Side by Side Comparison of: Samson Technologies vs MXL

Great little mic for the price. I purchased this for a bit of voice work, and it's a surprisingly clear sound considering the size and the fact that I'm using it on it's own (without additional sound filtering). It comes with a clip that makes it really easy to attach to anything for recording (I use it clipped onto my laptop). For those more serious about recording I'd still recommend investing in an additional filter, but considering how easy this mic is to use and the fact that it's price point is under $200, I'd say that this is a no brainer for anyone looking to try out recording.

Great little thing but I wish the clamp opened wider so I could get it onto a regular monitor (not just a laptop monitor). Excellent sound quality and very portable.
This would be perfect if it came with an angled mini-usb cable as the regular cable sticking out the side is a bit clunky.

I am a math teacher and primarily use it to record examples or explanations of concepts that I post for my students to access at home or on their phones. The mic provides the ample volume and clarity I need and it is easily stowed away when not in use (little bit more difficult to do that with a Snow Ball). It's compact, convenient, and is a giant step up in audio quality from a $15 desktop microphone. Would definitely recommend for any teacher looking to post video/audio instructions or examples.

When MacOS 12 with Siri was released, I realized that in order to take full advantage I would need a better microphone than the one built into my monitor. The Samson Go Mic filled that need perfectly. It sits nicely on the desktop and performs beautifully. It is a perfect companion to Siri.

Great little mic. I used this in a small classroom about 20' away from the professor and was still able to pick up the audio quite well. Audio quality is clear even at that distance and not muddy at all. So far, this is the best mic for a classroom setting I've found. I use it in conjunction with an Asus VivoTab Note 8 which is like a mini Microsoft Surface. With this mic and my tablet, I can record lectures and write notes simultaneously in OneNote which is perfect for going over things when you're reviewing notes.

Very pleased

This microphone delivers perfect quality audio for podcasting or voiceover work. As with any microphone, your surroundings affect the overall quality, but in my DIY VO Booth, this mic delivers every time!

I love this mic I have a song on iTunes and amazon that's I recorded on it search "Fat Meech" it's a good mic got it paired with a focusrite

As many of you stated before, I was extremely hesitant to buy a mic that was only around $80 but I decided to try it anyway.. let me tell you.. this is the best mic I have ever had! I've purchased more expensive mics in the past and nothing comes close to this one! Extremely clear and easy to use! I fully reccomend this product!!SIDE NOTE: The pop filter sucks however, so you might wanna invest in a better one. It's not very flexible

Great Product

This arrived very fast and is a very clear saounding mic. It is fantastic for home recording of vocals....It is a condenser Mic so it is not so great for recording a band

I didn't purchase this product for anything of the professional production sort; instead, it was to overcome the limitations of using Google's Hangout Meet app in a boardroom setting. I've got a MacBook Pro and it just can't pick up all the voices of a meeting with its microphone. Using traditional call lines combined with the app created feedback issues; so, I needed another reasonable solution. For its price point I don't think there's a better product for similar consumer needs as mine.

Im docking one star because it says that it comes with a 10 foot USB cord and the cord is probably 6 feet at most. In addition, there's no room to store the mic and USB cable in the case, only the mic will fit. The mic and stand are a great product. Worked fantastically with my my Macbook Pro for recording meetings. Looks professional and easy to install and use. I use mine with the free Audacity software. The red light on the front tells you if the gain is too high, so that really helps you set the recording level at the right place for what you are recording.

This is a great little portable microphone. Not pro quality by any means, but if you want to experiment with audio recording on the most basic level this is a cool way to go. Super simple and automatic to use if you have a newer computer system, this USB mic is super durable with its metal components. The output for headphones is great for instant monitoring of the microphone audio. Please note, when you have this plugged in to your computer, it may take the output channel as well, meaning you have to listen to your computer's audio playback through the headphone jack on the microphone or change the computer audio output to default. That is how my mac was set up at factory default setting anyways. This microphone has lasted me years.

