Gearank

The first generation Samson C01U was the first USB condenser microphone on the market when it came out in 2005.

Its successor, the C01U Pro improves upon the original mic with a built-in headphone amplifier for latency-free monitoring and improved signal-to-noise ratio.

It comes with a large (19mm) internal shock mounted diaphragm and a hypercardioid polar pattern that allows for good sonic detail capture and good background noise rejection.

It's is housed in a solid die-cast form factor with a heavy gauge mesh grill with a shock-mounted element within for minimizing handling noise/vibrations while recording.

And includes a tripod stand and swivel mount for desktop use.

Tech Specs

• Type: Condenser
• Polar Pattern: Super-cardioid
• Frequency Response: 20Hz - 18kHz
• Sampling Rate: 44.1/48kHz
• Bit Depth: 16 bit
• Maximum SPL: 130 dB
• Power Requirements: USB bus powered via Mac, PC or iPad

Compatibility

USB Class Compliant
Windows: Windows 8 or higher
Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher
iPad (cable included)

Suitable For

Home Recording, Mobile/Field Recording, Voiceovers, Podcasting, Streaming, and Content Creation.

Pros

Users describe the C01U Pro as being super easy to setup and use, and good sounding. They are happy that there is nothing to complicate the recording process, just load up your DAW, plug it in, and record away. There are many reports of it working well in various musical styles like rap, rock, and even metal-style screaming, and it has also worked well when recording acoustic instruments. The metal material exhibits very sturdy construction and didn't even obtain any major damage when dropped by some reports.

Cons

The most common concern is regarding monitoring latency, which can be a deal-breaker for those who want to listen to what they are recording in real-time. Thankfully, the mic comes with a built-in headphone amplifier so you can listen-in without latency at the cost of not being able to hear the effects that you apply.

Overall

If you're looking for a mic that can get you started while being versatile and clear enough for more professional applications, the C01U Pro will take you a long way before needing any sort of upgrade.

Although this was previously on our recommended list, there are now more highly rated options available which you can see in our guide to The Best USB Mics.

Polar Pattern

Frequency Response