Samson - Satellite iOS/USB Broadcast Microphone

First impressions for myself and my son were the same, which is scary in and of itself. At a minimum it reflects my mental age still being that of a teen. We both looked at the Samson mic and said, “That looks like a light saber.” The beauty of this mic is twofold. First and foremost is the quality of the recorded sound. It truly feels studio quality. I am very impressed with the recordings I have done. As a test of its sensitivity I listed over headphones attached to my work cell while my wife walked and talked in the other room. The mic was hooked up to my personal cell which I had called and I could hear her better thru the mic than I could with it muted. The second biggie is the compact design of this mic. Competitors are much larger in design and in my mind quite bulky. This mic has a stand built into it that allows you to get creative in how you prop it up. I had it sitting at a 45 degree angle while using it and it was perfectly stable. There are 3 modes: Omnidirectional, Bidirectional, Unidirectional. This is consistent with what most studio mics will provide. The mode you select is where you want to record from. Recording a group conversation is easily done with one mic in Omnidirectional. A two way conversation is easily recorded in Bidirectional. A single voice can be recorded with the Unidirectional mode. You can connect headphones to the mic to have audio played back thru the mic connection. This is useful if using as a mic connected to a phone. Now for the great unadvertised portion. This is advertised to work with Windows, Apple and iOS. It works fantastic with Android 10 even though it is not advertised. While a iPhone cable is included with the mic along with a micro-usb to USB A cable,. A USB A to C converter or cable is all that is needed for it to work with my phone. IF you want to use a boom with the mic, it attaches like any other boom mic would. Are there shortcomings? Unfortunately yes. Where the micro usb connects to the mic, that port seems like it could be slightly fragile. The mic is well built, but the way the cord connects the metal is visible and gives me pause. That is the only reason I drop a star. (I uploaded a picture to show the port.)

This awesome and compact mic makes it easy to record high-quality audio at home or on the go. I think it's completely genius to have the legs fold up into the body of the microphone, and equally as genius to be IOS compatible! The IOS feature is the leading feature of this update, but certainly not the only one. This mic features 3 audio recording pattern modes to better allow you to capture the sounds (UNI, BI & OMNI-directional). A touch sensitive mute button makes it SILENT and quick to mute a recording. For those of you wondering if you really need a microphone or should just use the built in microphone on your smartphone - it really is a big difference. I compared several recordings using just my iPhone mic to that of using the Samson Satellite mic - and much prefer the latter. The only con I see is that it picks up noise of items on the table - like your hands, or tapping, since there's no shock absorber on the leg stands. That's why radio announcers have mics hanging on a boom or suspended - it doesn't pick up the sound of them setting their Yeti on the surface. Overall - great mic and I plan to use in for my video blogging!

Love the microphone! Excellent sound quality when I’m streaming or having a wo chat with friends!

Samson Satellite is a USB/iOS microphone that you can easily transport with you and stream or record professionally in mobile settings. The plug and play broadcast quality microphone is designed to work with the computer—both MAC and PC, and with iPhone and iPad. There are no drivers required; just plug and record 24-bit/96KHz high resolution audio. The design itself is simple, straight forward and functional. The mic is made of sound, quality materials and the design folds to be easily transportable. The mic comes with two cables, a micro-USB to USB for computer/MAC use and a micro-USB to lightning for iPhone use. Included with your purchase is access to music production software by Motu; however, I tried on three different occasions and could never get this software to install on my desktop without an error. I believe this error and failure to install was in part, or largely in part, because I had just performed several emergency window updates on my desktop. I do have other music software and the Samson Satellite microphone performed well and immediately with it without any errors. You will need the Serial Number which is only on the box in order to register for the Motu musical software download, so be sure that you retain this when setting up your microphone. The design has tripod legs that fold upward and rest in grooves on the microphone itself. They have flexibility in that if your sound is greater by tilting the mic away from you at a 30-40-degree angle, then you can do so. Or you can balance the microphone perfectly vertical. On the front of the mic, is the ability to set the microphone on one of three audio recording pattern modes to better allow you to capture the sound of your recording. If the recording is by one person and needs to be unidirectional, then the switch should be set to the Cardioid position. For two people in conversation, there is a Bi-directional setting and if the desired sound is to be of 360 degrees, the Omnidirectional position should be set. Above this switch, a small green light is steady if the microphone is picking up the sound adequately. If the sound is too loud or distorted, the green light will turn red and flash red. When this happens, there is a small knob under this switch that should be turned until the light radiates a solid green again. A simple touch of a button in this control mutes the microphone and this is indicated with the green light turning yellow. Toward the bottom of the mic on the left is a headphone jack and a switch to monitor the headphone on the front, also toward the bottom. Toward the bottom of the right side of the mic is the micro USB connection. It has probably never been easier to create a professional broadcast video/audio on the go. For the price, this mic is a great choice. It delivers a strong, clear sound that is superior to using the microphone on the iPhone or iPad, it is made well, designed to be aesthetic and functional, and it opens the door to additional recording opportunities. Appropriately named, Satellite, I recommend that you look at this when in need of a new recording microphone. It is transportable but is also designed to be attached to a stand if needed.

