I get we can improve our sound with the cheaper one, but honestly, I’m going with the SM7B, dope look, awesome sound and you’ll feel more confident from a aesthetic perspective because I offer my audience a video version of my podcast as well as the audio version so I’m on camera … EGO… 🤦🏽♂️…..😂 But yes absolutely the sound is extremely similar if not identical!!! Great content!
I actually own both of these mic’s and yes the SM7B is better but small incriminates come at a much higher price point. If you want to start a podcast but you’re not just because you aren’t ready to put the money into the SM7B then buy the Q2U and press record. You will be happy you did.
We've made 44 episodes of the Creator Forge Podcast with the AT2005USB and the Samson Q2U, and we've had multiple sound engineers tell us that our recording quality is as good or better than many recordings they have received from pro studios with high end mics and high end recording spaces. Knowledge and technique win the day. That said, we tried some $25 dynamic mics in the beginning that were terrible no matter how good our mic skills were, so you gotta spend SOME cash. And yeah, the Q2U isn't going to compete with a $400 to $600 mic in practical use (meaning without building a blanket fort).
That's impressive to hear. Thanks for sharing your experience. It certainly matches what we have found to be true. Btw I have those same pens, wish I could draw like you -- that Dobby inking is dope! 💯
@@Buzzsprout thanks man! Maybe some day soon I’ll get off the RUclips fence, and start posting some art again. I also just relaunched a false-start channel, and (re)named it Pat’s Production Hacks. When my buddy and I started the Creator Forge Podcast I got kind of obsessed with sound gear, photo gear and lighting gear, all of which were needed for the things we were doing. Now I love and practice this stuff out of love for the craft alone. I’m making my first few videos this week, and will release starting next month.
Pretty dang equal all things said. I use the Samson Q2U, but my podcast secondary for me as well, as my primary goal is having a fun video interview with folks about business hustles.
Spectrum analysis in Audacity shows that when not talking directly into the Q2U microphone (i.e. when using the technique you showed), it does not capture anything above 4KHz. It does capture those higher frequencies when talking directly into the mic... (well, unless there is a problem with my mic)
We use the Samson mics in our studio and honestly, they're great. You can 100% mount them on some inexpensive booms, and we've had no problems. If your studio has sound absorption then you don't have to do any hoodie wear (unless you want to), and honestly...you should be doing sound absorption anyhow, regardless of the mic you have. You can see these mics in action on any of our videos.
I'm gonna be honest with you without wanting to be an a-hole or anything. It's a great idea to compare the two, the vid was done in a nice way, etc. but one thing I'll never understand about such video is how come we get 25 seconds of the Samson test while the whole thing is 6 minutes. I mean your overall comments are important but you could have used one of the mics in question while doing so, the more sample we have the better. And this is quite typical with reviews these days, sometimes thy won't even test the mic itself, they just show it to you visually and speak about it for hours without actually giving you an impression of what it sounds like. Seriously WTF. The host of Podcastage Bandrew for example uses the given mic throughout the whole review so you'll get a general idea. Other than that thanks for the review.
I don't think the disparity in quality between the two, is worth the 700+ dollars it costs to do so, unless you have the disposable income and/or audience to warrant it. Yes, the SM7B does and will sound a little better, especially to the discerning listener - but for MOST people, A. They won't be able to tell the difference and B. The price point doesn't even make sense. Again, that comes down to your audience (The size of it mostly) and your disposable income - but for the majority of people, especially those just starting; the price doesn't warrant the difference in quality. Which says a whole lot about the Q2U.
What about pre eq'ing the q2u to make it sound like the more expensive mic, Julian Kraus did this to a behringer xm8500 not by ear or in post but by measuring frequency response and virtually matching both mics in his treated room, his results were impressive and he even shared his produced auto eq settings so that others could try them on their on.
We ran both the SM7B and the Q2U through a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface to remove that variable from the sound quality test, but you'll get comparable audio quality with the Q2U's USB output
@@Buzzsprout I have a Q2U and I am searching an audio interface. All I want is a clear sound without hiss or white noise -I am not good at sound terminology. Will I have to do anything in the post with 2i2 other than boosting the gain? Any idea on Motu M2? Some say it doesn’t last. Does Focustire one last? Thanks in advance for your time.
Cool video fun, I did not hear any difference between both micros, so yes you convince me of on the cheaper one as a I do not need any live video and only need for audio recording😊
Is there any way you can directly address the USB versus XLR output from the Q2U. I'm tracking in remote areas and want to use the USB option to cut down the weight of the cloud lifter, the interface, etc. I can't find anything talking about how to boost USB mic volume like an in-line cloud lifter. Do you know?
