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SAMSON TECHNOLOGIES > STRETCHING THE SOUND BARRIER
WITH THE CO1U USB MICROPHONE
WORDS BY JONE DEVLIN
How do you predict market trends when
you are a product-driven, customer-
focused company that does not have the
time to spend on conducting a large-
scale, long-term research study?
According to Mark Wilder, director of
marketing for Samson Technologies
you just watch and
listen – that is, you watch the trends and
listen to your customers.
It is a formula that has been successful for
Samson for many years, and one that
culminated most recently in their
development of a USB microphone. The
idea for the product started out simply
enough, explained Wilder.
"One of the things that we do really well is
to look at the market and figure out what
products will work across a wide section of
(it)." Based on this research, Samson
decided to move forward with the
manufacture of a USB microphone,
becoming the first company to put out
and successfully market such an item.
And that is where the second part of their
formula came in handy. Given that
Samson was the first company to
successfully develop a USB mic, they
literally could have introduced it at "any
price we wanted," Wilder told
MacDirectory. Yet instead of opting for a
high-end price tag, Samson continued
their research and concluded that the
main purchaser of their new product
would be the home based user.
Therefore, they chose a less expensive
(under $100) mic as their base, and
updated it with a USB. That mic, called the
CO1U USB Condenser, quickly became
one of Samson's best-selling microphones
– a distinction it still holds to this day.
The CO1U sells for $89.99, works with any
DAW software program and comes with
recording software, a desktop stand and
USB cable. One of the key features of the
CO1U is that it has a 19mm internal shock
mounted diaphragm with a cardioid pick
up pattern, an option that "ensure(s)
pristine studio quality recordings."
The best feature, however, is that the
CO1U can be used for any type of audio
recording, making it a must-have for
journalists, podcasters, business people,
and anyone else who needs an easy,
inexpensive way to make the work they
are doing sound professionally recorded.
Ironically, when the CO1U was first
released, "podcasting wasn't even a word"
said Wilder.
"We obviously understand that musicians
love it and will want to purchase it, but we
are continually amazed at the applications
people tell us they use it for like websites
and multimedia presentations."
So if you are in the mood to get your
groove on, or maybe just beef up that
podcast or presentation, be sure to check
out the CO1U. It is an inexpensive way to
product high-quality audio wherever and
however you need it.
