Samson Q3 User manual

AND INSTRUMENT
VOCAL / INSTRUMENT
®
OWNERS MANUAL
Q2 VOCAL / INSTRUMENT MIC
Q3 INSTRUMENT MIC

Produced by On The Right Wavelength for Samson Technologies Corp.
Copyright 1997, Samson Technologies Corp.
Printed June, 1997
Samson Technologies Corp.
575 Underhill Blvd.
P.O. Box 9031
Syosset, NY 11791-9031
Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)
Fax: [phone]
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Q2 / Q3 Features 4
Using Your Q2 / Q3 Microphone 5
Other Samson Microphones 8
Specifications 9

3
Introduction
Congratulations on purchasing the Samson Q2 or Q3 Microphone!
These radically new professional dynamic mics are specially designed
for use in live performance. The compact Q2 is equally effective as a
vocal or instrument mic, while the Q3 is optimized for drum miking
applications. Both models are manufactured with extreme care and the
highest quality components, delivering an exceptionally clear, articulate
sound. Their transformless design provides extended low frequency
response while minimizing low frequency distortion. Both also include a
distinctive multi-stage windscreen and filter for effectively reducing pops,
sibilance and on-stage noise, and a unique humbucking voice coil to
eliminate outside interference. The cardioid pattern utilized by the Q2
and the hypercardioid pattern utilized by the Q3 provides important
feedback rejection while delivering a strong, crisp signal from the audio
source directly in front of the mic capsule. The Q2 and Q3 microphones
are also particularly well-suited for use with Samson wireless systems.
In this manual, you’ll find a more detailed description of the features of
your Q2 / Q3 microphone, as well as instructions for its use (including
wiring diagrams) and complete specifications. You’ll also find a warranty
card enclosed—don’t forget to fill it out and mail it in! This will enable
you to receive online technical support and will allow us to send you
updated information about other Samson products in the future.
SPECIAL NOTE: Should your Q2 or Q3 microphone ever require
servicing, a Return Authorization number (RA) is necessary. Without
this number, the microphone will not be accepted. Please call Samson
at [phone] for a Return Authorization number prior to shipping
your microphone. Please retain the original packing material and, if
possible, return the microphone in its original carton and packing
materials.

4
Q2 / Q3 Features
The Samson Q2 and Q3 microphones utilize state-of-the-art
microphone technology and are engineered to the finest detail.
Here are some of their main features:
•High energy rare earth Neodymium element delivers high output
and exceptional sound quality.
•Transformerless design enables extended low frequencies and
reduces low frequency distortion.
•Tight polar patterns minimize feedback problems and effectively
reject signals not originating directly in front of the mic capsule.
•Full range frequency response for optimum reproduction of vocals
and instruments with an exceptionally clear, crisp sound.
•Vertical porting that works to remove standing wave distortion.
•Extremely lightweight aluminum humbucking voice coil eliminates
magnetic field interference and provides true hum rejection right at
the source while delivering extended high frequencies.
•Unique triple-plated multi-stage windscreen enables “up-close”
usage and greatly reduces pops, sibilance and onstage noise.
•Special shock-mounting allows multi-axis movement of the mic
element in order to greatly reduce handling noise.
•Rugged zinc-casting, silicon anti-dent ring and gold-plated
XLR connector ensures reliable performance in even the most
demanding environments.
•Switchable 10 dB pad enables use with high sound pressure level
(SPL) signal sources such as drums or amplified instruments.
•Switchable 12 dB / octave high pass filter (HPF) tuned to 80 Hz for
eliminating rumble.
•Lightweight and compact, the Q2 can be mounted on any standard
microphone stand (using the included mic clip) or can be easily
handheld for long periods without inducing fatigue. Equally
compact, the Q3 mounts directly on a mic stand (no clip required)
and rotates mechanically 90°for optimum placement—particularly
handy when miking large drum kits on small stages!
•Included foam-lined carrying case and Euro metric mic stand
adapter.

5
Using Your Q2 / Q3 Microphone
The Q2 / Q3 can be connected to any audio system using a standard
microphone cable. As shown in the wiring diagrams below, connect the
female XLR end directly to the Q2 or Q3’s gold-plated connector and the
other end (normally a male XLR, although some mixers use 1/4"
connectors) to your mixer, mixer/amplifier, or mic preamp.
The Q2 can be mounted to any standard microphone stand (using the
included mic clip) or can be handheld; due to its unique multi-axis mic
element shock mounting, it generates significantly less handling noise
than most other microphones. If handheld, take care not to cover the
head grille with your hand. The Q3 provides its own mounting that can
be rotated through 90°for easy placement in tight spaces such as
around drum kits. When connecting either model to a European (metric)
microphone stand, use the provided “Euro”adapter.
When positioning any microphone, be aware of a phenomenon called
the proximity effect which causes a noticeable increase in low
frequencies (bass response) when a microphone is close to the audio
source. This can have positive impact—for example, it will cause your
voice to sound much fuller when you sing close to the mic than when you
sing at a distance. Both the Q2 and the Q3 are specially designed to be
used up close, since they provide a windscreen with built-in sibilance
filter (as shown in the illustration on the following page) for removal of
pops, sibilance and onstage noise. The key to developing the best mic
technique is experimentation, along with awareness of the general
principle that, the closer a microphone is to a signal source, the greater
the bass response.
12
3
1
2
3
12
3
12
3
Tip (hot)
Tip
Ring (cold)
Sleeve (ground)
Sleeve
Ring
XLR to XLR
cable
XLR to 1/4" TRS
cable (balanced)
XLR to 1/4" TS
cable (unbalanced)
F
F
M
F

