Know your gear
Meet the Snowball: the professional USB mic. The Snowball is a USB mic that's not only easy to use, but sounds as good on your desktop as it does in a professional recording studio. The Snowball brings Blue’s award winning design and sound quality to a USB mic. The Snowball captures sound with detail unheard of before in a USB mic. From Blue Microphones who continues to lead the way with cutting-edge design and technological innovation in the field of recording.
The Snowball is a plug n’ play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC - no additional software is needed. The Snowball is a complete package, with a USB cable and beautifully designed custom adjustable mic stand included. With its proprietary dual capsule design and unique three pattern switch, the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band. And it’s ideal for podcasting. In short, the Snowball can capture anything and make it sound terrific!
•Plug and play design – no complicated drivers required
•Mac and PC compatible
•Blue’s award winning dual capsule and circuit design
•Includes adjustable mic stand and USB Cable
•Perfect for Vocals, Music Instruments, Podcasting, VoIP (Such as Skype and Vonage), Voice Recognition Software, Multimedia; ideal for AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, iChat and Google Talk
Specifications:
Transducer type: Condenser, Pressure Gradient w/USB Digital Output
Polar pattern: Cardioid or Omnidirectional
Frequency response: Position 1-3: 40Hz - 18kHz
Sample/Word Rate: 44.1 kHz/16 bit
Weight: 2.44 lbs
Dimensions: 4” L x 4” W x 4” H
Color: Gloss Black
System Requirements:
Macintosh: Mac OS X; USB 1.1 or 2.0 (2.0 recommended); 64MB RAM (minimum)
Windows: Windows 7, Vista or XP; USB 1.1 or 2.0 (2.0 recommended); 64MB RAM (minimum)
Warranty: 1 year
The Snowball is a plug n’ play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC - no additional software is needed. The Snowball is a complete package, with a USB cable and beautifully designed custom adjustable mic stand included. With its proprietary dual capsule design and unique three pattern switch, the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band. And it’s ideal for podcasting. In short, the Snowball can capture anything and make it sound terrific!
•Plug and play design – no complicated drivers required
•Mac and PC compatible
•Blue’s award winning dual capsule and circuit design
•Includes adjustable mic stand and USB Cable
•Perfect for Vocals, Music Instruments, Podcasting, VoIP (Such as Skype and Vonage), Voice Recognition Software, Multimedia; ideal for AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, iChat and Google Talk
Specifications:
Transducer type: Condenser, Pressure Gradient w/USB Digital Output
Polar pattern: Cardioid or Omnidirectional
Frequency response: Position 1-3: 40Hz - 18kHz
Sample/Word Rate: 44.1 kHz/16 bit
Weight: 2.44 lbs
Dimensions: 4” L x 4” W x 4” H
Color: Gloss Black
System Requirements:
Macintosh: Mac OS X; USB 1.1 or 2.0 (2.0 recommended); 64MB RAM (minimum)
Windows: Windows 7, Vista or XP; USB 1.1 or 2.0 (2.0 recommended); 64MB RAM (minimum)
Warranty: 1 year
Enhance your purchase
Blue Microphones Snowball Microphones - Gloss Black is rated
4.60 out of
5 by
17.
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Kevin-Davis from
Seamless data transfer and efficient migration with customizable storage sizes
What is our primary use case?
For the most part, I use it when I'm doing large-scale migrations where the customer has multiple terabytes of data and not enough network bandwidth to send those files. I'll load those onto Snowball, send them to Snowball, and then sync once it's there. Sometimes the truck's faster than the Internet. I've used it in other scenarios.
I have a customer that also uses it regularly. They have what's known as an edge location. It collects large amounts of data over four to six week periods. They rotate pulling one Snowball out and putting another in, then send the Snowball off to get the data into their systems. There are other scenarios where I've used it.
What is most valuable?
I like that I can take data and send it straight to S3 when it loads in. The interface for getting my data onto the Snowball is so streamlined. I don't know if you've ever seen it before. It's really cool. I connect them to the backplane of our existing network. I'm able to address it quickly and move the data quickly inside my customers' data centers. There's a little screen on it, which changes the UPS codes and all that stuff. The label and everything AWS electronic, so I don't have to deal with shipping issues. It makes it super simple and easy to use from end to end.
What needs improvement?
I've used it and yet never thought: "if only it did this." It also comes with Greengrass on it, however, I've never had a use case for it. It would give it some IoT capabilities.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it off and on since it came out in 2015 or 2016.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I've never had one with a problem.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's kind of fixed storage. I can order multiple if I need more data than one holds. The struggle is moving multiple petabytes of data; there's a top end. I'm not going to send 100 of these to make it happen.
How are customer service and support?