My MacBook Air recognized this instantly. And while the product dimensions are shown here as 6x1x5 that's more like the box size. The mic itself is maybe 3x1x1/2. Here's the stark truth. To avoid living endlessly connected to a computer, I do my first-draft writing on college-lined notebooks, often sitting in the park or one of those coffee shops that being with S. If you haven't developed expertise at doing this, I recommend it. There's a fluidity and directness to writing with mechanical pencil (Pentel Quicker Clicker) on paper that Word can't even begin to equal. Same goes for editing-on-the-fly and next-day. Word makes you think you're writing well because everything looks so final. This of course is an illusion. But then what? If you use my method, you gotta type it all up, which is agony. However, one of the great things Macs offer is superior dictation software, free of charge (at least for now). It works much better than Dragon Naturally Speaking, which must be "trained" to get your voice right. The internal mic in your Mac is remarkably good actually, and will do the job fine, offering excellent verbal editing options (e.g. “semi-colon”). But if you're going to dictate for long periods, an external mic like this one is the thing to have. The Samson did set up instantly, and seems very sensitive. It dictates flawlessly into Word text. So you're talking to a guy who writes with pencil on lined paper, then scans those pages to have a backup, then dictates the text into Word using this mic. Primitive but effective, as the saying goes. I also write music for fun and no profit, so I'll report back when I've tried this for "sketchpad" use with GarageBand. I own a fair amount of nice recording gear, but I never can seem to get a decent recording, so maybe just giving up and using this will be my best hope. It's not like I want the full eight tracks my TASCAM equipment can lay down. Will report back.

I'm YouTuber and so microphones are a very big deal for me. In may earlier stages of my YouTube channel, I used the internal microphone for my computer HP ENVY.

This little microphone puts out MUCH better quality than that of the internal mic of the computer.
It is very durable inconvenient for travel when I cannot haul around my Yeti.

I will say that this is an excellent starting microphone. However, if you later on invest in a better microphone like the blue yeti, you will not want to go back to using the Samson go. You can really tell a difference in the quality then.

However, if you have to travel lightly, then it is an ideal microphone to carry which will not break under the pressure of being in tightly packed spaces due to its folding feature.

PROS
• small for travel or for a laptop
• folds easily for safe storage
• lasts a long time (I have never dropped mine so I don't know the extend of that durability)
• has different settings omni and cardioid
• Usb

CONS
• Not the best quality if you're used to Studio quality mics
• The hinge on which it pivots can wear down after time causing it to droop. ( this can be annoying if you have it clamped on your laptop. I had to skew it at just the right angle so that it wouldn't fall over forward.

For the price, this mic is great. It's easy to set up, records beautifully, and it looks super professional. I use this with the Scarlett 2i2 interface, and for its price, it can't be beat. The only reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is because the stand isn't very sturdy. It's made of metal and tightens nicely, but often tips at the slightest little nudge. That of course, is a very small price to pay for this mic. I seriously recommend.

 This kit fits my needs. I like the sound quality of the Mic and I am not experiencing echo problems or the mic picking up extraneous sounds. Since I recently purchased the mic, I am testing it in different scenarios, mostly singing and speaking since that is what I purchased it for, largely narration and voice over work.The pop filter is a good size and does the job. The mic stand could be more solid, it is intended for a lighter mic, and I think the seller should've bundled a mic stand that is more stable for a heavy mic. Not a deal breaker, just need to carefully tighten the boom and make sure you have balanced the mic.In lieu of posting just pictures, I recorded a little video with me singing comically (just messing around, no serious singing here) to show you the mic on the stand and allow you to hear the quality of the mic.The mic did pick up my keyboard playing, because the speakers were right below the mic. If you are recording in your home studio, I recommend laying the music track and then singing to the music as opposed to playing and singing together, unless, you have soundproofed the singer and mic from the musical instruments.

I have been using this mic with Alesis 4Ch USB Mixer into MacBook Pro for home recordings of songs and it has been a wonderful mic combo for me. Haven't been experiencing the hiss that some people have mentioned on several sights with this mic or the Alesis 4Ch USB Mixer. It's been a great addition in the first stage of building a home studio. sound, at times, can be a little thin - the only reason I gave it a 4* rating - but this may be the mixer as it has no Mid adjustment on it... or it could be my novice experience.

Bundle is nice assortment, with three caveats: the gooseneck on the pop filter isn't quite strong enough to hold up the weight of the filter, so it sags, the microphone is heavy enough that you have to crank the mike boom very tight to get it to hold, and the folded size of the mike stand is quite long, making it a bit awkward to pack.

You get what you pay for, and a little more I think. The stand is basic, and everything else is standard. For the price you pay, the mic is pretty decent. Definitely something great for beginners.

Seems Like an ok mic for its price, I've been recording on microphone with higher price than this one & yet i can't tell the different. But beware that you will need isolation & acoustic foam if you do not like the echos off the wall in your recordings.

Worked really well at first, but after only a few months it started to occasionally get staticy, and I wouldn't know unless I was watching the audio as it recorded. It's becoming more frequent, so I need to buy a new mic. I'll be buying something else that won't start crapping out on me so soon. Otherwise, it works well! So I'm sad it does the static thing.

