As a sound engineer, Samson is one of my favorite brand. They always made great, basic gear, and they use their brand name to build a reputation around best quality-price ratio in the industry. I never had a Samson product failing on me. They're not making glamourous products that appeal to masses. They're making cost-effective products that appeal to productions who only need the basics. I will get myself a pair for stereo pairing on stage. I don't believe they're perfectly matched at this price-point, but you wouldn't notice the difference on stage or for a quick live-demo. It's probably perfect for drumset overheads. Extremely versatile. Also I wanted to have a mic stand to boom pole adaptable clip for YEARS!! I want to buy a dozen of those.
I bought the pair of Samson CO2 four years ago after seeing this review. I still use them. One is on my desk for (casual!) voice over and video conferencing, in a good shock mount with a small pop filter, and the other is on an articulating mic arm over a workbench, ready to use with a MixPre3 for video of mechanical details with accompanying audio. Both still work just fine for me.
I love these microphones!! I'm so glad I saw this video!! I film concerts, bands, and strong audio sources, so that should give others here a reference.
Great video Curtis :) I have been watching many of your videos and really value your knowledge and passion for sound recording. I've never been super happy with my interview sound from anything other than my lav mics. At college we were taught to use shotgun mics for interviews - regardless of the location. I was using a NTG2 but found it very noisy with both the H4n and DR-40, I sold it and discovered the Fethead preamp which seemed to turn it into a much better mic when using with lower end recorders. Regardless I bought a MKE600 from Sennheiser as it's more sensitive - and a Fethead! I was much happier with the results. I then discovered your videos on using small diaphragm mics like the Samson C02 for indoor dialogue and due to the very low price bought a pair to test out. The audio quality is excellent and to me not worse than the MKE600 and infact was picking up less room noise at the same distance and levels. Very impressed. Thanks again for the great videos, you certainly have a chuffed subscriber here :)
Curtis thanks again for these videos. I'd like to leave a little bit of audio wisdom here, I haven't heard you mention it, and I expect this video will attract many beginners who could benefit from this advice: In regards to low cut/high pass filters, I prefer a mic that has this feature because there is a tun of power in those low frequencies. By reducing those frequencies (and that power) before the signal hits the Analog to Digital converter, we will have a little more headroom on the input, thus a slightly better signal to noise ratio. It is not major, but as in all things, many little details add up into a final outcome. If we ace all those little details, we have a shot at acing the final product. With that said, I'm watching this video because I'm considering these Samson mics for my own purposes, so I don't mean to discourage a purchase of these mics. I've found that Samson has really been making a play for the prosumer/professional audio market. I use their S Patch+ patch bay which is superlative, and Samson also produces the Zoom product line, so the H4N which really was disruptive when introduced, and all the excellent audio recorders, H5, 6, and the F series.
Was very busy today, and rushed through that comment and didn't finish my thought! Embarrassing! So any beginners reading this, I want to emphasize that Samson is really pushing and innovating, there are many really useful products under their corporate umbrella that lower budget people can access and use to realize their vision. As a consumer, I love finding these companies that are hungry. They're hungry like we're hungry. They are trying to achieve more with less, just as we are.
I got thismic since many years, I started recording live cymbals drums and other instruments, I wasn't impressed for those kind of works, but since about 2 years I started recording sound effects and also dialogues, well I changed my opinion for these mics (stereo pair), they are doing a very good job, they are good even with loud sources like impacts. I like your review, with pros and cons in a neutral way, not affected by the price.
Thanks for this video, Curtis. I found out this application quite by chance; when I had to record dialogue in an office space and I couldn't boom. I used this mic as a hidden mic inside a work-station and it worked for me!
This actually sounds pretty good and withing my budget. Currently have been using an at2020 mostly for desk use, but I need something that I can use to record out of frame and also don't want to constantly move my mic around between my different recording areas. Thanks for the video! Definitely investing into these.
Hi Curtis, You're the only person on TH-cam I trust when it comes to audio, and I have just started learning stuffs about sound. I have heard that the reason that the Samson C02 mic is sold as a pair because they were design to be stereo mic. I am planning to upgrade to the Samson C02 along with the Tascam DR60D Mark II soon. Is it possible to set-up the 60D to record the Samson C02 as a mono audio directly from the 60D, as oppose to duplicating the input into another channel in post. Thanks, Bew PS. Currently, I'm using only a Saramonic wireless lav. set-up directly into the GH5 camera.
Hi Bew, you can record to a mono track with the 60D. If your video editing app can take mono tracks, there shouldn’t be a need to duplicate the audio to another track in post. Best wishes.
Hey Curtis, I'm a photographer, while taking corporate headshots I was asked to do some short interviews, which I did. First one was with Rode Wireless Go + lavalier directly into camera, went well; I then upgraded to Rode videomic NTG on overhead boom when I had to do 20 people in one day, to avoid to re-mic each person with lavalier, also bought a Tascam 60DII to have backup recordings and more control. All that stuff was bought cheap and used, I'm not looking for the fancy buy, interviews is side business, so I invest what needed but money responsible. I was considering to get rid of Videomic NTG and moving to XLR mics as I have phantom on the 60DII; doing only indoor dialogues, as per your videos I'm looking at cheap pencils, stereo pairs, so I get a backup mic in case one breaks; wanting to stay cheap around 100€$, so I was looking at the Samson C02, but also at Behringer C2 which are even cheaper, 50€ for the pair. You didn't review the C2's, online reviews puts them basically au pair with the Samson C2, especially for a beginner like me. Do you have any info on those Behringer's vs the Samson's? Other than C02's and C-2's, any other suggestion in the 100€ range? I found also MXL 606 and t.bone SC 140 in that price range, but reviews are mixed. Or should I just stick with Videomic NTG, as XLR stuff for a beginner side business makes no sense, and buy a cheap 30€$ Videomicro as emergency backup? Thanks, and thank you for your great work, you really are teaching me lot of stuff on audio, which is something I never touched as photographer.
Ahhhh I am such a fan of your videos! So informative. I am starting a new project…interviewing my hospice patients about their lives in a short-doc style film. Do you think this mic would be sufficient for an interview? Yes, indoor! I am just a little nervous of buying the wrong mic♥️😭
@@curtisjudd thank you so much!!! I am planning to get the Rode video mic pro now to connect to a boom pole overhead! Considering that I’ve never used a mic before, would I need to get headphones to be listening to the audio while filming? I will be interviewing others, one person at a time. You are so helpful!!!!!! 10/10 thank you!!
@@natasha7773 I would always recommend listening with headphones while recording so you can make sure the recording is working and there isn't any unwanted noise or other issues.
Lol we use these bad boys for a local TV show and have it connected to our MixPre 6 II. All gear that we researched thoroughly, but have also seen featured on your channel!
You should include the zoom h4n in the comparison video, so people like me that can't afford the zoom f8 could still get and idea of the sound. Thanks!
A very useful video and I also liked the comparison of this with the 4 other mics. You say that this isn't really suitable for converting to the small jack connectors on a DSLR. Does that mean that it wouldn't be suited to use with my Tascam DR-05? Incidentally, I really appreciate your presentation style. I am new to video having worked in stills for 20 years. I have looked at many tutorials on YT and am so pleased to find ones that are presented in a sensible straightforward style for adults. Keep uo the good work and many thanks for helping people like me.
+John H. Maw Thank you John. The C02, and indeed most small diaphragm condenser microphones, require 48V phantom power. So unless the microphone has the ability to power itself (e.g., slot for a battery), you cannot adapt it for a 3.5mm input. For those cases, I'd recommend something more like the RODE VideoMic Pro or Azden SMX 15 or 30: th-cam.com/video/qRyUvMGVjis/w-d-xo.html Best wishes!
+Curtis Judd Thanks for the very quick and informative reply. The review of the three shotgun mics was also very useful and interesting. I hope you don't mind a further question. What attracted me to the Samson microphones (as well as the amazing price) was that they seem to be quite well thought of for both dialogue and also musical instrument (acoustic guitar or mandolin) recording. Looking at the price and bearing in mind that I would need two separate mics for duet ensemble recording it might be cheaper to buy the Samson mics and a Tascam DR-40 or DR-60. Does this sound like a sensible approach? Thanks again.
+John H. Maw Absolutely and given your recording scenario, a much better choice. I would recommend you avoid the Tascam DR-40 as its preamplifier design is quite dated and produces a fair bit of self-noise. Instead, I'd highly recommend the Tascam DR-60DmkII which I reviewed here. Fortunately, the DR-60DMmkII is not much more expensive than the DR-40: th-cam.com/video/TRoIMPHS91U/w-d-xo.html Best wishes and happy recording!
Cant wait to see the Audix there really isn't a good thorough test of it. And I curious about the AKG cant seem to find anything about that either. Love your reviews its nice having someone give more in depth reviews on audio. I wish I could get another mic, just recently upgraded from the NT2 to the NTG3 should get it in next week.,wanted to also get the Audix but I opted for a new lens instead. It's always a pleasure to watch your reviews.
The high frequencies can be easily fixed by using a 1 layer sock made of pantyhose material to go over the grill and capsule area, use an elastic to hold the material tight. All my mics have this on them including large condensers.