Hi there! You can try using the Samson Q2U in a totally untreated room. It's a suitable option for recording in environments that are not acoustically treated. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email us at support@buzzsprout.com! 😊
I am using Q2U with OBS with the proper microphone technique as you showed in this video (without the hoodie). In the equalizer settings, I lowered the lows (-2db) and increased the middle (2db) and the high (2db). Udemy quality reviewer told me that my voice sounds muffled as if under water. Would you please have a suggestion on how to fix it?
Hi Meir! I suggest checking your recording environment and making sure that you are recording in a quiet space. Background noise and room acoustics can affect audio quality. Applying compression can also help even out your voice levels. And try making subtle adjustments to your equalizer settings. After each adjustment, record a test sample to find the best settings for a clear, natural sound. I hope this helps! If you have any other concerns, please feel free to email us at support@buzzsprout.com.
I own and love Q2U, though its aging a bit especially due to that micro usb .. still its an amazing mic for the price... but why didnt you compare it without the blanket on your head??
Glad to know you're loving your Samson Q2U microphone! Regarding the comparison without the blanket, we appreciate your input and will keep it in mind for future videos. Thanks for watching!
Hello there! Yes, there are some fantastic, budget-friendly alternatives available that can capture excellent audio! Consider checking out Samson Q2U, Audio-Technica ATR2100x, or Rode PodMic. Keep in mind, the perfect mic for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. Happy podcasting!
Hi, Jarno! We do often use a Rode shotgun mic that’s attached to the camera in recording our video tutorials. But for this video, we're focusing on the Samson Q2U vs Shure SM7B comparison. If you have other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email us at support@buzzsprout.com. We'll be happy to help! 😊
@@Buzzsprout Okay, apparently the Rode captures sound well even if it is further away from you. I just asked, because it was not obvious which microphone was used at which time except when it was shown there.
plosives are just horrible on q2u test haha, this is really a pointless video for the show and sake of it, like how can you tell me with straight face that you've done everything the best for the mic to sound good after you talk to it from 1cm and amplify all plosives
Podcasters have a hardware focus. They think that expensive equipment will do the job for them. It won't. The important things are: 1. Having something to say that others really want to hear, and/or 2. Being handsome or pretty (for video). Everything else amounts to no more than 3% of what is needed. We will watch and listen to Ken or Barbie describe how to count pebbles. Or hear or watch most anyone sensationalize some curious history of Prince. It's only AFTER you're handsome or pretty and have something good to say that microphones much matter. Hate to tell you.
You didn’t pull that off. 😂 You definitely will have a lot of cleaning up to do on the editing side after 30 mins to an hour of all them plosives. A compressor will help but I was taught that even if you dress garbage up it’s still garbage. So if you can invest in better quality equipment, even if it’s a happy medium between these two examples you will ultimately deliver a better quality product for the most part. I understand and agree with the overall message of just get going and grow from there 1,000% spot on. I appreciate the content tho keep it up✊🏿
I agree, the mic definitely has issues with that, I think it's better to have it at bigger angle and from further afar and trade some overall quality for lack of plosives. Or perhaps use some better foam/popfilter, because it's most likely not issue with the mic but with the quality of the attached foam.
Which microphone do you think is more "worth it" for the price? Were we able to get the Q2U to sound like the SM7B?
I get we can improve our sound with the cheaper one, but honestly, I’m going with the SM7B, dope look, awesome sound and you’ll feel more confident from a aesthetic perspective because I offer my audience a video version of my podcast as well as the audio version so I’m on camera … EGO… 🤦🏽♂️…..😂
But yes absolutely the sound is extremely similar if not identical!!! Great content!
I actually own both of these mic’s and yes the SM7B is better but small incriminates come at a much higher price point. If you want to start a podcast but you’re not just because you aren’t ready to put the money into the SM7B then buy the Q2U and press record. You will be happy you did.
Thanks
Bro that ET scene was the biggest Jumpscare ever
I almost died
We've made 44 episodes of the Creator Forge Podcast with the AT2005USB and the Samson Q2U, and we've had multiple sound engineers tell us that our recording quality is as good or better than many recordings they have received from pro studios with high end mics and high end recording spaces. Knowledge and technique win the day. That said, we tried some $25 dynamic mics in the beginning that were terrible no matter how good our mic skills were, so you gotta spend SOME cash. And yeah, the Q2U isn't going to compete with a $400 to $600 mic in practical use (meaning without building a blanket fort).
