Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone for Video Conferencing

I purchased this mic to use for screencasts (recording what's happening on my PC's screen while I talk about it). I set it up to sit on my desktop, approximately 2' away from me and used Camtasia Studio 8 [Download ] and a free program called CamStudio to test it out. Both programs worked well with the mic and did what I'd hoped it would do - eliminated my need for a clunky, wired mic headset. The build quality of the mic seems excellent, and the compact design is fantastic! I love that it comes with its own carrying case and that it can be on a desktop or clipped to a laptop's monitor. KINKS IN MY SYSTEM: MUFFLED AUDIO The included software: Cakewalk's Music Creator LE can be installed on one computer. You get 30 days to register it. I installed it and registered it immediately, but it would not allow me to put in my registration code, saying I wasn't the system administrator. I am, and my Windows 7 PC says I am, but alas, it wouldn't work. This software is optional, but I decided to install it prior to the microphone (per instructions) to try it out. Eventually I ended up uninstalling it. Soon after installing Cakewalk, I had a PC issue: muffled audio recording. No amount of system tweaking seemed to fix it. I was stumped. Then I decided to go to the Samson site and see if there were updated drivers for the mic. The generic ones installed were from 2010. No luck. I began reading online about 'muffled audio' on Windows 7 PCs. Somewhere I noticed a name I recognized: RealTek, which was a name associated with my speakers on my PC (RealTek digital audio). I went to the RealTek site and noted updated drivers for Windows 7 64-bit (2012), and decided to download and install them. I rebooted my PC and tested out the audio recording once more. Much to my delight, this solved the muffled audio problem! I did set the bitrate to the highest level for the best sound quality recording. Afterwards I tested out the mic using Camtasia and CamStudio, both worked beautifully with the Samson Go Mic! On my desk at a distance of about 2.5', this mic pics up my voice perfectly for dictation and screencasts. No hiss, hum, breath noises or distortion. Very clear and with the properly installed drivers for my audio - works perfectly with the USB 2.0 connection on my powered USB hub. CONCLUSION: BUY IT FOR GREAT RECORDINGS This mic is a truly great if it's recognized and properly configured by your system. Impressively clear recordings, unlike any I've been able to obtain using a Plantronics .Audio 655 USB Multimedia Headset or the mic on my Microsoft LifeCam Cinema 720p HD Webcam - Black . For the price, I don't think you can do better. It's compact, has great voice pick-up and audio recording clarity. Installation issues may occur, but updating audio drivers, using a powered USB hub connection and tweaking audio settings within the operating system should give you the quality you've been hoping for at a price that's right. UPDATE: 12/30/13 Been using this mic consistently for a couple months and I'm liking it. It's a condenser mic, and doesn't filter out ambient noise as well as I'd like, however for an under forty dollar purchase - I'm still very happy with it. Cakewalk never has registered correctly with my system so I uninstalled it. I guess if anything, that's been the downside to this purchase.