Curtis Judd Thanks it is not mine but an old engineers trick for working with vintage ribbon mics. I actually added those "Socks" to my dynamic mics as well. Very well made video here showing the differences in capturing dialog vs acoustic guitars and what mics are used. I actually picked up the Monoprice Matched pair condensers with are secretly MXL 603's on the insides they are a sleeper mic set and great for acoustic instruments or dialog.
Curtis, again thanks as always for your feedback & Guidance. I was recommended, by a B&H rep, the Senal SCI-3212 Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone. The package came with three separate capsules Omnidirectional, Cardioid & a Super Cardioid which are easily switchable. I have done some static testing and all seems good. I plan on using it when my Sennheiser 416 is too much or I have an Echo Chamber for a scene. Your thoughts? Thanks, Todd
Hi Todd, seems like an interesting option. Would be interested to hear some samples with it. Often the more affordable mics do pretty well on one or two dimensions but struggle in another like handling noise or they don't handle transients very well. But I'm curious enough that I'd like to give it a try!
Hello! First of all, thanks for all of your amazing content, I watch it all the time, sometimes just to hear/see what the gear you've convinced me to buy is capable of. Anyway.. You say you don't recommend the CO2 to be used on top of the camera, but is that just because of the phantom power requirement or for the pick up pattern? I have a BMPCC 4K and it can power the microphone no problem, is that a good idea or should I just get a NTG4 plus / NTG2 or NTG5 ??
these examples all sound very good, but I am curious as to how it would sound say 3 or 4 feet away from you (boom mic position). I want to start streaming regularly on youtube and I need one that will be near the ceiling while I sit down and I wonder how much the sound quality will suffer being that far away.
Hello Curtis, thank you for all the things you have done for the community. I can learn so much from you now that I am about to start a channel with my family. A quick question, please. Our upcoming studio setup will be in a 5x5 meter untreated room with the Air Cond most probably turned on most of the time. The focus will be a short table with 150x80 cm and 40-50cm height with a toddler and a teenager sitting down and talking. If I may ask what would be the best setup for audio and lighting in this scenario? We will be shooting with a Sony A7iii and a smartphone on a gimbal, and quite starting to understand that we will have to put a rug and other cloth materials in the room. Would one or two Samson CO2 mikes on overhead booms and two Godox SL60W-ii led lights on the right and left of the table with one or two fill/hair lights be enough for us? I wouldn't mind having a sound recorder such as the Tascam DR-60D MKII but thought that two Rode Wireless Go ii transmitters attached on the two kids with hidden lavs would be more cost-efficient. May we have your thoughts and inputs, please? Much appreciated.
Hi Hans, thanks for the question. The CO2s are ok, but a little on the noisy side. When you have multiple microphones in the same space, you get the advantage of better pickup since you can aim one at each person or group of people. But you also get what is called bleed. When person one talks, they get picked up by microphone one but also a little bit by microphone 2. So you'll have to clean that up in post or it won't sound great. So yes, the CO2s can work, I just wanted to make sure you understand that using more than one mic is more complicated than using a single mic. The lights should be good. If you just want a big wash of even lighting and the ceiling is a neutral color, you might consider aiming a light at the ceiling which is better than any fill light. You essentially create a huge soft box on the ceiling. RODE Wireless GOs should be good, but same applies as with the CO2s.
Hey Curtis, It would be great to see this mic compared with the inexpensive Audio Technica AT875R, which has also had a lot of good reviews. It is also a good choice for indoor dialogue recording. I own two of these ; ) Thx for your informative vids
I'm planning on using these in combination with my scarlet 2i2 and audacity to record skype-based lessons. I don't see any compatibility issues, do yo? Btw, love your channel! Subscribed, liked and shared!
I bought a pair of these on the strength of this review but found the floor noise they produce way too loud. When compared to a c214 they are like hissing snakes. NT5s a little more expensive but they are at least useable.
Hey Curtis! Just got a pair of these based off of this video. I am having a really hard time positioning the mic off camera and getting the same sound as you. The amount of gain I need to apply to pick up my voice at the distance of about 12 inches is insane (48) and is introducing a lot of noise. I tried to mimic your setup as much as possible in regards to mic positioning. Using the amps in a go xlr and recording straight to my PC.
Hi Clayton, 48 dB of gain is perhaps a little higher than I had it set here, but not by much. Where do you peaks hit on the meters when you speak and are at +48? Also, what sound sources are in the room with you? I had to make sure to record in a quiet space as microphones will still pick up reflecting sound and anything in its polar pattern.
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis thank you for the thoughtful response! I am definitely not in the quietest room. I am recording in the corner of my apartment. I just changed my camera and microphone angle so that there is more space between the wall behind me and the wall behind the mic and it seems to have helped . The non normalized noise floor is -104db. Peaking at -30db with 48db of gain and 16" away from my mouth speaking at normal volume.
@@dougmichael1301 Ok, wow -104dB for a noise floor is excellent. It is odd that your meters are only peaking at -30dB with +48dB of gain applied. I assume phantom power is turned on? Also, if you can move the microphone closer to you, say about 12 inches away, that will also help.
@@curtisjudd Yes phantom power is on. I will experiment with moving it closer while still attempting to keep it out of frame. Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply, I love the channel! Looking forward to exploring more of this new hobby!!
They're very different. The Samson is a small diaphragm condenser which for film you would normally boom. The Behringer is a large diaphragm condenser which is typically use more for voice over type of work. For booming for video and film, I'd probably opt for the Samson.
@@curtisjudd the Behringer C-2 stereo set are a pair of small diafragm "professional" condenser microphones that cost only half the price of a pair of Samson C02. Like the Samsons the claim is that they're Cardioid, but the pictogram on the mic itself looks more like super cardioid. They have a switch for either a high pass filter or a 10dB pad. Including micro-clips, foam windscreen, stereo bar and transport case. Judging by the sound samples on thomann's website they sound fine. 20 - 20 kHz range according to Behringer' website. A number of people have made quite enthusiastic reviews on TH-cam. I'd probably try them before the Samsons if I were looking for a budget-friendly option.
Love your videos. I’d really like to hear your thoughts on acoustic treatments for dialog in a conference room setting using a boom mic. Do you do anything to treat a room when doing corporate jobs?
Hi Richie, I didn't know RODE made that. Yes, that should work just about as well as the Micover. The very best would probably be the Rycote Softie but unfortunately it costs nearly as much as 2 Samson CO2 mics: amzn.to/2aentbF
Hi, loved the video, I was wondering how you think these would do recording nature sounds, I myself like many other here am on a budget, I was also wondering how you think these stack up against the internal mics of the tascam dr-40 which will be the source for the phantom power for what ever mic I choose Thanks
Hi Runic Warrior, I'd work with he DR-40's inbuilt microphones. The DR-40's XLR preamps are not the quietest so using external microphones with it is not likely to produce better recordings. Good luck!
Curtis Judd I really like the Samson C02, but they are on backorder at B&H. These look like a viable option though.
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Hi Curtis ! Came here from Gerald Undone channel and wanted to say thanks (a lot!) for your precious tests ! If you could just help me with this little question ? I searched in the comments and on the internet but could not find the answer. I'm planning to use samson C02 with a Zoom H4N as preamp plugged into a Sony A7iii. Will it perform well ? Or should i buy a fethead phatom for the samson ? Or rather buy a more expensive preamp like zoom H5 / H6 / Tascam ? Have a nice day :) !
Hi Félix, That combination will work but I wouldn't invest in an H4n in 2019 if you don't already have it. An H5 or Tascam DR-60DmkII would be slightly better options in my opinion. Best wishes!
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@@curtisjudd Thanks for you quick answer :) very much appreciated really :) And indeed, i own my H4N since 2010. Would you say the fethead phatom worth the 70$ for the benefits it will bring ? Or shouldn't i bother buying one ? :) Have a nice day !
Thank you for this amazing review. I need something similar to use in my instructional videos for TH-cam. I use Desktop/LaptopPC and would need a USB interface to connect. Can you please recommend any budget-friendly USB Mic with excellent voice quality output and Noise cancellation.
hi Curtis!!! what do u think about these on home foley recording?? if not, could u recommend me any mic in similar price?? love ur videos! I hope u make some foley vids soon
could this be used for singing in a crappy garage band? hook it up to a receiver/amp? i know absolutely nothing about microphones but already learned a lot from this video. only two minutes in.
+Alex Galindo Hi Alex, it could be used for that but I think you'll be better off for live music using a dynamic mic like the Shure SM58: amzn.to/22zXbID That'll help avoid feedback issues. Good luck!
+Curtis Judd thanks. I'm gonna look up more of your videos on those type of mics. but i think im gonna gonna stick with the samson co2 because i also do want to do personal acoustic guitar recordings and piano. either way im gonna buy from one of your links. i hope i can support your channel
Hey Curtis, great video! Was wondering if these mics will be any good when connected to a DJ Controller? And if so do you have any recommendations for power supplies? Thanks!
Hi Nath, That depends on a number of things. Does your DJ controller have an XLR microphone input with Phantom power? If not, you'll need a mixer. I'd look at something like the Mackie VLZ4s: amzn.to/2D1v8Ye However, usually for live use, dynamic microphones are a safer bet than a condenser mic like this, unless there is a specific reason you need a condenser? Of course the most common dynamic mic for live shows is the Shure SM58: amzn.to/2B0x01F It does not need power, just a microphone input and possibly a mixer (if your controller doesn't have the mic input). Good luck!
