So I may be getting one of these, although I have a Blue Snowball, which I like a lot.

From Amazon:
Samson CO1U USB Condenser Microphone

The C01U USB Studio Condenser Mic is the first affordable studio condenser mic with a USB interface.

For the first time ever, musicians who record music on computers have a simple, affordable way to capture high-quality vocal and acoustic instrument performances.

Seamless integration was the idea, and it was obtained by creating a studio condenser microphone that can be plugged into any computer with no in/out boxes, no expensive computer pre-amps, just a USB cable.

The C01U condenser microphone is based on our wildly successful C01. It features a 19mm internal shock mounted diaphragm with a cardioid pick up pattern ensuring pristine studio quality recordings.

The C01U works perfectly on any computer, Mac or PC, and with any DAW software program. It immediately solves a huge problem for users of many laptops, many of which have no other input method for audio devices.

It’s a must for any musician on the road or in the project studio, but the C01U is going to offer solutions to more than just musicians. The mic opens up possibilities for anyone who records audio—from Podcasters, journalists, students, and business people adding audio files to websites and multimedia presentations.

Feature List

• Large Diaphragm, 19mm, Studio Condenser with USB Digital Output.
• Compatible with any computer based Digital Audio Workstation.
• The extremely detailed sound reproduction makes it ideal for recording vocals, acoustic instruments and just about any other sound source.
• High Quality AD converter with 16 Bit, 48K sampling rate.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Nice low cost mic
It took just a little playing to get the mic placement figured out, but now it produces nice sounding audio. What works well for my screencasts is to set it on the table right in front of me at about a 60 degree angle tilted away from me. So the green light on the front is pointed towards my mouth, but I talk over it. I look at the computer screen, so the main acoustic energy is flowing about 5 inches above the microphone rather than aimed straight at it. I also bought the windscreen for it to help smooth any acoustic bursts.

It works perfectly with Windows and Linux. Supposed to also work with Mac. For me, a big concern before buying a microphone was that it works with Linux. I didn’t have to do anything to get it to work with Linux. I just plugged it in and used the ALSA mixer to turn it on and used it with Audacity and RecordMyDesktop.

5 Stars Great mic at a great price
I was looking for a good high-quality condensor microphone. This is it. USB connected for digital no-noise signal. Standard size fit my stand and vibration mount. The sound is clean and perfect for voice applications. Highly recommended!

5 Stars Received right away and works great!
This was sent out fast and we were very happy with the promptness and condition of the product.

Buy/More Info

The MXL USB 007 Stereo Condenser Microphone allows you to just plug in to your portable or desktop computer, set your preferences and enjoy instant studio quality recordings.The microphone uses dual gold diaphragm capsules in a XY pattern together with low noise electronics and the latest in enhanced digital conversion techniques for pristine audio quality. In a demonstration CD, a vintage acoustic guitar was recorded with a famous studio mic going thru high quality studio gear to a hard disk recorder. The recording was compared to the MXL USB 007 fed direct to a computer. The results were nothing short of amazing; the MXL USB 007 sounded like a pristine direct to disc recording while the studio mic sounded nice, but lacked the punch or detail of the USB mic!Because of its high quality and ease of use the new mic opens up new possibilities for direct stereo recording with a standard computer such as live performances in the professional, school and home environment. It’s also a very exciting tool for podcasts, multimedia, news and broadcast applications using portable computers for remote stereo recording of concerts, lectures, or even documenting outdoor sounds in stereo for film and and sharing with friends and TV backgrounds.Imagine the fun of recording performances and sound effects from anywhere in the world on a portable computer in full stereo and sharing with friends and associates.The MXL USB 007 comes with a carry bag, a desktop mic stand, mic stand adapter, a 10-foot USB cable, wind screen, owners manual and an applications guide. The new MXL USB mics usher in a new era of high quality recording never before achieved without a studio. It completely redefines what users can do on their computers opening up a new world for the audio, computer and broadcast industries.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A fantastic microphone!
I purchased this to record performances of my professional flute/piano classical group, the Lunae Duo. We have used it to record rehearsals and performances and are very pleased with the sound quality. In fact, it is so clear, we plan to upload the audio on our website [...] for promotional purposes! It comes with an attractive leather case and the usb chord is long enough to use with a full size mic stand or computer. The desktop stand is very sturdy and the microphone screws into it for complete security.

