USB Mics

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The Samson CO1U is a staple in the podcaster’s arsenal. Since it’s been out for several years it has been thoroughly time-tested. Often experienced podcasters recommend it due to its reliable track record and performance. For many, this is the first USB microphone they’ve ever owned. There is an urge in technophiles like myself to always look to the latest, assuming it is the greatest. I’m admittedly late to the C01U party but felt the need to review it. Clearly, this mic is still relevant and will be for years to come.

This model looks like a condenser mic should. Visually it is almost identical to its brother, the CO1. The only difference is the CO1U has a silver grill instead of black, and of course it has a USB connector instead of analog XLR. Hard knobs and switches aren’t necessary due to downloadable SoftPre software, which allows you to set gain levels, cut lows, etc.

The differences are far greater on the inside. The engineers at Samson managed to squeeze a micro USB interface inside the CO1U.

Sampling rates range from 8 to 48 KHz at 16-bit resolution. This falls in line with the current generation of USB mics, with the exception of the Yeti Pro which does 24-bit recording.

Frequency Response is 20 – 18000 HZ. To test this range in the real world, I busted out the acoustic drum kit. It was able to capture the lowest thuds from the bass drum accurately, as well as the high-end sizzle from cymbals. The sound quality is natural rather than hyped, which is good news for purists and tweakers alike. The unique bass roll off control comes in handy for overly boomy-sounding voices or instruments. Beginners or podcasters that want quick, effective solutions should be using this often.

Sensitively is great, maybe a little too good if you have loud fans in your computer or live near an airport. Although this is a cardioid pattern mic, it has a tendency to pick up more than expected.

Flexibility is a weakness for the C01U. Unlike competing mics from Blue, it has a cardioid pattern only. If you plan on doing traditional voiceover work or recording lead vocals, this shouldn’t concern you much. Experimental types that want to capture the ambiance in the room or record an interview with only one mic need to look at the Yeti or Snowball instead.

If you don’t have recording software and don’t feeling like forking over a wad of cash, you’re in luck. The CO1U offers the advantage of free bundled software: Cakewalk Sonar LE. Unfortunately this benefits Windows users only. The software for the CO1U is Mac-friendly, but Sonar LE is not. If you’re totally new to podcasting or recording, Sonar is one of the better applications to learn.

Review Verdict

Samson’s CO1U came out at a time when there were few USB mics to choose from. Since then, Blue and Audio-Technica have come on the scene with some great offerings. I can definitely see why proud owners of this mic recommend it to friends, but I feel there are better options.

For those buying today, either a Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica AT2020 are the best moderately-priced USB mics going. You may want to grab the CO1U regardless, if the price is right; especially if you want to get your hands on Sonar LE software for free.

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Technically the Apogee ONE can’t be thought of as a USB microphone; it isn’t a USB interface either. It is a hybrid of both.

A handful of years ago Apogee released an innovative, Mac-only interface called the Duet. It stood out due to its sleek form factor as well as its minimalist approach. Oh yeah, and it sounds amazing. For many singer-songwriter types, two channels are adequate for producing demo recordings and laying down overdub tracks. In my own travels, I found there was less to get in the way. There was no reason for me to lug around a rackmount unit with 16 channels when so much of the recording process requires only one or two sound sources. It added needless complication, making something I love less fun. In contrast, the Duet was super simple to use.

With ONE, Apogee brings the minimalism of Duet to a new extreme. This time there is one channel instead of two. Apogee hasn’t merely taken away however; ONE includes a built-in condenser microphone. Additionally you can connect either an unbalanced ¼” instrument line from your guitar or keyboard. If you want to make use of an external mic, there is a balanced XLR input.

So why is there a need for an interface with one channel and a built in mic? There are three reasons: convenience, simplicity and portability.

Starting with convenience, every second seems like an eternity when you have a great musical idea you wish to capture. This makes ONE a good sketchpad for songwriters. Portable digital recorders like the Zoom H4n are very useful for applications like this as well, but you’re better off with the Apogee if you have a laptop nearby. Portable recorders have really small displays and cryptic software.

Simplicity is off the charts. Like the Duet, ONE has a big honking knob similar in feel to the one on your stereo receiver. It of course controls volume plus more than you might imagine when it interacts with Maestro software. Press it to toggle between controlling mic/instrument gain level and headphone volume. Press and hold the knob for one second to enable mute; do the same to disable mute.

The portability factor is pretty self-evident. An outboard microphone isn’t necessary for offsite recording sessions. All you need to pack is your laptop, ONE and a USB cable. Setup is substantially quicker as well.

Now for the big question: how does it sound? Apogee has a bullet-proof reputation for sound quality. Even the bargain-priced Duet has sound comparable to their upper-end products like Ensemble. For this reason I went in expecting a lot from ONE. I wasn’t disappointed. With an external M-Audio Sputnik microphone attached, ONE sounded very similar to the tried and true Duet. The lows were pronounced and the highs in the speech were silky smooth. Of course, using a spectacular microphone helped quite a bit.