Hi Curtis. Thanks for the review. This is a very affordable mic. Does it sound way better than MAONO AU-XLR20 Lavalier mic? They are very different devices, but the C02 is retailing at around $60 on some online stores in India, hence tempting
Hey Curtis! Thanks for your videos! We are working on upgrading our sound set-up and could do with some advice. Currently recording using cheap Tascam shotgun mic and thinking of going Samson C02 + Tascam recorder or go the other way and just get rode video mic pro. Cost for the rode would be lower as there are less items to buy, but would we loose out that much on quality? Also, we do record outside from time to time as well - the upgrade there may be good. Which would you recommend?
Hi A2K, I think the VideoMic Pro sounds better than the CO2s but you have to get the mic off the camera and closer to the talent like this: th-cam.com/video/TUEmQBZKoBs/w-d-xo.html
Hi Curtis! Its seems a great mic, would be interesting to compare to a rode ntg4+. In terms of specs it has better quality frequency response but in practical terms I wonder if its a better option. Thanks, cheers.
+Jorge Dourado Hi Jorge, I think it partly depends on whether you'll be shooting primarily outdoors or indoors. A supercardioid mic like the Samson is probably a better choice for indoors in many cases.
+Curtis Judd For indoors scene situations, sometimes I bump into the usual echo room, or noise coming from spot lights(for example), so looking for other options rather then ntg4+, Samson looks interesting. Thanks Curtis.
Hi J Cross, Great question. If you are in the US, I would call B&H and they can help you find a Rycote or other solution. If in Europe, Tomann. Best wishes!
@@curtisjudd Thanks i know that rule, yes ... the closer, the best but ... maybe what i want is not possible. The scene is like that ... 3 people taking as an interview 2-3 meter from camera .. so can i use only one bom mic to get "decent" audio from all of them ? Know that i will use 3 cameras and one of them will be as wide as i can to get 3 people + some promotionals. Hope my idea was not too uthopic. Im looking for the best as possible with the less gear i can install
@@DaniPerezFotografia That's a tough situation. Ideally, for a wide shot you'd go with lavalier microphones for each person. If you put this on the camera, it is NOT going to sound good. What is the closest you can get the microphone to the people and still be out of the wide shot? Will you have someone who can cue the mic between the three people during the interview on a boom pole?
@@curtisjudd Thank you very much, in some jobs i am the only multicam-audio-man doing all. I was looking for an audio simple backup solution in case something faile, using only one fix boom mic or something like that. The principal audio will be one mic(wired or wireless) for each person. Thank you very much :)
@@DaniPerezFotografia For backup audio that will sound slightly better than camera audio, this or any directional microphone will be fine. Unless you spend a LOT of money for a Cedar DNS or Schoeps SuperCMIT 2U, most microphones will pick up quite a lot of ambient noise/sound when they're sitting on a camera 2+ meters away.
I was about to get the Samson, but then discovered I could get a great price on the Behringer C-2 or C-4, but I don't know the difference between the two. THEN I discovered great reviews about the Lyxpro SDPC-2. Now I don't know what to buy on my small budget... (sigh)
Hi Jeffrey, have a listen to samples of each and go with the one that sounds best to your ears. I do not love the sound of the C02's, but they're decent for the price.
Hello. After looking at several low budget microphones, the ones provided in this video seem like a really great option. My question is, can this mics be used during a live streaming video? If yes, what equipment would be needed to accomplish this? Can a recorder still be used? Or is a mixer needed?
Hello Gibar, Yes, this microphone can be used effectively for live streaming. The question about what you need to feed the livestream depends on how you plan to stream. Will you be using your phone? Your computer?
Another question, could you use an audio recorder to send the audio from the microphone to the computer while live streaming? Or what would you recommend?
Depending on your budget, you could use something like the Zoom U-24: amzn.to/2t4Y8gp Or if you have a bigger budget, the Sound Devices MixPre-3 or 6 are very good: th-cam.com/video/McW2QqVh1jM/w-d-xo.html
Great video Curtis.. I got the C02 and paired it with the zoom h5, I get horrible mic hiss.. plz help. (Edit) Fixed it... I was sending +48 Volts thru phantom... changed it to +12, works awesome now!
Hello Curtis, I’m trying to track down the first mention of the C02 as a dialogue mic, and as it seems, this video is the oldest mention I could find. I was wondering where did first hear about it or if you went in blind to test it, thanks!
Hello Curtis A first place to say hello and thank you for such good videos. They have been very helpful. I wanted to ask you something: How do you do to normalize Loudness LUFS to -23db? I am an announcer and I had to learn to edit audio in order to offer final audios to my clients, but given me to normalize or reduce the LUFS and I really do not know how it is done. Could you give me a little light to investigate and learn? If you are within your possibility to help me, I would appreciate it very much. Regards
Hey Curtis! Just got a DPA 4017b, so I'm on a budget now haha. But looking for a budget indoor dialogue mic and leaving towards the Oktava, but seeing a few sub $100 options like the iSQ Little Gem, Behringer B-5 and Lyxpro SDP-2. Curious if it's worth the additional cost to get the Oktava for self-noise and audio quality rather than trying to get a budget mic that might just be a waste of money.
Hi, unfortunately, I haven't tried any of the others you listed, at least not yet. The LyxPro has been on my list for a while. I'll look up the others. I wouldn't hesitate to use that beautiful 4017b indoors.
For interior dialogue only, do you think a mic like this would outperform a good shotgun mic? I know shotgun mics aren't as great for interior dialogue, but wondering if a more expensive Rode NTG 4 (for instance) would still sound better than a Sampson C02 indoors. Great review!
Hi Ian, yes, if you can manage any reverberation in the room (with sound blankets or equivalent) and you keep the microphone perfectly on-axis to the person speaking, The NTG-4 would not be my first choice in shotgun microphones in that price range but they can work indoors if you manage these two factors. Best wishes!
Thanks, Curtis. I always enjoy your videos. I am looking for an affordable mic to use to upgrade my Zoom app, it seems it's the way to do business these days. Would this be a good application for these Samson C02's? And if I use them for this purpose, do I use both mics or can I get away with using one? It doesn't matter to me knowing they are only sold in pairs. I am using a CAD CM217 right now and was wondering if this would be an upgrade.
Hi Claude, thanks. I don't think this would be much of an upgrade over the CAD - seems to be in about the same league. Is there a particular issue or something you do not like about the CM217? Thanks!
@@curtisjudd I am using it with a Focusrite 2i2 into a MacBook Air, with an old Fostex SW-1 studio monitors and it sounds a little noisy when I increase the gain. I thought maybe the C02's would be cleaner or I wouldn't have to push them as much.
@@evilpaulstark Ah, that makes sense and is a good question. I'm not sure since I haven't tested the CAD, but my recollection is that the Samson was decent, but not stellar in that regard.
Hey Curtis i love your videos i found a similar kind of super cardiod mic at around this budget SENNHEISER E614 OVERHEAD CONDENSER MICROPHONE can you review this as well and compare it SAMSON C02 (this is actually a percussion mic, i just wanted to know if it works for dialogue as well)
Good day Curtis. I just picked up a Zoom H6 and am now looking for a budget mic for indoor dialogue. Wondering if this would have a high enough output for the H6 without causing a lot of hiss. (Just starting out on all this audio stuff so excuse my ignorance).
Late to the party, but thanks for a great review. I'm looking for two mics that can be used for both dialogue (typically a panel discussion - e.g. 5 people in a row with mics placed 2-3 meters away) and ambient sound mixing for an event (e.g. the background hum/chatter of an audience in a hall) - all on a budget of course ;) . I'm considering the C02 or a pair of Boya BY-PVM1000L. Any opinion or suggestions you could give? Thanks!
Good night, about a year ago I started play congas, as I have already completed my set of instruments I decided to complete my set with microphones. What advice you can do to me? I will detail the composition of my set: 3 congas (quinto, conga and tumba), a pair of bongos and accessories such as barchimes, egg shakers among others. Sometimes I have use a "bombo legüero" and a cajon I'm thinking to buy a splash 8 " The higher priority: mics for congas Friends have suggested me the following microphones (less than 130 USD): Shure SM57 Samson C02 Behringer C4 I apologize for my poor English, greetings from Argentina
Ok, first, I have to confess that I dont do a lot of live sound for music work. But in my experience, the challenge with live music is that every stage has its own unique set of challenges and feedback is a serious challenge as well. In that case I would probably recommend the Shure SM57 because it does quite well at preventing feedback (since it is a less sensitive dynamic microphone) and it is also not so sensitive to the bumping and jostling that often occurs on stage. The other two mics are condenser microphones and are more sensitive, but that additional sensitivity means that they can be more susceptible to feedback and interference when they move or shake or are bumped. I hope that helps!
Curtis, I'm wondering how you think a pair of Sampson C02s arranged in XY configuration would perform for recording stereo ambient sound, particularly out in nature? Also, have you tested the LYXPro SPDC-2 and how does it compare to the Sampson?
I have to do a documentary with indoor interviews and I think this mic is a good choice. Can you tell us more about its outdoor performance? If you have a lavalier mic in the other hand, which one would you pick up? Thank you so much.
