Review of Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition

Without a doubt, the most well-liked USB microphone available is Blue's Yeti. Blue's exceptional microphone has been used for years by podcasters, streamers, YouTubers, and even ordinary folks who aren't into content production, so it was expected when Blue and Logitech announced an improved version of the Yeti last year. The superb Blue VO!CE software supports the Yeti X's additional mic capsule, increased bit-depth, and sleeker appearance. It costs $40 more than the standard Blue Yeti ($170 as opposed to $130), but its higher price is more than justified.

After a year, Blue and Blizzard Entertainment collaborated to launch the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition, which is now available for $200, with an extra $30 price increase. Do the premium Warcraft voice effects and samples make the increase for loyal consumers worth it? Not much, although it's possible that they aren't the kind of people who would spend an additional $30 on the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition. This is a microphone for World of Warcraft superfans and content makers, and the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition will definitely catch their eye if they don't mind spending a bit more on their gear.

With a few modifications, the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition is identical to the standard Yeti X microphone.

The Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition seems to be an identical replica of the standard Yeti X from the previous year. From the dynamic knob on the front to the mode-select button on the rear, the overall form and design are the same. The stand still works in the same way, there are four capture capsules left instead of the three in the original Yeti, and so on. To put it simply, the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition is essentially the same superb microphone that Blue and Logitech debuted the previous year, albeit with some minor physical and digital upgrades.

Prospective buyers will notice the somewhat different look of the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition initially. The Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition has a matte "Battle Grey" casing with golden accents as opposed to a glossy black case with silver highlights. Although it seems gaudy, the execution is really quite clever. A little but welcomed benefit of the matte texture is that you're less likely to smear your fingerprints all over the microphone when you adjust it.

The dynamic 11-segment LED meter on the gain knob has undergone a little makeover, while the gain and mode-select buttons remain plastic. The World of Warcraft Edition has runes in place of the regular spherical LEDs on the Yeti X. The World of Warcraft Edition's distinct flair is further highlighted by its subtle standout, which doesn't detract from the microphone's elegant finish.

The base of the stand that comes with the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition is inscribed with these identical runes. The stand has the same design as the regular Yeti Xs, but it has the same gold accents and "Battle Grey" finish as the microphone. Because the etched runes are a softer gold, the remainder of the design may more subtly include them. Lastly, the microphone's rear, just behind the selection knob, has the World of Warcraft emblem.

The More gaudy design language that other comparable sponsored items tend to misuse is avoided by the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition microphone. While it does stand out, the overall design is still polished and visually pleasing. Though the extra $30 may not be enough to convince loyal Yeti X buyers, World of Warcraft enthusiasts and content producers will love the microphone's clear, sharp appearance.

There's more to this than just the microphone since it's a Yeti X. Right out of the box, Blue's VO!CE software is compatible with all of the default settings for the regular Yeti X. To be honest, the true reason the Yeti X costs more than the standard Yeti is because of this program. To the untrained ear, the Yeti X and Yeti don't sound all that different when no filters or effects are applied. Results from my last company, Blue Spark Digital, were comparable. However, when Blue VO!CE is added, the Yeti X's range of tools allows it to provide better results.

With Blue VO!CE, you can adjust your compression and EQ, configure noise-gates and noise reduction, and much more, which eliminates a large portion of your post-production labor whether you record for YouTube or podcasts. Even simple Discord chats benefit from what you configure in the program as it syncs with all of your apps. If you include a good number of presets and the variety of user-generated custom settings from the community, you may not need to adjust each option separately. However, if you'd rather do the work, the app has a useful record and listen feature that lets you create an original 30-second clip that you can preview while adjusting the parameters to your preference.

Aside from standard speech effects, there are a few other options: pre-baked audio samples, illumination modifications for the dynamic LEDs around and within the volume knob, and voice modulation. The special features of the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition are located here, and they're a little inconsistent. A wide range of audio samples and a few voice modulation effects inspired by some of the most recognizable races and monsters in Warcraft are available to owners of the World of Warcraft Edition. To fully use these possibilities, you will need a mouse or keyboard that is compatible with the Logitech G Hub, but that shouldn't come as a huge surprise (Logitech wants you to own further Logitech products? How embarrassing!).

To put it bluntly, the voice modulation is... alright. While the Yeti X's standard modulation effects are entertaining, none of them really stand out. The effects in World of Warcraft are comparable, albeit rather coarser in places. Every choice has a harsh, mechanical quality to it, and some of them—the Worgan and the demon, for example—sound quite similar. While video makers and broadcasters will undoubtedly like using them, I don't think they're worth the additional $30 on their own.

Although the HD audio samples are superior, they are mostly useless outside of very specific contexts, much like voice modulation. But isn't that kind of the entire purpose here? Streamers and YouTubers are the main users of Yetis since they gain more than the typical user from high-quality audio samples and even voice modification. It's quite obvious who the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition microphone was made for, what with the added features in Blue VO!CE and the Warcraft-inspired design.

The Decision.

This is a platform for World of Warcraft enthusiasts and content producers. This is a microphone designed just for World of Warcraft enthusiasts, regardless of whether they were there when the gates of Ahn'Qiraj opened more than ten years ago or when Sylvanias retreated into the Shadowlands this past year. Who else would pay an additional thirty dollars for the greatest USB microphone available in a World of Warcraft shell?

Blue and Blizzard have really outdone themselves with Yeti X: World of Warcraft in this area. Any Warcraft fan's workstation will look fine with its simple, assured design, and any WoW content creator's toolkit will appreciate the special voice effects and audio samples. There isn't anything that comes with the Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition that would make the price difference over a standard Yeti X worthwhile if you're simply looking for a regular user. Again, however, that's because you're not meant to use this microphone. The Yeti X: World of Warcraft Edition is the ideal addition to any player's preferred game for World of Warcraft lovers on the lookout for an exceptional microphone and more spending power.