Step up to the mic.TM

®

Blue Microphones5706 Corsa Avenue, Suite 102Westlake Village, CA 91362

www.bluemic.com

In keeping with our policy of continued product improvement, Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics (BLUE)reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice.

©2007 Blue Microphones. All rights reserved. Blue Microphones, Blue Logo Oval, Baby Bottle, Robbie the Mic Pre,and Blueberry, Cranberry & Kiwi Cables are trademarks or registered trademarks of Blue Microphones, LLC. Allother trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Baby BottleWarrantyThis Microphone or related part is warranted under the conditions outlined below to its original,registered owner, provided the purchase was made from an authorized Baltic LatvianUniversal Electronics (BLUE) dealer. This Microphone or related part is guaranteed to remainfree from operating defects for three years from the date of purchase. In the event that serviceis required, all necessary parts and labor will be furnished free of charge during this periodexcept for tubes, which are guaranteed for 90 days against defects. This warranty is void ifthe serial number has been altered, removed or defaced. The warranty is void if the equipmentis altered, misused, mishandled, maladjusted, or is serviced by any parties not authorized byBaltic Latvian Universal Electronics (BLUE). The warranty does not include transportationcosts incurred because of the need for service unless arranged for in advance. Baltic LatvianUniversal Electronics (BLUE) reserves the right to make changes in design and improve uponits products without obligation to install these improvements in any of its products previouslymanufactured. This warranty is in lieu of any or all expressed or implied.

Congratulations on your purchase of the Baby Bottle, a classic modernmicrophone made the old-fashioned way, without compromise. Followingin the footsteps of our flagship Bottle mic system, the solid-state class Adiscrete Baby Bottle is truly a chip off the old block. In order to familiarizeyourself with this microphone’s specialized and unique features, pleasetake the time to read this manual. And be sure to try the suggestedrecording tips. With proper care and feeding, the Baby Bottle will rewardyou with many years of recording enjoyment.

The Baby Bottle is a pressure-gradient cardioid condenser microphonethat employs our edge-terminated single-membrane large diaphragmcapsule. Enclosed within a spherical grille, the side-address capsule can bepositioned in the smallest of spaces. Please note that, unlike some Bluemicrophones, the Baby Bottle capsule is not designed to rotate, swivel, ormove in any direction.

The Baby Bottle features a Class A discrete transformerless amplifier.The Baby Bottle’s character is especially rich in midrange response, makingit an ideal choice for recording vocals, drums, electric guitar, and mostacoustic instruments including difficult sources like saxophones, flutes,and stringed instruments.

Baby Bottle

To get the most out of any quality microphone, it is essential to pair it witha good microphone pre-amplifier. We recommend Blue’s Robbie, a single-

channel Class A discrete vacuum tube micand instrument preamp. To maintain theintegrity of your signal, we suggest using ourKiwi, Cranberry or Blueberry high-definitionmicrophone cables. And whenever possible,connect the mic preamp output directly toyour recorder or A/D converter, bypassingany unnecessary components.

The Baby Bottle includes a vintage-styleshockmount designed to isolate the microphone body from low frequencyvibrations when mounted on a stand. To attach the mic to the stand, youmay find it easiest to 1) loosen the boom stand arm or threaded end of themic stand, 2) grasp the mic or shockmount assembly in one hand, and 3)screw the mic stand threads into the mount. This procedure eliminatesany possibility of dropping or damage to the mic.

NOTE: Forceful positioning of the shockmount without looseningof the thumbscrew can result in damage not covered by warranty.

The Baby Bottle requires +48 volt phantom power, which is provided bymost mic preamps, mixing consoles, or separate phantom power supplies.It is important to note that some units, though rated at 48 volts, may sup-ply insufficient or unstable phantom power, which can result in distortionand/or degraded performance when used with this microphone.

To avoid damage to audio components when connecting phantom power,follow this simple procedure: 1) turn down the mic preamp gain, head-phones, and your studio monitors, 2) connect microphone cable to theBaby Bottle and microphone input jack, 3) turn on phantom power, 4) turnup the mic preamp gain, etc. To disconnect or re-route the Baby Bottle, 1)turn down the mic preamp gain, headphones, and your studio monitors, 2)turn off phantom power and wait 30 seconds before disconnecting the mic.

So, now that you’re familiar with the mic, here are some recording tipsthat will allow you to get the most out of your Baby Bottle.

VocalsHere’s a little-known secret — vocalists love singinginto unique and impressive mics like the Baby Bottle.Put it in front of any singer and you are guaranteed toget a 110% inspired performance. For a “big” vocalsound, get the vocalist within one to four inches of thecapsule. There is no need to worry about overloadingthe microphone, but be sure to use the pop filterincluded with the mic to protect the diaphragm. Tilt the microphone up(toward the forehead) for more projection and head tone, straight on atthe mouth for maximum brightness and intelligibility, or down toward thechest for more robust full lows and smoother highs.