UPDATE June 15: I've had this mic for over 3 years now and it's still going just as strong as the day I bought it. IF it ever breaks, I've already made up my mind to buy another just like it. Couldn't be happier with it. Original Review: I was sick of dealing with poor microphones from headsets and all the hubbub of headphone microphones and I simply do not trust logitech or many other big-brand companies to produce long-lasting quality microphones that stand alone on a desk. I then found the Samson Go Mic and thought it might be the best solution for my needs. I was definitely pleased to finally do some of my own testing and find out that it was all they said it is and more. My uses for this mic include voip applications like skype, mumble, ventrillo, and others, as well as for blog posts and even amateur voice recording. I also wanted something better than my laptop's mic to record lectures for class. Everything comes through crystal clear on this mic even at low volumes. For my voip applications, I actually let it sit behind my keyboard but directly in front of my screen. In normal cardioid mode, it picks up my voice perfectly. I can even whisper very quietly and it comes through on the other end loud and clear. I never have problems with people saying they cannot understand me no matter how low I'm talking. This is also great for me since I often like to chat late at night when my girlfriend sleeps in the next room. I'm no longer yelling and waking her up at night because I'm confident other people can hear me even with my mic so far away. For lectures, I switch to omni mode and it produces wonderful results. It's like having a third ear that records directly on to my computer. I also love how portable it is as I can just slip it into either my laptop bag or pocket without an issue at the end of class. The only complaint I might have is that I find the cord actually to be too long as I'm either plugging the usb cable into my keyboard's usb port or laptop's on my desk and the extra length is just wound up in a wad in its original twist-tie it came with, simply adding more bulk when it doesn't need to. Other people may need the extra length though, so this is somewhat of a non-issue. Lastly, the stand is a fairly heavy metal that has more than enough weight to hold the mic and is a pretty good mechanism for doing so. I simply wish the clip opened further to attach to bulkier monitors. Overall, I love this mic and I'm very happy I went with this one over one of the blue competitors I've been seeing on sale lately. Its cardioid mode is excellent and the omni mode is great for recording lectures and conversations alike. I just wish more people had this mic so they'd all be as easy to understand on my end as I am on theirs. I would recommend this mic to anyone who doesn't need super-high quality, studio grade equipment for professional recording as it does a great job of picking up voices and is very well-built and portable. Seriously: get this mic - it's more than worth the 40 clams you'll pay for it. UPDATE: Still loving this mic, and have yet to have many problems with it, except for maybe one or two, which I list below. The mic actually picks up on too much sometimes, so you have to be careful with it somewhat. Specifically, I had originally positioned this mic in front of my keyboard thinking it needed to be that close to me to pick up well. When I was on skype however typing on the keyboard, people would complain that my keyboard sounded like it was being pounded by the hammer of Thor. Easy fix though: I simply moved it just above my monitor and nobody has complained since. The only other thing with this mic I might complain about is that it picks up GSM interference somewhat badly. I've had my phone sitting on my desk in skype and gotten a call only to hear people on the other end screech in horror that my mic was beeping and buzzing out of control. I've found that using better shielded cable has helped (and attaching one of those little circular magnets to that as well) but the problem still somewhat persists sometimes. This is only a GSM problem though from what I understand, and so shouldn't affect people on verizon/sprint, and also fairly common in almost all mics of this size or larger. Still, these incidences are rare and correctable, but something to be conscience of. I would still like to say that this is the best mic I've ever used and am extremely happy with my purchase. I still only wish a few of my friends online had one!

This microphone has a lot of potential and does a great job handling voiceovers and live webinars--the two basic reasons why I purchased it. I use mine with a 15-inch MacBook Pro (mid-2010 model) running OSX 10.10 (Yosemite beta). I am typically using this microphone while running online training sessions via Citrix Go To Meeting, but when recording voiceovers, I use this microphone with Audacity (v. 2.0.5) and have had great success with it. The positives seem to far outweigh the things that are negative about the Samson Go, making this an attractive microphone for under 40 bucks. My expectations were low, but thus far I haven't been disappointed. What has impressed me the most about the microphone is its rich, well-rounded sound for voice. I didn't expect that for a microphone that's a little larger than a USB jump drive. One of the other pleasant surprises of this compact audio tool is the fact that it can be attenuated with a little switch on the side of the body of the microphone. This allows the user to change the pickup pattern from an omni (circle) to a cardioid (heart-shaped circle) and a -10db setting to help knock down the output if sound is overdriven. There is also a 2.5mm headphone jack for monitoring sound coming from the mic. This microphone feels like it has some heft, and that's largely due to the metal base to which the microphone is attached, not the microphone itself. The microphone has a plastic body, but the trim around the sides and top is metal. The one negative I have about this--the one thing that knocked a possible 5-star rating down to 4 stars--is the attenuation switch. The first time I used the switch, it felt loose and did not click in to position crisply. I moved the switch a few times and did test recordings; it worked fine. Noting that there were a number of negative reviews regarding the premature death of this microphone, I chose to check my Sound setting in the System Preferences to make sure the Samsung Go was being used strictly as an input device and not as a substitute for my external or built-in speakers. Adjust your Mac Sound setting for the microphone by going to System Preferences > Sound > Output. Included with the microphone is a nice carrying case for the microphone. It's not big enough for the USB cord or the stand-securing nut included with the microphone. My final note is about sound output from the microphone. I worked in the technical end of broadcasting for 30 years and have been around audio booths the entire time, both in the days of analog and in the Digital Age. It's important that output settings are tested and set appropriately before recording can begin. Yes, this microphone is basically "plug-and-play", but if the settings are too low or too high, you'll never get the right sound you are hoping for. It's all about the settings.