The support team's awesome. They have always been very responsive, as long as I know how to work. Most of my customers are enterprise, and my customers have technical account managers attached to their accounts. We have a structured approach, not like a consumer type where you call into a line. We alert the TAM for events like Snowball AWS moving, and they do some white glove activities around it. It's structured nicely for us.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
It's super straightforward. They've done everything to eliminate guessing during implementation. I just log in, follow the instructions, and it goes.
What was our ROI?
It's not cheap, however, it's cheaper than network costs. I'd say it has a solid ROI. I could solve these customers' problems by putting a Direct connection with a much larger bandwidth scenario. That's going to cost, and the customer may only get value for a short period, signing a two-year commitment and not getting two years' worth of value. It's going to be expensive with network drops into their data center, usually running a couple of hundred grand. There are significant costs it avoids when used. Someone might complain, however, the total ROI is really good.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Azure doesn't really have a solution for these use cases. Google and Azure are not out there trying to do the same thing. None of those guys are really with it.
What other advice do I have?
For scalability, I would rate it as eight out of ten. I'd say it would meet 90 percent of use cases. There may be some edge cases where it might need a little more storage.
The support team's awesome, and they've always been very responsive. It's a pretty unique solution in the landscape.
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:partner/customer
Date published: 2025-02-02T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Elvis Mengnjo from
Useful for data transfer, migration, and disaster recovery
What is our primary use case?
I've used AWS Snowball mainly for data transfer, migration, and disaster recovery. It's great for moving large amounts of data securely and efficiently.
What is most valuable?
The features I like best are the tool's high capacity, scalability, end-to-end encryption for data security, ease of use, durability, and cost-effectiveness. It's particularly cost-effective for transferring large amounts of data compared to high-speed internet transfers.
It has been helpful with end-to-end encryption, tamper-evident seals and sensors, and access control through AWS Identity and Access Management. This lets me control who can access and manage the device. It also helps with logging and monitoring and provides physical security.
What needs improvement?
There's always room for improvement as you use the service more and gain expertise. Some challenges I've faced include the time factor (data transfer can be time-consuming), data validation after the transfer, risks associated with physical handling and shipping of the device, and ensuring data security during transit.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I haven't encountered any stability issues.
How are customer service and support?
I have contacted AWS support before. You need 24/7 support from AWS, especially for issues that can come up during the data transfer process. Their support team is knowledgeable, particularly about AWS Snowball and other AWS services, so reaching out to them is necessary when critical issues arise. While AWS provides extensive documentation and guides that can often help resolve problems, having access to their support is crucial. We have in-house experts familiar with the services, so we only rely on AWS for more critical issues. When we do contact them, their response time is quick.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The integration process involves several steps in the AWS management console - creating a job, specifying job type (import or export), providing storage details, choosing the right device, and setting it up when it arrives.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The tool's pricing depends on the type of Snowball device you choose, the amount of data you need to transfer, and the service fees involved. There’s a standard price for larger data transfers and a flat job fee, which includes the first ten days of on-site usage. Typically, there are no additional data transfer fees.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend AWS Snowball for its efficiency, especially in data transfer. It might take time to set up due to shipping, but once the device is in place, it simplifies data transfer and ensures security with built-in encryption features. I would rate AWS Snowball an eight out of ten.
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2024-08-09T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Katlego Mabila from
Secure data transfer with enhanced encryption features and affordable pricing
What is our primary use case?
AWS Snowball is positioned to help clients move data from on-premises environments to AWS Cloud securely. It serves as an AWS hybrid model, which clients can utilize locally at their convenient time to secure data transfer to AWS data centers or warehouses.
How has it helped my organization?
Snowball's cost-effective structure allows organizations to pay on demand or upfront, facilitating cost management and ensuring that they only use what they need. This flexibility supports clients, particularly those far from data centers that need to manage data migration and workloads.
What is most valuable?
The flexibility of AWS Snowball is valuable. Its security allows for the ability to move and secure data without concern if the device is lost and the option to trace it back to AWS data centers. Additionally, its TransSearch features aid in data transfer with steps for connection and encryption, which ensures data security even if the Snowball is mishandled.
What needs improvement?
If AWS Snowball is intercepted, there is a potential risk of unauthorized access to the data. It is fragile, and mishandling it could lead to data loss, and data could be tampered with upon receipt. An improvement should be made to manage these risks and enhance security features during transportation and handling.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with AWS Snowball for the past three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
AWS Snowball is very stable, especially for clients who want to keep their data on-premises without accessing AWS via a site-to-site VPN or Direct Connect. It effectively facilitates data transfer from on-premises to AWS for storage.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
AWS Snowball does not inherently present scalability issues, but it can become challenging for clients needing scalability once the device has been returned. Continuous requests may be necessary if clients need to scale urgently before the Snowball reaches its destination.
How are customer service and support?
