Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone Owner’s Manual

: June 13, 2024
: SAMSON

Table of Contents

Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone
Introduction
Features
Quick Start
Computer Setup
Recording Techniques
Specifications
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
VIDEO – PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone

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Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)
Fax: 631-784-2201
www.samsontech.com

Apple, Mac, Mac OS, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the Samson C01U Pro USB studio condenser microphone. The C01U Pro is the follow-up to the groundbreaking Samson C01U and is a product of Samson’s position on the leading edge of digital microphone technology. It features a large, 19mm ultra-thin diaphragm capsule with high-quality onboard digital converters, a USB interface, as well as a headphone output for zero-latency monitoring.
Just plug in the supplied USB cable, launch your favorite audio software, and start recording. The C01U Pro faithfully reproduces a variety of sound sources including vocals, acoustic instruments, and overhead cymbals, to name a few. It is also great for VoIP, chatting, and webcasting. The extended frequency and fast transient response ensure an accurate reproduction with linear characteristics from bottom to top.
Whether you’re recording your latest song idea, a podcast, or your band’s next big hit, the C01U Pro is the simplest and most comprehensive solution for high-quality recording on a Mac or PC. Just plug it in and start creating!
In these pages, you’ll find a description of the features of the C01U Pro USB Studio Condenser Microphone, step-by-step instructions for its setup and use, and full specifications. With proper care, your C01U Pro will operate trouble-free for many years.
Should your unit ever require servicing, a Return Authorization number (RA) must be obtained before shipping your unit to Samson. Without this number, the unit will not be accepted. We recommend you record your serial number for future reference. Please call Samson at 1-800-3SAMSON (1-800-372-6766) for a Return Authorization number prior to shipping your unit. Please retain the original packing materials and if possible, return the unit in the original carton and packing materials.

Features

Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone-fig-1

To connect directly to an iPad, you will need to use the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit or Lightning to USB Camera Adapter (not included).

Quick Start

Afﬁx the C01U Pro to the tripod base or microphone stand using the included microphone swivel. Position the microphone facing the sound source that you will be recording.
Connect the included USB cable into the USB socket on the bottom of the microphone and into an available USB port on your computer.
Next, connect your headphones to the headphone output located on the front of the C01U Pro. See the section on “Computer Setup” on page 6 to learn how to adjust the headphone output level.
Launch your audio software and select the C01U Pro as the audio input and output device. Set up a mono record track in your software.
Set the level of the C01U Pro by slowly raising the level of the microphone while singing or playing an instrument into the microphone at the performance level. If you see the peak indicator illuminate red, your signal will be distorted. Turn the microphone level control down until it no longer flashes red.
The headphones will provide a mix of the direct signal that the microphone is picking up and the return audio from your software. If you want to only hear the audio back from your software you will need to turn off the direct monitoring (see “Computer Setup” on page 6).
Press RECORD and start capturing your performance!

Computer Setup

Installing the C01U Pro is a simple procedure that takes just a few minutes. Simply connect the included USB cable and begin recording. The following sections of this manual provide detailed instructions on setting up your C01U Pro in Windows or MAC OS.

Windows

The first time you plug the C01U Pro into a USB port, Windows will install the universal USB drivers for that port.
To set the C01U Pro as your default input/recording device, or to change its settings, open the Control Panel, Hardware & Sound settings, then click SOUND. Under Recording tab, you can select the Samson C01U Pro from the list of devices and press the Set Default button to set it as the default audio input device.
To set the gain of the microphone, click the Properties button, and then select the Levels tab. Slide the control until the desired level is reached. If you Find that the microphone red clip LED is lighting frequently, turn this control down until the LED no longer flashes red.
To set the headphone level, select the Playback tab, open the C01U Pro Properties, then select the Level tab and adjust the computer’s Master Volume slider.
To turn direct monitoring on or off, open the Speaker Properties, select the Level tab, then click the Microphone speaker icon.

Apple MAC OSX

To start using the Samson C01U Pro, simply plug it in. The LED will illuminate to indicate it is receiving USB power. The MAC will recognize the USB audio device and automatically install a universal driver.
To select the C01U Pro as the computer’s audio input, open System Preferences from the dock or the main Apple Menu.
Next, open the Sound preferences, choose the Input tab, and select C01U Pro. To set the gain of the microphone, adjust the Input volume slider at the bottom of the Sound dialog box. The Input Level meter will show the recording level.
To set the playback volume, click in the Output tab and select C01U Pro, adjust the Output volume slider at the bottom of the Sound dialog box.
To turn direct monitoring on or off, open the Audio/MIDI Setup utility located in the Utility folder inside the Applications folder. Select the C01U Pro, then click the check-box in the Thru column in Audio/MIDI Setup.