Nice audio quality, I appreciate the various settings, but my microphone is no longer working after less than a year of use.

The sound quality on this microphone is stellar for the price. It really makes a major difference in videoconferencing as compared to the built-in microphone of the laptop. But the tension of the ball-joint that the microphone swivels around on cannot be adjusted, so even a slightest touch to the cable repositions the microphone. Additionally, while the clip works, its grip doesn't seem particularly secure. However, this may depend on the kind of a laptop/monitor it is being used with. Overall it's worth it; I'd probably buy it again, as for a compact microphone for videoconferencing use it does the job despite of its shortcomings. A thin/flexible USB-cable will mitigate the repositioning problem I mentioned (a thick/stiff cable makes it worse).

I am using this mic as a secondary mic to input my voice into broadcasting of gaming livestreams. The software I'm using allows for the gaming background to lower when I speak into this mic, but sometimes the mic doesn't get all of what I'm saying. It will either fade in to late or fade out too soon. So I can choose to not let the software dictate this mic and have the mic 'always on' (and not just when I speak), but then I hear a constant "hissing" or noise. So I'm not very happy because of that. I want to return it but I'm hoping that maybe it will work better with a newer computer. Eitehr way this little baby is really cool if it wasn't for the background noise. I'm thinking that much of the problem is with my old notebook computer because even the headsets produce the same 'noise'. I will update my review should anything change. It's perfect for the person who travels and needs to setup and broadcast ;-)

I had high hopes for this mic. Also bought the Blue Microphones Snowflake USB Microphone and although its form factor is a little wonky, the snowflake works beautifully and sounds much better.I wonder if there are just too many features and circuits in the Samson for its price point. The Samson sometimes doesn't work at all. But mostly it just is filled with static and hiss. It also seems excessively sensitive to motion but not in moving sound, but in electronic crackle and pop.I am sending it back for a replacement.

I hate the stand. It is not sturdy at all. The pop filter just doesn't bend correctly to cover the mic. I would purchase the mic separately with out this stand.

This is NOT plug & play on Microsoft Surface 4 running windows 10. I tried to get it to work with Ableton and it was a NO Go. Maybe it was due to an installation error on my wife's part or mine (this was a Christmas gift for her to play with). As soon as the GO mic was engaged there was NO sound. At one point I was able to get the mic working and I could hear it sounded nice but could not get it to work with headphones/speakers.

The mic on my computer is completely worthless. I can't be heard at all on any skype calls, so I got this mic for basic skype calls and the like, nothing fancy. The mic itself worked really well, I was could be heard very clearly and wasn't tied to my computer by a cord anymore. I would hae given it 5 stars, but unfortunately, after less than a year it has stopped working entirely. $40 for a mic that only works for 9 months just isn't worth it.

Worked fine for 13 months. Then stopped working. I suspect that the failure occurred in the mini-D jack, after about 100 or so pluggings and unpluggings.

During its last week of operations, the green light flickered and the recording app reported that I had unplugged the mike. Now, the app recognizes the mike, the light is solid green, and I can record . . . total silence.

Other than that, it's a great mike.

I've tested the cable; it works fine for other devices.

I just received my Samson Go Portable Mic. I was impressed with the box that the Go Mic came in as well as the products overall heftiness. This microphone feels like a professional product. My first impression was "wow, this is really, really nice product." It looked and felt exactly how I hoped it would look and feel; however, when I plugged it into my MacBook Pro, it only picked up sound for approximately 10 seconds. My computer recognized the microphone, and the green light on the front of the microphone indicated that it was working properly, but it would not pick up any sound regardless of my actions. I turned it on, off, and on again; I rebooted my computer with the microphone plugged into the USB port, then I tried to reboot my computer without the microphone plugged into the USB port. I was extremely frustrated because I had this beautiful little microphone and I was hoping to get to use it immediately, but it was not meant to be. I am going to send it back to Amazon and try a different manufacturer. I wasted several hours of time that I can never get back, I don't want you to do the same. Sorry, but if your time is worth anything, my advice is to avoid this beautiful little microphone (unless you're looking for a expensive paperweight).

I experimented a humming background sound in my videos using Logitech HD Webcam C920. I tried to move the mic to different locations away from the laptop, I tried the mic using a second laptop, and I still could not get rid of the white noise in the background. My laptop was properly grounded. I changed the mic settings in my audio panel and Logitech software. I turned off my air conditioner and recorded my voice without any noise in my room, but I could not eliminate the white noise.
My voice sounded a bit clear on Samson Go Mic when compared to my Logitech C920 built-in mic. However my built-in mic offers a sound without white noise/humming.
I returned this mic for a refund.

