Samson

Samson C01 XLR Condenser Mic Review

Today we're not looking at another microphone from Samson, the C01.

For this review, I have the mic connected directly to the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2nd Gen), with the input gain set at approximately 12:00. I have done no post processing on the audio, it is all raw, but the audio was slightly boosted in final cut pro X to simply make the audio easier to listen to.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back around $75 on Amazon

What's In the Box

  1. Plastic Storage Box

  2. Microphone

  3. Microphone Mount

  4. 5/8" to 3/8" Stand Adapter

  5. Documentation

Specifications

  1. Frequency Response: 40Hz - 18kHz

  2. Polar Pattern: Hyper Cardioid

  3. Sensitivity: ~ -33dB

  4. Impedance: 200-ohms

  5. Max SPL: 136dB

Performance / Features

The build quality of this microphone is perfectly fine given the price. It has an all metal body as well as a sturdy metal mesh grill, and a good amount of weight to it coming in at 1.1 lb. On the front of the microphone you'll find a blue LED light that lights up when phantom power on your interface is turned on and on the bottom you'll find the XLR port. 

The frequency response is listed as 40Hz - 18kHz. The bass frequencies begin to roll off at 150Hz but peak again at around 95Hz before rolling off the remainder of the low frequencies. The mids and presence fluctuate quite a bit with a minor boost around 600-700hz, a peak at around 1.7kHz, 2.7kHz, and 5.5kHz, with a broad boost from 6Khz to 12kHz. 

The polar pattern of this mic is Hyper-cardioid. This means that the front is sensitive and the rear of the mic has a small lobe of sensitivity with the dead spots around 112-degrees. 

The overall performance of this mic lacks. As far as a vocal mic it seems to lack significantly in the low frequencies, sounds a bit nasally, and has some minor sibilance issues as well. On the electric guitar, I had to put the mic right on top of the amp to get some low end in the guitar, but it did end up sounding fairly decent. The acoustic on the other hand sounded brittle in the high end. Something that was not listed on the specifications sheet was the self noise, and when I was testing the mic, it seemed like a fairly big downfall of this mic. Finally, the tone of the mic all around was somewhat harsh and become painful to listen to after lengthy listening sessions. 

Pros

  • Pretty good build quality

  • Comes with a storage box

Cons

  • Subpar performance with self noise

  • Lacks in the low end

  • Sibilance issues

  • Harsh tone that became painful after long listening sessions

C01Freq

Conclusion

I was somewhat let down by this microphone. I have really enjoyed the majority of Samson mics on the market, but this one didn't meet my expectations. The frequency response left a lot to be desired in that it left the voice and guitar sounding thin and harsh. The self noise also makes this unusable for professional applications as well.

Due to how competitive the mic market is, I don't think I can recommend this mic. There are too many mics in this price range for me to recommend a mic that doesn't perform amazingly.

If you have any additional questions about this microphone, leave them on the youtube video, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Buy the Samson C01
US: https://amzn.to/2JgDkHs
UK: https://amzn.to/2EdQZvt
CA: https://amzn.to/2pZmnJ5
DE: https://amzn.to/2pZZPZu

Buy the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2nd Gen)
US: http://amzn.to/2vDFbzK 
UK: http://amzn.to/2w8O2f6 
CA: http://amzn.to/2wKGKfG 
DE: http://amzn.to/2hbtxsV

Samson Q7 Dynamic Mic Review / Test

Today I'm talking about a dynamic XLR microphone by Samson; the Samson Q7 Dynamic Microphone.

This is an entry level dynamic microphone that has an insanely high Max SPL of 150dB. This leads me to believe that this would work great in a live situation.

For this video, I am connecting the mic to my computer using the Focusrite Scarlett Solo with my gain set at approximately 75%

If you are interested in this microphone kit, it will set you back $50 on Amazon

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone

  2. Mic Mount

  3. 5/8" to 3/8" Mic Stand Adapter

  4. Hardshell Carrying Case

  5. Documentation

Specifications

  1. Frequency Response: 50Hz - 18kHz

  2. Polar Pattern: Super Cardioid

  3. Sensitivity: -57dB

  4. Max SPL: 150dB

  5. Impedance: 200-Ohms

Performance / Features

This mic has no frills or special features. No lights. No switches. Nothing. As far as the build quality, the construction is all metal and it feels incredibly sturdy and well put together. It also has some really nice weight to it. It feels like this mic would be able to handle the wear and tear of live use. 

