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Samson CO3

Item ID: C03

Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone with Switchable Cardioid, Omni, and Figure-8 Pickup Patterns

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From Our Research Team:

With This Value, Shouldn't You Pick Up A Couple?

An incredibly flexible and great-sounding studio condenser microphone! Perfect for recording vocals, acoustic instruments, and more. At this price, wouldn't a pair be fantastic for stereo room miking and overheads?

Features:
  • Switchable SuperCardioid, Omni and figure-8 pickup patterns
  • Dual 19mm capsule design
  • Switchable highpass filter and 10dB pad
  • Gold-plated XLR connectors
  • Carry Case & swivel mount included
  • Optional SP01 shock-mount available
Specification Detail
Microphone Type Condenser
Polar Pattern Supercardioid, Omni, Figure-8
Diaphragm Size .75" (19mm)
Frequency Response 40Hz-18kHz
Max SPL 142dB SPL (1kHz at 0.5% THD)
Output Impedance 350 ohms
Self Noise 23dB (A weighted)
Low Cut Filter 100Hz, -12dB/octave
Pads -10dB
Color Silver
Connector XLR
Weight 1 lbs.
Included Accessories Stand mount, Carry case
Manufacturer Part Number SAC03

CO3 Image Gallery

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Reviews

based on 7 reviews

Absolutely stunning mic for any price

by Boris from Chicago
June 23, 2007
Music Background: Pro Multimedia Producer
I own three of these and over four years the never let me down. If I would need to buy another again I would do it in a snap. This microphone will do anything! Literally! It will take vocals, drums, a... read more [+]coustic guitar, violin, sax... For these guys who complain something about vocals, learn to use the equipment. It is inexpensive but pro level, multi-mode device so you have to learn some stuff before complain. I use them with C-valve(another jewel from Samson) and baby you can take your Neuman back to the store. Overall, I have about ten microphones from Samson each of which is definitely the best in a class. To mention this one pared with another c03 and pair of c02 makes superb, like million $ recording setup.
This mike captures the deep, true image with no coloration which is good. If you want warm it up, use saturation on C-valve and it will sound like anything you like it to be. close [-]

Samson C03s

by Evan Gavry from Albany, NY
December 21, 2011
Music Background: Recording and Live Sound Engineer, Semi-Pro Musician
A really solid mic and a great value.

Used to use a pair of AKG C414s for just about everything: overheads, acoustics, vocals. Lost those in a studio fire and couldn't afford to replac... read more [+]e them. For around 1/8 the price, these mikes really surprised me.

They sound phenomenal as drum overheads and on acoustics, and they add a lot of nice room tone combined with a close-mic on an amp cab. Vocals take a little EQ tweaking, but can be pretty quickly sweetend. Actually just recorded a duet on the figure 8 setting that I'm very happy with (would normally track both vocals separately). Solid build, great sound and with bass roll off, pad, and pattern selection options, the C03 can't be beat for the value. These are going to be all over my next solo album. close [-]

Great for instruments, not so much for vocals

by tmfcovers from
December 25, 2010
Music Background: Recording engineer/producer/artist
A couple years ago, I received a C03, along with a Sennheiser e835 and an interface, as a gift from my dad to help me build my project studio. He picked these two microphones after tons of research, s... read more [+]o his decision was very well-educated. I have used this microphone for recording acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, bass guitar, drums, and vocals, so it's been all over the place. It shines for acoustic guitar and drum overheads, as it sounds very clear with lots of highs. On acoustic guitar, I can get a clear, almost thin sound by turning up the highs on the mixer (this sound works very well in a dense mix or, for solo stuff, combined with the guitar's pickup); or I can get a more powerful, punchy sound that captures more of the body of the instrument by turning up the upper-mids. On drums, I combine it with an ElectroVoice PL35 on snare, a cheap SM58 knockoff on kick (this actually works surprisingly well), and a couple Audio-Technica M4000Ss on toms, and use the C03 for overheads, and I end up with a full-bodied drum sound that, I think, rivals the sounds I hear on CDs made in million-dollar studios. For vocals, however, I find this microphone to sound too thin and wimpy (and often harsh), so I use my Sennheiser e835, and I end up with a great overall sound. For vocals, you could definitely do better for the price, but the Samson C03 is a great workhorse instrument microphone. close [-]

Great for vocals!

by Andy H. from Parkersburg, WV
October 14, 2008
Music Background: Musician, Recording Engineer Wannabe
I have had this mic for a few years now. It is low priced so you may be thinking about going for something a little more expensive to get a 'better sound'. This mic is awesome for vocals and sounds gr... read more [+]eat on just about everything ive tried it on. I love the ability to switch the pickup patterns and the pad and high pass switches are nice features as well. My only beef with this mic is the self noise. On vocals its not very noticable, the airy sound of the voice covers it up. Acoustic guitars sound really good, but that little hiss is always there. If the player plays soft its there(in my ears), but if the players plays pretty heavy then you can get some decent tracks from it. I am running this through my 003 rack with out hardware compression (I hate my compressor!) into Pro tools LE.

A perfect mic for the new studio. Just be sure you are getting enough level into the mic so you wont have to crank it up and hear that little hiss.

I did have a chance to compare this with an M-audio Nova the other day. I put the nova on vocals and after the first line I switched back to the C03. The Nova sounded thin and was noisier than the C03. The vocalist who knows nothing about mics thought the C03 sounded much better than the Nova as well. close [-]

Good for instruments - not good for vocals

by Mike from Miami, FL USA
August 5, 2006
Music Background: Musician
This is a good mic for the price. So far it has done a good job recording instruments such as a saxaphone (directly), pre-amped instruments or a group. It has not done well with vocals. It does not... read more [+] pickup on low sound level dynamics, the vocalist needs to get close and belt it out. You are more likely to pickup popping sounds from exhaling. So I would not recommend it for vocals but it is good for instruments. close [-]
Read more reviews

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See Also: Condensers , Samson , Samson Condenser Microphones , Samson Condenser Microphones

Samson CO3

Today's Payment: $43.33
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