Cubical Productions

Right on all points. Usually B&H has accurate info, but I'll definitely look at the official pages for future reviews. Most kids starting out are really young these days.

Looking off of the B&H page for the yeti. It says Windows only, but I will go ahead and update the information. Thank you! Also, I totally agree with you about going for the yeti. Once again, however, I started off pretty much dirt cheap, and the yeti (from my experience) is beyond what most people starting out on YouTube can afford, and I've talked to my fair share of them. Thanks for the feedback!

Hello everyone! CubePro (aka Seth) here, and today I’m reviewing the Samson C01U Microphone! I’ve started moving towards tech reviews and such because of my background in computers and video technology, and this is my first review! Have a look! VIDEO REVIEW TEXT REVIEW Preface One of the things I would like to point out about this review is that I have used the C01U for going on three years now, and you can still find it in stores; B&H lists it as the C01UCW, but the model is identical in every way. I have used the C01U in literally hundreds of videos, so there are plenty of samples, even if a few are subpar due to Windows hijacking the gain controls (thanks Microsoft). Price A cheap condenser microphone of decent quality is essential to any recording artist or Youtuber who is just starting out on their adventures. Condenser microphones are designed to capture rich, detailed sound, making them excellent for voiceovers and instrumental recordings. The words “cheap” and “quality,” however, do not exactly belong in the same sentence, and that is part of what makes the Samson C01U such a great microphone for me. The base package is $50 USD, and you get the microphone, carrying bag, mount, stand, and USB cable; in other words, everything you need to get started. You can also purchase an extended package priced anywhere from $100-$150 USD, and that will give you a pop filter, a larger (but still compact) desktop stand, and a shock mount. The more expensive variants may include a padded carrying case and software. Quality Quality is something rather rare among cheaper microphones (granted, most cheap microphones aren’t built for quality sound capture). The Samson C01U stands out with a full-metal casing and a certain weight that feels incredibly solid when you lift it. I was actually surprised by the heft of the microphone when I first got it. I expected the device to be a lot smaller than it was. There is nothing particularly special about the USB cable they give you other than to say that it works. The microphone is compatible with both Mac OS and Windows, making it an ideal choice for consumers and enthusiasts alike, from your basic laptop Skype-er to the professional video creator. The sound quality on this microphone is excellent. According to B&H Photo Video, the microphone has a frequency response range from 20Hz – 18kHz and uses a hyper-cardioid pickup pattern. I found the bass tones to be slightly lacking in my captures, but that is always fixable with a small boost in post-production, and in most cases it is barely noticeable. The C01U has excellent sound capture, comparable even to the Blue Yeti, which costs over double the C01U’s base price. I’ve used the microphone for three years, and the only audio issues I can detect are a result of the auto-gain adjustments that Windows (or certain capture programs) will make to the microphone, so it is best to disable those and find the setting that works for you. Any Issues? Because this is a $50 microphone, Samson gives you everything they can for $50. That means, of course, that you are a little left out compared to the Blue Yeti’s 1/8” monitoring port, gain adjustment, and selectable pickup patterns, none of which can be found on the C01U. However, those are the only minor gripes about this product, and honestly don’t count much against the device considering the affordable cost. Conclusion The Samson C01U is an excellent starting microphone for anyone looking to improve how they sound in voiceovers and Skype calls. I cannot tell you how many times clients, professionals, and co-workers have commented on the clean, crisp sound that this microphone captures when I talk with them online. It might lack in some of the extra features that more expensive microphones have, but the C01U makes up for it all with excellent sound and build quality. Mine still looks as new as the day I pulled it out of the box, and three years later I still do not feel like I need to replace it. If you need a great microphone under $100, this is definitely one of the best options out there. Thanks for reading (and watching), and until next time, I'll catch you later! - CubePro (Seth)

At this point, I have determined that after the startup sounds, all sound related programs and files crash, including the Windows Audio mixer or audio devices panel. I'm inclined to believe that because none of my other attempted OS fixes and other such repairs have worked, my onboard audio card may be dead. I'll be taking it into my local Microcenter to have it checked out. I'll also probably be getting a new mobo. Thankfully I bought the warranty, so this thing should be replaced for free.

If it comes to that, I will try it. I'd like to see, however, if there are any other possible solutions that people can think of. If I have to wipe my drives, I will have to spend a week reinstalling everything and moving data, and I'd like to avoid that if possible.

That's true, but I have pretty much already reset windows with the repair install. If it was an OS issue, it should have been fixed by that.

I have four primary media players on my computer, VLC Windows Media Player iTunes QuickTime None of them work. In fact, YouTube doesn't even work either. I doubt installing some other media player will fix the issue, as it has already been proven consistent across all of my installed players.

Nope. As soon as I enabled the Realtek audio driver to do it, the video from YouTube would not play. And it's one of my own videos.

Nope. As soon as I enabled the Realtek audio driver to do it, the video from YouTube would not play. And it's one of my own videos.