5 Stars Great stuff
The first USB mic I bought was Blue Snowball to record my fiddle playing. It sounded OK but the coloration was pretty obvious. Since I am a serious audiophile, I guess I should not expect much from a $99 mic. The I decided to record in stereo, thinking that may sound better, which led to my purchase of MXL USB.007. Although USB.007 costs about the same per channel as the snowball, it’s sound quality is much better. The details and tonal accuracy is much improved. Although the results are not quite professional-quality, I can’t really hear any obvious shortcoming even with my hi-end playback system. MXL did a great job of balancing the sound. With a simple mic stand and a laptop, I can make a decent home recording with no hassle. Hey I think this mic will allow just about anyone to make decent home recordings. That’s pretty amazing.

1 Star Be careful
Mine was DOA. Right channel out. LED does not light. On that particular day Austin Bazaar was the “sold by” outfit. I notice today it is someone else. Two days from now who knows. Amazon will not accept a return. Austin Bazaar will not accept a return. I am now dealing with the manufacturer’s warranty and what they state is a one to two week process to have the mic fixed or replaced. In future, I will not buy through Amazon if the “sold by” is anyone other than Amazon. If I had shopped a local brick and mortor for this, they would have exchanged it immediately. Now a simple purchase has become a two week hastle with additional shipping costs. What a mistake.

5 Stars A Complete Mike Kit for my PC
I had just bought a MXL cardiod mike elsewhere. And when I got it all it had was the Mike and a protective cage in a small suitcase. Now this MXL USB 007 kit had all I needed to start making recordings with it: Mike, USB cable, tripod for my desk, and windscreen. Nothing new to order. This is the best for me!!

5 Stars Amazingly user friendly high quality microphone
I recently purchased this Microphone and am absolutely amazed at the quality of sound. I am a violinist, and have used it to make recordings in house. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so for a sample recording made on an hp laptop go to [...]. The “Leclair Duet” was recorded live with this mic, as was “Away in the Manger.”

The mic is quite user friendly, plut it in and record. Recording was made with “Free Audio Editor” which can be found on the web.

Buy/More Info

Harlan
has partnered with Marshall Electronics to create the MXL VO: 1-A
Signature Series microphone, the first mic designed for voice over
performers by a voice over performer.

The MXL VO: 1-A faithfully captures deep tones without sounding too
heavy and has a silky smooth top end that is never harsh – a perfect
sound palette for most male and female voice over performers. But
Harlan always advises voice talent to “audition” a microphone before
deciding it’s their mic of choice so the VO: 1-A is sold with a
no-questions-asked refund policy. The VO: 1-A also has a three year
warranty, state of the art class A circuitry, balanced/transformerless
output, and a gold sputtered diaphragm.

The VO: 1-A package includes everything you need to begin recording
studio quality voice overs immediately!

The Voice Over Microphone made for Voice Over Performers

Buy/More Info

The Blue Mics Snowball USB Microphone is the worlds first professional USB mic! The Snowball finally provides you with a USB mic thats not only easy to use, but sounds as good on your desktop as it does in a professional recording studio. Whether youre recording a guitar at your kitchen table or a complete band in the studio, the Snowball can capture it with detail unheard of before in a USB mic. The Snowball is a direct plug n play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC no additional software is needed. With its dual capsule design and unique three-pattern switch (cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad and omni), the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band and its ideal for podcasting. Check it out and youll see why its the coolest mic in town. Blue Mics Snowball Features Plug and play design no software required! Professional studio quality performance record both vocals and instruments Mac and PC compatible Blues renowned circuit and unique two-capsule design Switchable mic patterns for a variety of recording applications Great for podcasting Includes custom mic stand and USB cable Add The Ringer for a few coins more! Designed for Blue’s complete line of spherical microphones, The Ringer is a vintage-style suspension mount designed to isolate the microphone body from low-frequency energy when mounted on a mic stand. The Ringer also accommodates virtually any microphone with a standard thread mount.