The frequency response of this mic is pretty standard for a dynamic microphone, ranging from 50Hz - 18kHz. However, the sound signature is not my favorite of the dynamic mics I've tested. While listening to the acoustic it sounds like it lacks some high-mids while sounding a bit boomy in the low-mids. All in all, not my favorite EQ from a Samson microphone.

The polar pattern of the mic is Super Cardioid, which means it is extremely focussed. As you can tell during the tests, as soon as I move a little bit off axis the audio drops significantly. That is why I think this microphone would be an excellent decision for live performances as well as those who are concerned with excessive background noise.

Pros

  • Great build quality

  • Hardshell Carrying Case

  • Extremely directional (superb noise rejection)

  • Relatively cheap

Cons

  • Quiet output

  • Not the best EQ tuning

Conclusion

I think this microphone is nothing more than a middle of the road dynamic microphone. It's not a mic I anticipate using for anything in the future, but I won't go so far as to not recommend it. 

If you are looking for a relatively cheap microphone for live performances, I think that this would be a great option since it has excellent noise rejection as soon as you get off axis. This means it would work well if you are playing with a full band, as your vocal mic would ignore quite a bit of the guitar amp/drums/etc.

Another use case I think this microphone would be fine for would be let's plays. Once again, the mic does great with noise rejection so you will not pick up as much of your keyboards noise as you would with a regular cardioid condenser mic.

Other than that, I think that you can find a better option within the same price range. 

If you have any additional questions about this microphone, leave them on the youtube video, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Buy the Samson Q7
US: http://amzn.to/2hIam7G
UK: http://amzn.to/2i0AmsG

Buy the Focusrite Scarlett Solo
US: http://amzn.to/2iFxsKW
UK: http://amzn.to/2i0CrVE

Buy the XLR to USB Cable
US: http://amzn.to/2hIjivn
UK:http://amzn.to/2hIrQ5B

 

Samson Go Mic Direct Review / Test

I have reviewed almost every single Samson USB microphone. This is one of the last ones I needed to catch them all. Today I'm reviewing the Samson Go Mic Direct.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $40 on Amazon

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Carrying Case
  3. Documentation
  4. Download Card for Samson Sound Deck

Specifications

  1. Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
  2. Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
  3. Bit Depth: 16-bit
  4. Sampling Rate: 44.1/48kHz

Performance / Features

The build quality of this mic is decent. The case surrounding the mic is plastic while the actual microphone capsule is made of metal. On both sides of the microphone, there is an LED light to indicate that the microphone is plugged in and getting power. These lights also will change to red if your signal is clipping. Lastly, on the bottom of the microphone there is a slider to withdraw the USB port for storage.

The frequency response of this mic is sufficient and yields a natural, unprocessed sound. The omni-directional polar pattern is essential for the microphone since you need to keep it plugged into your USB port, but at the same time this causes all keyboard noise to be picked up. Also, due to the required placement of the microphone, you will likely be around 1-foot away from the capsule, which will do no favors for your audio quality. The noise floor is also acceptable, where we did not start to hear any excessive noise until we set our gain above 50%.

Pros

  • Portable
  • Low noise floor
  • Decent audio quality

Cons

  • Picks up a lot background noise
  • Must remain plugged directly into USB port

Conclusion

Although this is a decent microphone that is very portable, I cannot recommend it. The requirement that you leave it plugged directly into a USB port, mixed with the lack of any alternate mounting options, means you will have to deal with excessive keyboard noise. If you are looking for a portable USB mic, I would recommend looking into the regular Samson Go Mic.

If you have any additional questions about this microphone, leave them on the youtube video, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Buy the Samson Go Mic Direct
US: http://amzn.to/2hsKmP3
UK: http://amzn.to/2hBscq6

Buy the Samson Go Mic
US: http://amzn.to/2hjjvV4
UK: http://amzn.to/2hjjzEi

 

Samson G Track

Today I'm covering a unique item from one of my favorite microphone companies; The Samson G Track GMU1 USB Condenser Microphone.

The aspect of this microphone that sets it apart from other usb microphones lies in the fact that it functions as a USB microphone as well as a USB interface for your guitar/bass etc. 

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $85 on Amazon

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Mic Mount
  3. 5/8" to 3/8" Mic Stand Adapter
  4. USB Cable
  5. 3.5mm to RCA Cable
  6. (2) RCA to 1/4" Adapters
  7. 3.5mm to 1/4" Cable
  8. 3.5mm to 1/4" headphone cable
  9. Documentation

Specifications

  1. Frequency Response: 20Hz - 16kHz
  2. Polar Pattern: Super Cardioid
  3. Sensitivity: -40dB
  4. SPL: 132 dB
  5. Recording Quality: 16 bit / 48kHz

Performance / Features

The build quality of this microphone is pretty good. It is an all metal construction and it has some nice weight to it. After removing it from the microphone mount a few times, it does feel like the internals were a little bit loose, so I would be careful with this microphone.

