Crown PZM-185 PZM Mic Battery/Phantom Review

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(More customer reviews)Specialized! Great for purchasers who understand this type of microphone. This type of microphone must be placed on a flat, hard surface for best results. A table, a sheet of suspended plexiglass, a desktop are examples of flat, hard surfaces. This type of microphone picks up all sound that reaches the boundary -- or surface -- on which the microphone rests. The plastic paddle features two (2), tiny and fragile "posts." You can either attach the paddle or remove it using these posts, which squeeze and insert into holes on the bottom of the microphone casing. The paddle isn't required if you want to mount the microphone on some other type of flat surface. I am a distance learning audio technician who works with far more expensive ceiling-mounted Tandberg "AudioScience" microphones (around $1,500). Believe it or not, this Crown PZM-185 is almost as good when mounted on suspended plexiglass! They call this a "PZM" or "pressure zone microphone." The pickup pattern is shaped like a half-sphere. So, if you put it on a table, then everything above the table will be heard to a distance of at least nine (9) feet. This model uses either batteries or, if you plug it into a mixer, you can use the mixer's "phantom" power to power the microphone. Amazing device for the money. Crown has better, more expensive models too. As I understand it, Crown's PZM line of microphones is now being marketed by AKG... a Harman company.

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An inexpensive version of the PZM-30 and PZM6 with XLR output, can be phantom or battery powered.The Crown® PZM®-185 Pressure Zone Microphone® is a microphone designed for general-purpose use. Ideal for applications such as conferences, group discussions, interviews, broadcast, home video production, lectures, and recordings. The mic can be placed on a large surface such as a table, floor, wall, or lectern. The PZM-185 is powered either by an internal AAA 1.5V battery or 12-48V phantom power. The boundary "paddle" can be detached so the mic will fit in your pocket. Attached to the mic is an 8-foot (2.438-m) cable leading to a tubular power module. The microphone’s low-profile design reduces "mic fright" and minimizes clutter. It is nearly invisible on camera. The PZM-185 minimizes pickup of vibration and handling noise. Its electret condenser capsule provides a wide, smooth frequency response from 50 Hz to 16 kHz. The mic’s hemispherical polar pattern allows clear pickup of everyone surrounding the microphone. The PZM-185 is protected against static and RFI. The output is balanced, low impedance, which allows long cable runs without hum pickup or high-frequency loss.Like other Pressure Zone Microphones, the PZM- 185 uses a miniature mic capsule mounted very near a sound-reflecting plate or boundary in the Pressure Zone. In this zone, direct sound from the sound source combines in phase at all frequencies with reflected sound off the boundary.

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Samson Q1U - Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)We got one of these USB microphones for work and I liked it so much I got one for home. We do voiceover recordings and I do narration (reading texts). I don't know how well it would perform for singing or recording instruments, but for voice it's great. The USB connection allows recording directly to your PC, bypassing the sound card which can lower audio quality. IF you have a laptop with a built-in mic, be sure that you change the microphone input to the Q1U or your recording will be from the built in. You can record directly with any software. The free Audacity is excellent and the Sony SoundForge is good, too. I did get a wind cover for the work mic because some people were popping their P's. The audio quality is quite good. Others have commented that our recordings sound professional. And when I sent samples from another microphone (that cost $100, but that pluggged into the sound card via the 3.5mm input), the opinion was that the Samson Q1U produced a much better sound. The mic is sturdy, well made, and has a very solid feel. But it's the performance that has sold me. Need a USB mic? This one is a super deal.

