Blue Introduces Icicle In-line USB Converter and Preamp

Blue Microphones today introduced Icicle, a powerful in-line USB converter and preamp. Designed with Blue's unique sense of style and commitment to quality, Icicle makes connecting XLR microphones directly to your Mac or PC simple and effective.

"Today's musicians live in both the analog and digital worlds, and Icicle bridges those worlds in a way that only Blue can, with sophistication, an understanding of how musicians work, and a clean, simple style," said Skipper Wise, President of Blue Microphones.

A key design goal of Blue is to keep technology out of the way of making music, so there are no complicated drivers, I/O boxes, or messy converters required. Icicle works with dynamic and condenser microphones, providing high quality and hassle free connectivity with Mac or PC for recording, podcasting, voiceovers and more.

Icicle features:

• Studio quality microphone preamp
• 48V phantom power
• Fully balanced low noise front end
• Analog gain control
• Plug and Play driverless operation
• 44.1 kHz, 16-bit CD quality converter
• Mac or PC operation

Blue will introduce the Icicle and other new products at a launch event at the Gibson/Baldwin showroom in Beverly Hills on November 6, 2008. This exclusive event will feature performances from breakthrough artists The Daylights, Mateo, and Chris Pierce, who was the first artist to use the Icicle with Blue's flagship Bottle Microphone to record directly into a computer.

Veteran recording engineer Tom McCauley has recorded tracks with all three artists for the November 6th launch event, incorporating the use of Blue's newest microphones, the Bottle Rockets Stage One and Stage Two, as well as the Icicle. "Having been a long-time fan of Blue Microphones, I was not at all surprised to see how well these new products performed in the studio," he said. "I was impressed by the fact that I could use any mic I like, and still have a simple direct line to my computer's recording software using the Icicle."

Icicle will be available in December 2008 for a suggested retail price of $59.99 at flagship retail partners such as Guitar Center, The Apple Retail Store and Amazon.com as well as other fine pro-audio and consumer electronics retailers worldwide.