Blue Microphones THE KICKBALL Specifications
The Kickball
TM
You have just purchased the world’s most unique and innovative low-frequency dynamic
microphone — the Kickball. Here at Blue, we’re known for designing and building the finest
microphones available for studio, stage, film and broadcast use. Our microphones unite the
heritage of the world’s most respected classics with leading-edge technology, innovative engineering and inimitable styling. The Kickball is the product of our unrestrained imagination
and our years of microphone manufacturing experience. There is simply nothing else like it.
But don’t just take our word for it — read what audiophiles around the world have been saying:
“I’ve kicked more homeruns on the playground with this thing
than any other microphone I’ve ever kicked”
— Lefty Foote, MVP, 2004 World Series of Kickball; member, Kickball Hall of Fame
“Finally, my kick drum sounds better than any other instrument on stage!”
— Ringo Peterson, drummer, The Toxic Waste Experience
“Thanks to the Kickball, I was a real standout at the
Battle of Basses 2004 at the Hollywood Bowl.’”
— Betty Bottom, Honorable Mention, Battle of Basses 2004
“My tympani has never sounded better!”
— Timmy Schuster, 3rd chair tympanist,
Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Park Rapids, MN
Congratulations.
TM
We know you hate to read manuals. So do we! But because the Kickball is such a unique recording
and sound-reinforcement tool, we really hope you take the time to familiarize yourself with its features. And be sure to try the suggested application tips that are designed to help you get the most
out of the Kickball. You might just learn something too. With proper care and feeding, the Kickball
will reward you with many years of recording and performance enjoyment. Now, let’s kick it, shall we?
Phantom-powered what?
The Kickball is the world’s second phantom-powered dynamic microphone. No, that is not a typo!
Remember the Ball? You probably already know that as an electromagnetic transducer, the traditional dynamic mic induces its own output voltage and does not require phantom power (pay attention
— there will be a test on this at the end of class). While this principal has been used for years in
everything from guitar pickups to generators, and of course microphones, it exhibits some problems
when it comes to accurate sound reproduction.
When you connect your dynamic microphone to a fixed-impedance console input or outboard mic
preamp, you create a resistive load in the transducer that varies with frequency. That would be fine
if you wanted a tone control on your microphone, but in a recent very unscientific poll conducted
by the AAK (Association of Arcane Knowledge), most respondents indicated that they did not want
such a device — particularly one over which they had no control! Being the creative thinkers that
we are, we solved this problem to give you the finest dynamic microphone ever made. But how?
Blue engineers updated the design of our acclaimed Ball microphone, which eliminates
frequency-
dependent variable resistance
in a dynamic, and tuned it specifically for use on low frequency
instruments like kick drums and bass guitars.
The Kickball delivers an acoustic balance far superior to conventional dynamic microphones. It is
punchy and detailed with a larger-than-life sound, particularly at low frequencies, yielding an
extremely smooth performance that pleases even the most discerning listener. Like any good kick
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