Home Microphone Comparisons Blue Yeti vs. Nessie | SEE WHICH IS BEST!

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Hi friend and Welcome!

Today I’m going to be running at you like Lassie with a sweet new post on the Blue Yeti vs. Nessie. The word Nessie does remind me of Lassie for some reason and makes me quite a bit nostalgic.

But onward my friends and brothers. Before we get started, I’d like you to grab a snack, sit back, and relax because..

You’ve come to the right place!!!

What I will bring you in this review

of each headphone

  1. Summary
  2. Pros
  3. Cons
  4. Who this mic benefits?
  5. What you will need?
  6. Consensus/Conclusion
  7. Similarities & Differences
  8. Final Word

Now without further ado…

Blue Yeti

Price: Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater! | Check eBay!

Specifications

  • Microphone Type: Condenser. Condenser mic vs. Dynamic mic.
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid or Omni-directional.
  • Frequency Response: 40Hz – 18kHz
  • Color: Silver, White or Black
  • Connector: USB.
  • Weight: 460 g
  • Included Accessories: USB Cable, Stand.

Summary

This is a really popular USB condenser mic and for good reason. Standing about a foot tall on your desk, it’s got a great sound, is really solid, reliable, and most importantly it’s convenient. I know many of you don’t really want to bother with the whole XLR setup. You just want to be able to plug and play. If that sounds like you, then this may be a great option.

What is the difference between a USB microphone and an XLR microphone?

At its price, it’s a quality investment due to its performance and convenience. Being that it’s USB, you won’t have to tinker around with extraneous XLR gear. What is XLR? Some folks get scared off from USB setups because they seem cheap and easy, but not satisfying. What you’re getting here is a versatile piece of equipment with great sound quality.

Called exceptional, this mic handles a variety of applications very well. I’ve seen it endorsed mostly for Skype, conference calls, pod-casting, you-tube, and anything that requires voice-over. You may not want to pick this up as your primary vocal mic, but it has been known to handle that as well.

It has a very nice build, is made of metal, and feels solid in your hand 🙂 Some have complained that it leaves a rather large footprint on your desk, because of the fact that it stands about a foot tall. It can also detach from its stand and fitted to a separate stand for added versatility.

Check out the super informative review! (mic test comes around 7:30)

Pros

  • The sound quality is exceptional.
  • Solid build (made of metal) and a great mic stand that comes with it.
  • Convenient, just plug and play.
  • Recognized by all windows platforms.
  • Has a mute button, with simple knobs and design.
  • Good USB cable provided.
  • Versatile. you can record almost anything in any type of circumstance.
  • 4 different polar patterns for amazing versatility.
  • gain control and headphone jack for zero-latency live monitoring. What is latency?

Cons

  • Needs to be plugged directly into a USB port on your laptop/computer. Some say it doesn’t do well plugged into a separate USB hub.
  • The mic does not actually have a switch to turn it off.
  • Extremely sensitive and picks up everything (this can be a good and bad thing). Acoustic Sound Treatment never hurts!!

Who this mic benefits?

  • people who do video conferencing
  • pod-casters, people who need to do voice over
  • people who want to Skype
  • people who need to record for videos or animations

What you will need?

Really the only thing you need is the windscreen!

Consensus

So many people rave about its sound quality, build, convenience, and versatility. It’s really an all-purpose mic that is super easy to use. Complaints include size (a bit large), and you can’t include a standard pop filter unless you Jerry rig it. People were also saying it’s hyper-sensitive, but recording in the right environment greatly helps.

Conclusion

This is one of the best options you can go with if you’re looking to record with skype, doing any pod-casting, you-tube videos, video conferencing, and anything similar. I wouldn’t recommend it much for vocals, although it can be done. The 4 different polar patterns, its rugged build, and remarkable versatility make it an affordable and valuable option…

Onto…

Blue Nessie

Price: Check Amazon! | Check eBay!

Specifications

  • Color: Silver
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid. What is a cardioid capsule?
  • Recording / Streaming
    Sample Rate: 16-bit/48kHz
  • Onboard mute & monitoring control: Yes.
  • Zero-latency headphone monitoring: Yes.

Summary

What a weird-sounding mic huh? As I said in the open, it just makes me think of that old classic TV show Lassie. Man, am I getting old or what? It’s all nostalgia all the time these days. 😛

Anywho, this baby is one of Blue Microphones’ entry-level mics. Like the Yeti, it’s a really convenient plug-and-play USB mic that delivers exceptional results sound-wise. Some people have complained about its plastic build, although the base is very sturdy.

Also similar to the Yeti, you will primarily be using this for pod-casting and voice-over type application. It’s got a headphone jack on the back and adjusts up and a down. Its range of motion isn’t that stellar, so you may want to keep that in mind before purchase.

