SamsonTechnologies
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Samson Meteor Mic USB studio microphone: Solid quality in a compact package
Depending on how you look at it, the Samson Meteor Mic USB studio microphone (US$149.99 SRP, available from online retailers for about $100) looks like a little rocket, a silver bullet, R2D2's best friend, or just another mic. I had an opportunity to try out one of these portable USB mics, which can be used with any Mac or iPad (with the Apple Camera Connection Kit), and found that it is very handy for anyone who needs to record and monitor high-quality audio on-the-go. Design The first thing that attracted me to the Samson Meteor Mic was the design. Unlike the traditional design of the IK Multimedia iRig Mic we reviewed a while back, the Meteor Mic immediately catches your attention. Don't let the cute design fool you, though -- this mic is surprisingly stout and looks as if it could survive a lot of abuse. There are three legs that fold down on the Meteor Mic. The legs, also made of metal, are tipped with rubber to prevent the mic from sliding on a surface. Each leg can be adjusted separately in order to point the mic in a specific direction. Behind one of the legs is a mini-B size USB connector for connecting the mic to your Mac, PC or other device, as well as a 3.5 mm stereo jack for connecting headphones or studio monitors. Continue reading this review on the next page, and be sure to view the gallery below. %Gallery-123828%
Zoom G2Nu and G2.1Nu guitar effects pedals offer direct USB recording
Zoom is kind of like Mitsubishi -- it sort of does it all. Months after shipping one of the greatest pocket audio recorders every known to man, the company is now hitting back with none other than a pair of guitar effects pedals. The G2Nu and G2.1Nu boards both feature 100 preset guitar sounds, 20 of which have purportedly been given the almighty thumbs-up from Steve Vai. If you're curious about differences, the latter adds a built-in expression pedal for additional control, but frankly, the expected capabilities aren't what we're interested in. Both devices sport integrated USB ports that enable them to operate as audio interfaces; in other words, axe slingers can record directly to their computer through this box, and the 1.9-inch display helps you keep track of what's going on. Regrettably, pricing and availability details have been conveniently omitted, but we suspect it'll be hitting Sam Ash, Sweetwater and the rest of the gang soonish. %Gallery-88115%
Zoom brings stereo audio to Q3 pocket camcorder
While those into good sound likely warmed to Zoom's H4n Handy Recorder back at CES, the Samson Technologies-owned company has just switched the game up on us with its newfangled Q3 Handy Video Recorder. As the product name implies, it's the first pocket camcorder to hit the market with such a serious focus on good sound, packing a directional, dual condenser microphone setup that enables shooters to capture clips at 24-bit/48 kHz while even focusing the mics on the sound source. The camcorder itself can log clips at an uninspiring 640 x 480 (30fps), while a pair of AA batteries gives you around two hours of life. There's also a 2.4-inch LCD, a bundled 32GB SD card (holds 16 hours of footage), a built-in speaker for previews, TV output, a tripod mount and USB 2.0 connectivity. If this bad boy did 720p, we'd be handing over our $249 with a heart full of thanks. Full release is after the break.
