Samson Meteor Mic USB Studio Microphone (Cardioid)

• Large (25mm) diaphragm condenser for rich audio recording
• Cardioid pickup pattern
• Smooth, flat frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz
• CD quality, 16-bit, 44.1/48kHz resolution
• Fold-back leg design provides optimal mic positioning

This is a great workhorse mic for multiple types of use.

I am a private voice instructor, and also give music lessons on multiple instruments. I mainly teach in my studio, but I do travel to student's houses as well, and always have this mic with me. It comes in a nice carrying case, but I carry it in the solid box it came in just as an extra precaution.

I record lessons as practice tools for my students, and also as a reference tool for myself, to see where I can improve my teaching methods.

The Meteor works great on the iPad for this function, (with the USB camera adaptor). It also shows up immediately on the MacBook Pro, whether opening Logic, Garageband, etc.

I read a review that said that there was trouble connecting to iChat. I had no trouble connecting with iChat or any other audio/visual based communication app. The Meteor comes with a headphone jack to monitor your voice while recording/talking, and you can manage the input/output settings in the apple menu preferences, and/or in the application preferences.

This is one of several smaller mics I have tried for the iPad, and is the only one that stands not only the test of time. It doesn't break down within weeks, (like the 3 iRig mics I have had in the last 6 months), but it is a vast improvement over the already excellent built in iPad mic. HIghly recommended.

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I got this mic to go along with my iPad and it sounds great! I use the pro version of FiRe to record the sounds with. I had originally planned to use my Blue Microphone Yeti with my iPad but to do you need an external powered USB source (like a hub). Well, that killed that portability idea. So after I read online reviews of this Samson Meteor mic, I gave it a try and am glad I did. My Yeti sits at home while my Meteor goes with me everywhere. If I did not have the Yeti already, I would only own this Meteor.

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Perhaps more than anything else, it was the introduction and subsequent success of the Zoom H2 personal digital recorder that led to an explosion of interest among home audiophiles, who suddenly found themselves equipped to make quasi-professional-level recordings with their computers plus a minimum of user-friendly equipment at reasonable prices. The price of the Samson Meteor USB mic, a fairly recent entry, has come down to the point of being fairly valued (initially, I was seeing it going for prices above the better-sounding Blue Yeti mic). It's an attractive (some would say "cute") little mic with its quaint "retro" design and deceptively fold-up, portable size. I say "deceptive" because, due to the non-adjustable mic stand, it can be more than a little challenging to find space for it on a desktop, next to a computer, and squarely in front of the narrator's mouth.

Bearing in mind the above reservation along with the actual quality of the recorded sound (it's good, but nowhere close to studio-quality), it would seem to make the most sense for those seeking "high fidelity" audio to spend the extra 20% for a Blue Yeti or an Audio Technica AT2020 USB (as tempting as the lower price of the non-USB version of the AT2020 is, be sure to try it out with a pre-amp supplying phantom power before going that route. I've known a couple of individuals who ordered the AT2020 condenser mic, only to discover that it was useless with a computer, even with the addition of a Snake Light cable).

If your primary considerations are convenience and portability, the Samson Go mic sounds almost as good as the Meteor and is unmatched in size, convenience and portability. (It scored higher than the Blue Mikey and Blue Snowflake in my auditions.) I'm tempted to say it's the perfect laptop mic, clipping to the top cover more securely than the Snowflake, whereas the Yeti is ideal for desktop use, producing rich-sounding recordings rivaling those of a professional studio's Shure SM7B mics.

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I have been using this mic along with the Meteor multi-track recorder app (I don't believe they are connected in any way). It works great. I am sure that it would work with any of the other multi-tracking apps, like Garage Band or Multitrack DAW. I can use the camera connection kit and connect directly to the iPad. It also has a stereo mini jack for real time monitoring which is great. It is a well built, well designed mic and I carry it with me to use when I am on the road.

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Some of us are looking for recording solutions that are simple to use. We're not sound engineers or experts in electronics. If that's you, check out the Samson Meteor Mic.

Here's why:

#1 The Meteor Mic is simple to use. It connects directly to your computer or iPad via USB. No driver required. Simply plug it in and play. I was up and running within minutes. All I had to do was to go into my system preferences and select the Meteor Mic as my audio input. Then I opened Garage Band and started recording.

#2 The sound quality is great. The Meteor Mic features a 25mm condenser diaphragm, which is larger than other USB mics. My recordings came out very good when I spoke within 3-6" of the microphone. There was no background noise and the recording was clear and understandable. I did notice, however, that as I pulled away, it caused a slight echo. If you're going to do a lot of recording, you'll probably want to invest in a stand. The Meteor Mic has a built-in 5/8" thread mount for a stand.

#3 -It's fun! The zinc, chrome-plated body with LED lights and fold-back legs is very retro looking. Cool to look at and it's portable.

The Meteor Mic is compatible with Garage Band and is ideal for Skype voice recognition software, podcasting and recording music.