Hi Jose, this is a good choice for indoor dialogue. Outdoors, a shotgun is usually the preferred choice, but some sound engineers sometimes use mics like this (Sennheiser MKH50) outdoors as long as it is used inside a zeppelin or blimp style wind cover. The pickup pattern on the C02 isn't as focused as most shotgun microphones but it can still work. As for lavalier microphones, my favorites are the Sanken COS-11D and the Countryman B6. On the budget end, it depends on what you'll be recording to. Are you recording to a phone, a Zoom H1, an audio adapter, directly to camera?
Hi Curtis. Thank you very much for answering me. We going to record direct into camera, and we were thinking of use two channels, one for lavalier and the other one for some shotgun. We have the Rode NTG2. Would you pick up that one instead the C02 for outdoor interviews? Thank you for your support.
Hey Sam, I haven't worked with the LyxPro, though it has been on my very large list of microphones to try for some time. Several people have told me that they like the sound.
Hi Curtis. I'm trying to decide between this and the Synco D2. The primary use would be doing on-camera interviews. A pair of these is $110, the Synco D2 $169. Any thoughts between the two?
I have 3 questions. 1 - Can I record dialoque for film outsside too? Is the mic better than ntg-2? 2 - Can I plug the mic directly in to my DSLR? 3 - Can I plug it in to my Zoom H5 and just start recording?
1) Yes. You will need wind protection (ideally a blimp or zeppelin cover). This mic is different than the NTG2, not necessarily better 2) No, it requires phantom power. 3) Yes If you're shooting video and can only have one microphone, a shotgun microphone is a good choice if you'll be recording in and outdoors. The NTG2 is good with the Zoom H5 but not very good when adapted to go directly into a DSLR. To get good dialogue sound, you really need to get the mic closer to the talent. I hope that helps!
Hi Curtis! I am looking for a set of 4 mics that enables me to record both a string quartet or a mixed choir (not at the same time of course) through Zoom H6 (maybe with some ambience via external xy capsule). I happened to get it for a fairly affordable ammout of money. I am on a very tight budget and these projects are clearly amateur - a promo videos for an amateur (semi-professional) ensamble or choir. And it is a bit more for me as a hobby or to get some experience with such kind of work. I was thinking about small diaphgram condenser XLR pencil mics of cardioid or supercardioid pick-up pattern. Do you think the samson C-02 would serve a purpose? I was thinking also about Behringer C-2 or MXL 603. Anything more expensive can be beyond my reach. Paweł
Hi Pawel, this is the least expensive pencil style condenser microphone I have used and it sounds pretty good to my ear. It'll be hard to find another for the same price that is better (effectively close to $60 each). I used the Behringer to mic a piano once and they were about the same in terms of audio quality as the Samson to my ear. I haven't yet tried the MXL. Best wishes!
Hey Chris I've been watching this video like a hundred times listening to the audio. Right now I'm on a very limited budget and I've been thinking about buying the Samson CO2. Right now as a boom mic for indoor dialogue I'm getting away with using a SURE SM58. The mic is connected to a MACKIE PRO FX12V3 board with the mic gain all the way up and fader all the way up to get a decent dialog vocal recording from 3ft away. The Mackie ProFX12 V3 is connected via USB to my PC and I record into whatever: Soundforge, Zoom, Facebook, Vegas Pro, etc. Do you think the Samson CO2 will sound better than the Sure SM58?
@@curtisjudd Sorry. Subs was a typo. I just wanted to know what you thought about the audio quality of the Samson CO2 vs the Shure SM58? I know they're different mics, but I just wanted to know what I'll gain and lose when I switch my indoor dialog mic from sm58 to CO2?
Hi Curtis, Thank you again for sharing your wisdom. We are currently using an NTG 4+ mounted on a mic stand with zoom H6 and lined out directly to GH3. It's indoor and mostly dialogue - single actor. We are getting a lot of reverb and echo'ish if we go with Samson co2 replacing NTG4+, will there be any significant improvement in audio for the same indoor dialogue setup.
Hi Deepak, no, the Samson has a wider pickup pattern than the NTG4+ so that will likely not help. Sound blankets will do more to solve that issue: th-cam.com/video/uzyEaVYCk3s/w-d-xo.html
As a sound engineer, Samson is one of my favorite brand. They always made great, basic gear, and they use their brand name to build a reputation around best quality-price ratio in the industry. I never had a Samson product failing on me. They're not making glamourous products that appeal to masses. They're making cost-effective products that appeal to productions who only need the basics. I will get myself a pair for stereo pairing on stage. I don't believe they're perfectly matched at this price-point, but you wouldn't notice the difference on stage or for a quick live-demo. It's probably perfect for drumset overheads. Extremely versatile. Also I wanted to have a mic stand to boom pole adaptable clip for YEARS!! I want to buy a dozen of those.
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I've always been a fan of the Samson C02's. They've been around a real long time. Nice to see them get some love on here!
+Cody Clarke I was impressed. Thanks Cody.
I bought the pair of Samson CO2 four years ago after seeing this review. I still use them. One is on my desk for (casual!) voice over and video conferencing, in a good shock mount with a small pop filter, and the other is on an articulating mic arm over a workbench, ready to use with a MixPre3 for video of mechanical details with accompanying audio. Both still work just fine for me.
Great buy! Glad to hear they're still working well for you.
This guy has a ridiculously relaxing voice, and I was told everything I wanted to know about the kit itself.
Awesome video man.
Thanks SoftFluffyBoi
Amazing sounding mic for the price! Thanks so much Curtis for such a great review, they are superb!
Thanks!
I've used a stereo pair of CO2s on acoustic guitars for years and people are always blown away by the quality
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Huh! Just over a hundred bucks for two. That surprised me. Great video, and can't wait to see the other comparisons.
+Basic Filmmaker they're no NTG3s, but not bad for those getting started.
I love these microphones!! I'm so glad I saw this video!! I film concerts, bands, and strong audio sources, so that should give others here a reference.
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I mix and film bands, so I think that would the best 150 bucks investment I can make right now :D
Thank you for your response! Your channel is such a great service. It has made the audio video world much more accessible to me.
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Great video Curtis :) I have been watching many of your videos and really value your knowledge and passion for sound recording. I've never been super happy with my interview sound from anything other than my lav mics. At college we were taught to use shotgun mics for interviews - regardless of the location. I was using a NTG2 but found it very noisy with both the H4n and DR-40, I sold it and discovered the Fethead preamp which seemed to turn it into a much better mic when using with lower end recorders. Regardless I bought a MKE600 from Sennheiser as it's more sensitive - and a Fethead! I was much happier with the results. I then discovered your videos on using small diaphragm mics like the Samson C02 for indoor dialogue and due to the very low price bought a pair to test out. The audio quality is excellent and to me not worse than the MKE600 and infact was picking up less room noise at the same distance and levels. Very impressed. Thanks again for the great videos, you certainly have a chuffed subscriber here :)
+Adam Troup Thanks Adam! I really appreciate your feedback!
Curtis thanks again for these videos. I'd like to leave a little bit of audio wisdom here, I haven't heard you mention it, and I expect this video will attract many beginners who could benefit from this advice:
In regards to low cut/high pass filters, I prefer a mic that has this feature because there is a tun of power in those low frequencies. By reducing those frequencies (and that power) before the signal hits the Analog to Digital converter, we will have a little more headroom on the input, thus a slightly better signal to noise ratio. It is not major, but as in all things, many little details add up into a final outcome. If we ace all those little details, we have a shot at acing the final product.
With that said, I'm watching this video because I'm considering these Samson mics for my own purposes, so I don't mean to discourage a purchase of these mics. I've found that Samson has really been making a play for the prosumer/professional audio market. I use their S Patch+ patch bay which is superlative, and Samson also produces the Zoom product line, so the H4N which really was disruptive when introduced, and all the excellent audio recorders, H5, 6, and the F series.
+Bushcraft Beats thank you! Good point regarding high pass filters.
Was very busy today, and rushed through that comment and didn't finish my thought! Embarrassing! So any beginners reading this, I want to emphasize that Samson is really pushing and innovating, there are many really useful products under their corporate umbrella that lower budget people can access and use to realize their vision. As a consumer, I love finding these companies that are hungry. They're hungry like we're hungry. They are trying to achieve more with less, just as we are.
This comment made me purchase these microphones on the spot! I had no idea that the zoom products were created by samson! Huge fan!
I got thismic since many years, I started recording live cymbals drums and other instruments, I wasn't impressed for those kind of works, but since about 2 years I started recording sound effects and also dialogues, well I changed my opinion for these mics (stereo pair), they are doing a very good job, they are good even with loud sources like impacts. I like your review, with pros and cons in a neutral way, not affected by the price.
+Stefano Cremona Thanks Stefano, good to hear your experience with the C02 as well!
Thinking about getting something new. Been using the ntg2 for dialogue. I'm looking forward to your comparison!
+Suck My Mod can't wait to compare them!
Thanks for this video, Curtis. I found out this application quite by chance; when I had to record dialogue in an office space and I couldn't boom. I used this mic as a hidden mic inside a work-station and it worked for me!
Clever! Good work!
Glad you recorded the video with the mic you're reviewing. Honestly didn't sound that great, which helped.
