Microphone Placement; Operating The C03; P-Popping; Stand Mounting - Samson C03 Owner's Manual

Operating the C03

Microphone Placement

In order to maximize the sound quality, you must pay careful attention to the placement of
your C03 and how it is positioned for the instrument or vocalist that you are miking. All
microphones, especially uni-directional or cardioid microphones, exhibit a phenomenon
known as the "proximity effect." Very simply put, 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. 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 point-
ing the microphone slightly away (off axis) you will notice the low frequency response
dropping off and the microphone will start to sound thinner.
For most vocal applications you'll want to position the microphone directly in front of the
artist. The same may be true for miking instruments, however, you can make some pretty
amazing equalization adjustments by slightly changing the angle of the capsule to the
sound source. 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!

P-Popping

P-Popping is that annoying pop that you can get when the microphone diaphragm gets a
blast of air from a vocalist pronouncing words with the letter "P" included. There are a few
ways to deal with the problem including using an external pop filter. Some famous engi-
neers have relied on an old nylon stocking over a bent clothes hanger, which actually
works very well. (For a cleaner solution, try a PS01 pop filter from Samson Audio.) You
can also try placing the microphone slightly off axis (on a slight angle) from the vocalist.
This can often solve the problem without using an external pop filter.
Stand Mounting the C03
The C03 can be mounted to a standard microphone stand using the included swivel
mount adapter. If you are using a U.S. 5/8" mic stand, you will need to remove, by
unscrewing, the Euro stand adapter. Simply screw on the swivel adapter to your mic stand
or boom arm. Now, loosen the thumbscrew and adjust the microphone to the desired
angle. Once set, tighten the thumbscrew to secure the microphone in place.
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