All > AT2020
AT2020
Retail Price
$169.00
Lowest Price
$79.99
Release Date
December 2004
The AT2020 is regarded as ideal as a starter microphone and has the ability to reproduce subtle changes in voice applications, gives valuable service, perfect for recording acoustic instruments, works well in new or developing studio, uses are wide-ranging, works from drums to acoustic guitars, could work as live vocal or instrument microphone.
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Overview
- Build
- Performance
- Ideality
- Value
- Overall Functionality
- Positive
- Negative
Build - AT2020 is a solid piece of gear and feels like premium as there are not any noticeable cut corners that may wrongfully signify its price.
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
Performance - AT2020 is known as a workhorse because of its performance, geared toward vocal recordings, one of the popular options for live streamers and voiceover artists on a budget. It has a variety of good features which makes it exceptional and steal for its price. It lacks a bit of oomph, body in the lows and low mids, and it isn't also a neutral-sounding mic, but it works well in vocals and is an incredible high-quality budgetary mic. There is also enough detail and shimmer that works on acoustics and electric guitar cabinet and produces great results.
Ideality - AT2020 is suitable for starters, musicians, podcasters, vocalists, guitarists, gamers, and advanced and amateur rappers. This is also perfect and necessary for home studios and is an excellent choice for YouTubers and consumers that are looking for an inexpensive and reliable mic. It may not be the best, but it is definitely worth the price as it is also popular for being one of the best and most affordable condenser mics with high versatility in the market. The downside is that they have to use the pop filter because the mic tends to be really sensitive.
Value - AT2020 represents a great value as it gives a good sound quality at a very affordable price and its accessories are not expensive. It requires a quality interface but does not necessarily need hardware or a mixer. The attributes of AT2020 are designed to work on stage, but it excels in the studio, making it one of the best microphones that users can buy at this price range. It also works well with vocals and other instruments.
Overall Functionality - Ideal as a starter microphone and has the ability to reproduce subtle changes in voice applications, gives valuable service, perfect for recording acoustic instruments, works well in new or developing studio, uses are wide-ranging, works from drums to acoustic guitars, could work as live vocal or instrument microphone.
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Sources
Tags
- Build
- Performance
- Ideality
- Value
- Overall Functionality
Sources
- Produce Like A Pro
- OldTimemusic
- BEST GUITARS NOW
- YouTube
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
See All Sources
Performance, Functionality & Specifications
- Cardioid Benefits
- Functionality
- Limitation
- Noise
- Performance
- Plosives
- Polar Pattern
- Mic Quality
- Self-noise
- Sensitivity
- Sound Rejection
- Specifications
- Sound Pressure Level
- Transient Response
- Value
- Volume
- Positive
- Negative
Cardioid Benefits - Cardioids are ideal for recording. It's the most prevalent polar pattern and most responsive to frontal sounds. Backward sounds aren't heard, though. The sensitivity can be heard from the sides, although it is considerably less clear. It's a great studio vocal mic. The AT2020 has a low-mass, side-address diaphragm. This prevents side-to-side noise. For a microphone to be good, it needs a decent frequency response. The AT 2020 is 20Hz-20kHz. This ensures wide-area signal pickup.
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Functionality - AT2020 is best used in the studio for recording vocals and some instruments, as well as being a room mic. The microphone's design and performance mean that it will excel in all of the mentioned functionality. It works the best when used in a studio but also on stage but only in a static position along with its stand mount. It isn't designed to be hand-held so it may not work well for lead singers who hand-holds the mic.
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Limitation - AT2020 lacks the audio switch, and filtering out sub-80Hz frequencies may be useful for live audio. A desk fan cannot be used due to low-frequency noise that the airflow may cause. The PAD may be useful for instruments
squirrelpotpie
Noise - This microphone will sound like there's a big, loud air conditioner in the room, not as a whisper, but more aggressively. This is a condenser microphone, so it's to be expected. It's best to record in a sound-treated room when using a condenser microphone.
