The Raspberry is attached to its folding stand so you don't have to worry about extra piece. That stand provides some extra protection when the gadget is packed away. It also helps minimize any desktop vibrations that can cause problems when you're trying to record. In addition to the USB port, there's a headphone jack for monitoring audio as well as a volume knob on the side. There's also a handy gain control on the opposite side to adjust input level. That gain knob actually doubles as a mute button: Push it in to save yourself the trouble of editing out a cough later.

Inside, Internal Acoustic Diffuser (IAD) technology focuses on a voice or instrument and reduces any background noise. Blue says this feature makes the Raspberry well-suited for a range of environments and that it works well up close to a speaker's face or positioned in the center of a table. In terms of design, this mic carries Blue's trademark retro design touches. The aesthetic is just enough so that it's not overdone with a mix of aluminum and soft leather. This is also the smallest combination iOS and USB mic Blue has made in the last few years. The Spark Digital was quite compact, but it required a detachable stand. Even with the stand built on, the Raspberry is considerably smaller.

Blue's Raspberry will work with any recording app and thanks to Lightning and USB cables included in the box, you should have no trouble getting started quickly. The compact microphone is available now for $200 from Amazon, Best Buy, B&H and other retailers where Blue's products are sold.