Blue Mic’s new Icicle and subsequent discussion of alternatives like CEntrance’s MicPort Pro has generated some interest and chatter. Matej Isak sends over a review he did of the MicPort Pro:

CEntrance MicPort Pro review [Mono & Stereo]

CEntrance links to some other good reviews online on their product page. Highlights:

• Craig Anderton writes a detailed review for Harmony Central and in March did a short round-up of “fun stuff to plug into your USB bus.”
• Steve Fortner at Keyboard is quite fond of the thing.
• MusicTech gives it a perfect score, even though I’m always suspicious of perfect scores and, well, scores in general.
• Chris Breen likes it at Macworld, as does Joshua Topolsky for Engadget

So, there’s a round-up of people I know and like. I’m still sticking to a dedicated interface, at least until someone makes one of these that doubles as a standalone mic pre. (CEntrance, you listening? I’d even add a little bulk for that, honestly.) Interestingly, one commenter points out that while I didn’t like the lack of a headphone jack for direct monitoring, some people might prefer to listen through the host, so that keeps Blue’s offering in the running.

Certainly, to anyone who thought an XLR-to-USB mic pre wouldn’t appeal to anyone, this proves otherwise.

I’ve personally always been happy carrying around any one of a number of portable USB/FireWire audio interfaces. But as readers pointed out following Blue’s announcement of the Icicle yesterday, various solutions have offered direct mic – to – USB hardware with preamps for connecting a single mic to a single USB port. And several tech blogs picked up on the Icicle announcement, so clearly there’s a need for someone.

The major oversight of the Blue Icicle is that (as near as I can tell) it doesn’t have a headphone jack. Result: the only way to monitor the microphone would be through your computer, which adds latency. And I’m a little hesitant on what the quality of the pre is, as well.

The Icicle isn’t your only option. Readers point to the Mic Mate Pro from MXL, and I’ve heard very positive stories about CEntrance’s MicPortPro. The MicPortPro gets high marks on audio fidelity, both anecdotally from those we’ve heard from and in reviews from Keyboard, TapeOp, and the like. Ronald Stewart writes to say he uses it with his Indamixx, the UMPC-based, tiny portable PC, so I imagine it’s an interesting option for those who like obsessive degrees of portability.

Mobile Apple users, I’ve got a couple of recording solutions for you – a hardware mic for the iPod (not the touch), and a multitrack audio app for the iPhone and second-generation iPod touch. I’m sure they’ll be a godsend to some people out there. But this time, I’m not waiting for commenters to say “I’m sick of iPhone apps.” I have to offer some healthy skepticism of my own this time around – and a bit of regret that the first-generation iPod touch is getting left out in the cold. But don’t let that stop you if this happens to be just the thing you’ve been looking for.

Have you ever plugged your headphones into your microphone? Well now you can! Besides winning a nomination for longest alphanumeric name, the USB2200A microphone from sE Electronics features a 1/8” headphone output and volume control on its body. This allows zero latency monitoring from the Class A 1” cardioid condenser mic while recording via USB. The mix/monitor level can be adjusted with audio software.

But wait! This mic also has a simultaneous XLR output. The capsule can be powered either through USB or XLR phantom power. Add a 100Hz roll off filter and 10dB pad and this is one versatile mic for $499 MSRP.

Here in the blogosphere, we only care about up-to-the-minute technology, right?

On the contrary. We still find these talking balloons pretty damn cool. (via a huge post on the MIT Media Lab from Make:blog — go ahead, waste the rest of the afternoon)

State-of-the-art 1995 technology, so get cracking: a piezo sensor
mounted to the front face of the balloon lets the ballon's aluminized
mylar body act as both microphone and speaker. In layman's terms: the
balloons can talk to each other. (Don't say "I invented talking
baloons" and expect to get far in academia, though. The proper term, as
in creator Joseph Paradiso's article for the IBM Systems Journal –
fine bathroom reading, by the way — is "The Interactive Balloon;
Sensing, Actuation and Behavior in a Common Object.")

Yes, that's right, they don't talk to each other, they actuate each
other. Now go, read the paper, and build yourself some baloon speakers
for your next gig.

There's nothing I hate more than wading through industry hype, so what a pleasant surprise that Shure microphones has some of the most useful mic info anywhere — minimal marketing included.

This week, Shure brings us "What DJs should know about microphones,"
a textbook-classic but friendly look at mics annotated by the Needelz
Brothers. Nice to see this geared at DJs, though there's good advice
for anyone (particularly doing electronic music in clubs).

Best moment: the Needelz share their favorite home vocal recording
trick, singing into a messy closet and using blankets to cover the
doors. Think they're nuts? Try it — I've found for simple vocal
recordings, while of course real acoustic treatments are preferable,
blankets and such placed around the mic location do actually work.
(Just don't try treating your studio with egg crates — doesn't work.)

Go join up for the Shure Notes mailing list for more gems like this. And yes, I love my SM57 (among others), thank you.

All this talk of VSTs and Oasys keyboards making you wistful?
Why not honor Presidents' Day (and St. Expeditus, patron saint of
procrastination — no, really) by journeying back to the golden age of radio and recording. Coutant.org
is an absurdly huge repository of vintage microphones (with pictures
and even comparative recordings), photographs, and links chronicling
audio's golden years. If you love big, clunky mics with the NBC radio
letters on the side, you'll feel right at home — and even non-techies
may find a tear in their eye surveying the long list of celebrities
intoning and crooning into the classic gear of yesteryear.

Because really, the only good mic is a ribbon mic.

Carl writes us:

Looking for a cheap, side-address, large-diaphragm, cardiod condenser
mic for vocals.  Wondering if CDM readers/authors might have some
advice.  Currently considering…

$200
Audio Technica AT3035
Blue 8-Ball
Rode NT1-A
Studio Projects C1

$100
Audio Technica AT2020
Kel HM-1
Studio Projects B1

…I'm leaning toward the Studio Projects pieces, or perhaps the Kel.

Anyone want to sound in? A number of good choices here. -PK