Samson Q2U Recording Pak User manual

Owner's Manual

Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Q2U Recording and Podcasting Pack from Samson!
The Q2U combines the convenience of digital and analog audio capture into one microphone.
With XLR and USB outputs, the Q2U is the easily fits into your home studio and mobile recording,
as well as stage performance. The pack includes a desktop tripod stand, mic clip, foam wind-
screen, XLR cable and USB cable...everything you need to start recording right out of the box.
For recording music, podcasts, house of worship services, meetings or conferences, the Q2U is
the perfect solution for recording quality digital audio on your computer or sound reinforcement.
Just plug in and start creating!
Features
• Dynamic Microphone with USB digital output and standard XLR analog output.
• Full range, linear frequency response for accurate sound reproduction.
• Unidirectional, pick-up pattern picks up the sound in front of the microphone and minimizes
ambient and background noise.
• Compatible with most any Mac or PC recording software
• Onboard headphone amplifier with level control for zero-latency monitoring, plus you can use
the output to connect active studio monitors.
• Computer-controlled analog Input Gain makes it easy to set the proper level and get a clean signal.
• A desktop tripod stand, tripod extension, mic clip, foam windscreen, 10’ USB cable and 10’
XLR cable are included to easily set up the microphone right out of the box.

Q2U Layout
1. Windscreen – Dual stage grill protects the capsule and
helps reduce wind noise and p-popping.
2. Capsule – Internally shock mounted dynamic microphone
element with cardioid pick up pattern.
3. LED – The dual color Power/Clip LED lights green to
indicate power, and flashes red when the input mic is
overloaded or clipping.
4. ON/OFF switch – Used to turn the microphone USB and XLR
outputs on or off.
5. Output Level control – Up and Down buttons control the
headphone output volume.
6. XLR connector – Standard Male XLR connector with analog
output for connecting to a standard microphone preamp.
7. USB – Mini-B size USB connector for interfacing with your
PC or Mac computer.
8. Headphone Output – 3.5mm stereo jack for connecting
headphones or studio monitors. The headphone output
provides a mix of the direct signal from the microphone
and the audio playback from the computer.
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Getting Started - Connecting to a Computer
Using the Q2U with a computer is a simple procedure that takes just a few minutes. Simply con-
nect the included USB cable to an available USB port on your computer and begin recording.
Using the Q2U with Windows Computers
1. From the Start Menu, open the Control Panel and select Sound.
Under the Playback and Recording tabs, select the Samson Q2U as the audio device.
2. To adjust the gain of the microphone, click the Properties button, and then select the Levels
tab. You can view the volume level as either a percentage or in dB, by right clicking on the
number box.
3. If the microphone LED is lighting red, turn this control down until the LED no longer flashes red.
4. In the Playback tab, select the Level tab and set the computer’s Master Volume to 100%. Use
the Q2U’s Output Level buttons to control the overall output from the headphones or speaker.
5. To adjust the direct monitoring level in the Playback tab by moving the fader labeled Microphone.
Using the Q2U with Apple OSX
1. Open System Preferences from the dock or the main Apple Menu.
2. Select the Sound preference icon, choose the Input tab and select Q2U.
3. Set the gain of the Q2U by adjusting the Input volume slider at the bottom of the Sound dialog box.
4. Set the Q2U as playback volume by clicking the Output tab and select Q2U, adjust the Output
volume slider at the bottom of the Sound dialog box to the maximum setting and use the
Q2U’s front panel Volume knob to control the overall output from the headphones or speakers.
5. To turn direct monitoring on or off, open the Audio/MIDI Setup utility located in the Utility folder
inside the Applications folder. Then click the check-box in the Thru column in Audio/MIDI Setup.

Quick Start
Follow this simple quick start for a typical set-up to start recording.
Using the Q2U with a computer
1. Unpack the Q2U, and position the microphone on
the desktop stand.
2. Set the Q2U’s ON/OFF switch to the “ON”position
and point the end of the microphone towards the
performer.
3. Connect headphones to the Headphone output
located on the bottom of the microphone.
4. Plug the mini-B (small) end of the USB cable to the
Q2U and plug the other end of the cable into an
available USB port on your computer.
5. Launch your recording software, turn down the main output level and select the Q2U for the input and out-
puts.
6. Set up a mono record track in your software.
7. Set the level of the microphone following the instructions in“Getting Started - Connecting to a Computer”.
8. Set the level of your headphones to a comfortable listening level by using the Up and Down Output Level
Control buttons.
9. Press the record button and start creating.

