Samson C01 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone Reviews

I have used Samson USB mics for about 12 years. All USB MICS From the Samson Go through the G-track pro. Only in the last 6 months have I started using XLR mics. I bought this model because it was used. Recently I tested a SHURE MV7X mic, but could not get it properly amplified using a Solid State Logic SSL2 Audio Interface. I just setup the CO1 today. I have been narrating books over 37 years. This is as good of an audio voice recording as I have ever gotten. I have been using an MXL990 and the recording is about equal. The advantage of the C01 is that it is not recording much of any background noise such as the air conditioner. The recording is excellent for audio-books.

why get anything else

it does what it is supposed to do. and it does it well!

Just as I expected and I will ordering more equipment from you to complete my home studio.

Very happy with this mic. Sounds great & has an even better price. Good quality as well.

My son loves this microphone saying the sound is great when he's recording.

Me & my microphone against the world! Crystal clarity, Im adding the Kaotic eyeball & a Samson SP01 spider microphone shock! I use studio one 4 Everything sounds so good!

I am so happy with this purchase, the mic sounds amazing.

It's Sweetwater people. Perfection gear. Literally everything is amazing

This is my first experience with turning on the 48V of phantom power in my interface. It sounds great... just as good as its counterpart the C01U Pro.

Clear, flat frequency response that only enhances my voice - nice "studio" sound that gets even better with a windscreen on it. And it IS a hypercardioid polar pattern, not just a cardioid. That's great. I recommend this mic.

About 10 years ago, I recorded a woodwind quintet with tight mics on each instrument. I had a couple of channels free and a friend had a pair of these Samson C01s. So we put one on each side of the quintet behind the players, in other words about 8 feet from the players facing each mic. When I went to mix the tracks, honestly the best sound was from these mics. I don't think I even used the tight mics at all. In a blindfold test, I bet most people would put these in the $300-500 range.

For the price, I wasn't expecting anything better than mediocre at best, but holy crap these things are amazing for use as overheads for the Glyn Johns method of miking drums. I'm not the drummer (but I dabble), and I set up the mics on our drummer's kit, set the levels, and played a song. When I went back to the console to listen, I was blown away. I'm sooo glad I didn't spend more money. These things are awesome for this use no matter what the price point!

i use 2 of these on my rack toms for my drum kit and omg they r so awesome barley any eq needed :)

I started doing some bedroom recording with Pro Tools First, and this mic is perfect. I have had zero issues, and I highly recommend it. Just because it's cheaper price, doesn't mean it's not quality.

See my man, Tyler Moore, and let him hook you up. He's one of the best salesmen I've ever dealt with.

Had this mic for years! recorded over 100 demos with it. Finally crapped out but i got my moneys worth with it!

This was my first condensor mic. I bought it back in 2005 from a local music store and it has been my go-to mic ever since. I've gotten two other condensor mics, but I still revert back to the C01 for my vocal recording needs. Its sound is warm, clean, and clear! Who needs a Neumann?!

we're a duo doing a home studio project. we use the tascam 2488neo. we are recording live and adding parts later. our instrumentation is acoustic guit, elec guit, bass, 2 voc and harp. our weak link were the behringher small diaphragm mics for the acoustic guits compared to our rode nt-1's for voc. because of bleeding, the behr's picked up the voc and actually added an inferior quality voc to the overall mix. we are delighted to say that the samson c01's leveled the playing field! and at $160 for the pair we are very pleased. they stack up to the rodes which cost $275 each. now, the rodes included pop filters and shock mounts and cables and they are large diaphragm but they were almost twice the price, very happy indeed with samson for making our 1964 j45 sound as beautiful as she really does! our 60's guild as well! go for it, don't worry about the cheap price.

I have'nt got a lot to say,but right away I liked the fact that there was NO noticable self-noise or hiss with this mic and it has handled everything I have thrown at it so far. Very clear and natural sounding...the blue led is cool too, Thanks Alan F. for the great service and helpful info on this.

