Be it a podcast or YouTube voice-over, many of us need to be
able to record our voices in high quality these days. If you're wanting to
explore the world of audio self-publishing you might soon discover that the
built-in microphone on your laptop just isn't going to cut it - you need one of
the big boys with decent software to boot. For that all-in-one sound recording package
we tested the Blue Yeti Studio.
First up (and this is quite an important thing to highlight) the actual hardware in the Blue Yeti Studio pack, the Yeti mic itself, is identical to the one we reviewed last year. In fact if you really are considering buying the Yet Studio go straight to our review here and read it before continuing, as there's no point repeating ourselves. That would be a waste of internet, which we all know is in short supply.
Right, you back? Read the Yeti review? Good. Nice mic, eh?
So, as we were saying, the Blue Yeti Studio is basically a Yeti mic packaged
slightly differently, with included serial codes to download two separate pieces
of software. It is this software that really makes this a different product,
and turns an excellent USB microphone into a professional bit of kit.
First we downloaded Studio One, a professional
studio-quality recording and editing suite from PreSonus. In layout this
resembles the free-to-download programme Audacity that many people might have
encountered, but includes so many more features. Despite the professional grade
output this programme can create, it is decidedly easy to use and reminded us a
lot of Garage Band for Mac. As this is an edition of Studio One that has been
especially designed for Blue, it discovered the USB Yeti mic immediately and
allowed us to start recording with one press of a button. After that, cropping,
cutting and tweaking the audio was very simple and any help and pointers you
might need are easy to find.
Next up is iZotope Nectar Elements, a piece of software
designed to edit and alter the sound of the human voice. This is a pretty
incredible little package that singers wanting to record their voice really
must check out. Essentially Nectar Elements has a series of pre-programmed
presets which can be applied to a vocal recording, matching the sound to
whatever musical style or genre you want. It will also edit the pitch of your
voice - a little like auto-tuning, but far more subtle - controlling harsh
sounds that tend to make mics and recording software spike (such as 'ess',
apparently). It will also work out what is actual singing (or talking,
podcasters) and what is background room noise, reducing the latter to focus on
the human element - handy if you're just laying down some tracks in your
bedroom.
Depending on where you buy, the Yeti Studio is available for
just £30-40 more than the stand-alone Yeti mic, so is it worth it? If you are
going whole-hog professional, be it with your singing, podcasting or audio book
recording, then Hell yes it is. There aren't many other packages out there
right now that include everything you need, from initial recording to editing,
right in one box. Trust us when we say that free programmes such as the aforementioned
Audacity just can't hold a candle to the something like Studio One, especially
when it has been tailored to the mic you're using.
If you're serious about home recording, we've found the product
for you.
£129