Samson Sound Deck For Mac

Last week Apple World Today took a look at the, a small ball-shaped USB microphone that did a surprisingly good job of capturing sound in our review. This week we're looking at an even smaller USB microphone from Samson -- the ($64.99 MSRP, available for $29.99 from Amazon affiliate link). Why would someone plug one of these into a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro when that device already has a built-in mic? Well, the Go Mic Direct supposedly works with Samson's Sound Deck Software to provide noise cancellation, which is usually helpful if you're recording in a noisy environment. Design The design of the Go Mic Direct is actually quite interesting: the microphone itself is on a swivel mount on a tiny L-shaped stand with a push-out USB connector built into it.

The connector is nicely protected in transit, although the entire mic can be placed in its padded 'jewel box' plastic case for extra protection. The entire thing is tiny. It's not going to take up much room in anyone's equipment bag, so it would be perfect for podcasting or interviews on the road. There's a status LED on either side of the device, so it doesn't matter which way it's plugged in; you'll still be able to know if the Go Mic Direct is ready to go. The mic itself is made out of a solid piece of aluminum, with metal grilles on both sides -- silver on one side, black on the other. Let's see how this little guy worked.

Function For my testing, I installed the Samson Sound Deck Software for Mac OS X () so I could get a feel for how well the noise cancellation worked. The writeup of the app on the Samson website is a bit misleading, showing the Windows version and a full color interface with equalizers, etc. In actuality, I couldn't find the app anywhere until I looked in System Preferences. I recorded two short 12-second messages, both with a dishwasher running in the background. Here's the initialrecording from a MacBook using its built-in microphone.

Jan 27, 2014 - Samson provides its companion Sound Deck noise reduction app as a. So plugging the Go Mic Direct into your Mac won't block surrounding.

Both recordings were run through Audacity to bring them to about the same volume. The raw MacBook recording was very loud with a lot of noise in the background, while the Go Mic Direct recording was much quieter, but with some noise still present. Listening to both through headphones, I felt that the sound quality of the Go Mic Direct was much better than what was achieved with the built-in mic.

The voice quality was much more full, while the built-in mic was somewhat 'tinny'. However, I didn't feel that the Go Mic Direct really did anything in terms of true noise cancellation; in both recordings the dishwasher sound is plainly present. I would even go so far to suggest not installing the Samson Sound Deck Software, as your Mac should be able to recognize the USB mic as a sound input device.

The Sound Deck Software is quite worthless. Conclusion If you're looking for an inexpensive microphone that will give you better sound quality than the built-in mics on Apple's MacBooks, the Samson Go Mic Direct USB microphone delivers. On the negative side, the Sound Deck Software doesn't deliver on the promised noise cancellation capabilities, so you should plan on using another app for editing and noise reduction. I find (free) to be my app of choice for making adjustments like this. The Go Mic Direct is well-built and should last for years of usage. Apple World Today Rating (out of five stars): ★★★. STAFF Steve Sande Publisher, Editor Dennis Sellers Contributing Editor Marty Edwards Contributing Editor Contributors Copyright © 2015 - 2019 Raven Solutions, LLC.

All Rights Reserved ABOUT Established February 9, 2015, Apple World Today is a resource for all things Apple and beyond. AWT publishes news stories, credible rumors and how-to's covering a variety of topics daily. As a trusted tech blog, AWT provides opinion and analysis on the news in addition to the facts. Our staff consists of experienced writers who live and breathe Apple products every day.

Apple World Today is a trusted source for news, information and analysis about Apple and its products. Our readership is made up of new users, intermediate and business users and advanced users. In addition, we cover topics relevant to niches like developers, designers and others. AWT's writers and editors are trusted worldwide for their fair reviews, and AWT reviews everything from hardware to software to accessories and bags.

In addition to news, opinion and information, Apple World Today provides resources for deals, software updates and more. Amiko alien 2 mcas plugin download.

Further expanding on the already diverse line of USB microphones, Samson has created the Go Mic as a versatile computer-based miking and recording solution. Because of its custom compact design, the Go Mic can clip right onto your laptop or sit unobtrusively on your desk. Plug and play operation also means it's completely compatible with a Mac or PC, with no drivers required.