Best in voice-over type applications: pod-casting, you-tube videos, spoken word, video tutorials, and live commentary. This microphone is great for rappers and vocalists looking to get great sounding vocals on a budget and on the go. As it stands, the C01U is a very practical solution for entry-level users who don't have an audio interface and, if used carefully, it can produce commendable results in a wide range of applications provided that the source being recorded isn't too quiet or distant.

Samson SP01 Shock Mount for C01, C01U, CL7 and C03 Samson SP01 Shock Mount for C01, C01U, CL7 and C03

Although unashamedly entry-level, the C01U is quiet and clean enough to record vocals and instruments to a very acceptable standard, provided that they are close-miked, and its performance is well above that of any multimedia mics I've tested. And in a standard rectangular room in a house with no acoustic treatment, anything over 7 or 8 inches away will sound quite echo-y/reverb-y, almost negating the benefit of having a good quality microphone. This may well have beeen an attribute of the Aggregate driver, but as long as you can work with buffer sizes of 128 samples or under, the latency is fine. With a headphone output for zero-latency monitoring and an improved signal-to-noise ratio, the C01U Pro ensures that the natural warmth and detail of vocal and instrumental performances are captured in all your digital recordings. That means if you are recording along with, say, a music track, you don’t have to wait for the sound from your mic to make the round trip to and back from your computer before you can hear what you’re recording.

With a simple USB connection directly to your computer, it provides your podcasts with unparalleled audio recording quality. Stu is determined to help you make sound decisions, and strives to deliver the best and most in depth content on the internet! Currently, there are only a couple of other USB-equipped condenser microphones, although this may well prove to be a growth area. Not only does the USB connection bring in the mic's audio signal, but it offers playback as well, via an 1/8th-inch stereo headphone jack on the front of the mic. Most people know that cardioid mics sound more bassy when you move closer, but figure-of-eight mics also have their own flavour of proximity effect, while omni mics are immune to it altogether.

Samson C01U Pro Studio Condenser USB Microphone Samson C01U Pro Studio Condenser USB Microphone

The C01U features a large 19mm shock-mounted diaphragm that efficiently reproduces both low and high volume sounds with equal articulation. The design follows that of a typical 'classic' side-entry vocal mic and the frequency response is quoted as being flat within 1dB over the audio range.

Samson's C01U USB condenser microphone is a 'digital' version of their entry-level C01 back-electret, medium-diaphragm studio microphone. I feel the low-cut filter is best not used for vocal recording, as it noticeably affects the bottom end of the vocal range.