THE BREAKDOWN: Let me start by saying that I love the old school broadcast microphone look, very classic. The packaging was very simple with nothing extra. This is a plug and play device so, after unboxing, I plugged the laptop into a windows laptop and I was up and running in just second. This microphone does come with two cables, a micro-USB to USB for Windows based computers and lightning cable for MAC/iOS users. The design and feel of the microphone for me was great. The two main stand out features is that it is portable and it has fold out feet. The power to this device actually comes from the device you plug it into. There were 3 modes or selections that you can use with this microphone: cardioid, 360 and bi-directional. Just to note that to monitor your voice you can plug headphones into the headphone jack. There was a hole in the bottom of the device which I can assume that you attach a boom or a stand. The performance I felt was great. I felt it was far superior on my Windows desktop, MacBook and my phone. I felt the pickup patterns of the mic worked as intended. The 360 did pickup sound from around the room, but that is what it is intended for. PRO’s: -Sleek and Compact -Compatible with Mac, PC, iPhone or iPad -Folding legs -Microphone mute switch -Headphone out -3 different modes CON’s: -Could have came with a storage/carry bag SUMMARY: Overall, I feel that this product worked very well and I would recommend this to a friend if they are in the market for device like this.

--- SETUP --- The setup for the Satellite iOS/USB Broadcast Microphone is quick and easy. It is plug and play, so you can use it right out of the box. This model comes with two cables, a micro-USB to USB for computer/MAC use and a micro-USB to lightning for iPhone use. If using it on iPhone, you must have an app that can track audio and mics such as N-Track. You do need to connect earbuds/headphones to the mic if you want to instantly hear what you recorded. --- FEATURES --- The key feature of this microphone is its portability and self stand. It receives power from the source you connect it to, even your phone. You have 3 options for recording, cardioid, 360, and bi-directional. Additionally, by plugging in headphones, you can monitor your voice. You can use it with a mic arm, as there is a hole for screwing one. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a carry bag, which would have been nice, but that’s not something to knock it down for. --- PERFORMANCE --- The performance of this microphone is excellent. During my use with it, I definitely got a better recording sound than from my phone itself. It’s sleek, modern look will grab attention if you are traveling and whether you are recording by yourself or with a group of people, you can set just the right settings to capture the audio required. --- EXPECTATIONS --- The product surprised my expectations. Having the ability to record away from your computer with just your phone opens up more possibilities for YouTubers, streamers, and influencers. My wife and I have always wanted to start reviewing restaurants and places we travel. Carrying a tripod, a laptop, and additionally a mic always seemed excessive, but this is the perfect solution for that. In the box, it says that you can download a free lite version of a software called MOTU. On my Mac, I couldn’t get it to install because the software is out of date, as per the message I got when trying to install it. It worked flawlessly with Final Cut Pro, recognizing the mic immediately. --- VALUE --- The price for the Mic in terms of value is great for those wanting a mic that works on the go and at your home with your computer. --- APPROVAL --- I highly recommend this product for people who want a higher-quality audio recording when away from home.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure to keep the box, because you will need the URL and serial number on it to download the free software that comes with this (MOTU Performer Mixing software). The only place you will find the URL and serial # is on the side (URL) and bottom (Serial #) of the box. I wrote them down in case I lose the box. I would consider this microphone of good quality. It is made of strong plastic and seems well made. It has the status indicator, pattern switch, mute button, headphone volume, headphone on/off switch. These all on the microphone itself on the front. The headphone output and USB jack (to hook up to your computer or phone) are on the back. It even has tripod style legs built into the base with rubber tips on the ends to help keep it from sliding around your desk. If you would like to use this microphone on a mic stand, there is a 5/8” thread mount on the bottom to screw into one. Microphone Patterns: Omnidirectional – A few people can sit around the microphone and chat or sing and all be heard. Bidirectional – This is more for face-to-face use in between two people, such as sit down interviews, etc. Unidirectional – This is used more for direct voice into microphone. It only picks up the speaking or singing from one side. Set Up: Directions on how to set up the microphone with a computer, iPad or iPhone is in the owner’s manual. Set up is fairly easy. Simply plug the microUSB plug into the port on the microphone and plug the other end into your computer, iPad or iPhone. Place it on your table or desk, set the pattern switch to what you want, connect the headphones (if you want). With a Windows 10 computer, once you plug the microphone into it, Windows will set it up for you. Con: I set this up with my iPhone XS Max and gave it a try. I personally do not find this useful, because you need a stand for your phone, otherwise you are holding your phone the whole time you are videoing. In my opinion, an iPad might be more user friendly. Pro: I am going to have so much fun using this for singing, vlogging, interviewing and whatever else my imagination can come up with.