We have a technical team that manages customer service, so I have not needed to engage technical support directly.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have worked with Microsoft Azure. Azure requires purchasing storage space upfront, whether fully utilized or not, which differs from AWS Snowball’s flexible pricing structure.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of AWS Snowball is straightforward and simplified. There are clear instructions on how to use and connect it, with reminders for encrypting data before transfer.
What about the implementation team?
Clients need guidance during the safe transfer of encrypted data. Following data encryption, I advise clients to confirm details with recipients to ensure correct data handling and storage within AWS databases.
What was our ROI?
The return on investment is flexible with AWS Snowball's pricing structure, allowing clients to pay as needed or commit upfront, thus managing expenses effectively while using the space required for their data migration needs.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
AWS Snowball's pricing is affordable, offering two payment models: on-demand and committed upfront pricing. This affordability makes it accessible for organizations of different sizes, supporting their specific data migration and storage needs.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Apart from AWS Snowball, Microsoft Azure solutions were explored. Key differences include Snowball's flexibility and cost-effectiveness in comparison to Azure's fixed pricing model.
What other advice do I have?
Considering AWS Snowball's flexibility, clients can use it to test the security of their data transfer to AWS. It is particularly beneficial in regions with strict data sovereignty laws, ensuring that data remains within the country unless permitted otherwise.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Partner
Date published: 2024-10-08T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Dieudonné-Nsabimana from
Valuable features and good elasticity for managing complex infrastructure
What is our primary use case?
I use AWS extensively for commercial companies. These companies, which want to sell online, often utilize many AWS tools that allow them to develop applications. I focus on the infrastructure of AWS, managing all things related to computing, storage, and network.
BTW, Disaster Recovery: Organizations use Snowball to back up critical data off-site quickly
Research & Development: Researchers working with genomic or scientific datasets benefit from faster data transfer to the cloud for analysis.
How has it helped my organization?
Accelerated Data Migration, Cost Efficiency, Enhanced Data Security, Operational Simplification, Reliable in Remote Locations and Scalable Solutions for Big Data
What is most valuable?
Edge Computing (Snowball Edge),
Scalability with AWS Ecosystem
Durability and Portability
High-Capacity Data Transfer
What needs improvement?
It's difficult to make a comparison and it depends on the customer.
When analyzing costs, I must see how the customer uses AWS, Azure, or Google. Google is particularly interesting, for example, for all kinds of databases, with costs on GCP being less expensive for Postgres than AWS, which is more expensive than Azure.
It depends on which customer and which zone. For instance, it's difficult to propose GCP for someone in Australia; I might propose AWS or Azure instead. The costs of services the customer needs also matter, such as storage requirements and whether storage is rational. It depends on the network.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used the solution for one year and a half.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In terms of stability, it's an eight or nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It has high scalability, rating it a nine out of ten. I could say ten, however, AWS cloud infrastructure focuses on high scalability.
How are customer service and support?
Customer service depends on the SLA. A 24/7 contract is good enough. However, it depends on the chosen plan and its cost. 24/7 support is more expensive on AWS compared to Azure.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I am not working for Atos anymore. It's been two years since I left and started working as a freelancer for my own company CIDNS (Cloud Infrastructure Digital and Network Services).
How was the initial setup?
For someone who is not specialized in networking and computing, it is challenging. However, the platform is accessible for AWS users. It is not difficult for me, yet it can be challenging for someone else.
What was our ROI?
AWS involves jumping from a local environment to the cloud, requiring calculations for saved costs and time. The main objectives of the cloud include availability, scalability, and cost savings.
Depending on what I do, I might not remove acquisition costs for machines or hardware. Some services can be expensive. It's my job to assess if the quality and costs align.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Depending of what is your priority;
UseAWS Snowball if you are heavily invested in AWS or need edge computing features
Choose Azure Data Box for smooth integration with Azure and potentially lower costs for large datasets.
Opt for Google Transfer Appliance if your workload resides in Google Cloud and you prioritize simplicity.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Azure Data Box Gateway, Google Transfer Appliance
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Integrator
Date published: 2025-01-26T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Air1 from
Awesome!
I have been looking for a microphone especially to use for when I'm gaming! This one is awesome and perfect for if I stream my games, it does the job and I have no issues with it! Really good product for a gamer!
Date published: 2020-06-26T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Kathryn from
Blue Microphone Snowball
Larger than I expected, but duh, they are snowball! Crystal clear. Kinda likin this fine microphone.
Date published: 2020-05-19T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Celly from
great sound
this is such a cute item. its a nice size microphone ball. You can speak regularly and its sounds amazing. You don't need to speak loud or scream to speak to it. Its amazing and great microphone. I will recommend
Date published: 2020-06-23T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Anita52 from
Microphone snowball in black
This logitech blue microphones snowball is awesome love the look and style of this microphone It's a usb desktop mic that delivers studio-quality recording . You can also use it for streaming videos , talking to others on the computer and for recording yourself. I love the quality, look and performance of this logitech blue microphone snowball mic !
