Clear, Clean, Cymbals

Like most musicians, that can't afford the Neuman's, the Royers, or even the AKGs and Lewitts, these Samson are a good investment. I needed a upgrade desperately, one of my stock overhead mic the came with my Behringer BC-1200 7 piece mic kit (which started me down this rabbit hole),developed an awful scratching noise when just sitting idle, like a low frequency white noise. and the cymbals, well a trash can lid sound, would have been an improvement. I wanted the Behringer C2 but they were out of stock, they would have been an improvement at a really good price, which was perfect.
So I started looking at the next level up from the C2, found the Samson, despite some of the bad reviews I bought them, hooked up as a direct replace, quiet while sitting idle, and the most clean crystal clear cymbals I have ever heard out of my studio yet, very pleased with these and will make recording drums a little more enjoyable.

These mics are a great buy, but they are not necessarily well rounded.

They are extremely bright. Yes they do pick up the full frequency range, however they tend to favor highs quite a bit. I wouldn't necessarily say they are thin or harsh, but definitely bright. This can be used to your advantage, especially when blended with darker sounding mics.

They have a tighter polar pattern. I've heard conflicting information but I believe they are indeed supercardiod. This is actually why I don't use them as drum overheads. They sound great on cymbals but I didn't care for stereo field. I record in a tighter space and that is definitely a factor. They'd make a great hihat mic, I just didn't have the extra preamp for it.


Now what I actually use this mic for is vocals. Admittedly this is uncommon for a small diaphram. I never use it by itself though as I always blend it with a dynamic mic. Notably the e935, sm58, and nd76. I'll use the dynamic as the core tone and use the condenser to add the high frequencies that the dynamic can't really reach. The end result sounds a lot like a large diaphram. The advantage is the abillity to switch out the dynamic mic to change the sound without having a locker of large diaphrams. The other advantage is the abillity to hold the mic. The disadvantage is the more complicated mixing process.

The conclusion is buy the pair. Most mics can't do what these do and the price is fantastic. If you record regularly you'll find a use for them.

Well, its been a few years and these mics have seen some serious action! I've gotten other mics (ribbons) which I find myself using on everything... but, these lil guys always come out when its time to track acoustic guitar or stringed instruments.

I really enjoy the simplicity of these mics, and after upgrading preamps (1073 & REDD.47), I find these mics still sound great! Even compared to more expensive mics like Neumanns. I figured I would have to upgrade them with the rest of my mic locker, but they still kick buttox!
I especially love using them in stereo with the 1073's for acoustic guitar. It's the most natural sound I've ever gotten from an acoustic guitar, and I'm not doing any processing.
Another fun use for these (if you've already got a full mic locker) is room mic-ing. They're very realistic room mics and they capture low end in a VERY usable way when it comes to mixing. This is something that takes a few sessions to fully appreciate, but its true every time. They are very susceptible to even the slightest adjustments to their placement, so you should definitely to a bit of experimenting before you hit record.

I'm not really a "small condenser" guy, though, so if you're someone who uses small condensers for 99% of your work, you may want to invest in a pair of Neumanns or Telefunkens. I mostly use ribbons and large diaphragm mics like 90% of the time, and I only pull out small condensers once in a while. Usually for acoustic guitar. These mics are perfect for someone like me, who just needs a utility mic with a very flat response without breaking the bank. I'd sooner break the bank for a LDC or nice drum cymbal. Anyways thats my rationale, and I'm sure there are plenty of others who feel the same way.
I bought this mic when I was just starting out and didn't really know what I was doing, and today, I still feel like I made the right purchase. I never once thought about upgrading.. and they sound better and better as my engineering abilities improve and tastes change.

Overall, I feel as happy with them as I did on day 1, and I am confident that these will remain in my mic locker for many years. They're rugged, sound great, and the case has been really great. I wish more of my mics came with proper cases like this one!
Note: one of the clips broke after about 3 years of super minimal use. So keep in mind, be careful when adjusting the y-axis (angle of the mic clip). Always fully loosen the mechanism before adjusting.