Due to an unfortunate accident I had to rebuild my studio from scratch.
The Samson C01 was my favorite before the accident amongst my 6 mics, so naturally the first mic I bought after the rebuild was.........The Samson C01, not one but 2 of them. I will buy other mics, but for my voice, I'm rockin' with the C01

Fantastic,best,and outstanding mic.there is no other words to tell about this mic.most recommended for home studios starter mic.As it is all-rounder mic , recommended too pro-studios.

Well -
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it's marvelous -

When I plugged it in and checked the sound first time everyone in the room had a big smile on their faces -

That said it all with out one word said , then the comments came and they were all positive ! I can't wait to see what is does for an acoustic banjo , guitar , violin , flute or harmonica! The vocals come out smooth , silky sweet and warm . To say the least I'm impressed big time .

I have been around studios in L.A. and heard quite a few great mics - this one for the money is ridiculously priced cheap while delivery the high quality sound results a more costlier mic would demand in cost to equal .

You can't loose with it and when it dies like all mics eventually do I can use it for a hammer , man it's built like a brick :)

First of all let me tell you my story,I own a Neumann u87 Ai, 4 years ago Hurricane Ivan destroy the Cayman Island alone with my studio.A year after I started working to get my studio back and running and to find out the Neumann would not work. so I started shopping for a mic that would work just as good as the $3,000 microphone.A friend of mine had a Samson C01 that was not using so he told me to use it until I find one to buy.Well what do you know 4 years later I am still using the Samson C01, I am in love with this microphone that I have 2 extra C01's just in case, trust me on this for the price my Neumann is not even near my studio,if I had the money Neumann will be my first Love.(WILL GET IT FIX SOME DAY I HOPE)

I have been recording for more than 25 years and have used quite a few mics. I have been so pleased with the way this mic responds to my voice and my acoustic guitar. It's been nick-named the "Poor Man's Neumann" for good reason. In my home studio I am using it with an Avalon 737 Sp Vt and a MOTU 828 Mk II. This mic doesn't even cost the sales tax of the more high-end mics, and the sound is very, very nice. I have an AKG 414, and a Neumann ksm 105.

This mic doesn't back down. It works very well.
Samson would probably sell more if they raised the price a few hundred bucks : )

i bought a Samson C15CL for a vocal mic as a (cheap) test and loved it. i had been using the Shure standards forever (58's). i was then looking for a second mic for acoustic guitar and picked up the C01. what great deals, what great open sound. i record vocals and guitar into a Beringer 12 track mixer, into a M-Audio Jamlab, and then into a notebook PC using Adobe Audition. i swear it sounded like i had taken blankets off of my mics the sound was so clean.

you don't have to feel like yours settling for something in your budget with this mic. it does incredibly well on acoustic guitar and vocals. amazing.

Exelente microfono para grabacion de estudio, buena recpecion, especialmente para gravaciones de voces.
Una buena compra!!

Great microphone at a great price

When I got it two weeks ago first thing I did was a side by side comparison to my Mojave fet 201. The Samson is balanced top to bottom. Very detailed . Compared to my Mojave the top end is brighter but not shrilly whereas the Mojave is smoother over all . I have to say with honesty I was very surprised of how good the Sampson Mic sounds.

I have expensive Mics from Mojave Audio AKG Ev, Heil Sound Groove Tubes And Blue Mics I bought this a month ago and I put my other Mics in their boxes and mounted the C01 on my mic stand. I love it it's priced right rugged construction and a pleasant sound for vocals and recording my acoustic guitars I am being very honest Just Buy it and SAVE Thanks to Sweetwater excellent Service and to my Gentle rep Robert Williams.

Good mic for the price

I love this mic, way better than my previous Samson dynamic. All I need is a preamp to make it perfect in my ears. This and Pro Tools, awesome quality.

While it may not be the cream of the crop, the price tag on this microphone should tip you off to that right away. What it is, however, is a wonderful "starter" condenser that can give you demo ready results on your instrument cabinets when paired with an SM57 or e835. What I have found though is that this mic truly excels beyond any other in the Metal Vocal department. Screams sound amazing on this low-cost gem and I was absolutely blown away by how much better they sounded, with no doubling required, against the typically used Shure and Sennheiser mics, among others. The quality of this type of vocal has cemented the C01's place in my equipment locker as a go-to mic.