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This actually sounds pretty good and withing my budget. Currently have been using an at2020 mostly for desk use, but I need something that I can use to record out of frame and also don't want to constantly move my mic around between my different recording areas. Thanks for the video! Definitely investing into these.
Good luck!
Hi Curtis,
Thanks for this interesting episode.
Looking forward to see your next one about the Rode NT5.
+Philippe Schultz Thanks!
Hey. Just wanted to say thanks for making this. I needed a lower priced option and so got the CO2's. Sounds really good.
Thanks Tim. Happy recording!
Excited for that comparison video! Like always, great work. I really appreciate what you've shown, thank you!
+Spagettit Thanks!
Hi Curtis,
You're the only person on TH-cam I trust when it comes to audio, and I have just started learning stuffs about sound.
I have heard that the reason that the Samson C02 mic is sold as a pair because they were design to be stereo mic.
I am planning to upgrade to the Samson C02 along with the Tascam DR60D Mark II soon. Is it possible to set-up the 60D to record the Samson C02 as a mono audio directly from the 60D, as oppose to duplicating the input into another channel in post.
Thanks,
Bew
PS. Currently, I'm using only a Saramonic wireless lav. set-up directly into the GH5 camera.
Hi Bew, you can record to a mono track with the 60D. If your video editing app can take mono tracks, there shouldn’t be a need to duplicate the audio to another track in post. Best wishes.
@@curtisjudd Thanks for the reply, Curtis. Any chance you are going to do a review on the Sennheiser MKH-416?
Very helpful and again nice review, Thank's Curtis!
Thanks!
Thanks. I think this mic was used in the Werner Herzog MasterClass Ad ! which sounds GREAT!!
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This microphone sounds amazing. It's so cheap I might not have considered it. Thanks again.
If you do end up buying, I hope it works well for you!
Hey Curtis, I'm a photographer, while taking corporate headshots I was asked to do some short interviews, which I did. First one was with Rode Wireless Go + lavalier directly into camera, went well; I then upgraded to Rode videomic NTG on overhead boom when I had to do 20 people in one day, to avoid to re-mic each person with lavalier, also bought a Tascam 60DII to have backup recordings and more control. All that stuff was bought cheap and used, I'm not looking for the fancy buy, interviews is side business, so I invest what needed but money responsible.
I was considering to get rid of Videomic NTG and moving to XLR mics as I have phantom on the 60DII; doing only indoor dialogues, as per your videos I'm looking at cheap pencils, stereo pairs, so I get a backup mic in case one breaks; wanting to stay cheap around 100€$, so I was looking at the Samson C02, but also at Behringer C2 which are even cheaper, 50€ for the pair. You didn't review the C2's, online reviews puts them basically au pair with the Samson C2, especially for a beginner like me. Do you have any info on those Behringer's vs the Samson's? Other than C02's and C-2's, any other suggestion in the 100€ range? I found also MXL 606 and t.bone SC 140 in that price range, but reviews are mixed.
Or should I just stick with Videomic NTG, as XLR stuff for a beginner side business makes no sense, and buy a cheap 30€$ Videomicro as emergency backup? Thanks, and thank you for your great work, you really are teaching me lot of stuff on audio, which is something I never touched as photographer.
If you’re getting good results with the VideoMic NTG, I’d stick with that. I wouldn’t expect the Samson to sound any better.
@@curtisjudd Thanks very much Curtis for taking the time to answer me, it means a lot, and thanks again for your work!
Ahhhh I am such a fan of your videos! So informative. I am starting a new project…interviewing my hospice patients about their lives in a short-doc style film. Do you think this mic would be sufficient for an interview? Yes, indoor! I am just a little nervous of buying the wrong mic♥️😭
This is a “decent if you simply cannot spend more” type of microphone. I’d actually prefer a RODE VideoMic Pro or similar mic.
@@curtisjudd thank you so much!!! I am planning to get the Rode video mic pro now to connect to a boom pole overhead! Considering that I’ve never used a mic before, would I need to get headphones to be listening to the audio while filming? I will be interviewing others, one person at a time. You are so helpful!!!!!! 10/10 thank you!!
@@natasha7773 I would always recommend listening with headphones while recording so you can make sure the recording is working and there isn't any unwanted noise or other issues.
Lol we use these bad boys for a local TV show and have it connected to our MixPre 6 II. All gear that we researched thoroughly, but have also seen featured on your channel!
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I'd like to see a pair of Behringer C-2 cardioid mics compared to these if possible. I like mine.
+Sganzerla I'll see if I can get my hands on a set.
+Curtis Judd Cool! Will keep an eye on next videos, as always. Thanks!
You should include the zoom h4n in the comparison video, so people like me that can't afford the zoom f8 could still get and idea of the sound. Thanks!
+edwin reyes thanks Edwin for the input. Fine idea.
A very useful video and I also liked the comparison of this with the 4 other mics. You say that this isn't really suitable for converting to the small jack connectors on a DSLR. Does that mean that it wouldn't be suited to use with my Tascam DR-05?
Incidentally, I really appreciate your presentation style. I am new to video having worked in stills for 20 years. I have looked at many tutorials on YT and am so pleased to find ones that are presented in a sensible straightforward style for adults. Keep uo the good work and many thanks for helping people like me.
+John H. Maw Thank you John. The C02, and indeed most small diaphragm condenser microphones, require 48V phantom power. So unless the microphone has the ability to power itself (e.g., slot for a battery), you cannot adapt it for a 3.5mm input. For those cases, I'd recommend something more like the RODE VideoMic Pro or Azden SMX 15 or 30: th-cam.com/video/qRyUvMGVjis/w-d-xo.html Best wishes!
+Curtis Judd Thanks for the very quick and informative reply. The review of the three shotgun mics was also very useful and interesting. I hope you don't mind a further question.
What attracted me to the Samson microphones (as well as the amazing price) was that they seem to be quite well thought of for both dialogue and also musical instrument (acoustic guitar or mandolin) recording. Looking at the price and bearing in mind that I would need two separate mics for duet ensemble recording it might be cheaper to buy the Samson mics and a Tascam DR-40 or DR-60. Does this sound like a sensible approach?
Thanks again.
+John H. Maw Absolutely and given your recording scenario, a much better choice. I would recommend you avoid the Tascam DR-40 as its preamplifier design is quite dated and produces a fair bit of self-noise. Instead, I'd highly recommend the Tascam DR-60DmkII which I reviewed here. Fortunately, the DR-60DMmkII is not much more expensive than the DR-40: th-cam.com/video/TRoIMPHS91U/w-d-xo.html Best wishes and happy recording!
+Curtis Judd I'm extremely grateful for your time. Thank you very much.
Outstanding review. This looks like a winner for my budget. Thanks.
+Robert Shaver thanks!
Cant wait to see the Audix there really isn't a good thorough test of it. And I curious about the AKG cant seem to find anything about that either. Love your reviews its nice having someone give more in depth reviews on audio. I wish I could get another mic, just recently upgraded from the NT2 to the NTG3 should get it in next week.,wanted to also get the Audix but I opted for a new lens instead. It's always a pleasure to watch your reviews.
+Silent778 thanks and best wishes with the NTG3 - solid mic!
this mic sounded better to me than any of my large diaphragm condensers to me.
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The high frequencies can be easily fixed by using a 1 layer sock made of pantyhose material to go over the grill and capsule area, use an elastic to hold the material tight. All my mics have this on them including large condensers.
Interesting idea, I'll try it!
Curtis Judd Thanks it is not mine but an old engineers trick for working with vintage ribbon mics. I actually added those "Socks" to my dynamic mics as well. Very well made video here showing the differences in capturing dialog vs acoustic guitars and what mics are used. I actually picked up the Monoprice Matched pair condensers with are secretly MXL 603's on the insides they are a sleeper mic set and great for acoustic instruments or dialog.
Curtis, again thanks as always for your feedback & Guidance. I was recommended, by a B&H rep, the Senal SCI-3212 Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone. The package came with three separate capsules Omnidirectional, Cardioid & a Super Cardioid which are easily switchable. I have done some static testing and all seems good. I plan on using it when my Sennheiser 416 is too much or I have an Echo Chamber for a scene. Your thoughts? Thanks, Todd
Hi Todd, seems like an interesting option. Would be interested to hear some samples with it. Often the more affordable mics do pretty well on one or two dimensions but struggle in another like handling noise or they don't handle transients very well. But I'm curious enough that I'd like to give it a try!
Seems like I found the pair I'm gonna buy! Who knows, they might stay with me without upgrading for something else if EQ can make it sound fuller.
Probably, yes. A little on the noisy side, but impressive price.
Hello! First of all, thanks for all of your amazing content, I watch it all the time, sometimes just to hear/see what the gear you've convinced me to buy is capable of. Anyway.. You say you don't recommend the CO2 to be used on top of the camera, but is that just because of the phantom power requirement or for the pick up pattern? I have a BMPCC 4K and it can power the microphone no problem, is that a good idea or should I just get a NTG4 plus / NTG2 or NTG5 ??
Hi Adrien, mostly because of the polar pattern. An NTG5 would be a brilliant option. Best wishes!
Good job James Blunt!
Thanks ShymonMusic
great vid as usual. demo you need to do is akg blue line ck93 vs 4053b vs audix scx-1 hc. just those three in a comparison. my money is on the akg.