Hello everyone! Seth here from Cubical Productions (on my laptop). I have a perplexing problem for you guys. So, yesterday started completely normal. My computer shut off normally the night before, and I turned it on without a hitch after class to print out my script for the day's video. I finished filming, and came back to my computer to begin editing. Upon pulling up a video file, however, VLC played the first frame and froze. I could click commands, tell it to exit, do anything, but apart from closing the window, the process would remain, and I would have to shut it down manually. I attempted to play the file through Windows Media Player. Same story. Over the next hour, I tried different types of files from different locations on my computer, and I came up with the conclusion that my computer would not play any media files (music, video, etc.) whatsoever. I need to have this computer up, because it is the bulk of my computing ability that allows me to efficiently edit videos and post them. On a side note, I ended up uninstalling java, because as soon as I attempted to browse the internet (which Java should not be involved in anyways due to being disabled for security reasons), Java would launch a blistering number of small separate instances, taxing my memory (16GB) to the maximum and nearly crashing my computer before closing out. Part of me did not believe that the media file issue and this are connected, but I launched a full system scan with Norton 360 anyways, which turned up nothing. I read on some other online forums that the audio driver could be an issue, so I started working that end. By uninstalling/disabling all of my audio drivers, I could get the media files to play back, but without the drivers there will obviously be no sound, which is not an acceptable solution. Over the course of the afternoon and evening (over six hours), I ended up doing the following, in this order: Updating all drivers and installing all available windows updates. Rolling back my computer to earlier that day (the only system image available) uninstalling Java reinstalling the audio drivers (there are two: the nvidia one and the realtek one) uninstalling the audio drivers (both of them) performing a repair install of Windows 7 professional performing a second full system scan Through all of these, I was not able to get the videos to play back with the sound as I needed. Instead, the realtek audio driver would function during all of the startup noises, but as soon as I attempted to launch a media file or adjust volume, the driver would crash. Reinstalling did not fix the issue, and it seems that none of my audio drivers can be enabled when I attempt to open a media file. I even got the original manufacturer-recommended Realtek driver from the ASRock website (for my motherboard). Did not work. This all seems to have happened spontaneously and without warning. I'm possibly considering the fact that the audio card on my mobo is dead, but considering it plays the startup sounds just fine, I don't think that's an issue. It happens no matter what sound output I use. Speaking of computer parts, here are my relevant specs: Mobo: ASRock X99e-ITX/ac Processor: Intel Core i7-5930K RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB DDR4 (2x8GB) GPU: EVGA 980Ti SC+ SSD: Samsung Evo 250GB HDD: 2TB WD Black If you guys could help me out, I would love you all forever! I'm really concerned about this computer because it was the first one that I have invested all of my own money into, and it was supposed to last me well through college, but instead it's already doing this in the first year. Your time assisting me is greatly appreciated. Thank you! Sincerely, Seth Cubical Productions

Hi Antvenom, a little introduction here. I'm Seth from Cubical Productions. I've been following you for a long time (almost three years), and in fact you were one of my inspirations for starting my production work near full-time. It's great to actually be able to help you out and know that we both have similar interests on this part. So, I'm looking at your plan, and I like it a lot. I won't tell you what to do, because you're likely going off of a lot of what was done in the Whole Room Water Cooling series. The things I'd consider are this: Modular Construction: If you plan on making this a permanent setup, make sure you have a way to detach everything so that replacing components is a simplified process. If a particular part fails, you need to be able to replace it relatively quickly and efficiently without having to take the whole thing apart. You already have this partially figured out with your quick-disconnect tube fittings, but make sure the rest of it is likewise constructed. Quality: Even though Linus started doing some pretty shady stuff with his setup in the YouTube series, you can take your time and make sure everything works right. If you have to go out of your way to make some things work like he did, it might need more thinking-over to find a better solution that won't be a hassle. Time: In terms of construction time, I imagine you have plenty of it. Make sure to pace yourself and thoroughly plan the process. You've got a diagram, so I assume you've put a lot of thought into the entire thing already. Just have your entire procedure planned on a checklist. I'm sure you're much more knowledgeable than me on the particulars of the components. I'm only soon getting a Corsair H80i installed with my new rig, and it will be my first liquid-cooling experience. The only other thing I can say is get ready to get a little messy! I look forward to keeping up on the latest with your project.

Thank you guys so much for the support. This helps immensely. I'm meeting with my friend tomorrow to discuss build options. The help is really appreciated! I should mention that Intel is the processor brand of choice in this particular build. He'll be using Movie Studio Platinum 12, which I plan on giving him because I use Movie Studio Platinum 13, which is essentially the same software, but a newer version.

Fellow Tech Tippers, I'm working on a budget editing PC for my friend. The target cost is around $900. Here is the parts list. I will likely be going to Newegg or Micro Center for all of the parts. Are there any other ways I can reduce the cost? I'm considering giving him certain parts that I already have like my SSD (I need a larger one). My goal now is cost-reduction, but I don't want to cut too many corners. I decided on a Mini-ITX form factor so my friend doesn't have trouble moving it around during his college years. To clarify: My friend is a hobbyist at this point and doesn't do major editing. This is to start him out and he needs a rig to work with. As he grows from it he can either upgrade or build a new rig entirely. Ideas? I'm open for suggestions, and if there are any major compatability issues, let me know.

Actually, splitting between vendors has helped a lot, and that's why we've compared prices for each part at all three vendors, picking the cheapest.

This works just fine, though I'm not taking into account rebates and such just yet. And we aren't using PCPartsPicker to determine vendors. We are deciding vendors between Newegg, Microcenter, and Amazon for all products listed.