On the plus side, it’s got a built-in pop filter and shock-mount, so no extra accessories are needed. Some reviewers weren’t too impressed by either, however. It’s at its best doing single recordings, but has 3 different modes:

  • Voice
  • Music
  • Raw (voice-over, etc.)

So in that sense, it’s very versatile and has been praised in all 3 different scenarios

Pros

  • Versatile with voice-over, instruments, as well as vocals.
  • A headphone jack on the back. Works well with live monitoring.
  • design is economical & compact. It sits nicely on your desk, leaving a small footprint.
  • Clean audio recordings. full and bright reproduction of the voice.
  • The mute button is in essence a touchpad (no button).
  • LED ring indicates when it’s on (solid) and when it’s muted (flashing).
  • Good for podcasting, and voice-over-type stuff.
  • Easy to use, plug and play USB (micro).
  • Works well with adobe audition.

Cons

  • Mostly plastic, build quality isn’t up to par with the reviewer’s expectations.
  • No recording software is included or recommended for novices. I will recommend something overall though! I use the free Audacity in a pinch. While not a professional tool by any stretch, it will get you started in the right direction. Meant to get your feet wet, and works great!
  • I’ve seen numerous complaints about the headphone volume knob. People are saying it’s hard to turn (requiring both hands, one to anchor the mic).
  • Must UN-plug from a USB port to turn off, no on/off switch.
  • The swivel head is poorly designed and will not stay up-right in certain positions.
  • You may have audio problems with it soon after you buy it. A few people mentioned some different issues with the mic just quitting on them, clicking sounds, static, and weird background noise.
  • built-in shock-mount and pop filter are essentially useless by many accounts.
  • Latency issues.

Check out the video review!!

Who this mic benefits?

People looking for versatility and convenience out of their purchase. The 3 modes all sound really good.

What you will need?

Hard to say. It comes with a built-in shock-mount and pop filter, but you may not be satisfied with either.

Consensus/Conclusion

Very mixed reviews, so be wary. It’s really hit or miss. It’s an amazing mic sound-wise, with a ton of potential flaws. The build quality is a bit suspect (all plastic), and it feels a little underwhelming in many respects. A lot of people are saying it won’t hold up in the long term.

Similarities & Differences

Similarities

  • Both the Yeti and Nessie do very well with pod-casting and any type of voice-over work.
  • Both are very versatile and can handle a variety of applications.
  • Neither has an on/off switch.
  • Blue microphones are known for great customer support.
  • Both are USB condenser mics. What is the difference between a Condenser mic vs. Dynamic mic?

Differences

  • Build. The Blue Yeti is an extremely solid and rugged piece of equipment. It’s built like a mini spaceship. The Nessie by contrast feels like a paper airplane but made of tissue paper. Haha, it’s not that bad, but side by side? No comparison.
  • Extras. The Nessie comes with a built-in pop filter and shock-mount. The Yeti has its own stand but will need to be fitted with that windscreen that I mentioned. It doesn’t really need a shock-mount though, as its base is about as heavy as a boulder 🙂
  • Mute button. The Nessie’s mute button has that touchpad type of feel, while the Yeti is a traditional push button.
  • Volume Knob. The Nessie has a slick built-in volume knob around its base, but it doesn’t feel that great to turn. The Yeti’s by contrast are very standard and functions well.
  • Footprint. The Yeti is known to leave a giant footprint on your desk and does take up a lot of space. The Nessie by contrast is more compact and unassuming.

Final Word

Looking at as many reviews as I have, I can’t recommend the Nessie in good conscience. It may be versatile and did sound really good in the review. However, there were just too many similar complaints regarding very specific aspects of the mic, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. A lot of people recommended the Yeti over this…

And I will too

The Yeti is an extremely solid piece of equipment and delivers proven results as an all-purpose mic. It is very versatile and utilizes 4 different polar patterns for added flexibility. Just be aware that it stands a foot tall, and will leave quite a big footprint on your desk. Would you like an in-depth and informative review concerning the great Yeti? Check out my official:

BLUE  MICROPHONES YETI REVIEW!!

Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you now have a better idea of the similarities and differences between the Blue Yeti vs. Nessie…

Would YOU recommend the Yeti over the Nessie? Let me know!!

If you have any other specific questions or want to leave a comment, please do in the box below or contact me!

I very much look forward to hearing from you…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Be sure to check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

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2 comments

Sama September 27, 2019 - 7:48 am

The shock mount is useful; if you compare it to Blue’s raspberry microphone it doesn’t pick up as much static. Also, there is a way to turn off the microphone without unplugging it. There is a red button close to the base which strangely is not tactile, but if you touch it it will toggle between on and off. When the lights on the base are blinking then microphone is off.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black September 29, 2019 - 11:58 am

Hey Sama!!

Thanks for stopping by bro.

Do you have a Blue Raspberry on hand? I would love to compare the Yeti to it.

Reply

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