Blue Microphones Kiwi

I've been playing guitar and bass, singing, and songwriting for 21 years. I started recording in 1990 on a 4 track portastudio and have been recording using some form of DAW or another since 1995. I am currently recording using Cubase SX 2 by way of a Lynx Two A. I monitor through Mackie HR824s.

The Kiwi is a solid state condenser mic with 9 selectable polar patterns ranging from omni through cardioid through figure 8. The mic is fairly large at just over 11 inches and comes with a spider-type elastic shockmount and a very nice cherry wood box. As with all BLUE mics, the manual is excellent and gives many good tips for recording different sources.

I am using the mic primarily for my own vocals. I am a male and generally sing in the higher end of my range, from the G or F below middle C to the E above tenor high C in full voice. Styles range from classic rock to soft rock to alternative to R and B; no rap, hip hop or metal. I don't sing country, but I would imagine that this mic would be great in that application.

There are not too many mics (high end multipattern solid state) in direct competition with the Kiwi in its price range. The Neumann U87ai comes to mind as well as the AKG C-414B TL II, although the latter is about half the price. I also considered the Soundelux U-195 and ifet7 which are not multipattern. If the KIwi did not exist, it probably would have been the U87ai or the ifet7.

The capsule used in the Kiwi is a multipattern version of BLUE's B6 capsule which comes standard on BLUE's flagship tube mic, the Bottle. This capsule has been compared to the capsule used in the AKG C12, a highly sought after 9 pattern vintage tube mic. While it is a bit of a stretch comparing a solid state mic to a tube mic, I suppose that one could also list AKG's C12 reissue as a possible competitor, but at over $4,000 it was way beyond my budget.


I was already the happy owner of several BLUE mics, nameley the Blueberry, the Dragonfly, and the Baby Bottle and my satisfaction with the sounds and impeccable craftsmanship of my BLUEs played a big role in my decision to purchase the Kiwi. Almost unanimously favorable reviews on forums and in magazines helped, as did the fact that BLUE was offering a rebate of $200 plus $250 worth of free accessories at the time. The price I listed above was before the rebate.

I have no regrets about buying this mic. I am sure that better sounding mics exist out there, but how much better? I cannot immagine a better sound for my voice and applications. With every mic I have tried before there was something missing or something that I wanted to change or EQ. Not so with the Kiwi.

I have two pres, a Focusrite ISA 430 mkII and an Avalon Vt-737sp. I use a BLUE Kiwi cable. It sounds good with the Avalon, but fantastic with the ISA, so all of my descriptions apply to that pairing. As with all BLUE mics, the proximity effect is subtle, even at close distances. Vocals are very solid and smooth sounding and it adds a nice weightiness, punch, and sense of power without being dark or boomy, even at close distances under 2 inches. It is also very detailed and present, almost in a larger than life kind of way, but not at all grating or harsh like so many of the cheap mics can be. Unlike the Blueberry, it has a more natural top end with a nice but not exaggerated airiness.

I know that the point of a review is to be critical, but aside from the cost (which is very reasonable considering the sound and build quality), there is nothing negative I can say. I suppose that the large size might make squeezing it into tight spaces difficult, but I have not encountered that problem. At least with my voice, this mic has exceeded all of my expectations.