Electric GuitarBecause of its full midrange response, the Baby Bottle is anexcellent mic for any clean or distorted amp sound. Orient thecapsule toward the center of the speaker to capture morehighs, or toward the edge of the cone for a fuller sound withmore low end. For overdriven or distorted tones, move the mictowards the outer edge of the cone, or back it away from theamp a foot or more to add a little room sound and soften theextreme high end. Give the Baby Bottle a try on electric bass,blues harmonica, and organ too!

Acoustic GuitarLarge diaphragm mics require careful placement whenused on acoustic guitar, but the Baby Bottle’s rich toneand hot output is well-suited to this job. For a balancedsound with plenty of sparkling high end, place the micro-phone facing the guitar neck, right where the neck joinsthe body (usually around the 12th – 14th frets). Forstarters, keep the mic as close as possible, and tilt thecapsule toward the soundhole to capture a blend of lowend and pick sound. If you need more lows, move themicrophone closer to the soundhole. For more high enddetail, move the Baby Bottle farther from the guitar, either at the sameneck position, or above the instrument up by the guitarist’s head.

These frequency charts are only a beginning. It gives the recordist a basis of the sound provided. How the microphone reacts in a particular application will differ greatly because of many variables. Room acoustics, distance fromsound source (proximity), tuning of the instrument and mic cabling are only a few of the interacting issues. For an artist or an engineer, how the microphones are used creates the basis of the sound.

20 304050 100 500 1kHz

5kHz

10kHz

20kHz

-20

-10

+10

+20

dB

Baby Bottle frequency and polar responses510

15

2025

315°

270°

225°

180°

135°

90°

45°

0°

dB

250Hz

1kHz

8kHz

16kHz

StringsBecause of its high output, natural highs and abundantmidrange characteristics, the Baby Bottle is an excellentchoice for miking all members of the bowed string family.In general, the capsule should be oriented toward theinstrument’s bridge to pick up a blend of resonance andbow sound. On bass and cello, placement from 3 to 6inches in front of the bridge is usually ideal. For violin andviola, it is preferable to position the microphone 1 to 2feet above the instrument. Angle the capsule toward thebridge for more bow sound and low tones, or move the

microphone toward the tuning pegs to capture a more diffuse, bright, andblended sound.

DrumsThe Baby Bottle’s slim profile and fast transientresponse offer numerous advantages whenrecording drums. For kit and hand drums, begin byplacing the microphone two to four inches abovethe rim or hoop (where the head is secured to theshell). Angle the capsule toward the player’s stickor hand to pick up more attack and definition.Orienting the capsule toward the shell will softenthe sharp attack of a hand drum, or pick up more of the bright, cracklingbuzz from a snare. Moving the microphone closer to a drum generallyincreases the low end, shell resonance, and separation from other soundsources, while more distant placement emphasizes the interaction of thedrum and the environment, producing a blended, airier sound.

Saxophones, Flutes, and ReedsThe smooth, natural high end response of the BabyBottle makes it an ideal choice for miking saxophonesand other wind instruments. For soprano sax, clarinet,and related instruments, position the capsule directlyabove and in front of the keys between the middle of thehorn and the lowest pads. Try moving the mic up ordown along the length of the body to adjust the balanceof airy highs (toward the mouthpiece) and cuttingmidrange (toward the bell). On flute, start by placing theBaby Bottle above the middle of the instrument, andmove the capsule closer to the mouthpiece if more

highs and breath sound is desired. For other members of the saxophonefamily, start by placing the Baby Bottle two to six inches in front of the lipof the bell. Angle the capsule up toward the mouthpiece to capture moreair, brightness, and high notes. For a mellower sound, orienting the capsuletoward the floor emphasizes the low range of the sax, and tames the bitingupper mids that project straight out of the bell.

Enjoy your Baby Bottle!

Technical Specifications

Transducer Type: Condenser, Pressure Gradient

Polar Pattern: Cardioid

Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20KHz

Sensitivity: 33.5mV/Pa at 1 kHz (1 Pa = 94dB SPL)

Output Impedance: 50Ω

Rated Load Impedance: <1k Ω

Maximum SPL: 133dB SPL (2.5kΩ, 0.5% THD)

S/N ratio: 87dB-A (IEC 651)

Noise Level: 5.5dB-A (IEC 651)

Dynamic Range: 127.5dB (@2.5kΩ)

Power Requirement: +48V Phantom (IEC 268-15)

Weight: 350g

Dimensions: 222mm x 45mm

Included Accessories:

• Wood storage box

• Custom pop filter

• Custom shockmount

Recommended Optional Accessories:• Kiwi, Cranberry or Blueberry high-definition mic cable

• Robbie the Mic Pre Class-A vacuum tube mic preamplifier