Review on 🎤 Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio XLR Microphone: Perfect for Project/Home Studios by Reid Rickerson

Pros* Great recording quality* Fine workmanship Cons* A bit cumbersome for use on a desk Recommendations:* Get a floor-mount boom mic stand for this.* Get a pop -Filter.* Please note that this is not a noise-cancelling microphone. It will record your neighbor's dog barking and people's conversations in multiple rooms. I find the benefits of a large condenser mic primarily in (1) superior quality, (2) sensitivity, and (3) graceful mic clipping. By that I mean it doesn't just go as far as the power supply rail and latch. When it approaches the power rail, it slows down, so to speak. This rounds out the signal and does not exhibit the harsh cold distortion typical of dynamic, electret or piezo microphones. Another way of saying this sounds bad is that at high SPL the response is non-linear. Fortunately, this is a desirable feature. This creates a "warmer" sound and allows you to record at a higher volume than would otherwise be possible. In other words, its characteristics are similar to those of a tube amp. This microphone offers high sound quality and has built-in headphone monitoring. Is the software easy to install? Quite reasonable. Most USB device software drivers require a few tries, and this is no different. You might have to close other programs, restart a few times and so on, but in the end you'll install it and you'll be fine. I'm not a musician, but I was an audiophile and can tell a good mic from a bad one. .