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The Samson Q1U USB Microphone features a smooth sounding neodymium element, capable of handling high SPL, cleverly interfaced to an onboard high quality mic pre, A/D converter and USB output. The Q1U is perfect for recording your music, podcast or any acoustic audio source on your favorite DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Just plug in the supplied USB cable, launch your DAW and start recording. For expanded control, download the Samson Softpre applet software from Samson's website and you'll have additional features like programmable GAIN, Low Cut Filter, Input Metering and Phase switch. The Q1U faithfully reproduces a variety of sound sources including vocals, acoustic instruments and overhead cymbals, to name a few and because the Q1U can handle high SPL, you can use it on drums or in front of a loud guitar amp. The extended frequency and fast transient response insures an accurate reproduction with linear characteristicsfrom bottom to top. Samson Q1U Features Dynamic Handheld Microphone with USB interface Plugs in directly to any computer with a USB input High Quality A/D Converter with 16-Bit, 48kHz Sampling Rate Super Cardioid Pickup Pattern Compatible with any Computer Based Digital Audio Workstation Tripod desk stand and carry pouch included AmericanMusical.com is an authorized dealer of Samson products.

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Samson G Track USB Condenser Microphone Review

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(More customer reviews)This mic is ahead of its time because of its unique features - it's a large diaphragm condenser mic with a built-in line/guitar input and output for headphone or speaker monitoring. By comparison, the sE Electronics USB2200a omits the line/guitar input. The problem with this mic is its useability. It's noisy as hell, and it's not this mic's fault. Sticky noise, and a high-pitched whine, are inherent in the USB signal. sE Electronic's USB2200a has circuitry which eliminates this noise - Samson doesn't. As it is, The G-Track is only useful, in a professional situation, for cleanly recording instruments which emit high SPL's - amps, drums, etc. It's useless for vocals, acoustic guitar, and so on. With a standing noise floor of about -45dB at 1Khz this mic cannot be taken seriously. Still, all of this technology is in its infancy. I'm keepping my finger crossed that somewhere along the way Samon will release a USB noise canceller/suppressor. Until then, The G-Track is more of a curiosity/toy than a useful adjunct to anyone's professional recording studio.

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The Samson G Track has so many features packed-in, you will wonder how your studio ever operated without one! Samson's G-Track is the world's first USB condenser microphone with a built-in audio interface, allowing simultaneous input of vocals along with guitars, bass, or keyboard while also providing monitoring through an on board headphone output. And the G-Track allows you to switch the interface so that you record vocals only or instruments only or a mix of both. The G-Track allows you to record vocals like a standard USB mic, or two mono instruments through the line/instrument input, or a mix of one mono instrument and vocal. Now singer/songwriters can directly record vocals and instruments quickly and easily with one device, making the G-Track a must have for any songwriter's home studio. And its ease of use and portability allows you to take it anywhere inspiration may strike you. Ideal for the traveling musician or the project studio, the G-Track ships with a desktop mic stand, swivel stand mount, USB cable and all the cables needed to connect any musical instrument with a standard 1/4 inch or RCA output. The G-Track ships with Cakewalk's Sonar LE and works brilliantly with Apple's GarageBand. Samson G-Track Features Large diaphragm studio condenser microphone Mic and instrument/line gain control with a clip LED Stereo input jack for instrument and line level signals Stereo headphone output for no latency monitoring with level control Threee position headphone switch for stereo, mono, computer monitoring USB bus-powered and compliant Audio I/O cable, USB cables and desktop microphone stand included Bundled with Cakewalk's Sonar LE DAW software Vista compatible AmericanMusical.com is an authorized dealer of

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Condenser Mic with Software Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a USB mic. It plugs directly into the USB jack of the computer, thus bypassing the need for an audio interface mixer. That said this is a quality mic with good sound . The ease of use is it's best selling point. As long as you don't need to mix two mic inputs this does the job and can save you money. If you're just getting into podcasting I highly recommend this samson mic.