Date published: 2020-06-27T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Colbeyalkian from
Sounds fantastic
I'm using this for my Zoom calls each day. It was very easy to set up and the audio sounds great.
I've also tested it with podcasting and I am really liking the quality of the audio it is capturing. The fact that I can also use it for an interview with an omni directional recording is really nice.
The stand is quality. The cord is long enough to reach the computer easily and get placed well on my desk. I am a big fan!
Date published: 2020-06-27T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Super Mic from
Super mic
So i got this mic because my daughter is an aspiring singer... we got it. Set it up ( btw super easy that a 5 year old could do it
And then started putting it thru the paces seeing what it could do... we sang om top of it... super close and loud enough for the neighbors to hear... then we took a 5 step count back and did it again... keep in mind my daughter was singing adel and i was belting out some Type O Negitive ( imma rocker ) and no joke the mic clearly picked both of us up like we were on different mics... im blown away at this point. Thisnis a super mic for a super price... absolutly love this little thing
Date published: 2020-06-22T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Justin from
Snow ball pro
No installation needed. Wonderful output quality and you just simply plug it in.
Date published: 2020-01-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Frank from
Blue Microphone Snowball Gloss Black
Works really well. Allows me to be enjoy the same quality of my Blue Yeti while traveling.
Date published: 2019-12-03T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Yevgeniy from
Great Blue Microphone Snowball
Great mic, easy to setup, very clear.
Date published: 2021-02-14T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
MamaTaxi59 from
Snowball Microphone
This was a present for Christmas for my son-in-law. He was doing online job interviews and frustrated with his old microphone cutting in and out. He loves his Blue Snowball! Now he can chat with friends online, make videos for his new job, and the quality is excellent.
Date published: 2021-02-13T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Jawed Iqbal from
Excellent for handling large-scale data transfers
What is our primary use case?
I use AWS Snowball to help with large-scale data transfers for my clients. One of them uses FortiGuard for security purposes and backup storage. Since shipping Snowball devices to Pakistan isn't allowed, I find it handy for them to securely transfer and store massive amounts of data without relying solely on internet connections, making the process faster and more efficient.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of AWS Snowball for me are its security measures and its flexibility.
What needs improvement?
I think AWS Snowball could improve by expanding its availability to more countries. Currently, it is limited, and in my case, FortiWeb isn't accessible in Pakistan due to shipping restrictions. A broader reach would enable more people to use and benefit from the solution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using AWS Snowball for a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is very stable. I would rate the stability as a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability as a nine out of ten. My clients are mostly medium-sized businesses.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is a ten out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
I would rate the easiness of the initial setup as an eight out of ten. The deployment time for AWS Snowball varies based on the project size. Simple projects can be done in-house, while complex ones may take days or even months, depending on the specific requirements and the company's needs.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
While AWS Snowball is a great product, it is very costly.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate AWS Snowball as a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:Implementer
Date published: 2023-12-07T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Home Office Man from
Happy Customer
Pickups up sound very well throughout the room. Use it on my desk for ZOOM meetings. Ended complaints about the laptop microphone. Looks cool too!
Date published: 2021-11-04T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of
5 by
Vijay Gawade from
Saves time and reduces administrative overhead but needs responsive customer support
What is our primary use case?
I use Amazon products in two instances.
First, I run a startup leveraging AWS, where our workloads are on the cloud.
Second, I help customers using AWS cloud. I work as an authorized instructor with training partners.
What is most valuable?
AWS offers managed services which save time and reduce administrative overhead. I can leverage different tools and resources to solve problems in various domains, including development, networking, and data science. AWS also offers continuous innovation with new product updates, making tasks easier for customers.
What needs improvement?
AWS support could be more responsive. For instance, there was a delay in response when a customer faced issues creating an account, particularly around phone number confirmation.
For how long have I used the solution?
For the project my team and I have been working on, we have used EBS for about a year now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Besides intermittent instance failures, I have not faced other stability issues. I would rate stability at seven out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
EBS can scale, but it requires manual scaling. I would rate it at seven out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
I use the community support frequently, though response times for direct support could be improved as it sometimes takes about 24 hours to get a response.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
A project used SQS initially, however, due to high costs, we switched to CloudFront.
How was the initial setup?
Understanding AWS services requires prior knowledge. It's not something you can use directly without it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The cost of using services like SQS can increase significantly, as frequent polling becomes expensive.
What other advice do I have?
AWS helps save time and costs, being a managed cloud provider with evolving services. The overall product rating I give is nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2024-12-30T00:00:00-05:00