On the bottom of the microphone you have three I/O ports. The first is a 3.5mm input, which is designed for guitar input, or rca input, which is why they provided cables in the box. The second is a 3.5mm headphone output. The last port is the USB port to connect the microphone to your computer.

On the front of the microphone there are two switches. The first switch is the Input selector which allows you to switch between "Mono instrument / mono mic" and "stereo instrument". If you're recording the microphone at all, you will need to utilize the mono instrument/mono mic setting. If you're recording using the stereo RCA cable, you'll need to utilize the "stereo instrument" setting.

Beneath these switches you have three dials. The first dial is the headphone volume control which is self explanatory. The second is the instrument volume, which will increase/decrease the 3.5mm instrument input gain. The last dial is the microphone gain control which will obviously increase/decrease the microphones gain.

As far as the performance of the microphone, it was nothing to write home about. The voice, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar all sounded like they lacked life. They simply sounded boring and flat. I'm sure that this could be partially remedied by some slight EQ & Compression, but it still won't sound amazing. 

Pros

  • Sounds decent
  • Functions as an interface/microphone
  • Relatively cheap for what you're getting

Cons

  • Audio sounds flat/dull
  • Excessively noisy preamp at 60% gain

Conclusion

This is a pretty cool device, however I don't think it will work for everyone. If you're looking to podcast or do voice overs, I don't think that this mic is designed well for you. There are too many options, it doesn't sound that great, and it picks up a bit of background noise from the keyboard.

If you're looking for studio quality audio, once again I don't recommend this mic. It simply does not provide good enough sound quality. The audio just sounded dull, and like you're not in the room with musician.

If you're looking to demo some music out or do some basic guitar covers/singing covers for youtube, I think that this is a perfect mic to test the waters and see how you like it. It's cheap and provides you all the necessary tools to connect your electric guitar while singing and will allow you the opportunity to see if you like making the videos. If you do, then you can consider upgrading to a higher quality interface and microphone.

If you have any additional questions about this microphone, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Buy it Amazon
US: http://amzn.to/2cnGaMt
UK: http://amzn.to/2cWb5C9

Behringer C1u vs Samson C01u Pro Comparison (Versus Series)

Samson C01u Pro

  • Price: $90.00
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
  • Resolution: 48kHz

Behringer C1u

  • Price: $60.00
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 40Hz - 16kHz

Today I compared two USB microphones to determine which performs better and which one you should. Those two mics are the Samson C01u Pro and the Behringer C1u.

First thing I noticed when comparing the mics is the internal interfaces. The Samson c01u provides much better volume, and a cleaner preamp. Also, I was able to set my microphone input MUCH lower (17% vs ~75%) on the Samson, which means I can have more control over the sound, and also, by keeping the gain lower, I avoid hiss generated from the internal preamps.

When we got to music test, it was once again apparent that the Samson outperformed the Behringer. The acoustic, vocals, and electric all sounded more natural with better presence and clarity. On top of this, the Samson did better with noise cancellation abd also has a headphone port for latency free monitoring.

In every situation, the Samson C01u outperformed the Behringer which led me to crown it this episodes victor. It is $30 more, but it is definitely worth the extra money.

Buy the Samson C01u Pro
US: http://amzn.to/1VbV5um
UK: http://amzn.to/1YBQ6kD

Buy the Behringer C1u
US: http://amzn.to/1So4fTS
UK: http://amzn.to/1Sfrjir

Samson C03U Multi-Pattern USB Mic Review / Test

Today I am testing out another Multi-Pattern USB Mic. Today I am testing out the Samson C03u Multi-Pattern USB Microphone.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $90 on Amazon

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. USB Cable
  3. Microphone Stand Mount
  4. 5/8" to 3/8" Mic Stand Adapter
  5. Microphone Stand
  6. Carrying Pouch
  7. Cakewalk Sonar LE
  8. Documentation 
  9. 1-Year Warranty

Performance / Features

The build quality is pretty good. It has an all metal body and a metal grill, and it has some nice weight to it. The USB Cable is just your standard rubber USB cable, so nothing special there. The mic mount is cheap plastic, which doesn't seem too well built, so I doubt it will last as long as the mic. The stand feels decent, but provides no shock absorption, so your microphone will pick up every bump of the desk. Lastly, the pouch will provide 0 protection of the microphone, except from dust.

