Audio-Technica - AT2020

The At2020 is a cheap med diaphragm condenser with a pretty flat frequency response. Ive recorded plenty of vocals with it, used as a room mic, drum overhead, bass, etc. its not the greatest mic, no frills but useful and will get the job done.

at2020 is pretty decent

A USB mic is best. I've had trouble with Yeti and Windows. I use an AudioTechnica 2020 mic.

I use Presonus Studio Seven and love it. I hav a few microphones That I like. My favorite studio mic is the AT 20/20. But even the Presonus Mic that came with my first bundle has its positives. A ShUre SM 58 is great for vocals as well.

First microphones, treated room or not, you will not go wrong with an SM57. It's not sexy, but it is effective. If you are mostly thinking vocals, try an SM58. If you take the ball off the 58, it is a 57. I like the SM57 over the 58 for instruments because it's smaller. Easier to get on a snare. You just have to be a little more careful about plosives when tracking vocals with the 57. If you want an inexpensive condenser mic, the two I like are the AT2020 and the AKG perception. A quick and dirty test for condenser mics is to A, tap the case and listen for ringing. If the case rings it's will start to work it's way in on loud sources. B, is to jingle your keys in front of the mic. This actually produces a lot of ultra sonic hash. You will be able to tell a lot about how harsh the mic is if you use it on things like cymbals. I hope this helps.

Honestly, if you have a small carpeted room, or can a find a good space I think that matters more. I used a blue snowball my first 40 or so auditions and got roles. Now I have an AT2020 with a cage and interface and my music producing friend said it didnt sound that different. I dont think it does either. Oh and don't talk directly in the mic, just try to avoid popping it maybe put a sock on it or something

i got my first million streams (producing/mixing) with a presonus audiobox and a audio technica at-2020 mic. all together abt $250 but i was able to hone my skills using these

Switching from a Blue Snowball USB mic to an AT2020 and Scarlett 4i4 made a huge difference In my recordings. I have a little more control over the input so I have less to adjust in post.

Hey all, need some advice. I cut my demo on my Blue yeti USB mic. I know everyone says you shouldn't use USB mics, so i went out and bought an Audio Technica AT2020 XLR microphone and a Focusrite Solo audio interface to see the difference? Tested it out, and... the audio clips sound exactly the same to me...? Seriously, I dont hear a difference at all. I even hear a background hum in the XLR mic. (I soundproofed my studio the exact same way the last time.) Am I doing something wrong? Edit: Hey so in hindsight, maybe I should've been more clear. I never asked whether the Blue Yeti was better than the XLR. I KNOW an XLR mic is better, which is why I bought one. I was just confused because I got the right kind of equipment but wasn't seeing a difference. Thank you u/[Spriinkletoe](https://www.reddit.com/user/Spriinkletoe/) for the clarity!

Checked a test on youtube where it's AT2020 and AT2040 and can confirm they both pick up the room noise despite AT2040 being a dynamic mic

I checked a test on youtube and neither AT2020 (condenser) nor AT2040 (dynamic) reject unwanted sound. So can confirm

I did search about them in Google, but I felt they did not help with no reviews and whatsoever. Google wasn't best idea for me to look for something I wanted to buy or not. I used to have Audio-Techina AT2020 XLR with Behringer U-Phonia UM2. I felt uncomfortable with that and I tried to tweak it for a bit on my OBS microphone's audio with no mixer. However, I was frustrated to fix it and I gave up easier. As a deaf/blind streamer also known as me, if my under 10 viewers said they could hear background noises while I was streaming any games I played. There was no way for me to fix it, anyways. Yes, I sold Audio-Techina AT2020 XLR with Behringer U-Phonia UM2 last few days. I searched for new microphone. My wall is very thin. I do not think it can effect against either of these USB or XLR microphones. It might be effect my OBS microphone's audio with no mixer or maybe, my NVIDIA graphic card

not a huge fan of the at2020 or 2035 for much. Theyre a bit harsh, and id take an sm57 or 58 any day over em

YES - AT2020. The Best semi-condenser on the planet for any audio recording 👍

i used a $50 fifine usb mic pretty much since i started posting videos. I bought a scarlet solo a few years back and just barely at the end of 2024 got the at2020 for $99

AT2020. It's very affordable and just buy a mic pop and honestly the sound quality is great. When I do vocals it sounds clear and I'm recording in my room with just those 2 things. I have 0 regrets and it's a lifetime mic. Professionals use boy as well

Well a videogame mic isn't good for singing, and good singing mic home studio setup will be doable for gaming. So the PC+at2020 XLR mic +audio interface is a good combo

