Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone, With Built-In Headphone Jack & Volume Control, Perfect for Content Creators

I like to sing. I'm a hobbyist that knows just enough about recording so that I sound really ignorant when talking to experts. However, I have had a few set ups over the years.My first set up ever was a live PA system that I cobbled together out of cheap equipment. That's really the crux of anything musical. You start with something cheap, and then as you use it, you begin to discover its limitations. However, it's best to not start with something expensive until you know exactly what you want, and that has been a big part of my journey.That first PA set up from over 25 years ago had an interesting attribute in that the microphones I had were really cheap on a website called Musicians Friend. I think I paid $20 each, and I bought four. Over the next five or six years, as I met with various other musicians and hobbyist studio jockeys, I kept hearing accolades over how awesome those old microphones were. They were Audio Technical mics, and they were the dynamic kind that needed an external boost to get to "the next level". The beauty with that kind of mic is that you have a ton of freedom to do what you want to do with it, but you need external gear to do it. I played with that live set up for a few years, but I was ultimately limited on what I wanted to spend, and information on what I could do to make it better was limited in the early days of broadband internet.A few years ago, I discovered a now defunct website where musicians could collaborate on music virtually. I think it was called BandHub, and it was really an awesome place to get together. The community was very supportive of musicians of all skill levels, and the couple of times I had a harsh critic on that site who had nothing constructive to offer, the rest of the site banded up and send that individual packing. Meanwhile, I learned a lot about recording and singing on a couple of compilations I did on that site, and I was completely honest with folks that my primary purpose there was to learn and have fun while doing it. I really do wish I could find one bloke I collaborated with on a Phil Collins song. He was so patient with me, offering me tons of tips on how I could improve my technique that I owe him a ton of thanks.But that all is a digression. Moving from a PA set up to a computer recorded sound required a bit of customizing. I wanted to get something that was as easy to set up as possible, and a condenser mic was the best option for that. My first foray was an entry level mic made by Samsung. It worked okay for a few years, but I eventually began to learn its limitations.Primarily, the issue I had with that mic was that it was too easy to overdrive. When I first bought it, it wasn't as much of an issue due to the fact that my singing technique wasn't very polished. As I've taken voice lessons and worked on my discipline, I'm finding that it's incredibly easy to overdrive the mic, and I was unable to find any kind of a setting where I could actually hear myself on the monitor without the overdrive happening.So I was off to get a new mic, and I'll tell you flat out that there are two brands when it comes to audio equipment, based on what I have tried, that rank head and shoulders above all else. Audio Technica is one of those brands, and this appears to be their "entry level" version of a condenser mic. I figured it had to be better than the Samsung one I was using, and I was right.I've been using this for about three days now, and I've been experimenting with different set ups to get the best sound. My favorite part of this mic, though, is the gain control to toggle the monitor between the microphone and the other input. This is great for monitoring, as it doesn't affect the sound output at all. I can make this mic overdrive, but I was able to find some settings where I can go all out and still return a decent sound.You can spend a lot of money on this type of equipment. I think I got a pretty darn good deal here for $150. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that in order to upgrade again, which I might have to do in a few more years, I'm looking at a dollar value with a comma in it. I'll cross that bride when I get to it. For now, I'm trying to figure out which is better. Singing directly into the mic with an external pop filter, or singing just above or below the mic without a pop filter.

