its compatibility with a variety of OS like MAC OS, Windows X, Windows 7, Windows 8, etc.
It is advisable to plug Yeti directly into the USB port of the computer for best quality results.
Features
These are as follows:
- Bulky in size. It is around 3.5 pounds in weight and around one foot tall.
- Available in multiple colors and the chrome tip lends a retro look.
- It has three condenser capsules that can record in any situation.
- At the bottom, there is a Mute button, a USB, and 3.5 mm jacks.
- Key features are the four recording modes or patterns which, when adjusted, provide premium quality of recordings.
- Unique and innovative design for easy recording.
- Blue Yeti is an affordable choice and a great return on investment when compared with many competitor products.
- Easy to change settings using a simple dial.
Technical Specifications
These include:
- Power Consumption- 5V 150mA.
- Sample rate- 48 kHz
- Bit rate- 16-bit
- 3 condenser capsules of 14mm
- Polar patterns- 4 patterns- Cardioid, Bi-directional, Omni-directional and Stereo
System Requirements
For Windows:
- Windows 10 or higher
- USB 1.1/ 2.0 or 3.0
For MAC:
- Mac OS 10.13 or later
- USB 1.1/2.0 or 3.0
Note: The above-mentioned technical specifications have been quoted from the official website
Let us now understand the various settings of the Blue Yeti microphone.
Blue Yeti Settings
When we talk about the patterns or modes on a Yeti microphone, we are referring to the direction where it is sensitive to sound. In simple terms, it means the pickup pattern of the microphone.
Blue Yeti has four modes or polar patterns namely Cardioid, Bidirectional, Omnidirectional, and Stereo. It has three microphone capsules that deliver these patterns. Each of these Blue Yeti modes changes the direction of maximum sound sensitivity of the microphone and also the direction of maximum sound rejection.
These polar patterns provide ideal settings for specific purposes. Additionally, Yeti is also a USB condenser microphone, which is like a cherry on the cake.
Let us understand each of these recording patterns and their suitability for certain situations.
Microphone Settings
#1) Cardioid Mode: This pattern records those sounds which are directly in front of the microphone and are ideal for podcasts, voice-overs, and vocal performances. In this pattern, sensitivity is maximum in front of the microphone. For best results in this pattern, the sound source must be directly in front of the microphone.
It is also important to remember that maximum sound rejection for this microphone happens at the rear of the microphone. Therefore, in order to reduce background noise, it is advisable to keep the sound source behind the microphone.
#2) Stereo Mode: This mode is a superb choice when recording acoustic guitar or choir, as it involves both left and the right channels for creating quality sound recordings. It is extremely useful when it is important to record not just the sounds but also their position around the microphone. This mode is not suited for recordings when the person who is recording also moves around.
#3) Omnidirectional: As the name suggests, this polar pattern can pick up sound equally from all directions of the microphone. It is best suited for situations like recording a live performance of a band or a conference call.
#4) Bidirectional: This particular mode records from two directions, i.e. front and back of the microphone. It is an optimum setting to choose while recording an interview involving two people or maybe while recording a duet. It is ideal for situations in which two sound sources are involved.
The below image shows the setting symbol for each of these four patterns:
Apart from these four patterns, there are some more settings that must be made in order to get the best results.
Additional Blue Yeti Mic settings
As discussed earlier, the Yeti microphone is extremely sensitive to sound and most often, a lot of background noise also gets captured. Therefore, it is extremely important to not only position the mic correctly but also choose the right mode to keep unnecessary noise at bay.
One feature in the Blue Yeti microphone that takes care of this issue is called “Gain”, which needs to be turned to the lowest level possible.
This feature, called “Gain” particularly manages the sound absorption of the microphone. It describes how loud a person will sound on the microphone. If the gain is very high, the audio quality may be distorted while one may not hear anything if it is very low or touching zero.
It is advisable to keep Gain adjusted at lower levels for best sound quality. While exploring the features of this microphone, we can see a central knob at the back of the microphone, which can adjust the gain.
In case any static sounds are heard, gain can be turned down until the signals are clear. In case the audio is not crisp, the gain must be increased.
The below image shows the “gain” feature on the microphone:
It is also important to keep in mind that Blue Yeti is a side-address microphone, so it accepts sound from a perpendicular angle, unlike a front-address microphone in which the sound is accepted from the end of the microphone.
This emphasizes the fact it is imperative to maintain the correct position of the microphone for the best sound recording. Refer to the below image for a better understanding:
Let us now look at the process of setting up Blue Yeti on various operating systems.
#1) Set up on Macintosh
Follow the below-mentioned steps to set up Blue Yeti on Macintosh OS:
- Step 1: Use the USB cable and connect to the Yeti microphone.
- Step2: Select Apple Menu and click on System Preference.
- Step3: Select the option “Sound”.
- Step4: Select the tab- Output and then the tab Input.
- Step5: Select Yeti Stereo Microphone from the tab – “Select a device for sound output”.
This completes setting up of Yeti microphone.
#2) Setting up Yeti on Windows 10
- Step1: At the bottom right corner of the screen, use the right-click and choose the “Speaker” icon.
- Step2: Choose the option “Sound”.
- Step3: Select the tab “Playback” and use the right key to click on “Speakers Blue Yeti”.
- Step4: Next, select “Set as Default Playback Device” and click on Set as Default Communication Device
- Step5: Use the right key and click on Speakers Blue Yeti again. Now, click on Properties and navigate to the Advanced tab.
