Anybody use a Blue Ball

[Revelation]

Anybody use this thing...how does it compare to a Shure Beta SM 58?

[stellar]

yeah I got a pair of blue balls.

[Slaytex]

Originally Posted by stellar

yeah I got a pair of blue balls.

Sounds like you should put them to use!

[Dan]

It definitely get's my vote for "Most unfortunate name" I can't see anybody wanting blue balls.

[zenkonami]

I love Blue Mics. My buddy works for Blue. But this one...yikes. I'm not even sure I like it as a talkback mic. I say go with the Beta 58 if that's your other choice. I think they made this mic just as a joke.

It requires phantom power (and the reason still doesn't add up to me)
It feedsback far too easily, particularly in the human vocal range.
It has a freaky wierd frequency response curve.
It's a cumbersome mic to use.

Frankly, I'm not sure what they were thinking. (And neither is my buddy.)

-Zen

[digitalM]

I use the Blue Ball on snaredrum and really like it. Takes some effort to position due to its size and shape but for me it's worth the trouble. Beats my sm57 on snare played with brushes.

I tried using it on live vocals once because I thought it looked cool for that, but also had to much feedback problems..

For what I know is that it uses fantompower to feed an electronic circuit in the mic
to make the input of any preamp "see" a constant 50 ohm resistive load.

[Bat Head Sound]

I have "The Ball" microphone (sorry, just couldn't bring myself to say "I have a Blue Ball"). It's an ok sounding mic and just like anything else, it has it's purposes. It sounds pretty good on a clean electric guitar and some various percussion instruments, in fact, it sort of reminds me of a 57. However, I don't think that I would use it on vocals, especially live. In that situation, you'd be better off with a Beta 58 or a Sennheiser e835 (my personal favorite live vocal mic).

[warhead]

If you want a weird looking ball mic get the BLUE 8 BALL. It's 10x more useful and can actually be a decent vocal mic etc.

The KICK BALL is a decent mic as well.

War

[LaChunkyStudio]

I had a Blue Ball for 3 months and try as I might I could not find a use for it other than conversation point. It doesn't sound any better than any standard SM57 or SM58 for any type of recording. Its only selling point was that it looked so different - but in the end no great shakes.

[Revelation]

Ok how is the 8 ball? I am looking to use it only for guitar cab and vocals.

[TAVD]

Placement with the ball is a bit tricky because of the response and also the size. I've found it works ok on my guitar amps loaded with Fane speakers and sounds like crap on Celestion's and practically everything else.

Try a sm57, sm7, re20 or e906 for a vox/guit mic.

[nathanvacha]

actually the kickball can be nice from my experience... prone to positioning like any other mic. I've used the blue one, but not extensively enough.

I've heard it sound good on floor tom.

I've seen it used on hihat.

I'd like to try one on female vocals, always liked dynamic mics there for some reason...

I have to say, hearing anyone say the 8ball is decent shocks my socks off. -- never would have guessed.

[zenkonami]

Used an 8-Ball out in front of a drum kit about six feet up and six feet away by itself (just experimenting), and it sounded great. Seen it used on a guitar amp and I thought it sounded fine. Both the 8-Ball and the Kickball I think are respectable mics. I haven't used the Snowball, though it sounds like it does what it was designed to do alright (podcasting and such) but is a little low on the gain side. It's just that damned Blue Ball that I can't find a practical use for. I think they tried too hard. I mean seriously, what do you expect out of a mic called a Blue Ball?

[BB Edwards]

Originally Posted by Bat Head Sound

I have "The Ball" microphone (sorry, just couldn't bring myself to say "I have a Blue Ball"). It's an ok sounding mic and just like anything else, it has it's purposes.

Agreed. For about $100 bucks I really can't complain. It has worked fantastically for me on certain snare drums, and sounded like total crap on others. I also tried it on a loud guitar amp or two and didn't care for it over a 57. I've heard others speak of a shell resonance 'problem' with the Ball at high SPL's-I think this is part of the quirkiness/sound of this mic. IMO if you're someone who already has a couple of the usual suspects this is not a bad mic to add to your arsenal.

[bwaudio]

I've had really good results on vocals with a sm57. and we all know it can record guitar amps. So I'd say go with that.

[Sensual Ears]

not a fan of blue balls...

guys that come in think it's "cool"

girls that come in think they're "cute"

i'd rather have SM57 or i5 for $100...

[dickiefunk]

How does the Blue Ball compare to the Sennheiser MD421, Shure SM7b and EV RE20 on vocals?

I already have a few LDC's and am wondering if the Blue Ball would be a good alternative?

I noticed the price has dropped over the past couple of years or so from £260 to £69!?

[newfuturevintage]

Originally Posted by dickiefunk

How does the Blue Ball compare to the Sennheiser MD421, Shure SM7b and EV RE20 on vocals?

I wouldn't use it on vocals, really. Any of the above are going to be more useful. Where I find the Ball useful is on toms, and distorted electric guitar.

[dudebrah69]

does this mic have a big plug? or a small plug?

i looked it up on the internet and its very expensive. im assuming it is very high end. shouldnt this post be in the high end category? im looking for a high end mic, and theres NO WAY that i'll be spending that much.

radio shack has some very nice mics with big plugs for under 50 $ right now. beleive me, thats a great price for such high end, big plug microphones.

good luck!

[GloryisSilent]

Originally Posted by dudebrah69

does this mic have a big plug? or a small plug?

i looked it up on the internet and its very expensive. im assuming it is very high end. shouldnt this post be in the high end category? im looking for a high end mic, and theres NO WAY that i'll be spending that much.

radio shack has some very nice mics with big plugs for under 50 $ right now. beleive me, thats a great price for such high end, big plug microphones.

good luck!

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You can never tell on the internet