Samson C01 Large-Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Make no mistake, this microphone is not going to compare to a U47 or a 414, but, for the price, it gets five stars! First, the packaging is quiet secure. You get the microphone inside a hard case, inside a retail box, inside the Amazon box with expected package insulation materials. Next, the overall construction of the microphone is very sturdy. For the price, I was expecting a cheap plastic "toy" like feel and that's not what you get. This thing has some girth behind it and it's not something you'd want to smack the drummer with because it might actually hurt!I ordered this as a distant room/ambiance microphone and it's really good for that. You get clear sound, almost no noise and a very wide response range. I've also used it for a guitar and it sounds good and vocals are very clear. Although, if you are using it for vocals, use a 57 as well so you get the bottom end!That's the only drawback is that down in the real low end, say less than 200Hz, it gets just a little muddy. It still gets five stars because it's so good in other areas. I'd recommend using a 57 along with in. Yes, I know you could put an EQ on it and a bit of expander, but why not ingest the sound as cleanly as possible and do that much less post production on it later.As I said, it's not a U47, but, if you're the kind of recording place that really needs to limit the cost to a sub $200 microphone, then get one of these and a SM57 and you'll be glad you did!

I started out creating my first "bedroom studio" trying to stay wireless, so I initially purchased a microphone with a UHF connection. It worked, and would probably be great for karaoke, but I could hear the hum of RF interference both through my amp and my headphones. Really, that was pretty naive on my part because in trying to solve a mobility problem I ended up creating a noise problem. After all, I'm playing in my home office and backyard deck, not on stage pretending to be Mick Jagger. (BTW, the above also applies to the wireless connection I started with between my guitar and the amp).I then purchased this mic and, via the direct XLR connection, eliminated the background hum. I'm still experimenting where best to position it to capture both guitar and vocals, but it seems to handle them quite well at ~18", angled in from the top so that it picks sounds up at a more natural "campfire" distance. (That tip came from Graham Cochrane of RecordingRevolution.com). Since my intent was to hear clear sound through my headphones and amp, and because I also want to record music onto my computer, I'm considering this mic upgrade to be a great success.Just in case this info might also be helpful to folks creating a studio, the entire setup I'm using now includes:Samson C01 Large-Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone (wired)Fender Acoustasonic 15 amp (limited I/O, but more than fine for my current needs)Moukey 48V Phantom Power Supply (needed for the mic because one's not built-in on my amp)Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen Audio Interface (includes USB-C-->USB-A cable and several recording packages)Tascam Closed-Back Over-Ear Headphones (comfortable and clear)Penker 10 Foot,1/4" --> 1/4" Guitar CordAmazonBasics Tripod Boom Microphone Stand (which really should have a 4th leg on the base for stability)Kasonic Collapsible Music Stand w/LED light & Paper HolderTotal Cost (pre-tax) = $398

I just wanted to get a quick affordable Condenser Microphone until I could afford to really get something better. I decided to purchase this mic because it was in my price range at the moment. Also because it had some good reviews. I knew I could trust it because in the six years that I have been podcasting all of my mics are Samson. This Mic does not disappoint.The built is sturdy for the price. The sound quality is pretty good. I was really impressed. The sound is as clean and crisp as my Samson Q2u which is more money. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who needs a budget-friendly and cost-effective Microphone to get the job done. It definitely gets the job done at a Knock-out price.

Very nice sounding mic, especially for the price range. If you want to hear a sample recording I did on this mic, go to SoundCloud /ace-and-gary/huffnoseblues or /nojimmynocry. These are just record ings of me noodling around on guitar with the mic going straight to my Line 6 UX2 interface. Mic was about 4 inches from my amp, which is a blues jr. I also recorded acoustic and it sounds great, tho you do need to be fairly close. This mic isn't what you'd use to capture a whole room. In fact I had it pointed at my amp, worth bass amp blaring right next to it, and on the recording you can't really even hear the bass line. It cancels side noise like crazy. Haven't done much with vocals cause i can't sing. But suffice it to say, this is a solid mic and well worth the price.

Very sturdy and solid build. My clumsy butt has already bumped and dropped it a few times and nothing has been shaken out of place or out of whack. Its a great microphone for beginners. The sound range makes it super easy to put a noise gate on it and block out background air noise while still capturing breaths on vocals. Capturing rich vocal sounds this mic does wonders. Only issue I have is finding mic stands suitable for this Mic. The spider stand is expensive when bought separate, I would reccomend buying as a bundle. Any other boom stands are proving difficult to find for this mic. The mic alone is great, 10/10 would reccomend.

I've owned a variety of mics over the years and this is by far the best one for the price. As a former DJ and current twitch streamer I rely on it to provide the same professional quality sound typically found in recording studios and radio stations. The tone is precise before any pass-through, and when used with a windscreen or foam ball to limit breath and popping noises, it will become your go to microphone. Best bang for your buck by far.