- Step6: Uncheck the option” Allow applications” which can be found under the section Exclusive Mode.
- Step7: Finally, select OK.
#3) Set up on Windows 8
The below-mentioned steps can be followed while using Windows 8.1:
- Step1: Use the USB cable and connect the Yeti microphone.
- Step2: At the bottom right of the screen, open Windows 8.1 Charms Bar Menu.
- Step3: Select Settings and then select Control Panel.
- Step4: Next, choose the Hardware and sound option.
- Step5: Select Sound.
- Step6: Select the tab– Playback and choose Yeti Stereo Microphone.
- Step7: Now, select the option – Set Default and then click on the tab Recording.
- Step8: Finally, select Yeti Stereo Microphone and click the Set Default button before selecting OK.
#4) Setting up Yeti on Windows 7
As mentioned for Mac and Windows 8.1, Yeti can be connected to Windows 7 PC using a USB cable.
Then, the following steps can be followed for the set up:
- Step 1: Click on the Start Menu and select Control Panel.
- Step2: Choose the option Hardware and sound.
- Step3: Click on the option Sound.
- Step4: Next, click on tab- Playback and click on Yeti Stereo Microphone.
- Step5: Now, click on the Set Default option and then click on the tab- Recording to select the option Set Default button.
- Step6: Finally, click on OK.
Are you confused about using a suitable yeti blue setting?
Here is a list of the best Blue Yeti settings that must be followed in order to get the best quality output. Let us look at some common usage of the Yeti Blue microphone and understand which setting is best suited for the situation.
#1) For recording podcasts: For this, the best polar pattern is Cardioid as it allows one to speak from the front of the microphone and ignores the background noise. It is also important to figure out the appropriate distance from the mic, which yields optimum sound quality.
There is no need to speak on the top of the mic however, it is important to adjust the gain, which also alters the volume of the recording. If the gain is adjusted well, there is no need to speak loudly to get clear recordings. Therefore, the gain must be adjusted at an optimum level.
#2) For live streaming: In order to get an optimum quality of recordings, Blue Yeti must be placed on a stable desk and must also be kept at a distance of 6 to 12 inches. It is advisable to maintain this position at the time of recording. The microphone must be adjusted in case if one leans back or bends forward. It is important to remember that the head of the microphone must always be upward.
For live streaming, the gain must be set to the lowest, preferably minimum, as a higher gain can lead to high sound absorption. The best-suited polar pattern for live streaming is Cardioid mode as it keeps the background noise at bay.
#3) For recording instruments: As mentioned earlier as well, the Blue Yeti microphone also captures sound from its side, therefore, the microphone must not directly point towards the source of the sound. Also, the gain must be adjusted, so that sound is not too loud.
This is the perfect time to select the polar pattern to Cardioid, which is best for recording instruments. A stereo pattern is also a good option for recording instruments.
Here is a quick recap of the most important things to keep in mind while using the microphone:
- Do not forget to change the recording mode.
- Remember to maintain the right distance from the mic to avoid sounding too loud or low.
- Adjust the gain, which also alters the overall volume of the recording.
- Use a headphone. This can be plugged in at the bottom of the mic and it allows the user to listen and check the quality of the recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q #1) Is the Blue Yeti good for singing?
Answer: Yes, it is a good choice for singing as it allows control on the direction of the sound and one can plug in a set of headsets as well to listen to the quality of the recording.
Q #2) Does Blue Yeti work as a speaker?
Answer: The Blue Yeti kit which is available from B&H is loaded with the essential tools for capturing podcasts. This kit has the Blue Yeti USB microphone and a pair of desktop monitor speakers.
Q #3) How can I make my Blue Yeti sound better?
Answer: In order to get the best quality of recordings, it is important to keep background noise at bay and speak into the mic from the side. One of the best polar patterns, widely used, is the Cardioid mode, and yes, do not forget to set the gain to the lowest.
Q #4) Does Blue Yeti need drivers?
Answer: No, we can easily plug it into the PC using the USB cable.
Q #5) What setting should Blue Yeti be on?
Answer: The best setting for Yeti microphone is while recording podcasts must be on Cardioid recording mode. This particular pattern is the best, as it requires the person to speak from the front of the microphone and ignores the sound coming from a source at the back.
Q #6) What are the four settings on the Blue Yeti?
Answer: There are four unique polar patterns namely Stereo, Cardioid, Omnidirectional, and Bi-directional which offer studio-quality sound recording with a single device that otherwise requires multiple microphones.
Q #7) Why does my Blue Yeti sound bad?
Answer: In case if the Blue Yeti mic sounds bad, check for the following possibilities- Either the settings on the microphone are not correct or you may be keeping the mic very close to your mouth.
Q #8) Is Blue Yeti mono or stereo?
Answer: Blue Yeti lets the listener limit the source of sound to the left or right on playback. However, the listener cannot restrict the sound source in front, behind, or above while in playback. Therefore, it is a stereo microphone.
Conclusion
In this article, we have talked about Yeti Blue settings and explained how to change the settings as per different situations in which it is used. It is surely a zero fuss and easy-to-use equipment, which is available at a much affordable cost as compared to many other of its competitors.
This article also covers the step-wise process of setting up Blue Yeti on various operating systems. We are hopeful that the tips mentioned in the article will help our readers use Blue Yeti like a pro and create fantastic recordings.