MIC

Q HYPERCARDIOID
NEODYMIUM
MICROPHONE
FEATURES:

• Lightweight Aluminum Humbucking Voice Coil

• High Output Neodymium Element
• Silicone “Anti-dent” Ring Protects Windscreen
• Mic Element Enclosed in Multi-axis Shock-mount.
• Gold-plated XLR connector
• Multi-stage Windscreen and Noise Filter
• Carrying Case and Mic-Clip Included

APPLICATIONS:

• High Performance Live Vocal Reproduction

• Instrument Miking
• Project Studio
• Public Address

SAMSON
Produced by On The Right Wavelength for Samson Technologies Corp.

Copyright 1996, Samson Technologies Corp.

Printed March, 1996

Samson Technologies Corp.

575 Underhill Blvd.
P.O. Box 9031
Syosset, NY 11791-9031
Phone: 1-800-3-SAMSON (1-800-372-6766)
Fax: 516-364-3888
 Introduction

Congratulations on purchasing the Samson Q MIC Hypercardioid

Neodymium Microphone! This radically new professional dynamic mic
is specially designed for use as a vocal mic in live performance.
Manufactured with extreme care and the highest quality components,
the Q MIC’s distinctive multi-stage windscreen and filter reduces pops,
sibilance and on-stage noise, and a midrange presence peak ensures
an exceptionally clear, articulate sound. The Q MIC also features a
unique humbucking voice coil to eliminate magnetic field interference
and a multi-axis shock-mounted mic element that greatly reduces
handling noise. The hypercardioid pattern utilized by the Q MIC ensures
maximum feedback rejection while delivering a strong, crisp signal from
the audio source directly in front of the mic capsule. The Q MIC is 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 Q MIC microphone, as well as instructions for using your Q MIC
(including wiring diagrams), a cross-section diagram, 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 Q MIC ever require servicing, a Return

Authorization number (RA) is necessary. Without this number, the
microphone will not be accepted. Please call Samson at (516) 364-2244
for a Return Authorization number prior to shipping your microphone.
Please retain the original packing material and, if possible, return the
Q MIC in its original carton and packing materials.

Table of Contents
Introduction 3

Q MIC Features 4

Using Your Q MIC 5

Q MIC Cross-Section Diagram 7

Specifications 8

3
Q MIC Features

The Samson Q MIC utilizes state-of-the-art microphone technology and

is engineered to the finest detail. Here are some of its main features:

• High energy rare earth Neodymium element delivers high output

and exceptional sound quality.

• Tight hypercardioid polar pattern minimizes feedback problems and

effectively rejects signals not originating directly in front of the mic
capsule.

• Full range frequency response with a midrange “presence” peak

at 2 kHz for optimum reproduction of vocals and 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 frequency response.

• Unique triple-plated multi-stage windscreen enables “up-close”

usage of the Q MIC and greatly reduces pops, sibilance and
onstage noise.

• Special shock-mounting allows 360° X-Y axis movement of the

mic element in order to greatly reduce handling noise.

• Neoprene transformer cover reduces microphonics.

• Rugged zinc-casting, silicon anti-dent ring and gold-plated

XLR connector ensures reliable performance in even the most
demanding environments.

• Lightweight and compact, the Q MIC can be mounted on any

standard microphone stand (using the included mic clip) or can
be easily handheld for long periods without inducing fatigue.

• Included foam-lined carrying case for convenience when

transporting the Q MIC from gig to gig.

4
 Using Your Q MIC

The Q MIC can be connected to any standard mixer, mixer/amplifier, or

mic preamp using a standard microphone cable. As shown in the wiring
diagrams below, connect the female XLR end directly to the Q MIC’s
gold-plated connector and the other end (normally a male XLR end,
although some mixers use 1/4" connectors) to the mixer, mixer/amplifier,
or mic preamp.
F M
1 2 2 1
XLR to XLR
3
cable 3

F Ring Ring (cold)

XLR to 1/4" TRS 1 2

cable (balanced) 3

Sleeve (ground) Tip (hot)

F Sleeve Tip
XLR to 1/4" TS 1 2

cable (unbalanced) 3

The Q MIC 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. 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. The Q MIC is specially designed to be used up close, since it
provides a windscreen with built-in sibilance filter (as shown in the
illustration below) 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 your Q MIC is to
a signal source, the greater the bass response.

Q MIC windscreen Q MIC sibilance filter

5
Using Your Q MIC

0°
330° 30°

300° 60°

270° 90°

240° 120°

210° 150°
180°
300Hz
1000Hz Scale is 5 decibels per division Q MIC Polar Pattern
3000Hz

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 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 Q MIC (as shown in the illustration above); this yields maximum
rejection of signal coming from any direction other than directly in front
of the mic. For this reason, the Q MIC excels in environments where
there is a good deal of unwanted ambient sound—it delivers 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 hypercardioid pattern utilized by the Q MIC is so good at
rejecting signal not coming from directly in front of the mic, you’ll find
that use of the Q MIC greatly minimizes feedback problems.
6
 Q MIC Cross-Section Diagram

;
;;;;;
1 2

3
;;;;;
;;;;;

;;
;@€ÀQ¢
5
;;;;;
;;;;;
4

;;;;;
6
1 Windscreen
7 2 Sibilance Filter
8 3 Capsule Membrane
4 Silicone Dent Ring
9 5 Humbucking Voice Coil
6 Pop Filter/Windscreen
7 Neodymium Magnet
10 8 Rubber Shock-mount
11 9 Resonant Acoustic Chamber
10 Piston Retainer
11 Zinc Casting
12 Transformer
13 Transformer Holder
14 Gold Plated XLR

12

13

14

Samson Technologies
DRAWN DATE 575 Underhill Blvd., Syosset, N. Y. 11791
JG 12-15-95
CHKD DATE
DETAIL - CROSS SECTION
DA 12-22-95 Q MIC
APPVD DATE DOCUMENT REV SHEET
DB 12-22-95 NUMBER 1 1 OF 1

7
Specifications

Type Dynamic

Polar Pattern Hyper-cardioid

Frequency Response 20 Hz - 18.5 kHz

Sensitivity -47 dBV @ 94 dB SPL

Max.SPL 137 dB

Impedance 150 ohm

Connector 3-pin gold-plated balanced XLR male

Dimensions
Head length 2.25 in. / 57 mm
Main unit length 4.5 in. / 114.2 mm
Total length 6.75 in. / 172 mm

Weight 8.7 oz. / 250 g

A • B Span range : ___

B 0
Ref. 0dB Level : ___dB Writing Speed : ____sec.
0.5 10
Paper Speed :____mm/sec. LINEAR
SAMSON 5 10 1.0

Measuring Obj.; 0 0 0.8

QMIC
-5 -10 0.6

-10 -20 0.4

-15 -30 0.2

Date: 1/2/96

-20 -40 0
dB 20 50 100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10000 20000 (Hz) V

FREQUENCY Hz S/N

Q MIC Frequency Chart