+steve eastwoofer Done. :) th-cam.com/video/q-b_1gOYOEQ/w-d-xo.html
these examples all sound very good, but I am curious as to how it would sound say 3 or 4 feet away from you (boom mic position). I want to start streaming regularly on youtube and I need one that will be near the ceiling while I sit down and I wonder how much the sound quality will suffer being that far away.
It'll suffer quite a bit for all of them. It'll pick up a lot more room noise when positioned that far away.
@@curtisjudd thanks for the honesty!
I'm also thinking about this setup. What do you have in mid for your far-away boom mic?
@@hans6304 it's between the samsong and behringer (can't remember the model but a similar price)
@@metal_helm please share when you've decided and tried. Cheers!
Hello Curtis, thank you for all the things you have done for the community. I can learn so much from you now that I am about to start a channel with my family.
A quick question, please. Our upcoming studio setup will be in a 5x5 meter untreated room with the Air Cond most probably turned on most of the time. The focus will be a short table with 150x80 cm and 40-50cm height with a toddler and a teenager sitting down and talking. If I may ask what would be the best setup for audio and lighting in this scenario? We will be shooting with a Sony A7iii and a smartphone on a gimbal, and quite starting to understand that we will have to put a rug and other cloth materials in the room.
Would one or two Samson CO2 mikes on overhead booms and two Godox SL60W-ii led lights on the right and left of the table with one or two fill/hair lights be enough for us? I wouldn't mind having a sound recorder such as the Tascam DR-60D MKII but thought that two Rode Wireless Go ii transmitters attached on the two kids with hidden lavs would be more cost-efficient. May we have your thoughts and inputs, please? Much appreciated.
Hi Hans, thanks for the question. The CO2s are ok, but a little on the noisy side. When you have multiple microphones in the same space, you get the advantage of better pickup since you can aim one at each person or group of people. But you also get what is called bleed. When person one talks, they get picked up by microphone one but also a little bit by microphone 2. So you'll have to clean that up in post or it won't sound great. So yes, the CO2s can work, I just wanted to make sure you understand that using more than one mic is more complicated than using a single mic.
The lights should be good. If you just want a big wash of even lighting and the ceiling is a neutral color, you might consider aiming a light at the ceiling which is better than any fill light. You essentially create a huge soft box on the ceiling.
RODE Wireless GOs should be good, but same applies as with the CO2s.
@@curtisjudd thank you for taking the time to respond. We really appreciate it. Best wishes.
Another super helpful video. Thanks mate.
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Another helpful and well done review!
+Al Foote III thanks Al!
Hey Curtis, It would be great to see this mic compared with the inexpensive Audio Technica AT875R, which has also had a lot of good reviews. It is also a good choice for indoor dialogue recording. I own two of these ; ) Thx for your informative vids
+syekbe Thanks, yes the AT875R is on my list to review at some point.
super cool review thanks! I'm between this one or the Behringer C2 and C4
Thanks and good luck!
I'm planning on using these in combination with my scarlet 2i2 and audacity to record skype-based lessons. I don't see any compatibility issues, do yo? Btw, love your channel! Subscribed, liked and shared!
Hi Zachary, I don't see any compatibility issues. Best wishes on the lessons!
I bought a pair of these on the strength of this review but found the floor noise they produce way too loud. When compared to a c214 they are like hissing snakes. NT5s a little more expensive but they are at least useable.
Thanks for sharing. I wonder, were your copies noisier than what we tested here? I wonder if there's a lot of variation copy to copy...
@@curtisjudd I guess that’s possible. Thanks for your videos Curtis. They are really helpful.
just bought these. and they are great.
Glad they worked out well for you!
Hey Curtis! Just got a pair of these based off of this video. I am having a really hard time positioning the mic off camera and getting the same sound as you. The amount of gain I need to apply to pick up my voice at the distance of about 12 inches is insane (48) and is introducing a lot of noise. I tried to mimic your setup as much as possible in regards to mic positioning. Using the amps in a go xlr and recording straight to my PC.
Hi Clayton, 48 dB of gain is perhaps a little higher than I had it set here, but not by much. Where do you peaks hit on the meters when you speak and are at +48? Also, what sound sources are in the room with you? I had to make sure to record in a quiet space as microphones will still pick up reflecting sound and anything in its polar pattern.
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis thank you for the thoughtful response! I am definitely not in the quietest room. I am recording in the corner of my apartment. I just changed my camera and microphone angle so that there is more space between the wall behind me and the wall behind the mic and it seems to have helped . The non normalized noise floor is -104db. Peaking at -30db with 48db of gain and 16" away from my mouth speaking at normal volume.
@@dougmichael1301 Ok, wow -104dB for a noise floor is excellent. It is odd that your meters are only peaking at -30dB with +48dB of gain applied. I assume phantom power is turned on? Also, if you can move the microphone closer to you, say about 12 inches away, that will also help.
@@curtisjudd Yes phantom power is on. I will experiment with moving it closer while still attempting to keep it out of frame. Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply, I love the channel! Looking forward to exploring more of this new hobby!!
Awesome review!!! I'm trying to decide between these microphones or the Behringer c2's which would you recommend ? Thanks keep up the great work!
They're very different. The Samson is a small diaphragm condenser which for film you would normally boom. The Behringer is a large diaphragm condenser which is typically use more for voice over type of work. For booming for video and film, I'd probably opt for the Samson.
Curtis Judd ok good deal thanks for the help! And again keep up the good work
@@curtisjudd the Behringer C-2 stereo set are a pair of small diafragm "professional" condenser microphones that cost only half the price of a pair of Samson C02. Like the Samsons the claim is that they're Cardioid, but the pictogram on the mic itself looks more like super cardioid. They have a switch for either a high pass filter or a 10dB pad. Including micro-clips, foam windscreen, stereo bar and transport case. Judging by the sound samples on thomann's website they sound fine. 20 - 20 kHz range according to Behringer' website. A number of people have made quite enthusiastic reviews on TH-cam. I'd probably try them before the Samsons if I were looking for a budget-friendly option.
@@skakdosmer Thanks for the input.
Love your videos. I’d really like to hear your thoughts on acoustic treatments for dialog in a conference room setting using a boom mic. Do you do anything to treat a room when doing corporate jobs?
Thanks Paul. I usually use sound blankets like this: th-cam.com/video/uzyEaVYCk3s/w-d-xo.html
Curtis Judd perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much.
i was looking at the rode WS8 that works with the Rode nt55, would that work better than the other one you suggested? btw im a BIG fan.
Hi Richie, I didn't know RODE made that. Yes, that should work just about as well as the Micover. The very best would probably be the Rycote Softie but unfortunately it costs nearly as much as 2 Samson CO2 mics: amzn.to/2aentbF
Hi, loved the video, I was wondering how you think these would do recording nature sounds, I myself like many other here am on a budget, I was also wondering how you think these stack up against the internal mics of the tascam dr-40 which will be the source for the phantom power for what ever mic I choose
Thanks
Hi Runic Warrior, I'd work with he DR-40's inbuilt microphones. The DR-40's XLR preamps are not the quietest so using external microphones with it is not likely to produce better recordings. Good luck!
Curtis, have you ever used the Behringer C-2? Seems to be getting pretty good reviews.
+Spencer Trejo no, haven't used these, thanks for the alert. They look like an interesting low cost option.
Curtis Judd I really like the Samson C02, but they are on backorder at B&H. These look like a viable option though.
Hi Curtis ! Came here from Gerald Undone channel and wanted to say thanks (a lot!) for your precious tests ! If you could just help me with this little question ? I searched in the comments and on the internet but could not find the answer. I'm planning to use samson C02 with a Zoom H4N as preamp plugged into a Sony A7iii. Will it perform well ? Or should i buy a fethead phatom for the samson ? Or rather buy a more expensive preamp like zoom H5 / H6 / Tascam ? Have a nice day :) !
Hi Félix, That combination will work but I wouldn't invest in an H4n in 2019 if you don't already have it. An H5 or Tascam DR-60DmkII would be slightly better options in my opinion. Best wishes!
@@curtisjudd Thanks for you quick answer :) very much appreciated really :) And indeed, i own my H4N since 2010. Would you say the fethead phatom worth the 70$ for the benefits it will bring ? Or shouldn't i bother buying one ? :) Have a nice day !
@ I would start without the fethead phantom and assess how you like the results. Best wishes!
IMportant Info, comparison will provide buying decitions.
Please include the AKG P170
+Felipe Henao thanks Felipe. I'll add the P170 to the list for a future episode. Thanks for that.
Thank you for this amazing review. I need something similar to use in my instructional videos for TH-cam. I use Desktop/LaptopPC and would need a USB interface to connect. Can you please recommend any budget-friendly USB Mic with excellent voice quality output and Noise cancellation.
Hi Syed. The Audio Technica AT2005 works nicely: th-cam.com/video/EHgSC3C0pTw/w-d-xo.html
hi Curtis!!! what do u think about these on home foley recording?? if not, could u recommend me any mic in similar price?? love ur videos! I hope u make some foley vids soon
Sure, these could do the job.
could this be used for singing in a crappy garage band? hook it up to a receiver/amp? i know absolutely nothing about microphones but already learned a lot from this video. only two minutes in.
