The Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ condenser microphone is a remarkable choice for those seeking an exceptional recording experience. With a focus on simplicity and quality, this microphone is tailored for singers, podcasters, and creators looking to elevate their audio game without a steep learning curve.
At the core of its features is the condenser microphone itself, renowned for its studio-grade performance. The AT2020USB+ connects to your device effortlessly via USB, eliminating the need for complex setups or additional audio interfaces. It’s a true plug-and-play solution that streamlines the recording process.
One of its standout features is the cardioid polar pattern, ensuring that your recordings capture the intended sound source while effectively reducing background noise. This makes it ideal for vocals, single instrument recordings, and podcasting. The cardioid pattern is especially useful when you need to isolate your voice from ambient sounds.
To add convenience to your recording experience, the AT2020USB+ comes equipped with a built-in headphone jack. Real-time monitoring allows you to hear your recordings as they happen, enabling you to make necessary adjustments on the fly. This feature is especially valuable when recording vocals or podcasts, as it helps you achieve the best results with minimal hassle.
The microphone itself is built to last, with excellent shock mounting and a reliable pivoting stand mount. This durability ensures that your investment in the AT2020USB+ will serve you well for years to come. It’s a testament to Audio-Technica’s commitment to delivering quality audio equipment.
In the realm of pros, the AT2020USB+ boasts exceptional sound quality. The microphone captures audio with remarkable clarity and warmth, making it a fantastic choice for vocals and podcasting. Its budget-friendly price tag further adds to its appeal, offering impressive value for its cost. Moreover, the microphone’s ease of use and real-time monitoring capabilities are noteworthy advantages for both beginners and experienced users.
As for the cons, the microphone’s cardioid pattern, while excellent for isolating sound sources, may not be the most versatile choice for users looking to record multiple voices or instruments simultaneously. Additionally, it’s important to note that the AT2020USB+ exclusively offers USB connectivity, which may not suit advanced setups requiring XLR connections.
In conclusion, the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ condenser microphone is a reliable and cost-effective option for those who prioritize sound quality and user-friendly features. If you’re a singer, podcaster, or content creator in search of a microphone that offers exceptional performance without the complexities of high-end equipment, the AT2020USB+ is an excellent choice that won’t disappoint.
michael –
This is a great upgrade form the on-board mic on my Macbook Air. When using the on-board mic I would have to bump the input all the way up to be able to hear the lecture afterward. When using the U9 I can actually lower the input to a setting below the default position. The U9 provides much better sound quality. It also isolates the audio from the sound of typing that I would get from the on-board mic.
There are only two downsides for me. I use the U9 with a Macbook Air and the thickness of the microphone won’t allow the Air to sit level without putting stress on the USB port. My solution was to purchase a retractable male-to-female USB extension. This is not a problem with the U9, rather it is a problem with the Air being too thin. The only aspect of the U9 that I don’t like is the illuminated ring below the microphone. But I’ll simply cover it with electrical tape or hobby paint.
Dulce –
I bought this mic after several others usb mics displayed ultra low audio when plugged into my computer. This one is loud and clear. In fact I had to go into my mic settings and turn it down! I have it plugged into a usb port about 2ft from my mouth and it picks up clearly and without a lot of background noise. The mic can be turned any direction and seems to be solidly built. The only bad thing I can say about it is that I wish it had come with a foam wind screen.
j2c –
I bought this mic for a project that really doesn’t require high-end equipment. I basically just wanted something I could stick on my Raspberry Pi for sound detection for use in scripts. If sound above a certain threshold is detected, then do something… that kind of thing…
I really didn’t care what it sounded like, so long as the pick-up pattern was, in fact, omni-directional.
Well, turns out it’s actually a quite directional cardioid. Nothing omni-directional about it. Quite peaky as well.
It might sound slightly better than the microphone in your budget laptop or tablet, though not by much. I honestly think the mics in my 2014 MacBook Air are better, though awkwardly placed on the left-hand side, facing away from generally anything you’d want to record. Plus, like almost any laptop microphones, they pick up typing quite nicely. If you need a quick solution, the U9 will be a step above that to some extent.
I, personally, would have included a windscreen in the package. It needs one badly.
Borris –
This was an interesting product shown to me by one of our Application Coordinator’s. I was hating wearing a headset mic set because sometimes I need people to hear what’s going on on the other side of the call. The mic picks up fairly well but I don’t like that I have to plug in speakers to hear the sound. That’s an issue. I have a monitor speaker plugged into my docking stations and had to get another monitor speaker to plug into this so I could the other end of the conversation. That means I have a lot of wires running around the docking station. If it wasn’t for the that issue, this would have been 4 stars.
j2c –
For my win10 PC connected to my flatscreen in my living room (lets call it a HTPC+), I love using Cortana with this microphone. My constraints were that it had to perform like the amazon echo (eg. omni-directional, work from a large distance, etc), but it needed to be much cheaper than the echo dot itself. At the time of writing, echo dot was ~$50 and this mic was ~$25
In my opinion, the mic works great. For example: I spoke “hey cortana …show me images of el conquistador in puerto rico” (which, by the way, is an awesome place) as well as other visually interactive phrases (“…start subnautica”, “…how do I fix a toilet”, etc) and it picked up every word of my very american voice from 15ft away from center. The mic is advertised as omni-directional, but it has a swivel head which makes it seem directional. Regardless, I stood 15ft away then 7 feet off from center (ie. 25 degree angle from the mic according to some trigonometry) and cortana was also able to interpret what I was saying without issue. The device also “looks” wide, but fit comfortably into my usb hub without interfering with my other plugs.
Some caveats: 1) this device has a 3.5 jack for headphones; if you use it only as a microphone, be sure to disable this device as a speaker in device manager. 2) be sure to use a powered USB hub. I received the error “USB controller resource exceeded” after I plugged in the mic, even with my powered USB hub. I have an xbox wireless receiver, a keyboard dongle, and a bluetooth dongle plugged in there already. After a bit of research, I realized I was plugged into a USB-3 port on the PC; indicated by a blue-colored USB port. I moved the USB hub over to a USB-2 port on the PC, indicated by a non-blue-colored USB port, and everything seemed to work ok eg. keyboard, xbox controller, mic. Admittedly, I never really stress all peripherals at once.
Next step for me is to try some cortana scripts. Happy New Year!
Cliente Amazon –
Perfect very good quality
Rex S –
Loud , too much sensitive , great for chating and all
I dont use it , tried to record some songs , didn’t work.
Jeffery –
This Microphone picks up sound in a room much better than the internal microphone in my Macbook Pro. What really disappoints me is that it is horribly sensitive to wind. Just sitting near a window with a light breeze, totally ruins a recording. When there is a breeze, I cannot hear anything of what I’m recording. So if you will use this in an area with little to no draft, it should work very well. The mic itself also has the ability to rotate around the usb so that its target receiving area can be either toward the computer user or away.
Amastro –
I used this microphone to record my lectures for one of the most boring classes I’ve ever taken. I used it to record stuff using the Notability app on Mac and I could hear my professor just fine. It was like I was sitting on the front row. The only problem was that when I used it on the OneNote app, the recordings had a high pitch sound on them which was annoying at times. I guess it depends on the app you are using.
Sue B. –
Un peu encombrant pour l’usage que je souhaitais en faire. Cependant, le son transmis est clair, même à distance (raisonnablement). Attention cependant, un éclairage sur la base du micro est présent et ne se voit pas sur les photos.
HILTON –
Works well vocal recording in a closed space. Anything else sounds mediocre.
Amazon Customer –
Handy little device that doesn’t take up much space and seems to pick up sound very well.