SAMSON Go Mic Clip On USB Microphone

Product Information

The Samson Q9U microphone is for plug-and-play operation, whether you’re using its XLR or USB output. Using the included USB-C cable, I first plugged the Q9U into my laptop and then plugged a pair of headphones into the rear of the microphone, through which I was immediately able to hear my voice. I then opened Logic Pro, set the Samson Q9U as my input and output device, and just like that, I was ready to record.

Includes mic clip, tripod stand, tripod stand extension, foam windscreen, USB cable (2.25m) and XLR cable (3m) It's very easy to distort the mic, so you might favor the -10dB pad setting, but the main source of issues is likely to be plosives. The Go Mic is so small, using it with a pop filter will be a challenge, unless you affix the mic to a stand and attach the filter to that. If you have no pop filter, pivoting and angling the mic on its stand is essential—you want to be close enough to the speaker to get a direct, close sound, but aiming the mic at the speaker's nose will eliminate the direct line to the capsule that otherwise would result in pops on plosives. The XLR version was recorded into a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB audio interface. I’ve applied no post-processing, normalisation, noise-reduction, etc, to the files. Samson Q2U Alternatives Just starting out with recording your own music and don’t have a lofty budget? Then, this recording set from Maono is for you. The combo consists of the Maono USB condenser mic, a table stand, a pop filter, and some cable ties to tidy up your desk.

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The recorded sound of the Samson Q9U microphone changed very subtly when I used it as an XLR mic and connected it to my Universal Audio Apollo interface. This is likely due to the use of the external interface’s own analog-to-digital conversion rather than the converters inside the microphone, and the end results felt a touch bit more detailed on the high-frequency end. While this is mildly interesting to note in the context of a gear test and a good thing to keep in mind, this small difference between USB and XLR mode probably won’t make a noticeable difference in sound quality or viability in the long run. The controls themselves include a low-frequency cut to add clarity and headroom to bass-heavy voices, as well as a mid-boost that enhances the most prominent frequencies of the human voice and renders a more polished, production-ready sound. Both these options allow users to sculpt and adjust the microphone’s frequency response on a case-by-case basis depending on the voice of the speaker, which ultimately cuts down on editing time by capturing a clearer vocal sound from the start. These switches, along with an easy-to-access mute button, make the Samson Q9U an ideal choice for production environments that require on-the-fly adjustments to sound. Audio-Technica is a renowned brand in the audio space. And the AT2020 is a top recommendation if you’re looking for a mic from the brand. The microphone is specifically meant for vocalists, so it emphasizes clear tones.

Like the Maono combo, the Audio-Technica AT2020 also comes with a bunch of accessories in the box. For starters, the mic ships with a boom arm along with a pair of over-the-ear headphones to monitor your audio. These are certainly nice inclusions if you’re starting off as a vocalist. Here are a couple of sound samples I’ve recorded for you. They were initially recorded for our Best Budget Mics roundup, and feature segments of a reading from Beatrix Potter’s dark horror classic Peter Rabbit. Samson Q2U as USB Regardless of what microphone you’re using, it’s always good to record your podcasts in a quiet, sound-dampened room– unless you’re going for a field-recorded “in the moment” effect. Nevertheless, the Samson Q2U is pretty forgiving of less-than-ideal recording conditions. The Maono mic is advantageous for buyers on a budget as it includes several accessories, saving additional expenses. The included pop filter cuts out wind noise while the boom stand firmly attaches the mic to your table/desk. You can even adjust the mic at various different angles to face you when recording.Its simplicity, versatility, and accessories make for incredible value. It’s the mic we recommend to people the most here at The Podcast Host, and we use it a lot, too. The Q2U is a real Swiss army knife of podcasting, fitting just about any context you can throw at it. What Does It Come With? The Go Mic doesn't appear to utilize any DSP (digital signal processing). For purists, that's good news, but if you're a recording novice, it might take a little more effort to get ideal signal levels. In the absence of DSP, what you get is a pure signal, and you can always enhance the recording with EQ or compression in your recording software later, rather than having very little control over dynamics with DSP that is baked into the signal chain. Performance