+Alex Galindo Hi Alex, it could be used for that but I think you'll be better off for live music using a dynamic mic like the Shure SM58: amzn.to/22zXbID That'll help avoid feedback issues. Good luck!
+Curtis Judd thanks. I'm gonna look up more of your videos on those type of mics. but i think im gonna gonna stick with the samson co2 because i also do want to do personal acoustic guitar recordings and piano. either way im gonna buy from one of your links. i hope i can support your channel
+Alex Galindo Thanks and best wishes!
Convinced me. I bought 'em.
Happy recording!
Hey Curtis, great video! Was wondering if these mics will be any good when connected to a DJ Controller? And if so do you have any recommendations for power supplies? Thanks!
Hi Nath, That depends on a number of things. Does your DJ controller have an XLR microphone input with Phantom power? If not, you'll need a mixer. I'd look at something like the Mackie VLZ4s: amzn.to/2D1v8Ye
However, usually for live use, dynamic microphones are a safer bet than a condenser mic like this, unless there is a specific reason you need a condenser? Of course the most common dynamic mic for live shows is the Shure SM58: amzn.to/2B0x01F It does not need power, just a microphone input and possibly a mixer (if your controller doesn't have the mic input). Good luck!
Thank you so much for your review video! Can I use Samson c02 for outdoor dialogues?
Yes, but need to get it close to the person speaking and wind protection. Happy recording!
Hi Curtis. Thanks for the review. This is a very affordable mic. Does it sound way better than MAONO AU-XLR20 Lavalier mic? They are very different devices, but the C02 is retailing at around $60 on some online stores in India, hence tempting
Hi Santosh, in my experience, yes, it sounds far more natural than any lavalier microphone.
Hi Curtis, great video. Would you still recommend the CO2 in 2021 as a somewhat decent Indoor dialogue mic?
Hard to beat for the price but probably requires some EQ.
@@curtisjudd thanks, you rock
mushroom icon on mic usually refers(at least to me) to supercardioid or hyper. cardiodi is more "ass" image )
Yep, this seems like a mic with a rather wide super pattern.
Lol “ass pickup pattern”
only if B&H sold octava. We would see lot of them being reviewed. perhaps you can contact octava and have them send you review units
+MySchizo Buddy the Oktava is on my list. So many microphones, so little time... 😀
Hey Curtis! Thanks for your videos! We are working on upgrading our sound set-up and could do with some advice. Currently recording using cheap Tascam shotgun mic and thinking of going Samson C02 + Tascam recorder or go the other way and just get rode video mic pro. Cost for the rode would be lower as there are less items to buy, but would we loose out that much on quality? Also, we do record outside from time to time as well - the upgrade there may be good. Which would you recommend?
Hi A2K, I think the VideoMic Pro sounds better than the CO2s but you have to get the mic off the camera and closer to the talent like this: th-cam.com/video/TUEmQBZKoBs/w-d-xo.html
Hi Curtis!
Its seems a great mic, would be interesting to compare to a rode ntg4+. In terms of specs it has better quality frequency response but in practical terms I wonder if its a better option.
Thanks, cheers.
+Jorge Dourado Hi Jorge, I think it partly depends on whether you'll be shooting primarily outdoors or indoors. A supercardioid mic like the Samson is probably a better choice for indoors in many cases.
+Curtis Judd For indoors scene situations, sometimes I bump into the usual echo room, or noise coming from spot lights(for example), so looking for other options rather then ntg4+, Samson looks interesting.
Thanks Curtis.
Great info on this particular shotgun Mic! Question my friend as far as a Deadcat/Windscreen. Where do I purchase that for the CO2? Thanks much!
Hi J Cross, Great question. If you are in the US, I would call B&H and they can help you find a Rycote or other solution. If in Europe, Tomann. Best wishes!
I found that the Rode Videomicro's included dead kitten works perfectly with this mic. I think Movo also makes them.
Wonderfull review, thanks Curtis i will put it in my 2020 list. Can you recommend it in a noisy envionment? if no, wich one would you recommend us?
If you're in a noisy environment, you'll want to get it as close as possible to the sound source you want to capture.
@@curtisjudd Thanks i know that rule, yes ... the closer, the best but ... maybe what i want is not possible. The scene is like that ... 3 people taking as an interview 2-3 meter from camera .. so can i use only one bom mic to get "decent" audio from all of them ? Know that i will use 3 cameras and one of them will be as wide as i can to get 3 people + some promotionals. Hope my idea was not too uthopic. Im looking for the best as possible with the less gear i can install
@@DaniPerezFotografia That's a tough situation. Ideally, for a wide shot you'd go with lavalier microphones for each person. If you put this on the camera, it is NOT going to sound good. What is the closest you can get the microphone to the people and still be out of the wide shot? Will you have someone who can cue the mic between the three people during the interview on a boom pole?
@@curtisjudd Thank you very much, in some jobs i am the only multicam-audio-man doing all. I was looking for an audio simple backup solution in case something faile, using only one fix boom mic or something like that. The principal audio will be one mic(wired or wireless) for each person. Thank you very much :)
@@DaniPerezFotografia For backup audio that will sound slightly better than camera audio, this or any directional microphone will be fine. Unless you spend a LOT of money for a Cedar DNS or Schoeps SuperCMIT 2U, most microphones will pick up quite a lot of ambient noise/sound when they're sitting on a camera 2+ meters away.
I was about to get the Samson, but then discovered I could get a great price on the Behringer C-2 or C-4, but I don't know the difference between the two. THEN I discovered great reviews about the Lyxpro SDPC-2. Now I don't know what to buy on my small budget... (sigh)
Hi Jeffrey, have a listen to samples of each and go with the one that sounds best to your ears. I do not love the sound of the C02's, but they're decent for the price.
Looks similar to the Neumann KM184. Being Neumann brands I can imagine the price is an arm and a leg?
Neumann KM184 is far more expensive, yes.
Hello. After looking at several low budget microphones, the ones provided in this video seem like a really great option. My question is, can this mics be used during a live streaming video? If yes, what equipment would be needed to accomplish this? Can a recorder still be used? Or is a mixer needed?
Hello Gibar, Yes, this microphone can be used effectively for live streaming. The question about what you need to feed the livestream depends on how you plan to stream. Will you be using your phone? Your computer?
I will be using my computer.
Another question, could you use an audio recorder to send the audio from the microphone to the computer while live streaming? Or what would you recommend?
Depending on your budget, you could use something like the Zoom U-24: amzn.to/2t4Y8gp Or if you have a bigger budget, the Sound Devices MixPre-3 or 6 are very good: th-cam.com/video/McW2QqVh1jM/w-d-xo.html
Great video Curtis.. I got the C02 and paired it with the zoom h5, I get horrible mic hiss.. plz help. (Edit) Fixed it... I was sending +48 Volts thru phantom... changed it to +12, works awesome now!
👍
Hello Curtis, I’m trying to track down the first mention of the C02 as a dialogue mic, and as it seems, this video is the oldest mention I could find.
I was wondering where did first hear about it or if you went in blind to test it, thanks!
A videographer from Australia told me about it, but unfortunately, I don't remember his name.
Hello Curtis
A first place to say hello and thank you for such good videos. They have been very helpful. I wanted to ask you something: How do you do to normalize Loudness LUFS to -23db? I am an announcer and I had to learn to edit audio in order to offer final audios to my clients, but given me to normalize or reduce the LUFS and I really do not know how it is done. Could you give me a little light to investigate and learn? If you are within your possibility to help me, I would appreciate it very much. Regards
Hi Juan, this episode may help: th-cam.com/video/-J1v0bdji6c/w-d-xo.html Best wishes!
Great video. How well do you think this would work for streaming if it's connected to an Audient iD4 interface?
It would be ok. The iD4 is a much nicer interface than this microphone, to be honest.
Hey Curtis! Just got a DPA 4017b, so I'm on a budget now haha. But looking for a budget indoor dialogue mic and leaving towards the Oktava, but seeing a few sub $100 options like the iSQ Little Gem, Behringer B-5 and Lyxpro SDP-2. Curious if it's worth the additional cost to get the Oktava for self-noise and audio quality rather than trying to get a budget mic that might just be a waste of money.
Hi, unfortunately, I haven't tried any of the others you listed, at least not yet. The LyxPro has been on my list for a while. I'll look up the others. I wouldn't hesitate to use that beautiful 4017b indoors.
Great video!
+RocKofNine thanks!
For interior dialogue only, do you think a mic like this would outperform a good shotgun mic? I know shotgun mics aren't as great for interior dialogue, but wondering if a more expensive Rode NTG 4 (for instance) would still sound better than a Sampson C02 indoors. Great review!
Hi Ian, yes, if you can manage any reverberation in the room (with sound blankets or equivalent) and you keep the microphone perfectly on-axis to the person speaking, The NTG-4 would not be my first choice in shotgun microphones in that price range but they can work indoors if you manage these two factors. Best wishes!
Thanks so much!
good video i see you . love good audio
+Trevers phone reviews Thanks and I agree.
have you heard of the LyxPro SDPC-2 Stereo Pair
Yes, but haven’t had a chance to try it. Have you?
Curtis Judd no just curious I see neewer also has a pair also.
Thanks for the tip, Mr. Judd, quick question. Do you think someone could -- in theory -- use these with a boom arm for Voice Over?
Yes.
