Samson's Q2U microphone does USB and XLR on a budget

Sure, there are a variety of ways to get your high-end XLR audio onto your PC, but the solutions we've seen before haven't been cheap. Shure's dual-purpose mics cost up to $250 and while the Icicle adapter is only $60, it's a strictly BYO microphone affair. Samson's $89 Q2U package includes all you'll need to become a podcasting wunderkind, most important being the mic itself, which comes with both XLR and USB cables. It also features an integrated 3.5mm headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring, includes a set of studio headphones, and even comes with a tripod so that you can wildly gesticulate while expressing your fury about the Dollhouse cancellation -- even if your 23 subscribers can't see you. It's all available now, so stop popping your P's and get with the ordering already.

Samson Q2U microphone

[farsideoff Posted Dec 3rd 2009 9:38AM]

check, check

[BeniRose Posted Dec 3rd 2009 9:41AM]

The blue snowball is only 99 bucks and will sound much better than a Samson mic. And 250 is CHEAP for a mic in my world ^^

[fdjklys3234 Posted Dec 16th 2009 12:30AM]

@BeniRose
Have you compared them side-by-side? The Samson certainly sounds better in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqADM4S_qVM

[Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar Posted Dec 3rd 2009 9:59AM]

My Shure SM58 was $120... A microphone is one of those pieces equipment, that's not worth experimenting with. I would never buy a 'budget' one just to save $20-$40.

[Michael Scrip Posted Dec 3rd 2009 4:29PM]

@(Unverified)

Agreed. If I needed a USB to XLR solution... I'd use my SM58 and get one of these:

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/Accessories/us_pro_X2u_content

[Dee Posted Dec 3rd 2009 10:10AM]

With all they are throwing in for $89, makes me wonder what the quality is like?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2009 10:14AM]

This is cool...I made a mistake in buying an MXL USB only Condenser Mic -- I think it was about 150$ -- quality is great for voice but not that great for recording instruments.. Then about a year later I got a nice M-Audio FireWire Mixer...and since the MXL mic doesn't have ASIO drivers, I can't use them both at the same time..Would have been better for me to get an XLR mic to begin with, and then just get a USB adapter...but this mic solves both those problems. I'm sure quality wise it's about the same as the MXL USB mics...not that great for instruments but good for vocals.

[davidhildreth Posted Dec 3rd 2009 10:24AM]

Blue Snowball!

[Infinity Posted Dec 3rd 2009 11:28AM]

Wonderful, but didn't cut it for me. I am looking for anything Bluetooth that does high quality sound. I am really pissed with the limit on all bluetooth mics at the moment, they intentionally dumb them down. Does anyone know a bluetooth mic that does VOIP at frequency response > 3KHz? Thanks.

[Ned Scott Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:41PM]

Mics with built in analog-to-usb converters are gimmicks. Get yourself one of those XLR to usb adapters, they even come with the headphone monitoring port, and you'll be able to use much better AND less expensive mics than the one in the Q2U package. You'll also have the flexibility of using additional mics later on, again without the cost of the additional electronics inside.

[jollyllama Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:11PM]

If you're at all serious about audio, get yourself a dedicated interface with decent preamps, for god-sakes. Until you do that, you'll be stuck with gimmicky stuff like this, rather than having the full range of audio gear (including older used stuff) available.

[Ethan Posted Dec 3rd 2009 6:28PM]

I asked the two people watching Dollhouse and they both said they were just happy it was coming back on Friday and finishing it's run.

[muzicman82 Posted Dec 4th 2009 12:12AM]

I'd think I'd rather spend the money on a quality brand like Shure. Personally, I'd pair a Shure SM58 with a CEntrance MicPort Pro.

[Ariolander Posted Dec 4th 2009 12:29AM]

If I were running a podcast (actually I do) I would resist the urge to get a USB mic. You can get decent hardware on a budget, under $200-250 in fact.

Get yourself a mixers with a compressor and an PC USB audio interface and you will thank yourself in the long run. People underestimate the value of hardware compressors and with a mixer you have room to grow in the future.

A "decent" starting vocal mic won't cost you much either,