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EEVblog => EEVblog Specific => Topic started by: EEVblog on September 01, 2017, 09:42:09 am

Title: Samson USB GO Mic Teardown
Post by: EEVblog on September 01, 2017, 09:42:09 am
A quick teardown on the Samson Go Mic USB studio microphone for laptops and tablets.
UPDATE: Obviously one capsule is Cardioid and the other is Omni


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyuk3--FWfs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyuk3--FWfs)

Title: Re: Samson USB GO Mic Teardown
Post by: b_force on September 01, 2017, 01:57:23 pm
I was already typing a similar story like this (acoustics, audio and mics is one of my expertise), but you already got everything pretty much.
There are a few little details I don't completely agree on, but meh you need so much context/explanation to make that more clear, so we just leave it.
What I can add is that you always want some sort of cardiod pattern to keep the 'room noises' down or prevent feedback.
Obviously they are making some sort of compromise costs vs performance with this.

Btw, this mic is also mono (read the manual!)
("For stereo miking, use two Go Mic’s" and "Set up a mono record track in your DAW")
So you could have known that these are not a stereo pair, but form a summing pattern as Doug said.

Never mind, apparently you can choice what to use.  |O
As on the website: "Thanks to its switchable cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns, you can pick whichever pattern is more appropriate for your specific situation."
So you still could have known  ;D ;)

Just some practical information.
Most (cheaper), small devices all have these little buggers.
A lot of times they might look like a fancy other type of mic, but that's just marketing.
Title: Re: Samson USB GO Mic Teardown
Post by: tszaboo on September 01, 2017, 03:01:05 pm
I think these small capsules are called an electret mic. I was also under the impression, that these are fairly low quality, compared to condenser mics. But I saw from the waving of the hand, Dave was also expecting something bigger.
Title: Re: Samson USB GO Mic Teardown
Post by: b_force on September 01, 2017, 03:17:22 pm
It is a bit of a myth that electret capsule mics are low quality.
These things are being used in a lot of professional very high quality gear.

There are many different types of microphones.
All have their pros and cons.
Title: Re: Samson USB GO Mic Teardown
Post by: EEVblog on September 01, 2017, 09:18:18 pm
I think these small capsules are called an electret mic. I was also under the impression, that these are fairly low quality, compared to condenser mics. But I saw from the waving of the hand, Dave was also expecting something bigger.

Yes, the C01U uses a 19mm capsule I believe
Title: Re: Samson USB GO Mic Teardown
Post by: jonovid on September 04, 2017, 01:35:39 pm
It is a bit of a myth that electret capsule mics are low quality.
These things are being used in a lot of professional very high quality gear.

There are many different types of microphones.
All have their pros and cons.

I think these small capsules are called an electret mic. I was also under the impression, that these are fairly low quality, compared to condenser mics. But I saw from the waving of the hand, Dave was also expecting something bigger.

Yes, the C01U uses a 19mm capsule I believe
looks like a differential twin electret condenser microphone to lower noise floor.
 them electret condenser inserts are cheap as its the enclosure design & supporting electronics that sets the microphone characteristics.
most electret condenser inserts have good frequency response upto 20k. some go a bit higher.
the basic mic differential is a twin input op amp with one side input inverted.