I bought these mostly with the intention of recording demos, but they sound so good that with the right placement, they could truly be your whole mix if you add a kick mic in. My only complaint is that the mic clip for it is a little weak, but that is no quality loss to the mics themselves!

Man I wish I would have looked on Sweetwater when I was looking for these a while back as I would have got them here. Anyway, take the leap on these mics, you will love them. If you are just starting out to build your studio or if you want a real nice pair for your overheads that don't set you back too much. I used these on drum overheads, vocals, and I love it on acoustic guitars. Even as I add to my mic collection, I will always find a use for these some way. Get them here from Sweetwater, they will treat you right!

Plugged into a Motu M4 audio interface, with phantom power engaged, and using two new known-good 2ft XLR cables, these mics would barely pick up natural speaking at maximum input gain within one foot of one's face. They might be ok as piano pickups, but that is not our application.

These mics are seriously top knotch. They are crystal clear and capture all the subtleties of a performance. As overheads, I've had several mix engineers ask what mics I used and were blown away when I mentioned they were Samson brand. They don't sound cheap at all and easily perform as well or better than similar mics at 3 times the price.

If you are on the fence, make the jump and buy these. You will not regret it.

Good mics for the price, works well on acoustic guitars and piano.

I have used these mics on guitars, vocals, and chorus with great success, and have been very please with their sound. I have one particular venue where these mics actually demodulate a nearby AM radio station which ends up in the mix at a very low level, but definitely perceptible to the extent I could hear the station call sign. I swapped them out with a different pair of condensers and the noise went away, so I know it was the mics and not cabling with poor shielding. Now, not saying they are terrible, because I've had other engineers snub their nose at these as I was setting them up, then asking me later "what are those mics? They sound great!" They really do have a wonderfully bright and defined sound, just not so great at rejecting RF interference.

got these on recomendation from my sales guy and they sound great.

I have tested maaannny budget small condensers and I have to say hands down, these mics sound professional, even next to professional mics. The CO2's are my standard as far as ANY small condenser in the price range, let alone a matched pair... If you are just beginning to collect microphones for your home/project studio, get this pair of SC microphones and start saving up for your large condensers (LC). Its a huge relief to know that these microphones will stack up to a SM81, destroys a rode M5 set, and completely outshine every other budget small condenser. I will have these for years and years. my other microphones will be upgraded before this pair. No contest. Also, samson is just one of those companies that seems to give you an insane amount of bang for your buck. they have one of the sturdiest short mic stands I've ever seen for $..., the R21's… are a great substitute for an sm57 if you know what you are doing, and the CO2 matched pair... is just the best example of that: ridiculous bang for your buck!! better than any of the budget stuff from Rode or Behringer or who-eva.

Giving a 5-star rating based on price vs.quality. Purchased a pair from Sweetwater several months back, decided to share a user review. I wasn't blown away by them at first listen recorded through stock preamps in a budget USB interface, although I knew right off they were worth the investment. But, wow-- they came alive when I matched them with decent outboard preamps. Quality carries over when used with studio grade preamps;they perform really well as over-heads, room mics,instrument mics, etc. These mic's cover a lot of ground, and allow the budget-minded home studio owner to get that real studio sound at a ridiculous price-point... yet keep them in their mic locker all the way up until they've reached star producer status! They've grown on me through many hours of use in ALL kinds of situations. Always came through for me-They deserve their reputation, well earned.

The C02's are strictly budget-level mics, yet they perform better than their price would indicate. These are great all-around condenser mics, good for micing all kinds of instruments. I use them for drum overheads plus to mic acoustic guitars... I have to use much more expensive mics to get even a marginally better sound, says all I need to know. These are THE budget mics that everyone should have in their mic cab, regardless.
Sweetwater's service is the best, hands down!

