Samson C05

recording music on desktop for almost 7 yrs ...
i'd worked in a recording studio for a few month
i've been using DAW nowadays
ESI Near05(speakers) AKG K240DF...

it's ma first HH condensor microphone...
i used some condensor mic like MXL, Studioproject, Rode, Etc..
but.. sometimes i feel unconfortable recording in front of 'Big' condensor mic..
so i bought this.. actually i considered buying Shure Beta87A...
but.. a crew of ma favorite music store recommended it to me....
i sang & monitored the sound of C05, then i got back home with C05..
it's really cheap condensor mic, but.. u can get more than u expected with its price...
but if u wanna get some crispy sound like Rode's on recording..
i don't recommend this seriously.. it's a hand held mic..
so.. the sensitivity isn't so decent like studio condensor mic..
but u can get warmer sound than some condensor mic which sound so crispy.. i think there is no problem to use it on recording, but also stage...
if u need hand held condensor mic & crispy sound, get Shure beta87..
for warm sound.. choose this..

This is the best mic I used under $250, by far superior than the benchmark Shure SM57 or SM58, even better than the Sennheiser e835 or e935. It's about 3x more sensitive and provides a deeper bass & brighter highs. They can cut through the mix on stage. They pick up the high end so well that I have to eq the monitors to compensate otherwise feedback always happens. But once I dial in the eq with the help of an RTA, feedback is not a problem. These mics are for vocals & not for instruments. Vocals from these mics are clear & focus. It is smooth & some warmth. Our quartet have much to like about this mic. Those Shure & Sennheiser are now the backups. For $69 a piece, I can buy more if we break it.

The workmanship is very good. It feels good in the hand. The weight is just about perfect. There is a rubber coating on the metal body. The metal screen is durable & look expensive. Of course some of the inside is not the best out there. But it works so good for its intended design and that it cost only $69 each with a 20' mic cable, I bought 4 of these. This mic exceeded my expectations. Good job Samson.

Recording Engineer,and an active musician-singer

This mic is a big thing for those guys who sing and not "yell" into the microphone.It's well built mic for it's price and it shure fills good when you held it in your hands.I have used it a lot.I have singed everywhere,big and small stages.On my last concert in Hungary the tech.guys were stunned.They kept asking me if this is true,and that this is an "...what you sad...SAMSON or what???".They just couldn't belive their ears and eyes.
The thing is,that I new from the first try that this is the perfect microphone for me.The main thing about this mic is that it has a strong output,a "in-your-face"sound and you'll be getting the gain knob,after using a SM58 or whatever,down about 20dB.Also it has a rich and airfull sound with a,sometimes for me too much low end.Nevermind,I usualy cut the lowend and it always do the job.As I sad,this is a singers mic.So,do not expect from it to handle high SPL,like screming or yelling in to it.This is a condernser mic for nice and delicate vocals eather male or female.In case that you're an F****** I*** that is doing things in a wrong way,there's a user guide in the package underneath the mic.There is a explanation on how to use this mic and from wich distance can you get the best results.Always look for the little paper on the bottom of the box.It has it's use.
Truely,this is a great mic and it has nice round sound.Simple as that.It is not a "bang for the bucks" thing(there isn't any catchy stuff in it)this is even more.This is a good and healthy hand held condenser microphone for live aplications.
If you find this mic not as good as the rest of the guys who are and have used it,considere this little fact that every voice and every person has its own diferent-caracteristic voice and style of singing.If something works for me,doesn't neceseraly works for everyone.Better try it before you do something you'll might regret.

Been making music on a Mac for about 7 years, currently working with Pro Tools LE, but learned what I know a few years back on a Mix 24+ system with Pro Control. I've used a variety of more expensive mics (tlm 103, c414tl2, ksm32), as well as an assortment of cheaper condensers (mxl v57, v67, oktava mk319, mk012). Monitoring through either Event PS8s or Mackie HR824s.

the C05 is a handheld condenser with a cardiod pattern. i tested it against other handheld dynamics and it was obviously much crisper and detailed than anything else. This mic was given to me, so there wasn't any choice to be made, or any comparison really needed for me, it was free! I don't have any experience with other handheld condensers short of trying out the neumann at an old mars music store a few years back. didn't get to actually use it though, so I can't compare the two mics.

The C05's best quality is it's rich high end response. It can be a bit much, depending on the vocalist (haven't tried it with anything but vocals so far). but with the right voice, this mic sounds incredible. Fairly low noise floor (ran it through focusrite octopre), and basically good construction make it a GREAT mic, especially for the price. (even though i got it free). If I was looking for a handheld condenser, I would want to compare this to the new Rode mic, but the Samson would absolutely be a consideration. I've found that vocalists who aren't really comfortable singing in front of a bigger condenser like the handheld feel of the C05. I work with a lot of bands who have little to no studio experience and a lot of times, singing into something that looks like an SM58 (but sounds MUCH better) makes the singer feel a little more comfortable.

The only negative things I can say about the mic are that sometimes the high end is a little too much. Depending on the vocalist, you basically MUST have a de-esser. The other thing is that if you unscrew the top of the mic, you begin to see why it's so affordable. The wiring looks pretty cheap. Like I said, the feel of the mic when you're holding it is good, it has some weight to it, but the internal workings seem a bit lacking. Of course it is a $70 condenser so what do you want?