This is my review of Samson Satellite USB/iOS Broadcast Microphone with Software. I record blogs weekly and I typically use built-in camera microphone or a lapel condenser mic that I use when on site at an industry event. I was looking for a microphone to add a more professional touch to my office for use in both video/voice conferencing and for recording YouTube videos. The product is advertised as "Samson Satellite is a broadcast-quality USB/iOS microphone designed for capturing high-definition audio on your computer, iPhone or iPad. As an essential piece to any streamer, podcaster or content creator's recording setup, Satellite offers plug-and-play operation, 24-bit/96kHz audio, three selectable pickups patterns and a fold-back leg design in a highly-portable package." First, the bad: - Software: The Satellite box says it "includes Performer Music Production Software. From initial tracking to final mastering, Performer gets you there with ease." I thought it a good idea to test the hardware with the recommended software. I am not a professional musician, nor do I work with audio mixing software daily but dealing with the MOTU software was painful. I followed the instructions on the box (see photo) and went to the MOTU website to download the software. After some time, I did find the link to DP-!0 (a little confusing) and downloaded it. The download is large: 1.3GB and it took over 10 minutes on a 42.5 Mbps wireless connection. Next I tried opening the Digital Performer 10.11 software only to have it ask me for a code. I called MOTU and immediately was talking to a person – good thing – who explained that I do not need a code because I am only supposed to get the Performer Lite version (free after registering). He guided me through the registration process, helped me find the software in My Account, and I proceeded to download it and remove the original Performer download. By now, I’m thinking, “That’s not what the box says!” but free is free, I guess. The Performer Lite download took less time, 1GB in size and about 5 minutes over the same WIFI network. Add another 5 minutes to Uninstall Performer. After struggling with the Lite software installation, I found it to be unintuitive and I did not want to take time to read the software manual, so I gave up and it was time to test the microphone. - The photo on the mic instructions is incorrect. It shows items 5 and 6 in the wrong place. It takes a few second to realize the error and work around it, but it does reveal a slight lack of quality control which may spill over into the product. - The mic offers three selectable pickup patterns for handling a variety of recording applications: “The cardioid setting is perfect for streaming, vocal performances, single host podcasts or Skype. For conference calls or multi-person interviews where many people are around a table, select the omnidirectional setting. The figure-8 (bidirectional) setting is great for 2-person interviews.” The callouts on the product image do not tell you, which is which and the icons are very small, so you can guess “top to bottom” and be correct. - Mute button: lots of latency that can cause you to toggle On-and-Off several times until you can be sure in which mode you are operating. - Background hum: I tried various options but could not make a background noise go away in Windows mode (it did not appear when recording to my iPhone). This alone would discourage me from buying the item. - But the worst feature must be the pickup range. I found I could not record using Windows Voice Recorder unless I was 8 inches or closer to the microphone – that is too close for my office setup and I do not think it would be practical for an interview or group use. - - Minor point: you need either long fingernails or a tool to pull out the legs from their storage position. The Good: - They advertise “Zero Latency” – I agree - Form factor: it is small, lightweight, and convenient for travel or a portable indoor setup. - Easy to set up and use with iPhone. Bottom line: for my office, I think I would much prefer an overhead form factor like the Blue Yeticaster or the AudioTechnica AT2020. Yes, there is a significant cost difference but I would rather buy a mic just once and be done with it.