Recording Techniques

The C01U Pro is a great microphone choice for many instrument-miking situations. Below is a brief guide on using the C01U Pro in some typical applications:

Vocals
Position the microphone directly in front of the artist so that the microphone grille is between 6 to 24 inches away. The closer the artist moves to the microphone, the more the bass or low response increases; this is called the proximity effect. To achieve the fullest sound, the vocalist should aim the microphone center line towards their mouth. If p-popping (turbulent bursts of air produced when uttering consonants) is occurring, rotate the microphone a little bit away from the artist so that the sound arrives at the microphone slightly off-center. If space allows, it is preferable to prevent p-popping through the use of an external pop ﬁlter like the Samson PS01. If recording a group of singers, ensure that they position themselves around the front of the microphone close to one another.
Acoustic Guitar
There are a variety of ways that the C01U Pro can be used to make an acoustic guitar. Optimal microphone placement will depend on the type of instrument, and what kind of sound you’re looking to capture. It may be necessary to experiment with various positions to achieve full and balanced tone. When making a standard steel string acoustic, it is suggested that you begin with the microphone at a distance of 6–12 inches from the sound hole, positioned slightly off-axis, and pointing towards the edge of the ﬁngerboard. From this position, moving the microphone towards the sound hole will cause the mic to capture more low frequencies. If, instead, you wish to capture more high-end, or to remove any unwanted boominess, move the microphone toward the ﬁngerboard. Unlike a steel string acoustic guitar, the sound of a nylon string acoustic guitar that is played by ﬁnger picking is usually naturally warmer. To record an even, full tone, it is suggested that you begin by positioning the microphone 3–6 inches above the center of the bridge. This will help emphasize the higher frequencies and pick up the attack sound of the ﬁnger picking. If the microphone is picking up too much low frequency from the sound hole, move the microphone so that it is slightly off-axis from the guitar. If you have a pair of C01U Pro microphones, try one positioned at the ﬁngerboard and the second over the bridge of the guitar, or have one microphone positioned close to the guitar and the second a few feet away to pick up the sound of the room, blending the two sources together.
Piano
The grand piano is a very challenging instrument to capture and can be miked in a variety of ways. For close miking the piano, position the C01U Pro just inside the piano, centered between the soundboard and the open lid. The closer you move the microphone toward the instrument the more low frequencies the microphone will pick up. For an ambient recording like that used in a classical performance, position the microphone outside the piano, facing into the open lid. For a more contemporary ensemble sound, place two C01U Pros in the piano, positioning one over the low strings and one over the high strings at a distance of 6–12 inches apart. When making an upright piano with a single microphone, position the microphone just above and in front of the piano with the top open, centered over the instrument. If you have a pair of C01U Pros, position the microphone over the open top of the piano with one microphone over the bass strings and one over the high strings. You can also position two mics in front of the kickboard area approximately 8 inches over the bass and high strings.
Guitar Amp
The placement of the microphone when recording an electric guitar can impact the tone as much as the choice of instrument and ampliﬁer. Guitar amps are usually close-miked but consideration must be made for the type of signal the amp will produce. While condenser microphones like the C01U Pro have a fast transient response, they cannot handle extremely high SPLs. The C01U Pro should be placed approximately 4 inches from the grill of the amp. For a brighter sound, the microphone should face the center of the ampliﬁer’s speaker cone. By moving the microphone off of the center of the speaker, the sound becomes mellow, rolling off some of the high frequencies. To add more of the room sound, the microphone can be angled away from the ampliﬁer, or placed further away from the speaker.
Overhead Drum Kit
Because of its extended high-frequency response and fast transient response, the C01U Pro performs exceptionally well when used as an overhead drum set microphone. You can position the microphone approximately 5 feet in front of the drum kit 12–24 inches above the kit. For stereo miking, use two microphones placed over the drum set at a distance of three to ﬁve feet. Even though overhead mics are mostly for the cymbals, you can get the entire kit to sound great with just two microphones. You should experiment with the exact placement depending on the size of the room and whether you’re looking for an ambient or close-miked sound.