The AT2020USB+ is an excellent choice for pod-casting, making home and professional level voice-over recordings. Included in the box is an instructional leaflet, warranty card, a very short lightweight tripod mic stand, a 9 foot long USB connector cable and a soft carry pouch. The AT 2020USB+ records directly onto a computer through a recording software (not included), like Audacity and others. I have the (free) Audacity for mac and the (paid for) NCH Wavepad, and find Wavepad simple to use and easy to record and process the audio.The mic has a function for directly mixing the mic input with a pre-recorded audio from the computer it is plugged into, by means of an adjustable control on the mic. There is also a headphone jack to monitor the mic signal in real time with a volume control on the mic.When plugged in to a computer's USB port, the AT2020USB+ lights up with a bright blue led showing that it is on, as well as giving the 'front and center' mark for recording. Speaking into the mic from the front or a sideways angle of about 45 degrees on each side (90 degrees total) gives a very good quality of recording volume. Going beyond that angle towards the rear of the mic captures less and less sound. From a rough and ready test-- at a constant volume level of speech, the recorded volume comes to a fairly uniform maximum of -12 dB directly to the front of the mic and within a 45 degree range from the front. Going towards the back the max recorded volume drops to -18 dB or less.Thus the cardioid pickup eliminates a lot of ambient sounds from the side and back, but not all of it. The quality of the recording is bright and realistic. When recording in a home environment like bedroom/living room environment, the mic tend to give a slight echo effect even though there are soft furnishings and furniture. While this is not unpleasant, for professional quality recordings a regular or portable sound booth will be needed. A temporary one can be quickly rigged as described below.***Useful tips**** Quick tip for acoustic isolation -- Enclosing the mic in 12" sound absorbing Acoustic foam panels around the mic fixes this. These can be the Auralex Studiofoam Pyramid 2 Inches Thick and 2 Feet by 2 Feet Acoustic Absorption Panels, Charcoal (12 Panels) or similar, but in 12" square panels. The mic on the stand, aligned vertically upright is around 9.5 inches tall and easily can be accommodated in a 12" enclosure. I use 5 free-standing panels to create a 5 sided cuboid form (including a base) leaving the front side open. I prop the foam panels up against each other like a house of cards and dismantle them when not needed. The pyramid wedges of each panel loosely grip the edges/pyramids of other panels, somewhat untidy looking but very serviceable. [As I am in India I needed a local equivalent and found an excellent substitute for the Auraflex pyramid foam through an internet search. The cost was around $3.00 per 12" x 12" panel--6 panels total=$18.00 + phone calls to manufacturer and local conveyance to pick up the material=$4.00. (Total cost=$22.00)]* Pop Minimization & Filter -- For minimizing pops in the recording, record from a slight sideways angle rather than the front and center line of the microphone. While the AT 2020USB+'s grill design around the cardioid capsule reduces clicks and pops in closeup speech, a pop filter shield in front of the mic helps to remove the clicks and pops further. I made my pop filter with a 6 inch embroidery hoop with nylon hose stretched through it and it works well. Attached to a flexible goose-neck on a lamp base this adjustable pop filter is highly portable and can be easily packed for travel, like the AT2020USB+.* Mic stand problems -- The stand is adequate if one adjusts the angle of the mic so that it has a stable center of gravity--about 30 degrees from the horizontal plane over the center of the mic stand makes it quite stable. However, then one will access the mic from a semi-sideways position rather than directly at the front. (Addressing the mic at a slight sideways angle will usually give a better recording.) If the mic has to be upright, then stabilizing the mic stand further is needed, or it will tend to topple over if nudged.* Additional Mic stand stabilization tip -- Align the vertically positioned mic, as shown on the box, but with a slight tilt towards the center of the stand--and--over one of the the tripod legs. That will give it the maximum stability possible given the limitations of the stand. If one aligns the vertical mic as shown on the packing box--that is, in between two of the tripod legs, it will surely tip over at the slightest touch.* Vibrational isolation -- As there is no vibrational isolation from the surface the mic stand rests on, any vibration from the surface will transfer to the recording. Setting the mic on an acoustic absorption panel like Aurafoam will help a little. A separate shock-mount can be got if needed, but if one is careful, and sets the mic on a surface not likely to be handled or touched during recording, the shock-mount is probably unnecessary for most uses. If the mic and monitor function levels, or headphone volume level on the mic are to be accessed during a recording session, the handling noise of this will come through on the mic regardless of having or not having a shock mount. Doing test recordings to set volume and mix levels before the actual recordings will help create better quality recordings. Some trial and error adjustments are to be expected.I was earlier using a ZoomH4N for closeup recordings. As it picks up a lot of ambient noise, for podcasts or closeup voice audio that did not give the results I was looking for. The Zoom is excellent for general recordings in a lecture or concert as it has an adjustable audio capture spread of either 90 or 120 degrees, and is quite sensitive. The AT2020USB+ is great for closeup voice-overs or specialized recordings due to its cardioid pattern audio capture pattern and off-axis rejection of sound.All in all--I am very pleased with this product--a great buy, reliable seller.