I'm a voice actor so I can explain a bit even though I'm not an audio engineer or anything like that. The main difference between XLR and USB is how the microphone can connect to the computer. USB can connect directly into a computer, as I'm sure you know what a USB wire is. XLR microphones use an XLR cord. They are much bigger and round where they connect. An XLR microphone can't be connected directly into a computer and so you need an audio interface to connect it to. The audio interface then connects to your computer. Many XLR microphones (but not all) need what is called "phantom power" to operate and an interface can provide this too. That's the explanation of what XLR is since you said you didn't know. That being said, if you are singing for hobby I do not think you need to buy an XLR mic and an interface. You can if you want to, and there are some cheaper setups that sound decent, (like the AT2020 microphone + Scarlett Solo interface that a lot of voice actors start with) but it's a bigger investment than USB if you're just doing it for fun. Also, while some microphones might handle different things better than others, the issue of it not being able to handle loud vocals is going to be the same on everything. There won't be a microphone you can just buy to sound good. There's a lot of layers that go into that. And that's not talking about your actual singing, it's just in recording technique and mixing the audio afterwards. Generally the best microphones for recording the voice are large diaphragm condenser microphones. You don't have to understand what that all means right now, but if you're interested in learning about different kinds of microphones then look it up! It's super interesting. But the reason we prefer large diaphragm condenser mics is because of how sensitive they are. They capture the intricacies of the human voice very well. However there's a drawback to these. A lot of people buy these nice expensive detailed mics early and find they sound horrible. Because the mic is so sensitive it picks up on the sound of the room they're recording in. People get those microphone shield things but those don't really do a much to eliminate the sound. And even if your room sounds very quiet it might still be picking up on echoes when you speak. Go into a room and give a strong clap of your hands and listen to how it rings. Then go into a filled up closet or under a thick blanket and do the same thing. You should hear a major difference. Wherever you record, do the clap test and compare. The more high pitch or echoing or ringing you hear, the more your voice will do the same thing when you record. Try to cover hard surfaces with thick blankets or layers of clothes. The thicker the better. This will keep your voice from echoing so much and improve recording. As for recording loud sounds, you need to turn down the gain of your microphone. Gain is essentially how loud you set the microphone to record at. (AKA, don't turn down the volume of your recording after you record. You need the microphones input to be lower while you're recording.) In Audacity you never want it to hit 0 db since that's peaking and distorting the audio. Before I start recording, I position myself where I'll be singing and go through the loudest parts. I then adjust my gain until I'm recording around -12 db. (It's been a while since I used Audacity but I assume it lets you look at how loud your mic is before you start recording? Most digital audio workstations let you do this.) It will likely sound to quiet. That's where editing comes into play which admittedly is my weak spot since I don't do as much editing for myself. When I need to I look up videos and guides for mixing and/or mastering. But that's a craft that people dedicate themselves to for years and it's not something I can just give a simple answer for. The audio engineering subreddit may be helpful for basic answers about questions related to that. Really long response but I hope that helps with some of the ideas at least!

audio-technica at2020 is pretty decent for the $100 price tag.

It's mostly a recording issue then a mic issue... you're using way too much gain, should be recording at -6db or -12db I love AT2020s for vocals, but it's only a studio mic, not really something you can hold, if you want more versatility an SM58 is gonna do the job

I've got an Audio Technica AT-2020 that I still use today, just felt no need to change it. It was under £100 if I recall, can't remember the exact amount though. I also own a Shure SM57 for live stuff, I play midwest emo influenced music with tapping on the guitar while singing, and find the lack of grille allows me to see more of my fretboard when I'm performing these sections. It's basically an SM58 but without a grille. But you can buy an external pop shield for recording situations, and also use the mic for instruments so it's more versatile.

I second the audio technica at2020, great microphone

Streaming games is what I need. I used to have XLR microphone Audio-Technia AT2020 with Behringer U-Phonia UM2, but I felt uncomfortable with this XLR microphone because viewers said that they could hear background noises. I tried to tweak it on my OBS, but I basically gave up. Of course, I sold XLR microphone.

I use a focusrite scarlet with an at2020 and it's fine. Like the above comment said, anything that doesn't specifically require additional software should work.

I had a lot of problems with my USB AT2020 + found the XLR version to have a tinny, hollow sound. Get a dynamic mic for the same price and learn to mix!

It will depend on your voice type and any room treatment you may or may not have. The AT2020 is popular but in my room for my voice it makes everything a thin mess and highlights lots of the weird parts of my voice. I found the SM58 sounded better for me personally, I've eventually settled on the SM7B but that's probably out of your price range.

Technically, it's the worst mic I own, too - but I only own 3 mics haha. But I've found that for my vocals, my SM58 sounds 100x better. Even my ribbon mic sounds better for vocals than the AT2020. Now, I'm not saying I don't like the AT2020, because I do. But for vocals in particular, it's my least favorite mic. Actually, it's my least favorite for recording guitars, now, too. But yeah, I totally agree about a SM58 being better. It certainly is for my voice, anyway.