I had this mic for about 6 months and i was amazed with it i ran it threw a Yamaha MG82cx via XLR and had no problems with the hiss...im looking to get another right now i have the CO1u usb mic and I absoultly hate it i cant wait to get my old set up back

I have used this mic on two c'ds now for overheads and vocals and i have no regrets.

You read the title right. The Samson C01 is a poor man's U87, of course with the right preamp. I've been recording, mixing, and mastering Hip-Hop since 2010. I've used the U87 and the Manley Reference Microphone, plus many more.

My friend use to tell me about this microphone all the time. I kind of laughed at him.

Another friend of mine is letting me use his at the moment. To cure my curiosity, I decided to run this microphone through my Neve Shelford Channel, and let me tell you, I was blown away. Thought my ears was playing tricks on me.

In a blind test, you couldn't tell the difference between this microphone or the U87. The only thing about this microphone I don't like is the self-noise. It picks up every noise so make sure your room is properly treated or you record in a vocal booth.

I can only imagine what this microphone would sound like through a tube preamp like the Manley Voxbox.

For me, I will get my own. Can't beat it for the $.

Excellent sounding mic but almost too excellent for its own good. If there was a bee in this room this mic would pick up the sound of its wings. If you're prepared to professionally sound-treat the room or studio, this is an excellent cost-effective choice.

NOT THE BEST MIC IN THE WORLD BUT VERY GOOD FOR THE PRICE. WE USE IT IN THE PRACTICE ROOM AS A SINGLE INPUT SOURCE FOR OUR RECORDER WITHOUT HAVING A LOT OF OPEN MICS ON EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. YOU CAN HEAR EVERYONE CLEARLY AND NO FUNNY OVER-ECHOES. WE LOVE IT!

With its very affordable price and the quality of it, you cant simply look for anything else. It has that professional feel microphone. Quite heavy too. VERY SATSIFIED with its performance.

This is a really great mic. I have used it for vocals, overhead drums, acoustic guitars and some live recording. It is warm and sensitive and very sturdy. I recommend it for anyone who wants quality sound without spending a ton of money.

I needed a condenser mic to replace an MCA SP1 mic. Needless to say, the mic is solidly constructed and comes in a nice case for protection. We mainly use it at church with a phantom power supply and clearly picks us the voices of the choir, even the ones in the back. Dave Brow, my sales rep, hooked me up right away and I had the mic at home within days. Fantastic service and good gear, that's all I need.

PS: Sweetwater = Awesome

I mainly track drums in my home studio and originally bought this in Samson's drum mic bundle to be used as overheads. I occasionally have to record acoustic and vocals, however, and this thing sounds great! Super affordable and all around great mic!

I own a studio inside of my apartment and this is the first mic that I bought almost a year ago and I must say that I have been using this mic for alot of my own singing and rapping needs and it has never failed me in quality and performance. I use this mic alot and I love the way I sound on it. I plan to upgrade to higher end mics but for now, this one will do.

This is, by far, not the best mic but if your funds are limited get one or two of these. Don't waste your money at radio shack thinking a $30 mic will cut it. This is an excellent first mic.

I own a small recording studio in the Caribbean country, St.Vincent and got this mic to do my first set of recording projects. I've had it for over ten months and it never failed me it.

I also use it in live performances for Backvocals. As much as five persons surround the mic and still it brings out the vocal harmony A+.

have always used SM58 for all my recordings...but this mic is much better, clearer, better eq...will know more in the near future

I have had my C01 for 10 years now and it is hard to fault considering it cost less than $100. I have found that it does a reasonable job recording vocals, acoustic guitar, clarinet, and trombone. No doubt a person would find fault with this unit especially when comparing it to more expensive mics; however, it is definitely worth the price and useful even when compared to more costly products.