Bought this because I needed a small, portable microphone for my microsoft surface. I am doing Rosetta stone, and the built-in microphone of the webcam was reaching a limit for the program's speech recognition. Shouting at my laptop was not conducive to learning french! This microphone fills my needs so well that I'm probably going to buy another to replace my aging desktop speech recognition microphone. Firstly, the packaging is really nice, with a nice box that is so well padded, you could've just slapped a shipping label on the box itself. And this microphone is TINY for a condenser mic. it's only a little bigger than a zippo lighter, and the clamp system is very versatile, you can clip it to your laptop or just set it on the table. Feature wise it's got more than all I'd need, there are three sensitivity levels, and I found the one that works best is the position towards the bottom for my speech recognition software. Build quality is exceptional. Every single part of it feels robust and the plastics feel very nice in the hand. The clamp is firm yet not insane, the small travel case it uses is great. I would like either the case to be big enough to hold the cord, or for this thing to have a bluetooth option, but for the price, I can't fault it for not having those. The microphone is bidirectional, which is nice for both positioning and letting two people sit on either side of the mic, or for recording your voice and something on the other side. Quality wise it's crystal clear, picking up the most minute details and nuance. You can listen directly through it (including hearing the recording) by plugging headphones into the mic. And this thing works GREAT with rosetta stone. Easily as good as my dedicated logitech SR mic did when it was new. I was concerned that this wasn't really advertised directly as a speech recognition microphone, but I can be almost all the way across the room and the microphone picks up enough nuance for Rosetta Stone to happily understand what I said. I'm not a huge audio guy but I like things to sound reasonably nice, so while I'm not going to bother with a pop filter and talking directly into the thing, I don't think it needs it for the vast majority of tasks. Sure, if you have a youtube channel or podcast, this could MAYBE use a pop filter to soften the tones, but I'd be happy to listen to someone on a skype call using this, as anyone on earth could tell you in an instant that this is orders of magnitude better than any standard webcam. For what this costs, I'm more than blown away. This is a stunningly awesome microphone, and with an incredible form factor to boot. As long as this thing holds up quality wise, 5 stars stays. I'm good at updating my reviews, so if this review has no update regarding a quality control or customer service problem, You can safely assume it's still a 5 star product

As a content creator , finding the perfect balance between portability and performance in audio equipment has always been a challenge. However, my search has taken a promising turn with the Samson SAGOMIC Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone. This pint-sized dynamo has proven itself as a versatile companion for capturing high-quality audio on the go. Right out of the box, the Samson Go Mic impresses with its compact size and sleek design. Crafted from durable materials, the microphone feels sturdy and well-constructed in hand. The attention to detail in design is evident, and it exudes a professional vibe that's essential for any serious content creator or musician. The microphone's finish and accents contribute to its aesthetic appeal, making it an attractive addition to any setup. One of the standout features of the Samson Go Mic is its plug-and-play simplicity. With USB connectivity, setting up this microphone is a breeze – perfect for those quick recording sessions or live streaming events. The microphone's ability to switch between cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns offers flexibility, catering to various recording scenarios. The cardioid mode effectively isolates the sound source, while the omnidirectional mode captures a wider audio field, making it suitable for roundtable discussions or capturing ambient sounds. Despite its small size, the audio quality produced by the Samson Go Mic is commendable. The condenser capsule delivers clear, detailed recordings with a balanced frequency response. Whether recording vocals, instruments, or even podcasts on the go, the microphone captures nuances well, creating a professional impression with minimal post-processing required. The built-in headphone output is a convenient addition, enabling real-time monitoring without latency issues. The portability factor of the Samson Go Mic is undoubtedly one of its major strengths. The folding design allows it to be easily stowed away in a laptop bag or backpack, making it a perfect companion for vloggers, podcasters, and musicians who are frequently on the move. Additionally, the included carry pouch offers an extra layer of protection during travel. However, the microphone's small size also brings a few limitations. While the audio quality is impressive for its size, it might not fully satisfy audio purists seeking studio-level recording precision. The small diaphragm limits its ability to capture the full depth of certain sounds, resulting in a slightly condensed sound profile. In conclusion, the Samson SAGOMIC Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone is a commendable tool for content creators who prioritize portability without compromising too much on audio quality. Its compact design, easy setup, and versatility in pickup patterns make it an ideal choice for on-the-go recording needs. While it may not replace high-end studio microphones, its performance and convenience factor make it a valuable addition to any content creator's arsenal. If you're in need of a portable affordable microphone to capture your creative endeavors wherever you go, the Samson Go Mic could be your next go-to companion.

(IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE READING MUCH, SKIP TO THE NUMBERED LIST) I purchased this microphone with high hopes (and low funds). I did what you are doing, reading all the reveiws, possibly looking up videos of this mic. I expected this thing to be about the size of a gift card because I knew that it was small. I received my package a day earlier than it was supposed to be here, opened the carefully packaged product, and saw a sleek little box there that I was so excited to open. I was so excited! Then my hopes were all broken. Let me tell you why: -This mic is about half the size of a credit card. I instantly had it in my mind to return this mic. It HAD to be a joke. Anyway, I set it up... and nearly thought I was dreaming. PROS/ACCESSORIES 1. It has a jack on the side for headphones so that you can monitor your own voice with no lag or latency. 2. It has an LED light indicating whether or not the mic is "clipping." 3. The clarity in the voice is absolutely phenominal. It could hear everything! Even things I wouldn't naturally hear. 4. This microphone perfectly picks up acoustic guitar. I would steer clear if you are looking for a mic to record electric guitar or drums (shakers & tambourines are fine) 5. It is compact and mobile. It comes with a carrying case. 6. You also get complimentary recording software. 7. It is simple! Just plug and play. 8. Very affordable as far as condenser mics go. Top notch quality at this price. 9. Can clip on to flat screens. 10. Three handy settings on the side for cardioid (straight on), cardioid-10db (for close-up speaking on one side), omnidirectional (records 360 degrees). CONS 1. The stand is sturdy, but a bit too light. When you plug in your USB cord, it weighs it down and drags it. This can be easily fixed with a simple weight or a clamp. 2. The stand can only clamp on to certain things because it does not open very far. 3. I had a hard time finding a real mic stand to properly fit in the bottom hole on the stand already attached to the mic. However, I found a video on Youtube that shows how a guy made a Go Mic stand out of a guitar stand. 4. This mic is NOT for recording drums or electric guitar or really anything with extremely high volume in close proximity. Now, don't let those cons pull you away from this mic. This is a steal at its price and you don't need to buy a mixer or extra cables and such. It is all here. The stand that it comes with is made of all metal (but it feels light). This is such a small mic, but it picks up everything if you want it to. I am a musician so I record songs and do voiceovers and such and this is absolutely perfect. Reliable company and a stud of an item. I look to buy more Samson products in the future now and I really urge you to at least give it a chance. You will be shocked at this beast. It is also great for podcasts/interviews

This unit offers CD-quality 16-bit, 44kHz digitization and seamless plug-and-play operations with Windows and macOS. I was a guest on a podcast, and my previous microphone earned a complaint from the recording engineer. I ordered this one, and his immediate reaction to its sound was "Wow." Aside from the really good sound quality, it has a clever and unique design. It is one piece, with the body of the microphone swiveling out of the base, into which it tucks when you're not using it. It came with a hard-sided zipper case to keep it safe and clean. (Microphones are sensitive pieces of technology.) The base clips onto your laptop screen, or it can sit stably on your desk. There is a switch with three selections for sound pickup pattern. Omnidirectional is just that, a broad pattern that picks up all sound in the room. Cardioid is more directional (and cuts the bass a little bit). There's also a slightly muted (attenuated) cardioid setting that reduces clipping if you speak loudly or if there are loud noises. A status light on the front of the microphone is green when it is connected to your computer, and it flashes red if the mic saturates. Handy. No software is needed with this unit, nor are there batteries or a power supply to worry about. Just plug it into your computer's USB2/USB3 socket using the supplied cable. My Mac has USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, so I got a separate USB-C to Mini-USB cable (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L37R89D) to enable direct connection. A good quality, shielded cable is beneficial to avoid picking up hum. Operation was instantaneous and flawless. The audio input options for Windows and MacOS offer some simple adjustments but I did not have to touch these. This mic works great with teleconferencing software like Zoom and Skype, and with podcasting software like Zencaster. Incidentally, you can keep using your existing earphones or headset as I did, as all the software I've tried allows you to select microphone and headset independently. Between its compact size and gratifying performance, this unit is now part of my traveling kit, and beyond podcast interviews I'll use it for Zoom sessions and Skype and such. Maybe I'll get some "Wow"s there too!