Sound as clear as a pair worth 3-5 times as much. No comparison with the Behringer C2s, these are simply so much better - completely worth the extra $, if you're on a budget and can't decide.

I use them frequently as crowd / ambiance mics for live recordings. They're clear, require little to no EQ, and at their price more replaceable than a pair of SM57s, should tragedy (beer, water, a misguided stage dive) ever befall them. I've bought more to use as drum overheads. These are honestly the perfect condenser microphones for the stage, or for any "risky situation" - you'll get that clear and open condenser sound without having to worry about a $300 to $3000 replacement cost.

I've also used Samson's R21s with similar surprise. Samson should not be able to make microphones this good for what they sell them for. But here they are.

Buying these is an easy decision. They have a solid build and sound really good.

At this price, just do it.

I got a super deal on a pair of these mikes! Bought them on a kind of whim thinking I'd just use them as a stereo pair for recording my acoustic guitar. I wasn't that happy with my SM57 clone mostly because of the low output, so figured I needed condenser mikes. After ordering, I read how these were supercardioid and wondered how they'd work for isolating vocals from guitar (my AT2035 has too much bleed!). Anyway, was super happy with the results all around. Super great bargain mic's!

YEARS doing sound both on the road and in the studiom and I have never once put the C02 on something and thought, "man, what a cheap mic." There are certainly better mics, but these really sound fantastic, and for the price I'm not sure why everyone in America doesn't already own a pair ;)

I have been impressed with the response of my classical violoncello and baby grand piano recordings that I have made recently with this mic combo in various settings. The mic placement has been with a mic stand and stereo mic bar pointed head to head for a larger pick up pattern about 6-8 feet from the center position of our performance area. The settings have been a medium sized room, a large cathedral and a lively private residence. .

Really surprised at these mics at this price. Ive used them on acoustic guitar and drums so far. They have a nice fairly neutral sound, and EQ pretty well. They arent as bright as most budget condensers, so I find myself boosting 10k. They eq well though. Nice mics!

Been using 2 of these in an small acoustic open mic venue with good acoustics for more than 2 years. They've work well on ukelele, acoustic guitar, banjo, and cello. Because the venue is nearly ideal for acoustic music, we have been able to run at lower volumes. I don't know how they would work in a noisy or reflective environment, but for this kind of venue, they are perfect.

Good sound and gear for overheads and acoustic instruments

As a drummer I am always looking for great overhead mics. I've used Shure SM 81s for the last 10 years. These sound equally as good as the 81s. I have also done side by side comparisons with these and the AKG C414 XL II. The CO2s may not have as many options as the 414s but what they do offer is a great quality stereo pair of mics for a great price! A must have for every home studio!

I'm using these to mic marimbas and vibraphones for marching band. I've got a pair underneath each marimba, and one under each vibraphone, and they've been great. I get a very natural sound from the keyboards, the pickup pattern picks up the full range of the instruments fairly well, and while there are definitely ambient sounds picked up from the brass behind them, overall I'm getting what I want coming through my speakers. At this price, I'm really happy with their performance.

These have been a great buy for Van Buren High School. I have not had any trouble with these microphones through 2 seasons of work. You can't beat them for what they bring at the cost. I use 3 on each of my marimba's and 1 on each of my vibes. They pick up clearly.

I bought a set of the CO2 mics last year and have generally had good luck with them. I have only used them as overheads on my drum kit. The money is right on point. I am now saving money for 2 Shure KSM32 mics. Bottom line is for the money they can't be beat.

I am STILL blown away by these. Have had them for maybe 4/5 months. Recorded acoustic gtrs, congas, other hand percussion and they always deliver. Very clear crisp sound.

I've had a pair of these mics for a little over a year, and they've started to crap out. This didn't come as a surprise, since any other Samson product I've bought sticks to a strict course of working well for a short period of time, then failing (i've since stopped buying Samson mics).