Sounds great on vocals and acoustic guitars, but watch the self noise. If the source you are recording is loud enough you wont need to worry about, but if you have a soft singer/player then be prepared for some hiss. I hear it more on acoustic guitars than vocals. I run this through my 003 rack into Pro Tools LE. It works well and is one of the best starter mics out there IMHO.

This mic is decent for the price range. It is a little thin and harsh, but is a workable mic with adjustments to the EQ. I have used this mic for recording and live performance and both modes needed considerable adjustments to the EQ to make the sound usable. This mic is prone to feedback during live performance without adjustments. Even at this price range there are better mics out there.

First of all, the specs are wrong. I took mine apart to do some mods and this mic's diaphragm is actually about the size of a small to medium size diaphragm (like you would find in a pencil condenser mic like the KM 184).

That said, this mic is an outstanding value. I work with high-end, expensive mics all the time and I have to say that this mic is one of the best budget mics that are available compared to those sonically and price wise. Unlike other budget lines like the MXL line (which I usually find harsh and spitty in the high end) this mic has a smooth, articulate high end (albeit a bit noisy). It is indeed great for drum overheads, piano and some vocals. It's a bit too boomy in the low mid-range for me for use on acoustic guitars. Overall, if you are in a budget studio or just starting a project studio, I would stock up on these mics as they are great in quality and price! Hope this helps!

This mic is not a large capsule mic it is a small capsule mic....that being said it is also a hyped super cardioid mic ....which makes it extremely sensitive, the overall sound is not bad but it can get very bright and harsh in a hurry i have found recording this mic not as hot as you would other mics gives you the best tone and usable recording .....I have used this mic three several pro quality preamps and i actually use it for certain voices and choruses over 1000 dollar mics so it does have its place and uses but it is not a poor mans neuman in any way shape or form

Although I do really like the sound of this mic, I can't really justify giving it a good review. Mine really hiss's. I have been using my Rode NT5's for a while now and when i went back to my samson as a vocal mic for a classical pianist and singer i couldn't believe how noisy the samson was. Considering the C01 was my first condenser mic i was blown away at first but after getting the proper perspective I can't really justify recommending this to anyone interested in a long term investment. If your just starting out and your not sure how much recording your gonna be doing but want to get into it for cheap then great go for it. Otherwise i'd spend a little bit more money and get a mic that you can keep for more than a year.

I've got two of these and first I want to clear something up. They are NOT "large diaphargm" condenser mics. They are Medium size diaphragm mics. The diaphragm diameter is only about 3/4". But what they seem to be is capsules similar to the Marshall 600 series etc. mics that are widely used and praised for drum overheads. The C01 case is larger, but on the plus side the case is very light but still looks good.

You might think that the smaller capsule migh not sound as good as true large diaphragm mics. Not so. These are killer sounding mics! They don't quite have that large diaphragm sound, but they don't have the characterless sound of tiny electrets either. Basically they are a good balance between the two mic types. They make really great overhead mics but also work well for many other applications. Make really nice stereo pairs.

My advice is do what I did. Wait for a sale price and stock up. Not the only mic you'll ever need but a great addition to your mic collection.

I bought this microphone almost 3 years ago and have used it consistently since then. Because this is an exceptionally sensitive Microphone, the available shock mount is highly recommended. I have found this mic to be durable, clear and of high quality. The recordings produced with this mic are very responsive to any EQ I throw at it which doesn't always seem true with other mics of this price range.

For the money you can't beat this mic! I've used it on several of my recordings and I have found that it shines on uses such as acoustic guitar or vocals. For use on amps and such you really have to crank the amp up to get this mic to shine but in the end it's worth it. I found that it captures the sound perfectly and it's great for any home studio

Samson's CO 1 is Great mike, The perfect all around microphone

I like this mic. Excellent value. Used it first time as drum overhead. Bright but not harsh.

The Samson CO1 is the best $80 condensor mic. I've used it in live performances and was very impressed. It can be used to mic choirs, pianos, dulcimers, and vocalists. Rock solid.