2 out of 2 bad out of the box. Not worth pursuing, at least for Mac users with El Capitan.... it records audio that is 2 or 3 octaves lower. swapped back and forth with onboard mic and Yeti Blue, as well as Plantronics voyager head set.... all worked fine. No go on the Go mic.

Two issues:A) This mic is not made for recording music. I understand that it is promoted primarily for use with podcasting/video chatting, but the description also says it can be used for recording music.The sound distorts when I record the flute's middle register (MAX 90-100db, MAX 1500hz), regardless of the distance I place the mic from the source (RANGE 4ft - 35ft). I have tried muffling the mic with layers of fabric to no avail.It also distorts when I attempt to record solo vocals, within the same distance and approximate frequency ranges.I can't imagine attempting to use this to record music without having access to a basketball court sized room with high ceilings and all-around fabric walls.B) My mic has stopped working after 2.5 years. The LED does not turn on, and my device does not recognize it. Through experimentation, I've ruled out the possibility of there being a problem with my device or the cable.

I had such high hopes for this microphone. I am using Dragon NaturallySpeaking for my dictation and based on what other reviewers had said, I had trusted that this microphone would be accurate with dictation. I was formally using a handheld microphone which was 99% accurate. When I switched to the Samson Go Mic, I couldn't even go a single sentence without a mistake. I spent five hours retraining Dragon NaturallySpeaking today hoping that it would work with this microphone. Finally I gave up. It's not worth the aggravation. I rather go back to using the inexpensive handheld microphone than continue struggling with this. I need to the ability to dictate at a very steady rate. Going back and correcting every sentence just doesn't work for me. Maybe this works in other applications, but for dictation it does not. Back it goes.

I got this mic out of curiosity at the rave reviews and the price. I'm a voice actor and thought this would be great to record auditions while traveling or running errands around town and unable to get home or to my agent.First of all, it looks great. And I love how it can clip to the top of my iPhone. But the sound quality is about what you can expect from a mic in this price range. Also it's REALLY sensitive, even with the -10db pad so if you're recording anything above a conversational volume you run an extremely high risk of clipping and distortion.That being said, it's better than recording using the mic built into your phone and the portability factor can't be beat. I use this when I'm in a pinch and can't record an audition anywhere else.EDIT: after minimal use (I only use this when I have no other option) it now produces intermittent feedback (screeching noise) on my recordings. Checked it on both my iPad Pro and iPhone 7

This mic may be good for podcasting in quiet environments, but it picks up far too much room noise and noise from the surface it is sitting on to be useful for VoIP calls in the real world. I purchased it because of the number of rave reviews but am very disappointed and returned it. A boom mic or headset mic is a much better choice for any but the quietest, studio-like environments. And yes, I did try both audio modes and the noise cancelling settings on my computer.

I had high expectations because Samson owns Zoom, so I thought this mic might sound as good as the mics on my Zoom H2. But it only took about 10 seconds of use to cause me to think, "Uh oh."To it's credit, my mac saw the Go Mic instantly and I was able to record immediately, of course that's to be expected. Plus it has a nice feel and design. However, otherwise it was nothing but cons:* Low signal output.* Unpleasant, tubby sound color. No, it's no my room--I record here all the time.* An unacceptable amount of hiss from its very weak preamp. In truth, the sound is no better than the built-in mic on my MacBook; and the gain is far worse.* And this seemed odd: even when set to cardioid, the mic sounded almost the same--in terms of tone and volume-- whether I spoke in the front (the black face) or the back (the silver face.) ???I haven't read too many Amazon Samson "Go Mic" reviews that cite the low signal and noisy preamp that I encountered... but a lot of people said the thing craps out permanently after minutes or hours. Given those reports and my disappointing experience, I'm sending it back tomorrow. No further testing or research required, even though mine may have been defective.NOTE regarding Zoom: For the record, I REALLY like my Zoom H2 recorder, which makes wonderful voice and instrumental recordings, and has a acceptable interface. To my ear the Zoom records better than any comparable digital recorder I've purchased, producing a warm and bright image that does not sound artificially colored. I'll keep using it when I need a desktop mic.My earlier model stereo Zoom sounded great, but I couldn't deal with the lousy interface. So I'm very interested in the new H5 and H6! Volume knobs! Wow!! Sometimes there's nothing better than a good old fashioned analog dial.