Buy/More Info

The Blue Mics Snowball USB Microphone is the worlds first professional USB mic!The Snowball finally provides you with a USB mic thats not only easy to use, but sounds as good on your desktop as it does in a professional recording studio. Whether youre recording a guitar at your kitchen table or a complete band in the studio, the Snowball can capture it with detail unheard of before in a USB mic.The Snowball is a direct plug n play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC no additional software is needed. With its dual capsule design and unique three-pattern switch (cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad and omni), the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band and its ideal for podcasting. Check it out and youll see why its the coolest mic in town.Blue Mics Snowball FeaturesPlug and play design no software required!Professional studio quality performance record both vocals and instrumentsMac and PC compatibleBlues renowned circuit and unique two-capsule designSwitchable mic patterns for a variety of recording applicationsGreat for podcastingIncludes custom mic stand and USB cableAdd The Ringer for a few coins more!Designed for Blue’s complete line of spherical microphones, The Ringer is a vintage-style suspension mount designed to isolate the microphone body from low-frequency energy when mounted on a mic stand. The Ringer also accommodates virtually any microphone with a standard thread mount.

Buy/More Info

As its name suggests, the RODE Podcaster microphone was specifically designed for computer recording applications where wide frequency response and low distortion are demanded. The Podcaster makes digital recording “plug and play” easy with its built-in A/D conversion and USB connection. The RODE Podcaster is based on their popular Broadcaster microphone – winner of the Radio World/US National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) “What’s Cool” award. The Broadcaster has become an industry standard when studio sound quality is required for on-air applications. Now the Podcaster makes this quality microphone available in a super-convenient USB version for the current generation of computer recording applications.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Heavy
Ok – this is one heavy mic! I’m using it to create podcasts and training video’s. The sound quality is excellent – studio quality. I had to purchase On Stage DS7200B Adjustable Desk Microphone Stand, Black to keep it from falling over. The problem is the the mic must mount from the rear, so all the weight is hanging over. I also strongly suggest Rode PSM1 Shockmount. It serves a few purposes; 1) it changes the center of gravity when mounting the mic since it attaches to the mic stand in the middle and allows the mic to hang more rearward and it provides a shock absorber. Using it on a MAC with VM – has no issues being recognized by XP and OS X. Overall, very happy with the mic.

5 Stars I’m No Pro
Im no pro i just wanted a mic so that me and the homeboys could wreckshop, and so far this mic is working good no problems at all. Im using it on a Mac Book Pro and it recognized it as soon as i plugged it in. The recording quality of the mic seems great to me but like i said I’m no pro. So if you want a mic that sound good and is built to last this mic is where its at

5 Stars Pro Podcasts
After sampling several other microphones I decided on the Rode Podcaster. This is a professional-level instrument in both construction and in performance at a consumer price. You won’t regret buying one.

5 Stars Surprisingly good — selling my Heil PR-40 now.
I picked up the R0DE Podcaster a few days ago, and it sounds great — much better than I expected. I honestly expected it to sound cheesier because it’s USB instead of XLR. I made a couple of test recordings and gave them to my wife, who is always saying that I don’t sound like myself in my recordings. She said that this is the best-sounding mic I’ve ever used, and that I sound just like myself. My background in audio is a couple of years in podcasting and some live interviews. Equipment I’ve used in the past includes the Audio Technica 4033a, Heil Pro PR-40, Symetrix 528e, Zoom H-4, and the M-Audio MobilePre.

Pros:

Sounds great.