Microphone Placement
In order to maximize the quality of your recordings, you should pay careful attention to the
placement and positioning of the Q2U for the instrument or vocalist that you are miking. The
Q2U is a unidirectional microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern. Cardioid microphones, exhibit
a phenomenon known as proximity effect. Proximity effect is a resulting change in the frequency
response of a microphone based on the position of the mic capsule relative to the sound source. In
general, as the microphone moves closer to the sound source, the bass response increases.
You can also make subtle changes to the frequency response by making minor adjustment to the
position. Specifically, when you point a cardioid mic directly at the sound source (on axis) you will
get the best frequency response, however when you start pointing the microphone slightly away
(off axis) you will notice the high frequency response dropping off and the microphone will start to
sound like it has more bass and less highs.
For most vocal applications you’ll want to position the microphone directly in front of the artist
about 4 to 18 inches. This will pickup the voice while minimizing unwanted background or ambient
noise. If you are close miking vocals, and notice plosive sounds, like p-pops, caused by plosive
consonants set the microphone to a slight angle to reduce p-popping. Slight changes to the angle
of the microphone in reference to the sound source can make some pretty amazing equalization
adjustments. This can be a very useful technique in capturing the optimum sound of drum set,
acoustic guitar, piano or other instruments in a live room or sound stage. Experimentation and
experience are the best teachers in getting good sounds, so plug in and start creating!

Using the Q2U with a mixer
Using the XLR Output you can connect the Q2U to a standard PA mixer for live sound applications
or when recording through an audio interface.
Connect the included XLR cable to your mixer
Set the ON/OFF switch to the “ON” position.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for setting the microphone level of the mixer or audio interface.
P-Popping
Sometimes when recording vocals certain plosive consonants (like hard “P” and “B” sounds) over-
load the input of the microphone which causes clipping and adds distortion to your recording. These
are some of the worst sounds that can make their way into your recording. Once recorded, they are
almost impossible to remove and can be very distracting to your listener. In addition to the dual
stage grill, the Q2U includes a large foam windscreen which reduces the effect of the blasts of air
from vocalists when pronouncing words that include these hard consonant sounds. The pop filter
also helps to protect the microphone element from moisture.
Stand Mounting
The Q2U includes a tripod desktop microphone stand. The desktop stand includes an extension
piece. This allows you to raise the height of the microphone towards the performers mouth.
Additionally, the Q2U can be mounted to any standard microphone stand using the included mic
clip. Simply screw the Q2U mic clip on to your mic stand or boom arm and adjust the microphone
to the desired angle.

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Polar Pattern & Frequency Response
Two characteristics of a microphone are its polar pattern
and frequency response. The polar pattern describes
the directionality of the microphone and the frequency
response is a graphical representation to how the
microphone reacts to different frequencies.
The Q2U is a unidirectional microphone which captures
sound in front of the microphone and rejects sound from
the sides and back. This allows for better separation of
performers or instruments in the studio, and picks up
more of the performer sound in relation to the sound of
the room. For information on microphone technique visit
samsontech.com.
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Frequency Response
Polar Pattern

Specifications
Element Type . . . . . . . . . . . Dynamic
Polar pattern . . . . . . . . . . . Cardioid
Frequency Response . . . . . . . .50Hz - 15 kHz
Power Requirements . . . . . . . .5V DC USB Power
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . .On/Off Switch, Headphone Volume
Output Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . Mini-B USB, XLR, 3.5mm TRS Stereo Headphone
Sample Rate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44.1/48kHz
Bit Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16bit
Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . .-54 dBV/Pa
Max SPL. . . . . . . . . . . . . .148 dB SPL
Headphone Output Power . . . . . 10mW @ 16 ohms
Included Accessories . . . . . . . USB cable, XLR cable, tripod stand, tripod extension,
microphone clip, foam windscreen
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.2oz / 317.5g
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5 ” x 2.2 ” (diameter) / 190 mm x 55 mm (diameter)
At Samson, we are continually improving our products, therefore specifications and images are
subject to change without notice.

Important Safety Information
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that the interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that of the receiver.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help

WARNING: Listening to music at high volume levels and for extended durations can damage one’s
hearing. In order to reduce the risk of damage to hearing, one should lower the volume to a safe,
comfortable level, and reduce the amount of time listening at high levels.
Please use the following guidelines established by the Occupational Safety Health Administration
(OSHA) on maximum time exposure to sound pressure levels before hearing damage occurs.
• 90 dB SPL at 8 hours
• 95 dB SPL at 4 hours 100 dB SPL at 2 hours
• 105 dB SPL at 1 hour 110 dB SPL at 1/2 hour
• 115 dB SPL at 15 minutes
• 120 dB SPL - avoid or damage may occur
If you want to dispose this product, do not mix it with general household waste. There is a
separate collection system for used electronic products in accordance with legislation that
requires proper treatment, recovery and recycling.
Private household in the 28 member states of the EU, in Switzerland and Norway may
return their used electronic products free of charge to designated collection facilities or to a retailer
(if you purchase a similar new one).
For Countries not mentioned above, please contact your local authorities for a correct method of
disposal.
By doing so you will ensure that your disposed product undergoes the necessary treatment, recovery
and recycling and thus prevent potential negative effects on the environment and human health.

Samson Technologies Corp.
Copyright 2016
278-B Duffy Ave
Hicksville, New York 11801
Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)
Fax: [phone]
www.samsontech.com
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