6
Using Your Q2 / Q3 Microphone
Every microphone has a characteristic polar pattern that determines
how well it accepts or rejects signal coming from various areas around
the microphone. For example, omnidirectional mics accept all signals
regardless of wherever those signals originate (in front of the mic,
behind it, to the side, etc.). In contrast, directional cardioid mics such as
the Q2 are specifically designed to accept mostly signal coming from
directly in front, and to reject signal coming from behind or from the
side. The most extreme variation of cardioid is the hypercardioid
pattern utilized by the Q3; this yields maximum rejection of signal
coming from any direction other than directly in front of the mic.
The illustrations below show the polar patterns for the Q2 and Q3.
0°30°
60°
90°
120°
150°
180°
210°
240°
270°
300°
330°
300Hz
1000Hz
3000Hz Scale is 5 decibels per division
Q2 Polar Pattern
0°30°
60°
90°
120°
150°
180°
210°
240°
270°
300°
330°
300Hz
1000Hz
3000Hz Scale is 5 decibels per division
Q3 Polar Pattern
Windscreen Sibilance filter

Using Your Q2 / Q3 Microphone
As you can see from these illustrations, both the Q2 and Q3 excel in
environments where there is significant unwanted ambient sound since
they deliver those signals originating directly in front of the mic capsule
itself while rejecting those that originate from behind.
The polar pattern also determines how prone a particular mic is to
inducing feedback. Feedback is that characteristic nasty howling sound
that occurs when a mic is placed too close to a loudspeaker—the signal
from the loudspeaker is fed into the mic, then into the loudspeaker, then
into the mic, over and over again until an oscillating tone is generated.
Because the polar patterns utilized by the Q2 / Q3 are so good at
rejecting signal not coming from directly in front of the mic, you’ll find that
their use greatly minimizes feedback problems.
As shown in the illustrations below, the Q2 and Q3 mics also provide
switches that allow you to engage a 10 dB pad or a high pass filter
(HPF). For normal use, leave both switches in their “off”position.
Place the 10 dB pad switch in its “on”position when miking a signal
(such as drums or instrument amplifiers) that has a high sound pressure
level (SPL) or whenever you hear overload distortion at your mixer or
mic preamp input. Place the HPF switch in its “on”position to filter out
low frequency rumble (such as might be caused by onstage floor noise).
The Q2 / Q3 HPF is tuned to 80 Hz, with a rolloff of 12 dB per octave.
7
SAMSON Q2
M IC
HP ATT
ON
HP ATT
ON

Other Samson Microphones
Samson Technologies is the manufacturer of a broad range of
microphones, each optimized for a different application, but with each
sharing the same fine quality of your Q2 or Q3.
Q MIC
The Q MIC is a neodymium hypercardioid mic designed for high-end
vocal applications where there is significant background or
environmental noise. It shares many of the same features as the Q2,
but utilizes a midrange “presence”peak at 2 kHz for optimum
reproduction of vocals. Other features include special shock-mounting
that allows 360°X-Y axis movement of the mic element in order to
greatly reduce handling noise and a neoprene transformer cover in
order to minimize microphonic self-noise.
QV / QE
These are two professional lavalier (clip-on) microphones specially
designed for performing musicians and dancers, sportscasters and
aerobics instructors. The QE model is waterproof and is optimized for
aerobics use and high-humidity environments. Both are lightweight and
utilize a low visibility design for unobtrusive use, with high quality
electret condenser elements for high output and exceptional sound
quality. The QV model has a hypercardioid polar pattern and virtually
flat frequency response to 10 kHz, while the QE utilizes a bi-directional
noise cancellation circuit and a midrange “presence”peak for optimum
reproduction of speech.
S12 / S11
These are two affordable yet high quality dynamic microphones for the
musician on a budget. Both are lightweight and compact, yet have
rugged capsules that enable them to be used with high sound pressure
level signals (such as drums and amplified instruments) with reliable
performance in even the most demanding environments. The S11
model utilizes a standard cardioid polar pattern while the S12 utilizes a
hypercardioid polar pattern for maximum feedback rejection and
includes a rare earth neodymium magnet that provides 6 dB of
noiseless gain.
8

9
Specifications
Type Dynamic
Polar Pattern
Q2 Cardioid
Q3 Hyper-cardioid
Frequency Response 50 Hz - 15 kHz
Sensitivity -71 dB ± 3 dB
(0 dB = 1V/0.1pa @ 1 kHz)
Impedance 600 ohm (@ 1 kHz)
HP Range -12 dB / octave (HP switch ON)
Att Range -10 dB / average (ATT switch ON)
Connector 3-pin gold-plated balanced XLR male
Dimensions
Q2 (length) 6 in. / 152 mm
Q3 (length, head) 4 in. / 102 mm
Q3 (length, mounting) 3 in. / 76 mm
Weight Q2 10.5 oz. / 300 g
Q3 15.1 oz. / 431 g