Audio-TechnicaAT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone Black

This microphone is high quality, both in build and in audio quality. it is easy to setup with just needing to plug it in and following the included instructions to ensure that its volume is appropriate.The microphone comes included with a small tripod to mount it on to allow it to point towards the desired audio source (usually you). The microphone is a little heavy and the small tripod is prone to falling over if bumped but if you dont move it, it's perfectly adaquate.It can pick up voices with crystal clear quality making this a good mic for talking or recording. I bought this microphone to talk to people over the internet and to record my guitar, for this it is excellent. It can pick up the softest of plucks and the hardest of strums just fine making music recordings possible with it.along with its mount, it comes with a small carrying bag and a 2m cable making it easy to place anywhere you need.When plugged in it automatically installs its required drivers which include a virtual audio cable. This allows you to switch software to output its audio back into your microphone. This is very useful for things like soundboards where you want to blend sound effects with your voice. The microphone has a dial on the device to adjust the blend between the microphone's audio and its input from the virtual audio cable.The microphone also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack which allows you to hear your voice live without the delay usually caused from software's audio monitoring. The second dial controls the volume of this monitoring feature. Neither dial however controls its output volume to the computer.Overall, this is a wonderful microphone. It has everything a person might need in an audio input device. While it may seem expensive, in terms of audio equipment this is an affordable option without sacrificing quality.

This is a superior sounding microphone. I bought this for use on vocal and acoustic guitar. It is excellent for either, and for that matter with good positioning, both at the same time as a mono source. Unusually for a condenser of this design, it works well on close miking vocal with a pleasant proximity effect without excessive sibilance. It seems fairly resistant to plosives when used slightly off axis. A foam pop shield is available. (just make sure you get the right size – my mistake! at the very least it will keep the dust out). I already have two vintage large diaphragm mics from the 1990s and this is my opinion offers better sound quality than both. Having said that, it is at an entry level price, and considerably less expensive than either of the older ones were by far. It appears reasonably rugged and is well designed. It is of sufficient quality for professional studio use. I have an AT3525 (its ancestor) from the 1990s and an AKG C3000 (the original - Made in Austria version). Sonically, I believe the AT2020 is superior to both, however there are a few minor considerations. The polar field is fixed (there are more expensive models in the range that have multi polar patterns), there is no bass rolloff switch, there is no attenuation switch. So, if you're not jumping around in front of it, or banging away on a nearby drum kit, or setting your Marshall to 11 those things shouldn't be a problem. These are additional features available in more expensive models in the range, and if you don’t need them, not important. The sound is airy on vocal, and there is a nice balanced bass end without being too boomy.There has been criticism of this mic for having inherent noise, I didn’t find that an issue myself. (I use a Behringer UMC404HD interface on my PC)I don't like the mounting system, I found the supplied mount can be awkward to position at different angles, and it cannot be used with other makes of mic. It’s well made, but I’m not convinced about the design. It won’t be a problem for everybody, but I find it a little cumbersome. If the mic is on a stand and rarely exchanged with another, then it won’t be an issue. It is however a fairly minor nuisance the way I work. There are suspension mounts available of course at additional cost. As a bodge, I got about 2 inches of 1 inch (external) diameter plastic hose that nicely fits over the XLR connector and the bottom of the AT2020 allowing it to be used in more generic mic holders.All in all, an excellent purchase. No regrets.

Wow! What can I say, this mic sounds incredible. Very easy to use and the recording needs very little EQ. Super sound and very clear. Great on guitar and vocals, I'm sure other sound sources as well but that's all I've tried. Very well made, it's actually fairly heavy so keep that in mind if using a cheaper mic stand. The sound recorded with this At2020 is studio grade, you can easily make a very professional sounding song.