Very competitive price when compared to decent XLR mics.

Direct to USB (computer sees it as a sound card).

Headphone jack built in for direct, live monitoring (huge plus), with volume control (which does not effect recording volume).

Allows remote recordings to a laptop (with all the nice software) without lugging around extra devices to convert a “real” mic to USB or Firewire.

Works automatically on a Mac.

Feels very solid and sturdy — very well made.

Front-firing cardiod-pattern dynamic mic (helps reduce most “background” noise).

Completely USB-powered.

Cons:

Direct to USB: No possibility of using a hardware mixer or voice processor, and you can’t use more than one at a time (except maybe with special software).

Large and heavy. Not really a big deal if you keep it on a mic stand like I do, but you need a real stand — not a cheap one.

Doesn’t come with any kind of padded box for storage/travel like pro mics. It’s probably not meant for travel, but its functionality and all-in-one design certainly encourage it.

White plastic body and white USB cable. Sure, it matches my MacBook, but for some reason it feels a little weird that it’s not silver or black. Personal taste, and I couldn’t find much else to complain about.

All in all, it exceeds my current needs, and I’m selling my “pro” equipment to fund my other hobbies. I would recommend this to any podcaster who doesn’t need multiple mics or a hardware mixer. If you just want to sound great on Skype, this’ll do the trick, although it will probably be overkill.

5 Stars Incredible microphone!!!
Absolutely incredible sounding audio!! I didn’t have to purchase a pre-amp, mixer, pop-filter, etc. Simply plugged it in, and instantly began recording broadcast quality audio. Windows XP instantly recognized it (as a sound card). It also works perfectly on Vista after installing the driver from Rode’s website.

Buy/More Info

The Audio-Technica AT2010 microphone is designed to bring the studio-quality articulation and intelligibility of Audio-Technica's renowned 20 Series to the stage. Featuring the same 16 mm low-mass diaphragm found in the critically acclaimed AT2020 side-address studio condenser, the AT2010 mic excels wherever articulate vocals are needed: in houses of worship, for solo performances, jazz vocalists, singer/songwriters, and more.This breakthrough handheld vocal condenser delivers remarkable specs and superior build at an amazing price. State-of-the-art design and manufacturing techniques ensure compliance with Audio-Technica's stringent consistency and reliability standards, and set the AT2010 apart from other vocal mics in its class. The microphone offers a wide dynamic range and handles high SPLs with ease. Its rugged construction is designed to stand up to years of use.Requires phantom power.

Buy/More Info

C01UPAK C01U Microphone and Podcast Pack comes with CO1U mic, Cakewalk Sonar LE software, Desktop mic stand, mic clip, shockmount, USB cable, aluminum case.The C01U works perfectly on any computer, Mac or PC, and with any Digital Audio Workstation software. It immediately solves a huge problem for users of many laptops, many of which have no other input method for audio devices. For the first time ever, musicians who record music on computers have a simple, affordable way to capture high-quality vocal and acoustic instrument performances. Seamless integration was the idea, and it was obtained by creating a studio condenser microphone that can be plugged into any computer with no in/out boxes, no expensive computer pre-amps, just a USB cable. It features a 19mm internal shock mounted diaphragm with a cardioid pick up pattern ensuring pristine studio quality recordings. It’s a must for any musician on the road or in the project studio, but the C01U is going to offer solutions to more than just musicians. The mic opens up possibilities for anyone who records audio from Podcasters, journalists, students, and business people adding audio files to websites and multimedia presentations.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great Value
Just confirmed what most other reviews agree on: this is a high quality product for its price, while it’s only con is the software it comes with, which is not only bad, but also a trial version.

The voice over we recorded as a test came out clean and detailed, although I’m sure we still have to fine tune placement and levels to get the best out of it.

4 Stars Read this before you buy it
1. I found that I needed to remove the center insert from the stand’s tube with a small coin to unscrew the little inset. Had to call international long distance to get support on it.