Just to add, apparently the USB version of the AT2020 is **not** the same mic unfortunately (in case someone without an interface is considering it). Also, just in case OP doesn't uncover this is their research, the sm 57 and 58 are the same mic capsule just with different grills (OP, if you're only going to record vocals then getting the 58 makes sense, but if you're ever going to record instruments too I'd recommend a 57 and then add a foam windscreen for vocals). These are two solid suggestions (the 58 and the at2020)

Yeah, it's amazing, I love mine

It's awesome as long as you think of it as what it is - a medium capsule condenser. It's bright, it's sensitive, it's really good on acoustic guitars and piano. Still probably hard to beat in the price range.

AT2020 is a fantastic and really affordable condenser mic. I've been using it for close to 10 years now

agree with this, altho i did upgrade to the 4040, the 2020 is going to get you great vocals for a long time. if youre rapping specifically and not singing at all, you *might* consider a dynamic mic, but i would do more research. i have never used a dynamic mic (even tho i have the sm57) and its never really a great idea to switch mics in the middle of recording a song (you can get phasing issues)

EV 635a. They're like magic mics! Either you love them or never heard of them. AT2020, but with the mod kit from mic-parts.com - turned it from "my first condenser mic" into the first mic I grab most of the time now! Definitely gonna make some more at some point.

Right now? If you can stretch to $150 - $200, you can go with an AT2020 as an XLR mic for $99 new on Amazon ($60 used shipped at Guitar Center) & Focusrite Vocaster One for around $40. A lot of stuff is on sale. From there get a cheapish boom arm ($30-$40), Pop Filter ($10), Amazon Basics Cables ($10). From what I've read a lot of people view the AT2020 mic as good enough that you won't feel the need to upgrade from it until you've grown to the point where $500 microphones look cheap. At the $100 range, you're looking at USB mics like the Blue Yeti. If the AT2020 is good enough for a 13 year old Billie Eilish to record Ocean Eyes (#84 on top 100 in 2018) in an untreated bedroom, it's good enough for youtube. (You should do some treatment though. There's cheap materials if you're on a strict budget. LTT did a Scrapyard Wars recently where they literally cut up some $35 sound proofing foam from Home Depot, spray painted them & screwed them into the wall & ceiling)

Focusrite Scarlett interface and a AT2020 or Rode NT1. Used. Actually I saw a deal for the interface and AT2020 packaged together for not very much recently and they were new. Sm58 is good too but generally that's used as a live mic. But obviously the other commenter has had success with it. But if I were going to get a dynamic mic I'd be getting a RE20 but I think that's more than $150 or close to it and you're going to need the audio interface. I'd also encourage you to use Reaper instead of audacity. It's still a very lightweight program on your computer and it's free to use (but it's heavily suggested to buy it if you end up liking it a lot) and it's way more powerful, has more features, plugins, virtual instruments etc. The reverb it comes with is fantastic! Edit: it'd be better to save just a little more money if you can and make sure to get an audio interface and a decent condenser mic imo. It's an investment in your music. You'll just end up paying for it later if you skimp now.

Any good condenser mic works for vocals. Dunno about the AT4033SE, but the AT2020 is unbelievably good for its price and it's the best I've seen under $500 - except maybe for some Lewitt ones No-go mics in this price range: any Rode, AKG P120, AKG P420, or AKG C3000

Depends on background noises that I really hate for. Viewers said that they could hear it through, and I was trying to tweak my old XLR microphone, and I basically gave up on that. So I sold XLR microphone last few days ago.

Aston origin if you can stretch your dollar find one used but yes sm57 is great and I used at2020 for years.

AT2020, best budget friendly mic

Audio engineer here. You are not alone in your distaste for the SM7B. I've used the SM7B on podcasts, including my own, and while it does need a lot of work (gain and EQ), in the end it always delivers what I want. In fact Finneas also hates the SM7B, so you are in good company :) Despite the fact I've used it for many podcasts, I don't always recommend it depending on the podcast host. Most of the time it's up to the client though. What I don't think has been mentioned in the comments, although I might have missed it, is the fact the SM7B is a dynamic microphone, whereas the Scarlett CM25 MkIII is a cardioid condenser. I think that's why you prefer the more colorful sound with it, which I'm also a fan of. Another condenser mic you may or may not have considered is the Audio-Technica AT2020. I'm not sure if you are in the US or not but on Amazon it's $99. Honestly, it blows me away and I'm a huge fan of it, especially for singing and vocal work.

I would the 58 because you can use it live without problems. The at works well live but you will have a harder time with pick up noise, feedback and general room cancelling

Also using the XLR AT2020, it's my current main mic for everything. Works fantastic

Even the AT2020 ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1)) still holds its weight if you are looking for a more budget friendly option. I'd pair it with a cheap mixer if you can within your budget. For me I use scarlet solo ([link](https://a.co/d/bfw9oKG)) which are really simple and supply phantom power which you'll need when using a condenser microphone.

I bought an SM58 which is basically the answer to your question. It's great, there's a reason it's legendary, and I've been very happy with it. I also bought an AT2020 condenser which is good for acoustic guitars and softer vocals - lots of background noise will be picked up, though, so you need a half-decent room.