However, I would still recommend these mics to someone in a similar situation to me when I bought them: I barely had any money, but I needed a condenser mic. While they were working, the CO2s worked well, with good sound quality. I managed to get great use out of them, especially for the price - I used them for recording and live overhead miking.

Bottom line: If you are looking for a quick, cheap condenser solution, definitely get these. If you are looking for something to last even a moderate amount of time, absolutely do not get these mics.

I have used these on numerous sources in live sound and studio scenarious (drums, acoustic guitar, percussion, mandolin, violin, ambient, etc..) and they have not disappointed yet. Just used them as overheads on a minimal drumkit mic setup: bass, snare, and two samsons for overheads. The sound was amazing, even using the digi002 preamps. These have quickly become the workhorses of my rig and you just can't the price. Good on 'ya, Samson!

when i first used this mics as overhead mic, i thought i was having a new drumset. i cant believe what i'm hearing, for this price range. my overhead tracks never sounded this good before. i can really hear my cymbals crashing around. the output is also very loud. for me it's almost an all-around mic if you just know how to deal with it. No regret!

I bought two of these microphones to use on my new Yamaha mg124c mixer. At first I was really impressed. I bought a Samson C01u several years ago and the noise was terrible. It was the USB version of the C01 so I thought I could excuse the noise for a cheap A/D converter.

So after reading many promising reviews I decided to buy two of the single packs because they were cheaper. I used them with my mixer and thought wow what am improvement. I really liked the sound quality at first. I tried using it for vocals and that didn't go so well. They just sounded empty. So I tried using them on flute, trombone, trumpet and a live play. Overall they sounded very nice on loud sounds such as the instruments but I could detect noise in quieter sounds. Since these were my first microphones ever I didn't know if the mixer was noisy or if the mics were noisy. Several weeks later I bought the AT2035. What an improvement.

I can turn the gain all the way up with the AT2035 and not hear! any noise. I think if I were to go back and buy again I would have gone with the AT studio recording pack. It comes with the 2020 and a pencil condenser. Both of these I'm sure are higher quality then the Samsons for just a little more money. Also the shock mount on the C02s is kind of a joke. Its basically a rubber sleeve that goes around the microphone shaft. No rubber band suspension like most shock mounts. But for $50 each they will do a nice job for drum set micing and other loud sounds.

These are amazing. I'm using them as Overheads for my drums, and the clarity is unmatched for anything even double the price. The first thing I noticed was how the attack on the ride came out. When I heard that "tink tink tink" sound come out on my recording THAT clear, I was instantly motivated to just write a review about these. I can NOT wait to see how my acoustic guitar will sound when I aim one mic at the sound-hole, and one at the fret-board!

I was looking for a good pair of stereo mics without breaking the bank. The Samson C02s are exactly that. I've mainly been using them to mic my acoustic guitar. These mics have awesome clarity and seem quite durable. Not to mention come with a case, shock mounts and windscreens. All in all its just a great deal. I highly recommend these.

Looking for a good pair of pencil condenser mics, I was lost by the choices on the market. I talked to my teacher about which type he would prefer and he told me about these mics. I was sceptical at first but then I had a chance to use them. I was hired to record our university's choir and my teacher recommended using them. After using them to record, I was amazed at the results I got using these mic. Great hi's and low's. The mics caught the clarity of the female voices and the lows of the male voice. Eventhough it's in a cardioid patterned mic, the mics caught the right amount of ambience in the hall. I have yet to use them as overheads but if their anything like what I experienced recording them then they should be great. In conclusion, great mics to buy and worth every penny.

Man I needed some real drum overheads to replace my 57's (not a good choice) and had tried some budget AT's that were dreadfull, but these are astonsihing for the money. I have a samson headphone amp that is also super. Much better quality so far than Berringer or Peavey budget gear. I have top quality Rode and other mic's as well.