2. I found that even if you plug it in, the Macintosh doesn’t automatically switch over to it, and I had to choose it in Preferences on the Mac.

3. The included software for the Mac was kind of inadequate.

Other than that, this product deserves its good rating! For me, RTFM the next time…

5 Stars Great Mic
Great mic i love it its bin working so good for me great sound its perfect

4 Stars A great product!
The microphone works great! It got a little banged up in shipping, however… it seems that the mic stand base shifted out of it’s place in the case (see picture)… it must of bounced around and hit the mic and dented it a little bit, but doesn’t affect the performance of the mic. It’s a solid, pro-quality microphone and very easy to hookup via the usb connection to your PC. I’m not fond of the recording software it comes with… there are better ones out there.

5 Stars Awesome studio quality mic!
I was looking for a good quality mic to do voice over work and play around with guitar recording just for the fun of it and wow did I make a perfect choice. I can’t tell you how high the quality of an acoustic guitar is over this mic! The overall quality of this product is ridiculous! Plug and go.

Now if I could just figure out how to get that bassy/warm radio announcer effect…

Buy/More Info

For the first time ever, musicians who record music on computers have a simple, affordable way to capture high-quality vocal and acoustic instrument performances. Seamless integration was the idea, and it was obtained by creating a studio condenser microphone that can be plugged into any computer with no in/out boxes, no expensive computer pre-amps, just a USB cable. It features a 19mm internal shock mounted diaphragm with a cardioid pick up pattern ensuring pristine studio quality recordings. The C01U works perfectly on any computer, Mac or PC, and with any DAW software program. It immediately solves a huge problem for users of many laptops, many of which have no other input method for audio devices. It’s a must for any musician on the road or in the project studio, but the C01U is going to offer solutions to more than just musicians. The mic opens up possibilities for anyone who records audio?from Podcasters, journalists, students, and business people adding audio files to websites and multimedia presentations. Smooth, Flat Frequency Response USB connection cable included Perfect microphone for Podcasters as well as Musicians 16-bit sample resolution Supports 8 kHz, kHz, 22.05 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and 48 kHz sampling rates USB low-power device – draws 26 mA =>130 mW. In suspend mode 0.3 mA =>1.5 mW. Frequency response – 40 Hz to 18 kHz

Buy/More Info

The Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Microphone offers studio-quality articulation and intelligibility.The AT2020 USB plugs right into your computers USB port, and functions seamlessly with your favorite recording software. Equipped with a USB digital output, the AT2020 USB is perfect for home studio recording, field recording, podcasting, and voiceover use.Based on the renowned AT2020The AT2020 USB is based on the design of Audio-Technicas critically acclaimed AT2020 cardioid condenser microphone. Like the AT2020, it features a low-mass diaphragm, custom-engineered for extended frequency response and superior transient response.With low self-noise, the AT2020 USB is perfectly suited for sophisticated digital recording equipment. Audio-Technicas state-of-the-art design and manufacturing techniques ensure that the microphone complies with the companys renowned consistency and reliability standards.Experience AT2020 USB. Plug it in and transform your sound.Audio-Technica AT2020 USB FeaturesSide-address studio condenser with USB digital output (Windows and Mac compatible)Crystal-clear, natural sound for podcasting, home studio recording, field recording, and voiceover useCustom-engineered low-mass diaphragm provides extended frequency response and superior transient responseCardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and rear, improving isolation of desired sound sourceLow self-noise perfectly suited for sophisticated digital recording equipmentIncludes tripod desk stand, pivoting stand mount, USB cable & storage pouch

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Unbeatable Mic At An Unbeatable Price
This here is truly one of those hidden gem type products that you just don’t really get to appreciate unless you have one for yourself. This is a great investment for anyone looking to do ANY type of recording on the casual level, vocals in particular. But why buy, you might ask?