That's impressive to hear. Thanks for sharing your experience. It certainly matches what we have found to be true. Btw I have those same pens, wish I could draw like you -- that Dobby inking is dope! 💯
@@Buzzsprout thanks man! Maybe some day soon I’ll get off the RUclips fence, and start posting some art again. I also just relaunched a false-start channel, and (re)named it Pat’s Production Hacks. When my buddy and I started the Creator Forge Podcast I got kind of obsessed with sound gear, photo gear and lighting gear, all of which were needed for the things we were doing. Now I love and practice this stuff out of love for the craft alone. I’m making my first few videos this week, and will release starting next month.
Pretty dang equal all things said. I use the Samson Q2U, but my podcast secondary for me as well, as my primary goal is having a fun video interview with folks about business hustles.
Nice channel, destroy those boxes Brooks!
Got to get the Samson Q2U again. Thanks for a clever smart learning.
Spectrum analysis in Audacity shows that when not talking directly into the Q2U microphone (i.e. when using the technique you showed), it does not capture anything above 4KHz. It does capture those higher frequencies when talking directly into the mic... (well, unless there is a problem with my mic)
We use the Samson mics in our studio and honestly, they're great. You can 100% mount them on some inexpensive booms, and we've had no problems. If your studio has sound absorption then you don't have to do any hoodie wear (unless you want to), and honestly...you should be doing sound absorption anyhow, regardless of the mic you have. You can see these mics in action on any of our videos.
Checked out your Goblin lair -- yeah, your studio sounds great!
I'm gonna be honest with you without wanting to be an a-hole or anything. It's a great idea to compare the two, the vid was done in a nice way, etc. but one thing I'll never understand about such video is how come we get 25 seconds of the Samson test while the whole thing is 6 minutes. I mean your overall comments are important but you could have used one of the mics in question while doing so, the more sample we have the better.
And this is quite typical with reviews these days, sometimes thy won't even test the mic itself, they just show it to you visually and speak about it for hours without actually giving you an impression of what it sounds like. Seriously WTF.
The host of Podcastage Bandrew for example uses the given mic throughout the whole review so you'll get a general idea.
Other than that thanks for the review.
Thanks for the feedback, Arty! I'll pass this along to the team. Appreciate you for checking in on our video.
Have the Samson q2u and could elevate that way but my cat won’t give up her box.
Use the big windscreen for SM7b on Q2U. It is a lot better.
I don't think the disparity in quality between the two, is worth the 700+ dollars it costs to do so, unless you have the disposable income and/or audience to warrant it. Yes, the SM7B does and will sound a little better, especially to the discerning listener - but for MOST people, A. They won't be able to tell the difference and B. The price point doesn't even make sense. Again, that comes down to your audience (The size of it mostly) and your disposable income - but for the majority of people, especially those just starting; the price doesn't warrant the difference in quality. Which says a whole lot about the Q2U.
Great video. Love the comparison shown !
Appreciate the kind words. Thanks for watching!
That was awesome, Travis, and no matter how rich I get, I will never spend that much on a mic! 😠
Absolutely right! Thanks for watching!
You convince me, I bought a Samson Q2U. Thanks Buzzsprout! ⚡😁
Awesome! Let us know how it goes so far, Yan.
@@Buzzsprout I'll will as soon as I receive it. LOVE your update "How to podcast" btw, keep up the good work. ❤
What about pre eq'ing the q2u to make it sound like the more expensive mic, Julian Kraus did this to a behringer xm8500 not by ear or in post but by measuring frequency response and virtually matching both mics in his treated room, his results were impressive and he even shared his produced auto eq settings so that others could try them on their on.
awesome to watch, thanks a ton man
This demonstration was awesome!!! Thank you!!
🤩 Thanks for the compliment, Felecia!
What where you running the Q2U through. It looks like you were using XLR not USB.
We ran both the SM7B and the Q2U through a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface to remove that variable from the sound quality test, but you'll get comparable audio quality with the Q2U's USB output
@@Buzzsprout I have a Q2U and I am searching an audio interface. All I want is a clear sound without hiss or white noise -I am not good at sound terminology. Will I have to do anything in the post with 2i2 other than boosting the gain? Any idea on Motu M2? Some say it doesn’t last. Does Focustire one last? Thanks in advance for your time.
i have a q2u and i cant believe the audio is so good
Great test buddy. BTW you looked better with the jacket over your head.
Thanks for the love lol
Cool video fun, I did not hear any difference between both micros, so yes you convince me of on the cheaper one as a I do not need any live video and only need for audio recording😊
Your lighting & video set is amazing!!! What do you all use as your background????
