SAMSON Q2U Recording and Podcasting Pack - USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone with Accessories (Includes Mic Clip, Desktop Stand, Windscreen and Cables), 16-bit, 44.1kHz/48kHz, Silver

It is an amazing Microphone for the price! I don't use an audio box so I just hook it up straight to my laptop and the sound quality is fantastic! You have the choice of connecting via USB or XLR depending on your preference and it's as simple as PLUG AND PLAY. Get a pop filter to go with it if you can as it doesn't come with one, but even without one the sound is pretty crisp and clear. It looks professional and the stand it comes with keeps it nice and compact for easy folding away and transportation and I expect it will probably fit most extension arms. Really good product, really good price, really good sound quality. It's a fantastic purchase and an easy purchase to make for someone who's just starting out.

As an aspiring content creator, I sought a quality microphone for streaming on Twitch and making YouTube videos. I was directed towards the SAMSON Q2U Recording and Podcasting Pack as a budget-friendly option, recommended by an experienced voice actor. Although I initially considered the higher-end Shure SM7B, known for its studio-grade recording capabilities, I opted for the SAMSON due to its value proposition. Pros of SAMSON Q2U: Excellent sound quality for its price range. Dynamic cardioid pattern that effectively reduces background noise—ideal for home studios. Affordable, offering significant savings over the Shure SM7B. Dual USB and XLR functionality, with all necessary cables provided. Direct headphone monitoring available. Compatibility with various devices, such as the iPad Pro through an adapter. Although the included stand is basic, it’s a good starting point. Cons of SAMSON Q2U: Best performance requires close proximity; consider investing in an adjustable boom arm. Minor white noise issues with USB connection on PC, though fixable in editing software. The narrow diameter complicates finding a compatible shock mount. Some initial power connectivity issues, requiring re-plugging to resolve. Comparison with Shure SM7B: While the Shure SM7B is a legendary microphone with superior sound isolation and professional quality, its price point is significantly higher and may not include necessary extras like a boom arm, XLR cables, or an interface, which are required for optimal performance. This can greatly increase the overall cost. Conclusion: After using the SAMSON Q2U for my streaming and YouTube projects, I've found it to be an exceptional value, particularly for those just starting out or on a budget. While the Shure SM7B undoubtedly excels in professional settings, the SAMSON Q2U stands out for its affordability, ease of use, and excellent starter kit components. For beginners and intermediate users alike, the SAMSON Q2U offers a compelling package that balances quality and cost effectively. Given my positive experience and the feedback from my audience, I confidently recommend the SAMSON Q2U over the Shure SM7B for those who need a reliable, cost-effective solution without compromising too much on quality. This microphone has not only met but exceeded my expectations, making it a standout choice in its price bracket.

I wanted a microphone for streaming on Twitch and creating YouTube videos for work, and I heard it recommended as a good budget beginners option from a well known voice actor. So far I've only been able to use it through USB but I'm impressed with the quality and pleased with my choice, especially for the price! What's included (Summer 2020): - Microphone - Foam windshield - Tripod mic stand - XLR cable Good: - Great sound! - Dynamic cardioid which means it doesn't pick up too much environmental noise when set up correctly - perfect for streaming - Low price - Option to use USB and later upgrade to XLR. XLR cable is included too! - You can plug your headphones right in for monitoring - You can use it with an iPad Pro through the Apple camera adaptor, bonus! I spent far too much time in Garageband playing with the voice effects when I realised this :) - Stand is okay but not ideal for positioning as it will sit too low on a desk etc. Less good: - This type of mic needs to be really close to your face to work well and pick up your voice, unless you want to massively crank up the gain and pick up every other noise in the room too. So order an adjustable stand/boom arm to go with it, and make sure you understand how to set up the mic and position it. Otherwise you'll be frustrated at how quiet it is! - I find on PC USB connection there's always a very low amount of white hissing/humming noise, but this is easily fixed in OBS/Streamlabs/Audacity. The noise seems absent on iPad. - Because it's quite a narrow diameter microphone (about 32cm on the handle), it was quite tricky to find the right size shock mount - I had to get one from a dedicated music store as there were no suitable ones on Amazon. - Weird power issues. When I load my PC, the light will appear on the mic but it doesn't actually seem to be powered on. I have to unplug - plug back in to get it working which is a bit of a pain and will wear down the cable faster. This happens on iPad too so I think it's the mic, not Windows etc. I've had people complement the sound quality and stick around on my stream so I would definitely recommend this microphone. To be honest even if it doesn't last long, at this price I'd be happy to buy another.

The mic works well - good voice sound and blocks surrounding sounds; and the mic feels heavy and good quality. However, the mic stand is too small and falls over easily when the mic is in it. I will need to buy a sturdier stand.

I've hooked this up to a GoXLR Mini and it sounds amazing Pros: - Amazing sound, especially for the money - Denies background sound better than my condenser mic even though it's still fairly sensitive to my voice - Included XLR cable - Included USB cable - Included decent stand for it Cons: - It's quite long which gives me less clearance with my keyboard - it's 28 cm with the included XLR cable. I strongly recommend buying an additional right angle XLR cable (90 degree bend) to reduce the length by a few cm or alternatively mounting it from the top (but this way it might be in the way of your camera if you use one) - The included attachment for the microphone which allows it to be held onto a boom arm is really flimsy plastic. Feels like it could snap easily but that only applies to rotation on the boom arm, not adjustment up, down, left or right - those should be fine. Conclusion: Amazing microphone and definitely very happy with the purchase, especially at this price point. The disadvantages are workable and understandable, not something that would keep me from buying this if I had to do it again. Will update rating and review if it breaks prematurely, I've only had it for a day. UPDATE: 3 years later - still using it, still great. I'm making enough money to easily afford something 5 times the price of this but I don't see why I would want to do that. Unless you're making serious money from podcasting, streaming, music or something like that which requires a professional grade mic, then there's no way you need anything better than this.

Absolutely fantastic microphone. Used for Podcasts and to record radio shows. Used with Audacity - make sure you switch windows operating system effects off!!

For people just starting out in voice-over work or streaming, this is a great budget friendly option. Pairs well with OBS, just add in a few audio filters and off you go. The ability to upgrade from USB to XLR at a later time, or upfront if you can, is also great. The physical mute switch is a nice addition for if you truly want to know no one can hear you when you don't want them to. The included foam wind screen also seems to double as a pop filter for me, negating the need for a separate one. Just note that although it's considered unidirectional, mine seems to act more like a cardioid and is much louder from one side more than the other.

I have just taken this out of the box and used it for the first time. It is easy to use, no software needs to be downloaded onto the computer. It records like a proper handheld mike in that it only picks up sound very close to the mike. I can tap on my computer which is only 15 inches away from the mike and it did not pick up the sound. I poured water into a glass from the same distance and it was barely audible. The sound quality is excellent for the price. Using the windsock improves the sound slightly though this may not be noticeable. I also have a Thronmax omnidirectional mike which is similarly priced. This is great for picking up all the sounds in the room. However, the sound quality of the Samson is far superior to the Thronmax. This is a great mike for the amateur who wants to record voiceovers but does not have a studio or soundproofing. I live by the main road with traffic and there are birds chirping behind my house, and the Samson mike did not pick up any of these sounds. The stand is cheaply made but this is to be expected at the price. For total stability I can use one of my camera tripods. Very happy with this product so far.