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Record studio quality audio directly into your computer's USB input and digital recording software with the Samson C01U! Some very clever Samson engineers managed to build the entire USB audio interface into the barrel of their best selling C01 Studio Condenser microphone. For the first time ever, musicians who record music on computers have a simple, affordable way to capture high-quality vocal and acoustic instrument performances. Seamless integration was the idea, and it was obtained by creating a studio condenser microphone that can be plugged into any computer with no in/out boxes, no expensive computer pre-amps, just a USB cable (includes 10 foot cable). The C01U condenser microphone features a 19mm internal shock mounted diaphragm with a cardioid pick up pattern ensuring pristine studio quality recordings. The C01U works perfectly on any computer, Mac or PC, and with any DAW software program. It immediately solves a huge problem for users of many laptops, many of which have no other input method for audio devices. It's a must for any musician on the road or in the project studio, but the C01U is going to offer solutions to more than just musicians. The mic opens up possibilities for anyone who records audio-from Podcasters, journalists, students, and business people adding audio files to websites and multimedia presentations. The C01U comes bundled with Cakewalk Sonar LE, their vastly popular digital audio workstation software, giving users additional power and versatility to digitally record audio in any situation. Also available as a package which comes with a desktop mic stand, mic clip, shockmount and USB cable in a durable, lightweight aluminum case. Samson C01U USB Microphone Features Industry's first affordable USB Studio Condenser mic Plugs in directly to any computer with a USB input Cardioid Pickup Pattern Large 19mm Diaphragm H

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MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're looking for a good sounding microphone that is far superior to any standard PC microphone, this is a good choice. However, the most unique feature that set's this microphone apart - the headphone jack - is a real disappointment. It is *NOT* a realtime feed from the mic. Rather, the headphone jack is the output of a USB sound card that is integrated into the Microphone. There is significant latency between the microphone input and the audio output, so much that it really is useless as a recording monitor. This feature doesn't allow this microphone to be distinguished from any other USB condenser mic that lacks an audio output.
The headphone jack is possibly useful for setting levels, etc., when you're working with a PC that lacks a sound card, or need to have the microphone a significant distance from your p.c. or laptop. If you have a long USB cable and need to roam, maybe the headphone jack is useful.
There are many good points about this mic - recording is warm and full sounding; you do get that 'NPR' sound. While the mount is light, it's adequate. The 10' USB cable is quite generous, and the hard plastic case has pre-cut foam and is a nice touch.
Overall, I am satisfied with the product, but I am disappointed that the promising feature - the headphone jack for real-time monitoring, is not what it is implied to be. It is a USB sound card and suffers all of the latency of your internal sound card.

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Enjoy professional quality recordings of vocals and instruments saved directly to your computer with the MXL Studio 1 USB microphone. Offering easy plug-and-play usability with both PC and Mac, the portable Studio 1 condenser mic is a great choice for musicians, vocalists, podcasters, internet radio, digital music, voice-over recordings and sound effects.
To get started using it, just simply plug the mic into a laptop or desktop computer through a standard USB port--no mixers, preamps or other expensive studio gear required.

Using the best of both analog and digital technologies, the MXL Studio 1 features a built-in headphone jack for low latency monitoring and clear audio playback for tight and accurate recordings. The low latency feature provides more accurate recording when doing voiceovers and internet recordings such as podcasts. The MXL Studio 1 USB microphone also include a 2-micron diaphragm capsule, 16-bit audio resolution, 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz sampling rate, and 40 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response.



Features and Specifications
Quality sample rate converter
Completely plug and play for both PC and Mac
No special drivers required
Includes a 1/8-inch headphone jack for low latency monitoring
No mixers, preamps or other expensive studio gear required
Comes with carrying case, desktop microphone stand/adapter, 10' USB cable
Frequency response: 40Hz to 20kHz
Sampling rate: 44.1kHz and 48kHz
USB 1.1 and 2.0 compatible
16-bit delta sigma A/D converter with THD+N - 0.01%

What's in the Box Studio 1 mic, hard plastic carrying case, desktop microphone stand/adapter, 10-foot USB cable, user manual, and application guide to get the most from your recordings.

A Little Background Information MXL condenser microphones use what is known as a cardioid pickup pattern, which is more sensitive to sound waves arriving at the front of the microphone as opposed to those arriving from the sides or rear. Unlike other MXL® models, this microphone benefits from being a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device--meaning this is a plug and play microphone that will interface with Windows and Macintosh computers without the need for any special drivers. As a USB device, it carries the added benefit of not requiring an external microphone preamp, as is the case with most condenser microphones.

Unlike microphones designed for live performance or lesser dynamic model microphones, this instrument requires careful handling.

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