Thanks! We have a grey paper backdrop with color led lights. And yes, you are the possible! 😁
@@Buzzsprout thanks so much!!! Appreciate it; really!!! Yes, and you to ARE THE POSSIBLE!!!! 😊
With the Samson Q2U you sound like Bandrew Scott from Podcastage :-)
Great tips!!!!
Is there any way you can directly address the USB versus XLR output from the Q2U. I'm tracking in remote areas and want to use the USB option to cut down the weight of the cloud lifter, the interface, etc. I can't find anything talking about how to boost USB mic volume like an in-line cloud lifter. Do you know?
Without the jacket trick (i.e. on camera), can I use q2u in a totally untreated room?
Hi there! You can try using the Samson Q2U in a totally untreated room. It's a suitable option for recording in environments that are not acoustically treated. If you have any other questions, please feel free to email us at support@buzzsprout.com! 😊
Nice! Awesome pic!!!!
I am using Q2U with OBS with the proper microphone technique as you showed in this video (without the hoodie). In the equalizer settings, I lowered the lows (-2db) and increased the middle (2db) and the high (2db). Udemy quality reviewer told me that my voice sounds muffled as if under water. Would you please have a suggestion on how to fix it?
Hi Meir! I suggest checking your recording environment and making sure that you are recording in a quiet space. Background noise and room acoustics can affect audio quality. Applying compression can also help even out your voice levels. And try making subtle adjustments to your equalizer settings. After each adjustment, record a test sample to find the best settings for a clear, natural sound. I hope this helps!
If you have any other concerns, please feel free to email us at support@buzzsprout.com.
@@Buzzsprout Why is evening out using the compression relevant to the problem of muffled sound?
Any EQ for it?
I own and love Q2U, though its aging a bit especially due to that micro usb .. still its an amazing mic for the price... but why didnt you compare it without the blanket on your head??
Glad to know you're loving your Samson Q2U microphone! Regarding the comparison without the blanket, we appreciate your input and will keep it in mind for future videos. Thanks for watching!
Are there mics in similar equality to sound and effectiveness to the Shure Mic? Was looking at prices, and they are expensive as heck.
Hello there! Yes, there are some fantastic, budget-friendly alternatives available that can capture excellent audio! Consider checking out Samson Q2U, Audio-Technica ATR2100x, or Rode PodMic. Keep in mind, the perfect mic for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. Happy podcasting!
price difference 10 times, quality difference not even decimal 1 time.
Where is the Rode NTG3? Is it somewhere up there and you used that mostly in this video?
Hi, Jarno! We do often use a Rode shotgun mic that’s attached to the camera in recording our video tutorials. But for this video, we're focusing on the Samson Q2U vs Shure SM7B comparison. If you have other questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email us at support@buzzsprout.com. We'll be happy to help! 😊
@@Buzzsprout Okay, apparently the Rode captures sound well even if it is further away from you. I just asked, because it was not obvious which microphone was used at which time except when it was shown there.
I could only tell a difference when wearing headphones. Differences were very small, but I’m no expert.
plosives are just horrible on q2u test haha, this is really a pointless video for the show and sake of it, like how can you tell me with straight face that you've done everything the best for the mic to sound good after you talk to it from 1cm and amplify all plosives
Love the et comment I stream looking like an alien everyday, GO ALIENATION
Podcasters have a hardware focus. They think that expensive equipment will do the job for them. It won't.
The important things are:
1. Having something to say that others really want to hear, and/or
2. Being handsome or pretty (for video).
Everything else amounts to no more than 3% of what is needed. We will watch and listen to Ken or Barbie describe how to count pebbles. Or hear or watch most anyone sensationalize some curious history of Prince.
It's only AFTER you're handsome or pretty and have something good to say that microphones much matter. Hate to tell you.
I'd say you are half correct tbh.
buy handsome at wallmart
Am I the only one that actually likes plosives?
SM7B is best for singers but I see alot of pod casters and youtubers who just talk using one, it seems just because of its status.
I don't care who used it
You didn’t pull that off. 😂 You definitely will have a lot of cleaning up to do on the editing side after 30 mins to an hour of all them plosives. A compressor will help but I was taught that even if you dress garbage up it’s still garbage. So if you can invest in better quality equipment, even if it’s a happy medium between these two examples you will ultimately deliver a better quality product for the most part. I understand and agree with the overall message of just get going and grow from there 1,000% spot on. I appreciate the content tho keep it up✊🏿
Horrible plossives
I agree, the mic definitely has issues with that, I think it's better to have it at bigger angle and from further afar and trade some overall quality for lack of plosives. Or perhaps use some better foam/popfilter, because it's most likely not issue with the mic but with the quality of the attached foam.
take it to karaoke session and use it.