One of the biggest components of any voice technology system is the microphone. While many get by with the onboard microphone that comes with a computer or the like, there are plenty of other options on hand to make voice services more accessible. Our friends out at Samson sent a Go Mic Direct for us to review, and for those looking for a highly-portable, high-quality microphone alternative, this may be just the tool.

The Samson Go Mic Direct is a very unusual prospect, a small USB device that plugs into, as expected, the standard USB port. Once plugged in, the device drivers automatically install, and from there, it works like most any microphone does. The USB port connector is built into a slider control, allowing users to collapse the USB point back into the device itself when not in use, and extend it when planning to use it. It also comes in its own carrying case, complete with foam insert for added protection when on the road, and the Samson Sound Deck software for added recording capability, though it's not strictly necessary for its operation.

The trouble with microphones is that it's hard to tell the quality of the device in isolation. Determining sound quality is largely dependent on speakers, so to test this one out, I recorded sound files from the same PC, one using the Samson and one using the computer's built-in microphone, then listened to both on the same speakers. I noticed a rather marked difference in the recordings. Indeed, once I got the microphone up and running properly, I managed to record near-perfect audio from distances of 15 feet, around corners, and in completely different rooms. That's an impressive pickup, and when it provides fine sound quality on top of it, well, that's icing on an already very nice cake. Plus, the microphone itself is double-sided, so whether the device plugs in on the left side or the right side, it works equally well. The accompanying app is shockingly simple, and doesn't seem to do all that much more than the standard Windows sound recorder does. But work it does, even if it's a bit extraneous.

There's one real downside to the device that I found is the setup. As easy as it is to plug in, getting started takes a little more time. After you've plugged it in, you'll need to manually adjust the levels if you're not using the Samson Sound Deck software. At least, I did, and it drove me nuts the first time I tried using it. I kept wondering why in the world all the audio was recording so quietly, and then I discovered that the levels were at three out of a possible 100, making the sound virtually inaudible until I manually adjusted the levels. After that, it ran like a top. Given that it's currently selling for $39.99, it's not a bad alternative at all.

There's nothing particularly noteworthy about the Samson Go Mic Direct, but there's nothing really wrong with it either. With only one complaint against it, and a minor complaint at that, it's hard not to recommend it. There's plenty to like here, and nothing to hate. Though there's nothing to love, either, the Samson Go Mic Direct will offer quality sound recording, and not much else, for a comparatively small price.

Pros: Highly portable, good sound quality, handy package

Cons: Unclear operating in the early stages