The front of the microphone has a light to indicate that it is getting power, a switch that activates a low cut EQ, which rolls of the low end of the frequency response to help with rumble or overly boomy sounds, and lastly a -10dB pad to help if the sound source you're recording is causing clipping.

On the back there is a single 3-way switch that allows you to switch between all three polar patterns:

  1. Bi-directional: picks up audio in front, and behind the microphone, which would be good for an interview situation.
  2. Hyper/Super-Cardioid: picks up audio in front of the microphone. Good for podcasting, solo vocals, etc.
  3. Omni-directional: picks up audio all the way around the microphone. Good for meetings.

This microphone has a 18mm condenser microphone capsule and provides a frequency response of 20Hz - 18kHz. It provided a decent sound in every situation we put it through; vocals, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar. There weren't any frequencies that stuck out as harsh, and it didn't sound like any freq's were missing. 

Every polar pattern on this microphone actually sounded pretty nice. There were some minor differences in frequency response as we moved between the different polar patterns, but they all sounded good. The bi-directional and omni settings both picked up a bit of background noise, but that's to be expected with polar patterns that large. On the other hand, the cardioid setting eliminated background noise very well.

Pros

  • Good sound
  • Omni-directional setting sounds good
  • 3 Polar Patterns
  • Plug & Play

Con

  • Kind of noisy
  • Difficult to trouble shoot (because it's a USB mic)

Conclusion

This is one of the few multi-pattern microphones that I have encountered that has a useable omni-directional setting, which is awesome. Honestly, the tone and sound on every polar pattern sounds very good. BUT, it is pretty noisy. Once you set your gain to 50% there is quite a bit of hiss and hum being generated. This is not a problem if you will be speaking into the mic from a few inches away, but if you plan on speaking from a distance, you will have to turn up your gain and you will have to deal with some nasty noise. If background hiss is an issue you're worried about, this may not be a microphone for you.

I think that you should only buy this microphone if you desperately need/want 3 different polar patterns in your microphone. If you will only be using one of these settings, invest in a single polar pattern mic that will perform better than this. But if you are looking for a multi-pattern mic for relatively cheap, this is a good entry level option.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Buy it on Amazon (US): http://amzn.to/25ENGHa
Buy it on Amazon (UK): http://amzn.to/1oAn4oV

Samson Meteorite USB Microphone Review / Test

Today I am testing out another rather cheap USB microphone. The Samson Meteorite.

If you are interested in this microphone, it will set you back $40 on Amazon.

What's In the Box

  1. Microphone
  2. Microphone Stand
  3. Documentation 

Performance / Features

The build quality of this microphone is nothing special. It is an all plastic body and the permanently attached cable feels like it was pulled of a cheap iPhone charger. The microphone stand (if you can even call it that) is a plastic base with an indentation to place the microphone in. It has a magnet to help secure the microphone and it also allows you to tilt the microphone to place it in the best position.

There is also a light on the front of the microphone. It glows blue to indicate that it is plugged in and receiving power and it blinks red if the signal gets to loud and begins to clip. 

The frequency response of this mic is 20Hz - 20kHz, but you wouldn't be able to tell. The 14mm capsule seems to create a very tinny and small sound. It is not conducive to recording any instruments. 

The polar pattern is listed as cardioid so it should have done fairly well with noise cancellation. However, when testing it against the keyboard, it picked up a LOT of noise. This issue could have been resolved by adding a microphone stand adapter to the mic, allowing you to get the microphone off your desk, but as this is not an option, it did HORRIBLY at avoiding background noise. 

Pros

  • Portable
  • LED Indicator for Clipping

Cons

  • Thin sound
  • Picks up lots of background noise
  • Poor build quality
  • No mic stand mount

Conclusion

I cannot recommend this microphone. It is a bit too expensive for what it is. It does not allow for decent placement, it picks up lots of background noise, and the build quality is not good. If you were considering this microphone which costs $40, I would recommend saving another $10, and picking up the Samson Meteor, which is all around a MUCH better microphone.

If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP. 

Samson Meteorite: http://amzn.to/1YO5wmt
Samson Meteor: http://amzn.to/1P708Dv

Samson C01U Pro USB Condenser Mic Review / Test

Today I tested out another USB Microphone. The difference between this microphone and all other USB mics, I have tested out so far? I don't hate this one. The mic I'm talking about is the Samson C01U Pro Usb Condenser Mic, and it can be purchased on amazon for about $75.

