Samson Go Mic Review

Most computers these days come with a crappy microphone integrated or no microphone at all.  If you want to drastically improve the sound quality of your audio recordings but don't want a massive or expensive microphone, you should check out the Samson Go Mic.  Read on for a detailed review of the Samson Go Mic.

Samson Go Mic Review

Features

• Portable USB condenser microphone
• Plug and Play Mac and PC compatible, no drivers required
• Custom compact design that clips to a laptop or sits on a desk
• Perfect for recording music, podcasting and field recording
• Ideal for voice recognition software, iChat, VoIP and web casting
• Transducer Type: condenser, pressure gradient with USB digital output
• Frequency Response: 20Hz "“ 18kHz
• Polar Pattern: cardioid or omni
• Resolution: 16-bit/44.1kHz
• 1/8-inch headphone output
• Includes USB cable, cable clip, mic stand adapter and zipper carrying pouch
• Includes Cakewalk Music Creator recording software

First Impressions

At first glance the box looks nice and feels heavier than you would imagine.  When you open the box the first thing you see is the Go Mic floating in a molded black velvet pocket, very cool.  Upon prying the Go Mic out of the packaging I was impressed by the weight, it feels like a little brick.  The build quality is high and the mic is made of heavy duty metal bits.  Dig a bit deeper and you find a well written manual, a USB cable, a form fitting zippered case, a bolt for tripods, a clip (not sure what that is for), and a Music Creator LE CD.

There are professional wind screens on both sides of the microphone which should keep wind noise at a minimum.  There is a mini-USB port and 3.5mm output jack on one side and a pattern switch (Cardioid, Cardioid with a 10db Pad, or Omni pick-up) on the other.  The microphone base is also a very strong spring loaded clip.  The mic articulates from a pivot point on the corner of the base.

The microphone case is form fitting and padded, adds a nice touch.

Sound Quality

The packaging and other bits are nice, but the sound quality is what really matters when buying a microphone.  The microphone works with both Mac and Windows and doesn't need a drivers disk, so installation was a snap. 

The Go Mic sounds great and picks up highs and lows without being over exaggerated (not tinny or thundering).  At first I thought the go Mic would be used mainly for podcasters, but after testing the microphone it is well suited for voice recognition programs, internet chatting, VOIP, garage bands, etc,

"Thanks to its switchable cardioid and omni polar patterns, you can pick whichever pattern is more appropriate for your specific situation. Use the tightly focused cardioid pickup pattern when recording a podcast, acoustic guitar or vocals. Or use the omnidirectional pattern to capture the entire room, whether you’re jamming with your band, webcasting with a group or conducting an online meeting with multiple members in a single location. Plus, with a frequency response of 20Hz – 18kHz and a resolution of 16-bit/44.1kHz, you can be sure you’re getting professional audio specs in a compact, multi-purpose design."

Conclusion

You will have a hard time finding a better, portable, quality microphone at any price.