I specifically wanted a mic with earbud jack so I can hear myself as I will sound to my audience WHILE i'm talking or recording. However, the sound output through the ear buds doesn't filter out any background noises (and believe me, the mic picks up EVERYTHING - but does filter it well to your audience or your recording - but listening to yourself live is torture). To me it sounds horrific. I can hear every single teeny tiny background noise to the point that it's extremely distracting. However, my audience doesn't hear all that noise and when I record and play back the noise is filtered. But I can't even use the functionality of the earbud/headphone jack to ensure my sound quality is ok while I'm presenting or recording because it definitely never sounds okay to me until I play back. Since the sound quality is decent to my audience and when I record, this might be a decent option for someone that wants an external microphone for travel. However, it seems really short sighted to make a case for it that does not have room for the USB cable nor for the optional additional earbuds. However, if you don't need a travel mic, I think I'd spring for a different model where you can hear yourself live without sounding like you're underwater and getting distracted by every single solitary noise which it seems to magnificently amplify. I swear this thing would pick up a spider fart and make it sound like a diesel backfiring in your ear. It won't sound that way to your audience or in your recording but it's far too distracting and loud to make it a functional feature. Also, the manual doesn't tell you which setting is unidirectional and which is bidirectional so you just have to test it to figure it out. How hard would it have been to provide a little image of the selector switch with the functions of each of the only two settings?

I was concerned about buying this mic as some of the one and two star ratings had had a bad experience. But I bought it anyway, it turns out to be very good. The clip looks like it's plastic but it is metal, so very strong.

Dopo mille calcoli, ho comprato questo microfono e devo dire che la scelta finale l’ho azzeccata in pieno. Lo consiglio senza alcun dubbio. POSITIVO: 1) Marca di grande qualità 2) Dimensione e peso ridottissimi (sta nel palmo della mia mano, che già è piccola di suo), quindi portatile e non solo da tavolo 3) Tre differenti settaggi di direzionalità dell’audio, pertanto non è solo omnidirezionale, ma puoi escludere il retro del microfono praticamente, oppure no. 4) Cosa per me fondamentale: È compatibile con iPhone e smartphone, cioè se volessi, compro un adattatore e lo collego direttamente al cellulare senza bisogno di alimentazione esterna tramite hub (cosa che serve ad altri microfoni) 5) La pinza fa da custodia per il microfono quando è chiuso, ma ha anche dei piedini sotto e funge da base d’appoggio del microfono quando si vuole usarlo mettendo sul tavolo, ma inoltre la stessa pinza serve a posizionare il microfono sopra il video del proprio laptop. Come dire: progettato benissimo. 6) Audio eccellente, senza alcun fruscio di sottofondo. Driver che si istalla benissimo in automatico e senza aver dato il minimo problema. 7) Cavo usb ben lungo e non come spesso accade... supercorto. Questo permette di collegarlo senza problemi anche a un PC tower, per capirci, e non solo a un portatile. 8) La custodia con cerniera in dotazione è strabella (vedi foto) 9) Confezione impeccabile, idem le istruzioni (solo in inglese). 10) Possibilità di collegare al microfono anche le cuffie (unica cosa che non ho provato e che al momento non mi serve). 11) Buon rapporto qualità/prezzo se paragonato a microfoni che costano 4 o 5 volte tanto, senza offrire 4 o 5 volte la qualità di questo. NEGATIVO: Niente di niente!

this mic sounds better than my $120 mic and its cheap.

I'm so glad I purchased this microphone. I read some reviews that said building quality looked cheap, but I completely disagree. The microphone is heavier than I expected, and the materials are nice to the touch. The sound quality is good for my use (Zoom calls and recordings), I haven't had complaints of external noise bleeding through the microphone. I do use the cardioid setting only and have never used the other settings. The travel pouch is only for the microphone, not the cable. Cable is long enough. Just plug and play, no setup needed. Spending over $60 CAD seemed a little steep, but I think it's a good price for the overall quality of the mic. I don't regret buying it. Only complaint, product registration for Samson is only available in the US when you buy from Amazon.

I super love this mic! It works perfectly, super easy plug & play, I just still need to find out how to remove the background noise which is the reason why I bought it. Super compact just the case should have a space for the cord. Thank you seller!