Item: Blue Dragonfly, Studio Condenser Microphone
Price: £520 (UK), $999.99 (US) (for a three microphone set)
Quick Singer Assessment:
The Blue Dragonfly features a rotating head to get the perfect mic placement, looks stylish, and is built to last! However, it can be sensitive to positioning and does not have a flat frequency response.
At a Glance
The Dragonfly is a studio condenser microphone that manufacturers Blue say works particularly well for higher frequency instruments and is ideally suited for Alto and Soprano voices. It has a slightly bright and forward sound similar to other popular studio vocal microphones such as an AKG C12 or Neumann U47, combined with enhanced lows to add warmth to any source. The microphone has a cardioid pickup pattern and is powered by +48v phantom power.
High Notes
The Dragonfly features a rotating head to make it easier to get the right mic placement. This is particularly useful if you want to use the mic for recording instruments where it is important to get the microphone positioned correctly to get the best sound. It comes with a wooden storage box and shock-mount to minimize unwanted vibrations being picked up. The microphone looks very attractive and stylish, and it is built to withstand decades of studio use.
Off Pitch
The microphone can be sensitive to positioning and to get the best vocal sound you will probably need to experiment finding the perfect distance and capsule angle. This also might cause a few problems for singers who tend to move around a lot when they are performing.
Audio-Savvy Reviewer Says…
The Dragonfly is a great sounding mic at a competitive price; however its frequency response is far from flat and will not necessarily suit all instruments and voices. As well as being a good choice for recording vocals, it can also work well on a range of other sources including strings, high-frequency percussion such as cymbals and both electric and acoustic guitars. Sonically, the top frequencies are on the bright side; however it still remains smooth and refrains from sounding harsh. Because the high and low frequencies are slightly boosted by the microphone, the midrange isn’t as forward as they are on some mics, so you probably would not want the Dragonfly to be your only microphone if you are recording lots of different instruments and voices. Overall, if you are looking for a mic with character, then the Dragonfly is definitely worth auditioning.
Manufacturers Website: http://www.bluemic.com
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Chris Kennedy is a songwriter, producer multi-instrumentalist and freelance journalist from the UK. He has performed extensively over Europe and written and produced over a dozen albums. Chris also has a passion for music technology and was the principal product reviewer and tech expert of the original Voice Council magazine.