Next was a test to appraise the real worthiness of ONE. The internal microphone is of course crucial. Otherwise, you’d be just as well off with a small USB interface minus the mic. To produce a bed track, I plugged my Larrivee acoustic/electric guitar into the device and recorded a ditty of mine. Next, I mounted the ONE on a stand, set the levels, and recorded my vocals using the internal mic. The sound was of a fairly bright character as I anticipated; similar to the tone of a small-diaphram condenser microphone. The lows were evident as well so getting a smooth sound wasn’t tough at all with a little EQ magic. Overall, it is a highly usable entry-level mic. Once you outgrow it for critical applications, you can of course add an external large-diaphram condenser later.

I used GarageBand and a fair bit of Logic Pro during my tests. Apogee has designed ONE to work flawlessly with either application. This is an advantage of the ONE being a Mac-only device. I’d rather have a device that works really well on one platform rather than one that has clunky cross-platform software.

Review Verdict

This is one of those rare products that I had a tough time criticising. The internal microphone can’t compare with a large-diaphragm condenser mic, but anyone expecting it to would be crazy. ONE gives you a very solid small-diaphram microphone sound. For the times you need a bigger sound, plug in an external mic and wail away.

The audio interface portion is based on the excellent Duet, so Apogee has left little to chance. At times I missed the extra channel of the Duet because I couldn’t record vocals and a scratch guitar track at once. Really, it depends on your needs. For overdubs on the fly, ONE is godsend.

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The Go Mic is part of a new breed of micro USB microphones that clip on the top of notebooks. It’s Samson’s answer to Blue’s Snowflake that was released before it.

An appealing aspect of this mic is it takes an already convenient concept: USB connectivity and combines it with ultimate portability and a utilitarian mounting scheme. It borrows from webcam model, which are now commonly built into laptops.

Positioned just above the monitor, the device is right in the sweet spot for VOIP calls, voice overs and podcasting. Alternatively you can attach the microphone stand adapter and get a more traditional setup going.

Web cams are notorious for poor quality in comparison to full-sized video cameras. The difference in quality between the Go Mic and a larger USB mics isn’t as pronounced. Speech is clear with a surprisingly full-bodied resonance. At the very least it blows away the internal mic in your Macbook Pro and the chintzy voice input on your Plantronics-style headset.

There are two switchable modes: cardioid and omni polar patterns. Cardioid grabs audio from directly in front of the mic and rejects sound from behind. Omni mode opens up full 360 degree recording so everything in the room can be heard. The possibility of the omni pattern seemed interesting but superfluous for a product that is primarily designed to sit on a laptop monitor. That impression was proven false when I used the Go Mic to interview someone. It really shines in this application because you can easily see the recording software at work without turning your head.

I can see this as being a very handy tool for a singer-songwriter. When writing music, it is helpful to quickly capture your ideas so you can remember how far you progressed. Think of it as an audio sketchpad. The quicker you can get setup, the better. For this reason it is a good alternative to a portable recorder from Tascam or Zoom. If you have a laptop handy, you’ll save money by going this route. In addition, you won’t have to deal with a cramped LCD screen and cryptic menus. Instead you can use your favourite DAW, such as Logic or Pro Tools.

There’s nothing worse than misunderstanding someone because they are using a crappy mic for VOIP. With the Go Mic, you’ll put the person at the other end at ease. This is especially welcome for business use as it ensures your directions are properly understood and therefore followed through correctly.

There are two inputs along the right side of the Go Mic. One mini-USB input for connecting to your computer and powering the device plus one headphone jack. The headphone output ensures direct monitoring with zero latency so there isn’t a lag disrupting your flow of speech.

Audio resolution is 16-bit/44.1kHz which is the current standard for USB mics. Frequency response is 20Hz – 18kHz so you’ll be able to capture pretty well anything within the limits of human hearing.

The mounting clip folds into the device, making the Go Mic highly portable and less prone to breakage. The mic can be angled in any way you like thanks to the metal joint attaching it to the clip.

Review Verdict

The Samson Go Mic is a very impressive little microphone for the price. I certainly wouldn’t use it for lead vocals for serious music recording. However, for music demos, voice overs and VOIP communications it is wonderfully convenient. The ability to just slap it on the top of your laptop screen ensures it gets used often.

I can’t recommend this over the Blue Snowflake as they are very similar in strength. In this case, it comes down to personal preference.

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There is one limitation common to USB mics that has me reaching for an old fashioned XLR microphone: the sample rate. Blue’s original Yeti records at 16bit/48 kHz. That is ideal for streaming content on the Web via podcasting or YouTube videos. For music or more demanding applications it falls short. Anyone making records in 16-bit isn’t thinking ahead. Inevitably high-res, 24-bit digital downloads will be the norm in the future.

This is a trailblazing microphone. First off, it is the only USB mic so far that can record 24-bit audio. Secondly, it is the first mic I’ve seen that accepts both USB and XLR connections. For people on the move that flexibility can be a lifesaver in a pinch, especially when working with others. Plenty of pro audio engineers don’t have experience with USB mics. These types will be at home with industry standard XLR connections and analog post-processing.

