BLUE Woodpecker

Blue Microphone Woodpecker Description

With its unique active circuitry and gorgeous exotic wood finish, the Woodpecker is one of the most interesting and beautiful ribbon microphones you’ll ever lay eyes (or ears) on. The Woodpecker is the latest addition to Blue’s family of precision-crafted recording tools, combining the low noise and superb detail of Blue’s renowned Class-A discrete handmade electronics with the bold sound of a handmade aluminum ribbon pressure-gradient transducer.

The Woodpecker is designed to be highly durable and deliver the wide frequency response needed in today’s modern recording environment. With its focused mid-range, ultra-smooth top end and outstanding bass response, the Woodpecker captures the essence of any recorded sound. It also excels at ambient recording, capturing room tone with the most intimate detail.

Characteristics

• Handcrafted ribbon pressure-gradient transducer
• Active Class-A discrete custom-made electronics
• Focused mid-range, ultra-smooth top end and outstanding bass response
• Gorgeous exotic wood finish
• Includes custom shockmount and cherrywood box

Suggested Applications

Male & Female Vocals, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Drums, Percussion - any application where some natural space in the recording is desired.

Blue Microphone Woodpecker Tech Specifications

• Transducer Type: Active Ribbon, Pressure Gradient
• Polar Pattern: Figure 8
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
• Sensitivity: 26.0 mV/Pa a 1kHz (1 Pa = 94 dB SPL)
• Output Impedance: 50Ω
• Rated Load Impedance: Not less than 1kΩ
• Maximum SPL: 136 dB SPL (2.5kΩ, 0.5% THD)
• S/N Ratio: 72.0 dB-A (IEC 651)
• Noise Level: 22.0 dB-A (IEC 651)
• Dynamic Range: 114 dB (@ 2.5kΩ)
• Power Requirement: +48V DC Phantom Power (IEC 268-15)
• Weight: 725g
• Dimensions: 227mm x 45mm

BLUE Woodpecker Review / See All ZenPro Audio Reviews Here: Review Page   You expect ribbon mics to be several things; keep away from phantom power, low output, dark sounding and having a large proximity effect (bass buildup) to deal with. Well along comes Skipper and Martins of BLUE and toss the Woodpecker into the ribbon arena and well, it’s beyond shaking things up…it’s a unique offering to say the least. The Woodpecker ships in a wooden box, and comes with a gold shock mount that really sets off the mic with its walnut stained wooden body and gold headbasket and screen. It is phantom powered, the onboard amplifier requires it to boost output levels.   The Woodpecker is the perfect marriage between condenser mic and ribbon mic. The output of this mic is tremendous, some even think it’s too much (I don’t) but think about the fact that you don’t have to turn up your mic preamp much, and it’s all sort of a wash as far as self noise (there is some self noise to the phantom powered preamp on board). The sensitivity and detail is very condenser like, and most noticeable in the upper mids and top end response which is not normally accented in a ribbon mic. The Woodpecker isn’t bright, it still has the ribbon smoothness top to bottom that gently rounds transients, but it will actually deliver the sparkle of an acoustic instrument and the breath and air of a vocal. Cymbals and drums cut through without having to use extreme EQ, it’s a great drum overhead or room mic. It has a gentle roll off at the extreme top end, a very natural sort of sound that gets a little darker the closer to 20k it gets. The other thing is, proximity effect is not so much an issue and you can mic vocals and instruments close with the Woodpecker and not suffer so much boom and flub. This also means the Woodpecker does have a smaller “size” to the sound, which is a reason many folks want ribbons. For this reason I say the Woodpecker is a specific reach since it does not sound traditional.   Conclusion: If you love condensers but hate the overly emphasized “tizzy” sound and sharp transient response, the Woodpecker is the absolute reach for you. If you love ribbons but wish they had a more detailed and present sound without the low end size, again the Woodpecker is made for you. One of the more unique sounds available for sure.