Most of the products on display around the show floor were aimed at pro audio users: producers, recording techs, and the like. But I did see a few products--or hear about some upcoming ones--that will appeal to a more general audience:

Audio-Technica AT2020 USB microphone

-- : Already available, this internally shock-mounted microphone is the USB version of the company's popular AT2020 cardioid condenser mic, and is aimed at the podcast and amateur-recording markets. The AT2020 USB's MSRP is US$249, but can be found at street prices of around $150.

-- : Although Blue wasn't demonstrating any new products at the show, the company told me about three new products that are on the way--hopefully to be released in the next month or so. The first is new USB Webcam, the Eyeball, that mates a microphone similar to the one in Blue's portable with a 2-Megapixel, auto-focus camera. Like the Snowflake, the microphone collapses into the dual-purpose stand/case; the camera retracts into the body of the microphone. The second product is the Mikey, a dock-connector microphone for all recording-capable iPods. The directional mic features stereo recording, variable gain control, and overload protection. Finally, Blue will be releasing a USB microphone interface, the Icicle, that lets you connect XLR mics to your computer via USB. The Icicle provides 48V of phantom power for condenser microphones and includes automatic gain control.

Beyerdynamic DT-790 and DT-797 headsets