1) This mic is USB powered. This is pretty much the prime reason that this is the perfect mic for the casual/beginning level user. If you were to buy a regular condenseor mic, or even the regular version of the AT Condenser Mic, you would have to have additional equiptment to power it. For those who, like me, know very little about audio equipment, you would end up paying for far more then you originally expected to spend and most likely been all kinds of confused about how to use it. Being USB powered is truely a God-sent, because all you need to do to make it work is plug it in. Theres no program to load, no instructions to follow, and best of all no sweat to break. As soon as you plug it in, the computer acknowledges it just like any other UBS device and you go on with your buesiness. You dont even need to sit and “safely” eject the thing, just yank it out and your done. No damage done to you computer or your mic. Best of all, the UBS cord is pretty standard, so you can easily replace it if the one that comes with it gets damaged.

2) The price. A lot of professional level condenser mics are pretty expensive, like around three hundred dollars at the cheapest level. Granted, that’s a somewhat random number, but again, for the casual user, that’s not exactly wallet friendly. I got mine in a music store for one fifty. I wish I had looked online for one a little cheaper, but it was still a wise investment. Thus far I haven’t seen another mic this good for this cheap.

3) Durability. If you have any experience with audio equipment, mics in particular, you know that you need to be gentle with it when handling. I got my mic a good year and a half ago, and it’s traveled with me a lot, sometimes in less gentle conditions then I would like. Its been bumped, dropped, and even sat on, yet it still runs strong. The only fragile thing this thing has on it is the legs that prop it up.

4) Sound Quality. Ok I lied, THIS is the best reason to get this mic. I started out doing vocals with a regular stage mic and one thing I can honestly say is that the quality was absolutely terrible. It was grainy, smothered, and I had to almost whisper to make sure my levels didn’t peak while recording. The purpose of a condenser mic is to pretty much rectify all that. This one does it over and over again. My recordings come out crisp and professional sounding, and thus far, no one has been able to tell that I did all the recording my my basement with nothing but the mic, my laptop, and some quite time.

So if you looking for great quality for a affordable price, look no further then

Audio Technica AT2020USB. I have yet to find something I don’t like about this thing. I am a very satisfied customer, and I can almost guarantee you will be too if you decide to get one too.

Peace

5 Stars Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone Works Great
Works great! Easy to use. True plug and Play even with Windows 7. I have been using to record on Windows 7 using Audacity.

5 Stars Worth every dollar plus more!!!
I got my mic the other day and decided to lay some bars down. This was my first mic that i have bought and i must say that i beleive i picked the best one!! easy plug and play picks every up perfect. it is way more than i expected. all im wating for now is my pop filter and my stand. this microphone is worth the money people. do not think about it just get it. you will not regret it. i would reccomend this to anyone.

4 Stars Great mic, poor mic mount
I bought this microphone to make PowerPoint narrations and software demos with Camtasia. The performance of the mic is excellent I don’t have a lot of other mics to compare it to, but I did compare it to the Sure SM58 and the AT2020 had a much warmer, fuller sound. It also picked up a lot more room noise, so make sure you have a nice quiet place to record.

USB compatibility: PowerPoint 2007 does not recognize this microphone, but Camtasia does (and of course, Audacity). PowerPoint will record with it, but you can’t set your levels, so it’s a pain (I know none of you are going to record in PowerPoint, but I am frustrated with the spotty USB mic support in it and I just want to let people know). Did not have to install any drivers on my XP box.

The only flaw is the microphone mount that it comes with. You can’t tighten it enough, so the mic can rattle around in the mount. This is also true for the Samson SP01 Shockmount that I bought to use it with. So, you might need to get a spacer (another reviewer suggested a garden hose gasket).

4 Stars 2nd one works great
First Mic arrived d.o.a. in a well packaged, undamaged box. Amazon customer service was simply awsome. UPS came to my house and picked up defective one the very next day, and the replacement arrived 2 days later. The at2020 looks and works great and amazon is great too Looking for a high quality mic that looks great on your desk? This is a good choice.

Buy/More Info