What's In the Box

You get almost everything you need to get started in this box. 

  1. Super Cardioid USB Condenser Microphone
  2. Plastic Microphone Mount
  3. 5/8" to 3/8" Mic Stand Adapter
  4. Plastic Desktop Tripod
  5. USB Cable
  6. User Manual

I also want to let you know that this is the most well put together package I have received. The manual that comes with it is thorough and comes in more than English & Chinese, and the specifications inside are easy to understand and thorough. 

Performance / Features

The frequency response of this microphone is 20Hz to 18kHz. We lose a little bit of the presence/brilliance in the 19 and 20 kHz range, but in this price range, that is to be expected. The rest of the frequencies sound great, and well balanced. 

The polar pattern is Super Cardioid which means it records the majority of the audio from directly in front of the microphone, but it also picks up a small amount from the opposite side as well. The back of the microphone, has a significantly different frequency response where we see the majority of frequencies between 2kHz - 15kHz. Therefore, you cannot have multiple people talking into both sides. 

Due to the super cardioid pattern of the microphone, the noise cancelation on this microphone is superb. When I do my typing/clicking test, you can hardly hear anything. Also, as I get farther away from the microphone, my voice drops significantly. This is excellent if you will be in a noisy room, or are worried about excess background noise. If you are still unhappy with the noise cancellation, there is a card in the user manual that provides a link to download additional noise canceling software. 

All the instruments, sounded perfectly fine being recorded through this microphone. With better instruments, newer strings, better performances, and better microphone placement, I am positive that you would be able to get a much better sound. 

Pros

  • Great Noise Cancellation
  • 0-Latency Headphone Port on Microphone
  • Nice Sound Quality
  • Wide Frequency Response
  • Sturdy Build Quality

Cons

  • No Gain Control on Microphone
  • USB Microphone (Limits Ability to Upgrade)

Conclusion

I don't want to speak before I test out some more USB microphones, but this mic may be the turning point in my opinion of USB microphones. This thing is great. I struggled to come up with any cons for this microphone in this price range. It performed well in most situations, recording music, recording voice, noise cancellation.

In conclusion, this would be a great mic for gamers, or solo podcasters. It will set you back approximately $75, and with the neewer boom arm, and dragon pad pop filter, your cost will be around $100. Not a bad cost for audio quality of this level. If you have any questions about the microphone, leave them in the comments down below or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks for watching & reading. 

Samson C01U: http://amzn.to/1OIU1dC
Microphone Boom Arm: http://amzn.to/1OIU5da
Nylon Pop Filter: http://amzn.to/1NcwUDz

Samson Meteor USB Mic Review / Test

Today I tested out my most requested mic to date, the Samson Meteor USB Microphone.  This mic can cost from $50-$70 on amazon depending on the finish you get. I went with chrome because cosmetics don't matter and it was the cheapest. Now let's look more at this device.

What's In the Box

The packaging is nice, unlike most microphones I get, so it already stands out. The contents are very straight forward. You get the Microphone, USB Cable, Users Manual, and Carrying Pouch (I forgot to mention this in the video).

 

Performance / Features

The construction of this thing is awesome. All metal. Hefty. Sturdy feeling. I love it. There are two ports on this mic, the USB port (to hook up the mic to your computer), and a headphone jack (to plug in headphones, for 0 latency monitoring and computer playback).

On the front of the microphone there is a knob which controls the headphone volume. In the center of that is a button that can be used to mute the microphone. This would be useful if you are using this microphone for live streaming a game, or chatting on skype.

 

Pros

  • Sturdy Construction & Portable
  • Good Sound Quality
  • Headphone Jack on Microphone
  • Built in Stand / Compatible with Microphone Stand

Cons

  • No microphone gain control on microphone
  • Does not isolate sound that well
  • It's a USB Microphone (i.e. cannot use with different preamps to get different tones / or run through mixer to process sound prior to being recorded).

Conclusion

Overall, I think this is a pretty good little microphone. The samson line of mics seems to be created for portability and durability and the two that I have tested out so far (Samson GO & Samson Meteor) excel in those two categories. The sound on both of them is slightly lacking and won't provide the highest quality audio, but for a podcast, meeting, or class, this microphone will work great. If you are interested, I have included a link to the microphone down below.

If you have any questions about the microphone, leave them in the comments down below or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks for watching & reading. 

Buy it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/20Iu7LR