The most obvious upgrade to the Pro model is the sexy casing. The black textured body adds an element of class that was missing from the modest original. It weighs in at around 3 lbs and stands nearly a foot tall. The Yeti was already a beast of a USB mic; this thing is a monster.

At the bottom of the unit there is a XLR input positioned above a treaded input for stand mounting. To the left is a mini-USB port and to the right there is a headphone input.

The 1/8” headphone jack is of course useful for people that don’t have the luxury of a professional, full-duplex sound card. You’ll be able to take advantage of low-latency monitoring thanks to the internal audio interface.

Like the original Yeti, there is an array of three 14mm condenser capsules under the grill. By switching on and off any combination of these capsules the Yeti Pro offers your choice of four pickup patterns: stereo, cardioid, omni, and bidirectional. In my previous review for the Yeti I broke down the uses for each of these patterns. You can read it here.

So, how does the Yeti Pro sound? Audio is off the scale awesome for a USB microphone. Right off the bat it has the advantage of being the only 24-bit USB mic (presently) on the market. The jump from 16 to 24 bit makes everything sound richer and smoother. High end especially is more detailed and pleasant. In regular circumstances I wouldn’t use a USB mic as an overhead on drums. If I had to however, this is the USB mic I’d choose. You can’t quite capture the sparkle in the cymbals in anything less than 24-bit.

Controls and switches are identical to the previous model. You have a nice big volume knob with a mute button above it in front. In the rear there is a switch that allows you to switch between recording patterns. Power is provided either via USB or 48v phantom power, depending on how you choose to connect the Yeti Pro.

Review Verdict

USB mics certainly blow away that Plantronics-style headset mic. Still, it isn’t honest to call any USB powered offering I’ve heard yet a professional mic. This is the best “prosumer” USB microphone yet. The addition of XLR is handy if you don’t own several other mics (or only want to bring one microphone to the gig).

Podcasters and musicians that don’t have a fancy audio interface (soundcard) and want to experience 24-bit recording have no better options. This puppy is it!

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Walk into any top-end recording studio ask to look inside their microphone cabinet. Without many exceptions you’ll stumble upon an Audio-Technica AT4050 condenser mic. It has become an industry standard due to its virtues as a versatile, “workhorse” microphone.

As great as the AT4050 is, the price tag of around $600 puts it out of reach for most hobbyists. Although Audio-Technica is known for professional products they have come up with the AT2020 to meet the needs of podcasters and DIY recording musicians. In stark contrast to the 4050, the 2020 sells for $115 (street price). On top of that, you don’t need a fancy preamp, and audio interface to make USB mics sound good.

At this price you come to expect a plasticky feel or cheap, roughly finished aluminum. Upon pulling it out of the box the most striking property of this mic is the outstanding build quality. I’m one of the old fashion types that associates weight with well-made gear; the 2020 has just the right amount of weight to make me feel confident in its durability.

The AT2020 design is very utilitarian and similar to its big brothers like the AT4050. It is a simple cylinder shape with a grill so big that it spans half the length of the microphone. The USB cable plugs into the bottom just like traditional XLR mics. It draws its power from the USB port on your computer. To notify you that it’s powered up, the grill lights up blue thanks to an internal LED light.

AT has taken a very different approach than Blue Microphones has. The Blue Yeti and Snowball has a switch that allows you to change up the input pattern of the mic. The 2020 focuses on the most used pattern: cardioid. Although you’ll use the cardioid pattern the vast majority of the time as a podcaster or musician, omnidirectional recording is missed because it is fun to experiment with.

On the plus side, the knobs and switches feel a little flimsy on the Blue USB mics. Clearly this is because USB microphones are sold for so little, making cost-cutting an inevitable reality. Audio-Technica’s decision to make the unit rock-solid, and leave out controls that can just as easily be controlled from your laptop was a smart one.

Bit depth and sample rate meet the standard for current-gen USB mics: 16 bit/44.1 kHz. Frequencies between 20Hz and 16kHz are captured. This was a disappointment initially because Blue’s Yeti has a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. Granted, we are looking at a range of sound that most adults cannot hear after the age of 30. If voice or vocal recording is your goal, don’t sweat it. Only cymbals have frequencies of any magnitude that go past 16kHz.

Sound quality is very good as is expected from an Audio-Technica product. Tests with acoustic guitar and vocals yielded impressive results. The capsule is sensitive, perhaps too much so for the casual user. You’ll pick up a decent bit of background noise if you have a desktop computer running nearby. Either run a cable into a different room or invest in a shock-mount to avoid picking up noise.

Review Verdict

Audio-Technica’s AT2020 doesn’t have any gimmicks to speak of. It does a good job of capturing voices or instruments coming from in front of the mic. After all, that is all most people will ever need. On-location interviewers and experimental musicians will yearn for the variety of input patterns found in competing mics.

This is an awesomely built device making it the most road-worthy USB microphone tested thus far. Overall the 2020 is simple, strong and effective at recording 16-bit audio.