You might not do a lot of audio recording, but there are plenty of times when you need top quality audio for computer programs, whether it’s a Skype chat, a phone call or trash-talking your opponents on a video game. Which is why the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ is such a simple and splendid solution…
Not only are there lots of microphones you can purchase for your computer nowadays, just about every computer also now comes with a built-in microphone too. Heck, on a lot of computers, you can use the same earbuds or headset that works with your Android or iOS smartphone, plug them into your laptop computer, and use that for both its playback and microphone capabilities.
The problem is, most of them give you mediocre results. If you’re chatting with your spouse while on a road trip, it might be just fine, but if you have higher standards, are recording an interview or are preparing audio notes for sale or distribution to clients and customers, that’s not good enough. Which moves you into the complex and confusing world of external microphones. And there are a lot of options, ranging from tiny $10 stand mics that go next to your screen to super expensive pro setups that involve you rebuilding the room you’re recording in too.
To find out what the pros use, I asked my friend David Lawrence, an actor, voiceover artist and audiobook performer. He even teaches classes on how to get into voiceover, if you’re curious: Vo2G0G0. Without hesitation, David said “AT2020USB” as his microphone of choice. A great endorsement, without even plugging it in.
But what about the microphone? Before I say anything about its specs, you should listen to a sample, because microphones are all about the sound, of course. In the following clip, I start with the built-in MacBook Pro mic, then switch to the AT2020USB+ so you can hear the difference. I suggest you turn the volume up to make that difference even more clear:
Quite impressive, isn’t it. And that wasn’t recorded in any special sort of setting with sound-deadening walls. But the richness and timbre of my voice really comes out in a way that the little built-in microphone just can’t reproduce.
To be fair, there’s a wee bit of a size difference. The 2020, more formally known as the AT2020USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone, is about the size of a small energy drink can, it’s a substantial device:
Look closely and you’ll also see that it has a variety of controls on the side, including a headphone jack (on the side you can’t see in the photo) and headphone output level, making it simple to have a “studio monitor” where you can hear your own voice as you talk without any external distractions and without having to worry about echo or delays in the subsequent recording. You see this in studio sessions where musicians and singers have headphones on: they’re listening to their own mic or, sometimes, the mixed sounds of everyone jamming.
The other control is a Mic/Com Monitor which lets you adjust the volume of the mic to match pre-recorded audio from your computer, if you’re trying to sing over a karaoke track, for example, or add a voiceover to background music or other content without either being too faint or overpowering. To be honest, I haven’t tried that feature and am not sure how often people use it, but I’m sure it’s a useful addition for some users.
The real key to the microphone is that it’s really, really low noise. If you can create a zero-background-noise environment, the microphone will not add anything at all, so if you’re not talking, it’ll be completely silent on the recording. This is quite hard to accomplish, as is demonstrated if you listen to audio through high quality headphones and pay attention to that detail. A buzz, a hum, a whirr, there’s almost always something underneath the audio. Except with the AT2020USB+. If you can create that quiet an environment, that is!
I will admit that getting the mic, the stand and the wire to all connect up the first time was a bit of a “Chinese puzzle box”, as is suggested in this close-up:
Once you get it the first time, it’s not too bad, but the key is to notice that the bevelled part is away from the mic, and to plug it in after you get the stand all set up. Just trust me, you’ll find it a bit tricky the first time too.
Otherwise, this is just a sweetheart of a microphone and remarkably easy to work with. In fact, on the Mac OS X system, plugging it in is usually enough to have it selected as the audio input for any apps, Web pages or other programs that are listening. You can always go to the Sound control panel to check:
The Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ is a whopping $279 at full retail, but Amazon has it for $135 and if you hunt around, you might be able to find it for even less through other online outlets. It’s a honey of a microphone and while it’s not the smallest unit on the market, you’ll love the results and the audio quality, whether it’s for screen capture voice over, Google Hangouts, or chatting with your buddies while sharing a quick first person shooter.
Disclosure: Audio-Technica sent us the AT2020USB+ for the purposes of this review. The Amazon link is also an affiliate link: you pay exactly the same price, but you help us keep the lights on here at AskDaveTaylor. Thanks for that!
Make very, very sure that you purchase the AT-2020 USB **Plus** model.
Don’t think you’ve gotten a great deal because you found the $60 AT2020 (not a USB mic, a studio mic and impossible to use without a $100 or more adapter), or the $100 AT2020 USB (note there’s no Plus in the name, and that means it doesn’t have the absolutely essential headphone jack, volume and balance controls).
You also don’t need to get the AT-2020 USB Plus **I** model, as that simply adds cost for nothing more than a Lightning adapter to use the mic with your iOS devices.
And I strongly suggest that you simply throw away the flimsy, three-legged stand that comes with the mic. It’s useless. I use a $12 OnStage adjustable desk stand: http://vo2gogo.com/get-deskstand – it’s perfect. Use a quarter to remove the screwed-in adapter in the microphone’s bracket to mount it on the OnStage.
Hope this helps!
David