Blue Yeti Mic Not Picking Up Sound? (Easy Steps to Fix)

Is the Blue Yeti mic not picking up sound? We’ve discovered a highly effective resolution!

Like on most studio microphones, you can regulate the Blue Yeti’s “detection” sensitivity using the Gain knob on the front faceplate.

So, if most simple solutions did not have any effect on the Blue Yeti’s audio detection, delve into the comprehensive guide to uncover the expert methods.

Here’s what can help with Blue Yeti’s hearing issue:

If the Blue Yeti is not picking up sound, verify it is properly connected to the PC/laptop, adjust the polar pattern, and turn up the “Gain” knob.

If the fault is still there, configure the USB power settings and factory reset your Blue Yeti.

Keep reading for a full review of the solutions!

Why is My Blue Yeti Mic Not Picking Up Sound?

Here’s why the Blue Yeti is not picking up any sound:

Those are the possible causes that can impact the Blue Yeti’s ability to pick up your voice or any of the surrounding noises.

Hence, proceed with the guide to solve the issue in under 5 minutes. 

Blue Yeti Mic Not Picking Up Sound – Tested & Working Fixes!

Note: Before we proceed, ensure the mic is not muted through a program or application you’re speaking through. If the mic is muted, the LED ring light around the “Mute” button will pulsate.

1. Turn the Blue Yeti’s Gain Knob

The first step is to increase the microphone’s pickup sensitivity using the integrated gain knob on the faceplate of the Blue Yeti.

Well, the gain knob is found right above the polar pattern knob and can be turned to the left or right, based on whether you want to turn up the gain or reduce it.

How Does Blue Yeti’s “Gain” Work?

The main feature of a microphone refers to the amplification of the input voice, allowing the user to control how loud or soft the recorded audio will be.

• If the gain is too low, your input voice may sound weak, distorted, or even lack presence.

Turning the gain knob more to the right boosts the amount of audio the microphone takes in, while turning it to the right, decreases the sensitivity.

You should note that too much gain is not recommended either, as the microphone’s input may start sounding distorted or produce static.

Tip: It is recommended to keep Blue Yeti’s gain between 50% and 60% for optimal voice input.

2. Adjust Blue Yeti’s Polar Pattern

Selecting an incorrect polar pattern on your Blue Yeti that does not match your microphone’s positioning may prevent the device from picking up any sound at all. 

So, it’s essential to place the microphone’s stand according to the selected polar pattern to achieve the highest possible input quality. 

Here are the specifications of each polar pattern available with Blue Yeti:

• “CARDIOID” Mode – Picks up only at a 75° angle on the microphone’s front.
• “OMNI” Mode – Picks up high and clear audio at a 360° angle on all sides.
• “BIDIRECTIONAL” Mode – Picks up audio from the front and back of the Blue Yeti.
• “STEREO” Mode – Picks up audio from all sides, with a slightly reduced front angle.

How to Position Blue Yeti Properly?

The Blue Yeti must be positioned according to the selected polar pattern for optimal input and sound clearance.

The “CARDIOID” mode is an excellent choice for optimal use of the mic, as it picks up the highest quality from the front.

3. Reconnect the Blue Yeti to the PC

The Blue Yeti might be refusing to pick up sound because of an unstable USB connection to the computer.

The Yeti connects with a USB Mini-B and uses a standard type-A USB to plug into a compatible port on your computer or laptop.

Here’s how to reconnect the Blue Yeti from your PC in easy steps:

1. Unplug the Mini-B connector from the microphone’s back.
2. Disconnect the other end from the PC or laptop’s USB port.
3. Wait for about 40 seconds while the cable is disconnected.
4. Reconnect the Blue Yeti’s USB cord on both ends and test.

Bonus Tip: Plug to a Motherboard USB Port:

A solution specific to desktop computers is plugging the Blue Yeti into a priority motherboard USB, rather than a port on the outer chassis.

Outer USB ports can easily defect, short-circuit a connected device, or deliver an insufficient amount of electricity.

Note: The motherboard USB ports are on the back, and we recommend plugging the Blue Yeti mic into one of the 3.0 (blue ports).

4. Deactivate “USB Selective Suspend” (Windows)

If Blue Yeti is failing to detect audio while connected to your Windows PC or laptop, the next step is to ensure that “USB Selective Suspend” is not enabled.

This power-saving feature allows Windows to selectively suspend individual USB ports when not in use, to save power.

Here’s how to deactivate “USB Selective Suspend” on Windows:

1. Press the “Windows” + “X” keys on your computer’s keyboard.
2. Enter “Power Options” → “Change advanced power options.”
3. Expand “USB settings and USB selective suspend setting.”
4. Set the feature to “Disabled” and click “Apply” to save changes.

Note: The USB selective suspend is active on Windows by default!

5. Update the System’s Audio Drivers

The Blue Yeti could be failing to detect and pick up sound due to incompatible or outdated audio drivers.

To maintain the proper functionality of your input or output audio devices, it is advised to regularly check for newer audio driver updates.

Let’s start with updating the audio drivers on Windows first!

How to Update Audio Drivers On Windows OS?

1. Access the “Device Manager” on the Windows PC or laptop.
2. Next, extend the “Sound, video, game controllers” section.
3. Right-click the Windows sound card and enter “Properties.”
4. Click on the “Driver” menu at the top of the pop-up screen.
5. Next, select “Update Driver” to upload the latest audio driver.

How to Update Audio Drivers on macOS?

Tip: The latest audio drivers are automatically applied with the latest macOS version!

1. Click on the Apple menu at the top-left of the screen.
2. Navigate to “About this Mac” → “Software Update.”
3. Next, wait until the App Store launches on the device.
4. Click on the “Download” button to apply the update.
5. Wait until the MacBook or iMac downloads the version.

Notice: Your device may be prompted to restart shortly after applying the new update!

6. Test on a Different Output Device

A particular dependency or a system rule might be preventing Blue Yeti from picking up sound while connected over USB.

Hence, to determine if the fault is in your computer’s system or the microphone, you should test Blue Yeti on a different output device, after reconnecting the USB.

While there isn’t a strict testing preference, you should connect Blue Yeti to a Windows device, as there are many more customization options for USB devices.

If your audio problems with Blue Yeti continue, keep reading…

7. Reset Your Blue Yeti to Default

If the Blue Yeti microphone is still not picking up sound, you should perform a factory reset of the microphone’s system.

The sound detection sensor might have stopped working recently or the Blue Yeti’s drivers have not been integrated into your system properly, so a reset must help.

Here’s how to perform a factory reset on the Blue Yeti microphone:

1. Press the “Polar Mode” and “Power” button on the Blue Yeti.
2. Keep both buttons pressed and unplug the Yeti’s USB cable.
3. Wait for ~15 seconds and release both buttons of the device.
4. Reconnect the USB cable of the Blue Yeti into your PC’s port.
5. Press “Power” to start up the Blue Yeti and verify it isn’t muted.

Warning: All settings and audio configurations of the Blue Yeti will be erased after the reset!

Quick Recap

If the Blue Yeti mic not picking up sound, turn up your microphone’s Gain and adjust your device’s polar pattern.

If the issue persists, reconnect the microphone from the PC, adjust the USB power plan settings and factory reset the device.

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