Specifications

Frequency Response 20~18000 HZ
Polar pattern Super-cardioid
Element type Back condenser type
Diaphragm thickness 3 microns
Digital sensitivity
- Minimum Gain -40 dBFS/Pa
- Maximum Gain -4 dBFS/Pa
SPL 130 dB
Weight 1.06 lbs. (.48 kg)
Dimensions
- Height: 7″ (180 mm)
- Width: 2.125″ (54 mm)
- Depth: 2.125″ (54 mm)
Shipping Weight 2.5 lbs.(1.15 Kg)

At Samson, we are continually improving our products, therefore specifications and images are subject to change without notice.

Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone-fig-10

Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone-fig-20

System Components

Samson C01U Pro USB Studio Condenser Microphone
Microphone Swivel
Tripod Stand
One (1) USB Cable
Owner’s Manual

Optional Accessory

Samson SP01 Shock mount

Minimum System Requirements

Windows (PC)

Windows XP/Vista/Win 7/Win 8
800MHz or higher, 256MB RAM or larger, USB port

Mac OS

Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher
733MHz or higher, 512MB RAM or larger, USB port

THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES CLASS B. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS:

THIS DEVICE MUST NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND
THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION. SUITABLE FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE.

Samson Technologies Corp. 45 Gilpin Avenue Hauppauge, New York 11788-8816

Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)
Fax: 631-784-2201
www.samsontech.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone?

The Samson C01UPRO is a USB microphone designed for audio recording and streaming, offering plug-and-play convenience for computer-based applications.

What sets the C01UPRO USB microphone apart in its class?

The C01UPRO stands out for its ease of use with USB connectivity, versatile recording capabilities, and affordability, making it a popular choice for podcasting, voiceovers, and more.

Is the C01UPRO a condenser microphone?

Yes, the Samson C01UPRO is a condenser microphone, which is known for its sensitivity and ability to capture detailed audio, making it suitable for vocals and instruments.

What is the primary use of the C01UPRO microphone?

The C01UPRO is commonly used for recording vocals, podcasting, voiceovers, streaming, and musical instruments, particularly in home studios and content creation setups.

Does the C01UPRO require phantom power?

No, the Samson C01UPRO is a USB microphone, so it does not require external phantom power. It is powered directly through the USB connection to your computer.

What is the included polar pattern of the C01UPRO microphone?

The C01UPRO features a cardioid polar pattern, which is ideal for recording sound from the front while minimizing background noise and room reflections.

Does the C01UPRO come with a shock mount or pop filter?

Most C01UPRO microphones do not come with a shock mount or pop filter. You may need to purchase these accessories separately if desired.

Are there any included accessories with the C01UPRO microphone, such as a carrying case?

The package contents may vary, but the C01UPRO microphone typically includes a desktop stand and a USB cable. A carrying case is not always included.

Is the C01UPRO compatible with standard microphone stands and boom arms?

The C01UPRO is designed for desktop use and may not have a standard microphone mount. However, adapters are available to make it compatible with standard microphone stands and boom arms.

What is the warranty period for the C01UPRO microphone?

Warranty periods for the Samson C01UPRO warranties often range from 6 months to 1 year or more.

Can I use the C01UPRO with recording software on my computer?

Yes, the C01UPRO is compatible with various recording and streaming software on your computer. It works as a plug-and-play USB microphone, making it easy to use with your preferred software.

Is the C01UPRO suitable for live performances?

While the C01UPRO is primarily designed for studio recording and streaming, some users may use it for live performances, especially in situations where USB connectivity is convenient.

Are there any known compatibility issues with specific recording software or operating systems?

The C01UPRO is generally compatible with popular recording and streaming software and works with both Windows and Mac operating systems. However, it's advisable to check for the latest compatibility updates or drivers if needed.

How should I care for and maintain the C01UPRO microphone?

Proper care includes protecting it from physical damage, cleaning the microphone grille, and storing it in a safe place when not in use. Refer to the user manual for specific maintenance instructions.

Where can I purchase the Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone?

You can typically purchase the Samson C01UPRO USB Microphone from authorized audio equipment retailers, music stores, or reputable online marketplaces to ensure you receive a genuine product.

Is the C01UPRO microphone compatible with mobile devices?

The C01UPRO is primarily designed for computer use and may not be compatible with mobile devices, as it relies on USB connectivity. For mobile recording, consider microphones designed for smartphones and tablets.