If you’re running a solo or monologue-style show, where you want to record directly into your computer, then definitely go for the Samson Q2U. This is our most recommended mic here at The Podcast Host because it ticks so many boxes.

Firstly, it’s great value, and cheaper than many of the “popular” USB mic options you’ll see out there.

Secondly, it works, not only as a USB mic, but also as an XLR mic, which means if you decide to upgrade your equipment later on and get a mixer, preamp, or digital recorder, you can still use the Samson Q2U. You won’t need to buy a new microphone.

The Q2U performs well when it comes to sound quality too. It does a brilliant job isolating unwanted background noise and potentially distracting sounds in your recording environment.

It’s also one of the few mics that you can use as a handheld without it sounding terrible. Most mics are really sensitive to even being touched whilst recording, but you won’t get much handling noise with the Q2U at all, if that’s how you need to use it at any point.

So, in summary, if you’re a solo podcaster who wants to record directly into your computer – go for the Samson Q2U.

Additional Gear

For this setup you’ll need a computer, some headphones or earbuds, and a stand to put the mic in.

The Samson Q2U often comes with headphones and a little desk stand. You can easily get away with using your phone’s earbuds though if you don’t have any headphones.

You might want to think about getting a boom arm as a mic stand too. This’ll give you a lot more flexibility over your physical position when recording. The Neewer NW-35 is a great boom arm option. They’re dirt cheap, and we’ve had one in our studio for years which is still going strong.

Our Full Samson Q2U Review

Ask any podcasting group or community for microphone recommendations and you'll often hear the Samson Q2U being touted.

It's no surprise really, because there are a number of good reasons why you might want one. In fact, that's why the Q2U appears in our Best Podcast Microphones article.

In this review, we'll take a look at these reasons, and see whether they're relevant to you and your own podcasting setup. 

Who Would Use The Samson Q2U?

The flexibility of this microphone throws the doors right open here. Whether you're a podcaster or the lead singer in a band, this is a durable, affordable, and handy microphone to have around.

It's also a mic that you'll find in the recording setups of podcasting veterans and novices alike. It can be part of the simplest setup, running directly into a computer, or a heavily customised one involving mixers and digital recorders.

Why Is It so good?

Being a dynamic microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern it's ideally suited to picking up vocals, whilst rejecting much of the sounds around and behind it. And the Q2U actually does a better job than most other dynamic-cardioid mics on this front.

It also performs well with handling noise. It's always preferable to mount your mics in a boom arm or stand, but if you're doing some on-location interviews it might be easier to walk around holding the mic. The only mic I've come across that ‘handles' better than the Q2U is the Shure SM58.

Where Would You Use It?

Regardless of what microphone you're using, it's always good to record your podcasts in a quiet, sound-dampened room – unless you're going for a field-recorded “in the moment” effect. Nevertheless, the Samson Q2U is pretty forgiving of less than ideal recording conditions.

To rephrase the question a bit, there's actually not many places where you couldn't use it. Just be sure to monitor your recordings at all times by plugging some earbuds into the Q2U's headphone jack. That way, you can pick up on environmental audio issues the second they happen, as opposed to when you get home and load your audio into your computer.

What Kind Of Recording Setup Suits The Samson Q2U?

This is where the microphone really shines. Whilst almost every other microphone has a USB cable to plug into your computer, OR an XLR cable to plug into your mixer or recorder, the Q2U has both. This gives you all sorts of flexibility when recording your podcast.

If you intend on using a mixer/recorder to podcast, and something breaks, you can switch to USB and record directly into your computer. Likewise, if you are on the road and have your microphone with you, there's more chance of finding a setup to accommodate it if you want to do some recording on the fly.

This is one of the reasons it's a great beginner microphone. You can get started with the minimum setup, recording via USB. But as you grow, perhaps getting a digital recorder, and then a mixer, this mic will grow with you. Stick this into a high level mixer with top quality pre-amps and you'll find the audio quality ramps up as a result.

Having both a USB and XLR connection means you can even record through both simultaneously. If you're doing an important interview on-location and are scared of something breaking, this is a comforting safety net to have in place. You can also use this dual functionality to assist you when doing a mix-minus Skype interview.

The Q2U is a real swiss-army knife of podcasting, fitting just about any context you can throw at it.

What Does It Come With?

Quite a lot, actually. You'll usually get your Samson Q2U with:

• A desktop/table mic stand
• A set of Samson HP0 headphones
• An XLR cable
• Cakewalk Music Creator software

How Much Does It Cost?

You can usually find the above package for a mere £70 in the UK, and even cheaper in the US at a cost of $60!

Samson Q2U Sound Sample

Here's a sound sample I've recorded for you. I've applied no post-processing, normalisation, noise-reduction etc to the file. I recorded it through a Yamaha MG10 mixer into the Zoom H5 recorder.

The Summary

At only £70/$60, with both USB and XLR options, and with as good a sound quality as any in its range, it's hard to look past the Samson Q2U.

If you're starting a podcast, don't yet have a microphone, and have a limited budget, then this is an excellent option for you.

Its simplicity, versatility, and accessories make for amazing value. It's definitely the mic we end up recommending to people the most here at The Podcast Host, and we use them a lot too.

Remember though, you can also check our current list of the best podcast microphones on the market if you're still looking to shop around a bit.

Any questions?

Join us in the next live Q&A session. Or, if you can't make it at the scheduled time, leave your question in the relevant Support Space Slack channel and we'll pick it up on the day!