Spark Digital microphone review: Cool mic hampered by ungainly stand
In the smallish world of USB microphones, there’s an even smaller subset of mics that attempt to address both the Mac OS and iOS platforms. We’ve seen one such microphone in the form of Apogee’s $199 Mic. Blue, makers of the Snowball and Yeti USB microphones also make such a microphone—the $200 Spark Digital cardioid condenser microphone.
Flexible form
As with the Apogee offering, the Spark can connect to either a Mac or iOS device. This is accomplished by connecting one of the compatible cables included with the microphone. Just over 6 feet long, one of these cables has a micro USB connector on one end that you jack into the companion port on the bottom of the mic. This cable splits out to a standard USB cable that you attach to your Mac or PC and a 3.5mm audio jack that you can use with your headphones. The other cable works similarly but has a 30-pin connector that you plug into your compatible iOS device rather than a USB connector.
Although Blue has plans to offer a version that includes a Lightning cable in the coming weeks, it’s not yet available. If you have an iOS device with a Lightning connector you must currently use Apple’s $29 Lightning to 30-pin adapter. Blue intends to offer a Lighting cable free of charge for those who’ve purchased a Spark after August 1, 2013. If you purchased a Spark prior to that, the cable will cost $28.
Stand down
The Spark additionally ships with a unique stand. Unlike other microphone stands you’ve seen where legs telescope from the mic’s body or you screw the mic into a traditional table-top stand, this one asks that you connect the microphone to a shock mount built into a somewhat bulky stand.
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