In terms of visual design, I’m a big fan of the Bumblebee II. It looks cool, it’s compact, and aside from the big knob, there’s just one button. But in practical terms, this is an awkward microphone with a bit of a learning curve, which is pretty disappointing (especially for a mic that sounds this good).

While I’m glad that Neat Microphones includes a desktop stand with the Bumblebee II, it’s a pretty useless addition. This microphone has a front-facing capsule, meaning that you need to speak into the front of this mic (where the big knob is) to get a clear recording. So, unless you stack this thing on a bunch of books, you need to lean it back and crank the gain, which isn’t ideal.

The desktop stand also interferes with the Bumblebee II’s USB and headphone jacks. It’s hard to plug something into this microphone when it’s on the included stand, and if you use a thick or angled headphone cable, it will get pinched!

Clearly, Neat Microphones expects its customers to use a boom arm or mic stand with the Bumblebee II. The good news is that this mic is pretty lightweight, so a cheap boom arm will suffice. (But I’d appreciate a better desktop stand, as I don’t like to have full-sized boom arms or mic stands hovering over my desk.)

But the stand isn’t the only problem. While the Bumblebee II’s controls look very simple and straightforward, the big knob is actually a multi-function control. It can adjust gain, playback volume, and your direct-to-headphones mix. These settings are accessed by pressing the knob, and the selected setting is indicated by a color-changing backlight.

I should also note that this mic doesn’t have a built-in pop filter. But if you use proper mic technique, you don’t need to worry too much about plosives. Basically, don’t speak directly into the mic; point it toward your mouth at an angle. If you need to get loud, add some distance between yourself and the microphone. (To my surprise, Neat Microphone explains this kinda stuff in its manual. If you’re unfamiliar with microphone etiquette and buy the Bumblebee II, keep the manual!)

Bear in mind that microphones are never one-size-fits-all. Every now and then, you’ll come across something that sounds terrible with your voice (or your room). For this reason, I suggest that you don’t throw away any of the packaging when you buy a mic, as you may end up returning it.

One thing that impresses me about the Bumblebee II is its versatility. It’s a good-sounding and affordable microphone, it captures 24-bit audio at 96kHz, and it boasts of maximum SPL of 128 dB, which means that you can get very loud before the audio starts to distort.

These specs are great for podcasts, livestreams, or video calls. But they’re also good for amateur music recording. If you want to record music at home but don’t have the cash for an audio interface (which is required for XLR microphones), this is a good option. It’s lightweight, so you can use it with a cheap microphone stand. It has an audio monitor built-in, so you can plug in a pair of headphones without any extra fuss. And while it feels a bit cheap, the Bumblebee II is small and tough enough to toss in a bag.

That said, some situations may call for a different microphone. If you need to record a two-person podcast or interview with a single mic, for example, the Bumblebee II isn’t a great option. You’d have to sit next to whoever you’re talking to, as the Bumblebee II is not omnidirectional.

And as I mentioned earlier, this is a condenser microphone, so it’s a bit sensitive to background noise. You can skirt around the problem a bit by taking advantage of the mic’s off-axis rejection and low noise floor—that’s why microphone technique is so important. But if you’re in an especially noisy room and hope to record high-quality audio, you may want to look into a dynamic microphone instead.

The Bumblebee II is easy to recommend. It’s just a great and affordable product, minus a few quirks that Neat Microphones will hopefully address in a third-generation product. If you need to record podcasts or music, make video calls, or livestream with a USB mic, Bumblebee II is clearly one of your best options.