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Samson Satellite Review

When buying a microphone, things can become a little complicated. If only there were a mic that could do it all! Well, it turns out that there is. Say hello to the Samson Satellite.

This clever little microphone has become one of the most popular choices for podcasters worldwide.

What makes it such a fantastic piece of recording equipment?

Let’s find out. In this article, I will look deeper into the features and specifications of this fantastic microphone.

Samson Satellite USB/iOS Broadcast Microphone for Recording
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Table of Contents

Design

There’s no denying that the Samson Satellite is aesthetically pleasing. It has a sleek, stylish design that would look at home in any professional recording studio.

It’s also relatively small, making it ideal for anybody with limited space in their setup.

The Samson Satellite is also a side-address microphone. This allows for a more comfortable and natural style of speaking.

You also won’t have to worry about pointing the mic directly at your mouth, and you’ll be able to move your head and gesticulate without compromising sound quality.

Pickup Pattern

This is where the Samson Satellite begins to show off its skills.

The Samson Satellite offers you the choice of three different pickup patterns in one microphone! This allows you to use one microphone for all your recording needs.

It also saves you a lot of money as you won’t need to purchase a range of microphones for different purposes.

Let’s look at each pickup pattern available with this microphone below and what each one is best suited for.

Cardioid Pickup

If you’re looking for a pickup pattern to concentrate on your vocals and nothing else, then a cardioid would be the one to choose. It works by focusing on sound from a 180º arc directly in front of it while drowning out background noise.

A cardioid pickup pattern is also an excellent choice for outdoor recording, as it will prevent any ambient noise from being picked up by the mic.

Bidirectional Pickup

A bidirectional pickup pattern is your best friend if you’ve got a co-host or are interviewing a guest but don’t have space to set up two microphones.

The mic will focus on sound coming from two different directions, allowing you to share a microphone comfortably without sacrificing audio quality.

As with a cardioid pickup pattern, choosing bidirectional will block out any noise from behind the microphones.

Omnidirectional Pickup

Choosing this pickup pattern allows you to capture high-quality audio from every direction. It’s perfect for round-table podcasts, theatre podcasts, and panel shows.

Switching between these pickup patterns is quick and easy.

You must select your choice using the slider on the microphone’s front and switch to your desired pattern. This also means no logging onto complicated software to make your adjustments.

Shock Mount

The Samson Satellite features an internal shock mount in the microphone’s head. This helps isolate the condenser capsule and prevents accidental noises, such as table-bumping or walking, from being picked up.

This shock mount also helps to eliminate plosives when you’re speaking. It doesn’t come with an additional pop filter. However, these are easy to find online and are pretty affordable.

Built-in Controls

As well as the easy-to-use slider that lets you switch between pickup patterns, the Samson Satellite also features two more built-in controls conveniently located on the front of the microphone.

The first of these is a mute button. This allows you to stop the microphone from picking up any sound.

There is also a volume control dial and a headphone jack. This allows you to monitor yourself while you’re recording and gives you the ability to adjust your volume levels when necessary, making the editing process that much easier.

Zero Latency

On the subject of monitoring, the Samson Satellite features zero-latency direct monitoring. This allows you to hear yourself when you’re recording without any delays or annoying echoes, as well as cutting out any audio from your computer.

This also makes it an excellent microphone for Skype or Zoom. We all know the struggle of dealing with feedback when conducting an online interview, but with zero-latency monitoring, that’s a thing of the past.

Connection

One of the most appealing aspects of the Samson Satellite is that it features a plug-and-play design. This means it can easily connect to your computer or recording device through a USB cable.

This makes it easier to install and expands the variety of devices you can pair it with. It even comes with USB-to-USB lightning cables, allowing you to use it with an iPhone or iPad!

Compatibility

The versatility of the Samson Satellite continues to shine through because it is universally compatible across operating systems. So, as with its connectivity, you aren’t restricted by the device you use to record.

This also means you’ve got more freedom over what production software you edit your podcast with. So, whether you prefer Audacity or GarageBand, you’ll be able to use the Samson Satellite with both.

Frequency Response

The Samson Satellite also has a frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz. This means that it can pick up various vocal sounds and produce them into clear, conversational tones.

This is particularly useful if you’re mic-sharing with a co-host or several guests, as you won’t have to worry about adjusting your levels too much when it comes to editing.

However, it’s worth noting that the frequency response alters depending on your chosen pickup pattern.

When you’re using cardioid, the frequency range is 80Hz-18KHz. Bidirectional and omnidirectional pickups give you a frequency range of 20Hz-20KHz.

There isn’t very much difference between the two, and both will still produce the smooth, warm tones you want from a microphone.

Mounting Options

Your microphone needs to be held steadily in place when you’re recording if you’re going to achieve that professional sound. Luckily, the Samson Satellite has you covered here as well.

Three legs can be pulled directly from the mic’s body to create a tripod desk stand. The back leg can even be slightly angled to allow for a more comfortable recording position.

Then, when you’re finished, each leg can be folded back inside the microphone for the ultimate in compact storage.

You can attach the Samson Satellite to a traditional microphone stand using the pre-installed screw-hole. This allows you to find the best mounting option for your needs.

Samson Satellite USB/iOS Broadcast Microphone for Recording
Latest Pricing At Amazon
Some links to other sites might be affiliate links so we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Price

The Samson Satellite is surprisingly affordable when you consider everything it can do. Switching between pickup patterns is something you would find in a higher-end microphone such as the Blue Yeti, so it’s an excellent option for any professional podcaster on a budget.

Likewise, this is a good choice of microphone for anybody new to podcasting or sound recording. You’ll be able to discover what sort of pickup pattern works best for you without costing you a fortune.

It will prevent you from purchasing multiple microphones before you’re sure.

User experience

Based on Amazon ratings, the Samson Satellite performs very well for recording, singing, podcasting, etc. One reviewer stated it is a multipurpose microphone that produces excellent sound quality.

For one user, getting clear sound quality with this mic has been easy on an iPad but challenging on a laptop computer. However, another user couldn’t get it to work correctly on an iPad Pro with a USB-C connector, so it’s good to get familiar with the mic’s compatibility and the appropriate headphone settings.

Also, one user indicated that this microphone is unsuitable for higher female voices such as soprano. According to her experience, the Samson doesn’t work for her voice type and could be better suited for mezzo-soprano and alto speech.

Overall, the Samson was widely praised for its practicality, and one reviewer stated that this microphone produces zero latency.

Final Word

The Samson Satellite is a small microphone that packs a mighty punch. One word to sum it up would be ‘versatile.’ And it’s this versatility that makes it stand out from the crowd.

It’s easy to use, can be paired with various recording devices, and is universally compatible across all operating systems.

But the real star feature is the choice of three pickup patterns. This is something you would ordinarily find in microphones that are priced much higher.

If you’re looking for a powerful microphone that can give you fantastic audio but on a tight budget, you can’t go wrong with the Samson Satellite.