Thanks, Curtis. I always enjoy your videos. I am looking for an affordable mic to use to upgrade my Zoom app, it seems it's the way to do business these days. Would this be a good application for these Samson C02's? And if I use them for this purpose, do I use both mics or can I get away with using one? It doesn't matter to me knowing they are only sold in pairs. I am using a CAD CM217 right now and was wondering if this would be an upgrade.
Hi Claude, thanks. I don't think this would be much of an upgrade over the CAD - seems to be in about the same league. Is there a particular issue or something you do not like about the CM217? Thanks!
@@curtisjudd I am using it with a Focusrite 2i2 into a MacBook Air, with an old Fostex SW-1 studio monitors and it sounds a little noisy when I increase the gain. I thought maybe the C02's would be cleaner or I wouldn't have to push them as much.
Would I be better off with a Blue Yeti?
@@evilpaulstark Ah, that makes sense and is a good question. I'm not sure since I haven't tested the CAD, but my recollection is that the Samson was decent, but not stellar in that regard.
@@evilpaulstark Sadly, I haven't tried a Yeti either. I'm sorry - I'm striking out today. 😞
Curtis I'm ordering the Samson 2 mic deal. Is there budget shockmount options you can recommend?
Hmm, not off the top of my head. I usually go with Rycote shockmounts which aren’t cheap.
Hey Curtis i love your videos
i found a similar kind of super cardiod mic at around this budget
SENNHEISER E614 OVERHEAD CONDENSER MICROPHONE
can you review this as well and compare it SAMSON C02
(this is actually a percussion mic, i just wanted to know if it works for dialogue as well)
+Amogh Kochhar Thanks, I'll add that to my list for the future (probably will not be able to get it before I need to return these other mics)
can I use it for choir in a church??
Yes
Good day Curtis. I just picked up a Zoom H6 and am now looking for a budget mic for indoor dialogue. Wondering if this would have a high enough output for the H6 without causing a lot of hiss. (Just starting out on all this audio stuff so excuse my ignorance).
Late to the party, but thanks for a great review. I'm looking for two mics that can be used for both dialogue (typically a panel discussion - e.g. 5 people in a row with mics placed 2-3 meters away) and ambient sound mixing for an event (e.g. the background hum/chatter of an audience in a hall) - all on a budget of course ;) . I'm considering the C02 or a pair of Boya BY-PVM1000L. Any opinion or suggestions you could give? Thanks!
Seems like a good, low price combination.
Thanks for the video. What stereo configuration do you advise for recording a small SATB choir (about 20 singers) With the CO2.
Thanks a lot.
ORTF if you want wide. AB for narrower stereo field.
Good night, about a year ago I started play congas, as I have already completed my set of instruments I decided to complete my set with microphones. What advice you can do to me?
I will detail the composition of my set:
3 congas (quinto, conga and tumba), a pair of bongos and accessories such as barchimes, egg shakers among others.
Sometimes I have use a "bombo legüero" and a cajon
I'm thinking to buy a splash 8 "
The higher priority: mics for congas
Friends have suggested me the following microphones (less than 130 USD):
Shure SM57
Samson C02
Behringer C4
I apologize for my poor English, greetings from Argentina
Hi Marcos. Do you need microphones for live performance, for recording, or both?
Live performance.
When I record, I usually do this in third party recording studios
Ok, first, I have to confess that I dont do a lot of live sound for music work. But in my experience, the challenge with live music is that every stage has its own unique set of challenges and feedback is a serious challenge as well. In that case I would probably recommend the Shure SM57 because it does quite well at preventing feedback (since it is a less sensitive dynamic microphone) and it is also not so sensitive to the bumping and jostling that often occurs on stage. The other two mics are condenser microphones and are more sensitive, but that additional sensitivity means that they can be more susceptible to feedback and interference when they move or shake or are bumped. I hope that helps!
thanks for the advice!
Curtis, I'm wondering how you think a pair of Sampson C02s arranged in XY configuration would perform for recording stereo ambient sound, particularly out in nature? Also, have you tested the LYXPro SPDC-2 and how does it compare to the Sampson?
Hi Francis, I think they'd do ok as long as you have some good wind protection on them. They're good for their price.
Great Review
+Mychal Simmons thanks
I have to do a documentary with indoor interviews and I think this mic is a good choice. Can you tell us more about its outdoor performance? If you have a lavalier mic in the other hand, which one would you pick up? Thank you so much.
Hi Jose, this is a good choice for indoor dialogue. Outdoors, a shotgun is usually the preferred choice, but some sound engineers sometimes use mics like this (Sennheiser MKH50) outdoors as long as it is used inside a zeppelin or blimp style wind cover. The pickup pattern on the C02 isn't as focused as most shotgun microphones but it can still work. As for lavalier microphones, my favorites are the Sanken COS-11D and the Countryman B6. On the budget end, it depends on what you'll be recording to. Are you recording to a phone, a Zoom H1, an audio adapter, directly to camera?
Hi Curtis. Thank you very much for answering me. We going to record direct into camera, and we were thinking of use two channels, one for lavalier and the other one for some shotgun. We have the Rode NTG2. Would you pick up that one instead the C02 for outdoor interviews? Thank you for your support.
Yes, for outdoors, I'd go with the RODE NTG2. Good luck!
Thank you so much! I going to tell you about our results. Good luck to you too
Hi Curtis, how would you compare the Samson CO2's to the LyxPro SDPC-2's? Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks. - Sam
Hey Sam, I haven't worked with the LyxPro, though it has been on my very large list of microphones to try for some time. Several people have told me that they like the sound.
Hi Curtis. I'm trying to decide between this and the Synco D2. The primary use would be doing on-camera interviews. A pair of these is $110, the Synco D2 $169. Any thoughts between the two?
Synco was cleaner.
TY
I have 3 questions.
1 - Can I record dialoque for film outsside too? Is the mic better than ntg-2?
2 - Can I plug the mic directly in to my DSLR?
3 - Can I plug it in to my Zoom H5 and just start recording?
1) Yes. You will need wind protection (ideally a blimp or zeppelin cover). This mic is different than the NTG2, not necessarily better
2) No, it requires phantom power.
3) Yes
If you're shooting video and can only have one microphone, a shotgun microphone is a good choice if you'll be recording in and outdoors. The NTG2 is good with the Zoom H5 but not very good when adapted to go directly into a DSLR. To get good dialogue sound, you really need to get the mic closer to the talent. I hope that helps!
I bought a pair of Samson CO2 microphones, but they were too nosiy for me! (I have sent them back to the seller.)
Sorry you didn't have a good experience. Which preamplifier are you using?
Hi Curtis!
I am looking for a set of 4 mics that enables me to record both a string quartet or a mixed choir (not at the same time of course) through Zoom H6 (maybe with some ambience via external xy capsule). I happened to get it for a fairly affordable ammout of money. I am on a very tight budget and these projects are clearly amateur - a promo videos for an amateur (semi-professional) ensamble or choir. And it is a bit more for me as a hobby or to get some experience with such kind of work. I was thinking about small diaphgram condenser XLR pencil mics of cardioid or supercardioid pick-up pattern. Do you think the samson C-02 would serve a purpose? I was thinking also about Behringer C-2 or MXL 603. Anything more expensive can be beyond my reach.
Paweł
Hi Pawel, this is the least expensive pencil style condenser microphone I have used and it sounds pretty good to my ear. It'll be hard to find another for the same price that is better (effectively close to $60 each). I used the Behringer to mic a piano once and they were about the same in terms of audio quality as the Samson to my ear. I haven't yet tried the MXL. Best wishes!
Hey Chris I've been watching this video like a hundred times listening to the audio.
Right now I'm on a very limited budget and I've been thinking about buying the Samson CO2.
Right now as a boom mic for indoor dialogue I'm getting away with using a SURE SM58. The mic is connected to a MACKIE PRO FX12V3 board with the mic gain all the way up and fader all the way up to get a decent dialog vocal recording from 3ft away. The Mackie ProFX12 V3 is connected via USB to my PC and I record into whatever: Soundforge, Zoom, Facebook, Vegas Pro, etc.
Do you think the Samson CO2 will sound better than the Sure SM58?
Hi James, it will certainly not require as much gain. Any way you can position it within about 12 or 18 inches? That'll help as well.
@@curtisjudd What about the subs quality against the SM58?
@@jamestheradioman What do you mean by subs quality?
@@curtisjudd Sorry. Subs was a typo. I just wanted to know what you thought about the audio quality of the Samson CO2 vs the Shure SM58? I know they're different mics, but I just wanted to know what I'll gain and lose when I switch my indoor dialog mic from sm58 to CO2?
@@curtisjudd *sound not subs
Hi Curtis, Thank you again for sharing your wisdom. We are currently using an NTG 4+ mounted on a mic stand with zoom H6 and lined out directly to GH3. It's indoor and mostly dialogue - single actor. We are getting a lot of reverb and echo'ish if we go with Samson co2 replacing NTG4+, will there be any significant improvement in audio for the same indoor dialogue setup.
Hi Deepak, no, the Samson has a wider pickup pattern than the NTG4+ so that will likely not help. Sound blankets will do more to solve that issue: th-cam.com/video/uzyEaVYCk3s/w-d-xo.html
Appreciate for the swift response, Curtis. Cheers!