Blue Microphones (owned by Logitech) produces the Blue Yeti for the specific purpose of podcasting. This USB mic has a simple set-up, great for introductory users. The operating system is compatible with Windows or macOS/OS X.

The Blue Yeti has a few buttons and knobs, but nothing that will scare you. There are two volume control functions on the front of the mic: a volume knob and a mute button.

On the back side of the microphone is a microphone gain knob and a pattern selection tool.

As we can see, there are four patterns to choose from. These are listed left-to-right as they appear on mic:

• Stereo mode
• Omnidirectional mode
• Cardioid mode (best for podcasting)
• Bidirectional (best for interviews)

For more information about the specifications of the Blue Yeti, please reach out to idealab@library.illinois.edu.

The microphone is attached to a desktop stand, along with a sound shield. These parts of the kit will always remain separate if you're planning to check out a kit from the IDEA Lab.

The pop filter attaches to the stand. The full assembly of the kit is pictured to the right.

A headphone jack is in the base of the microphone, as is the port for the micro-USB to USB-A connection to a laptop.