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Performance - AT2020 is the cleanest and flattest sounding mic with no coloration of the sound, does well in adding sound reinforcement with a live acoustic guitarist, and is a good mic for a studio. The downside is that it is not so great in live, deafeningly loud, and rock and roll setting. The material used for the microphone’s acoustics was kind of acoustically dead which is great, but the mic does badly in terms of plosive rejection, and the self-noise of 20 dba is somewhat high. It works well with Steinburg ur12 interface. You should be able to experience zero background noise and fuzz with the combination of this mic and interface. Additionally, it sounds very natural in closer proximity. Directional pattern is good since it can be used to optimize its position in an untreated room. It also has a nice dB cut from the rear, easy to fit in stands, has low noise when on a good cable, has a good low-end response, and can be used to identify frequency values down in sub-40Hz range.
Plosives - AT2020 rejects plosives, but it is not very good.
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Polar Pattern - The pattern tends to pick up a lot of sound around the mic when in an untreated room.
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Mic Quality - Audio Technica provided a mic that can give a good year of mic quality. Sounds are a little bit thin for the most part but are pretty good without any boost, but it does poorly in terms of plosives even with a pop filter at a normal distance, and some aggressive blow subs can still be heard. It is a great mic for recording vocals, talking, and singing, and it offers nice and balanced sound quality. It sounds nice and is the most underrated microphone as it can provide professional audio with a proper interface. It is also a great outside bass drum mic (1ft away) and acoustic nylon guitar mic. On the other hand, the harsh top end gives nice detail on not-so-bright instruments.
Self-noise - Self-noise is assessed at 20 dB SPL, which is below average. Others have almost no SPL, but AT2020 is not so loud that the user will have a noisy recording. AT2020 features minimal self-noise, which is ideal for digital recording.
Sensitivity - AT2020 users need to find a good pop filter as well to reduce unwanted noise as it can be sensitive at times to reduce unwanted noise. It is also sensitive enough that it doesn't require a massive amount of preamp gain, can handle 144 dB SPL before distorting, and can pick up different loud sound sources with ease. However, it is not a good mic for karaoke, and it may cause a lot of echoes.
Sound Rejection - AT2020 does a good job of rejecting sounds or background noise and it won't sound aggressive like a lot of condenser mics.
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Specifications - AT2020 is a cardioid condenser microphone, and it’s got a frequency response of 20hz to 20 000 hz, a sensitivity of -37 dB, and has quite a bit of color for a $99 mic. It requires extra 40 volts of phantom power, has self-noise of 20 dBa, max spl of 144 db, an impedance of 100 ohms, and a phantom power requirement of 48 volts. Additionally, it has a cut in the lows from 50 hz to 300 hz. Mids are flat until a small bump from 1.5kHz to 3kHz is reached. The SPL is 144Db. It generally has its own sound and isn't a “flat” or “natural” sounding mic. Specifically, it is good for vocals, and low information usually gets filtered out in the signal point. The presence boost is from 5kHz to 15kHz, and the biggest boost is between 8 and 9 kHz for some added air.
Sound Pressure Level - Sound Pressure Level, or SPL, is also a crucial factor to consider. The volume of a sound wave is determined by its internal pressure. Greater pressure results in a louder sound. Consequently, a high SPLrating is necessary. It is important to remember that the ear hears pressure, not volume. A speaker, for instance, emits a certain sound level. The sound pressure or volume diminishes as you move away. It becomes stronger as you get closer. The difference between sound pressure and loudness is as shown. The volume has not changed, but the pressure has increased or decreased. For microphones to perform correctly, a high SPL level is required. A microphone is less prone to distort as pressure increases if it has a greater SPL. This feature is essential when recording louder sources such as shouting vocals, percussion, or distorted guitars. The 2020's SPL is 144 decibels. Due to this and the wide dynamic range, it is able to record louder sounds with minimal distortion.
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Transient Response - The low-mass design of the diaphragm improves transient response, which is important for quality recordings. Transient response is the mic's ability to catch sudden rush of sounds. With all of its features such as this one, AT2020 performs at a much higher level than what its price suggests.
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Value - There is nothing that is too out of the ordinary for its price, as the users can get some pretty usable sound. The top end, on the other hand, tends to be relatively unsmooth and a bit grainy.
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Volume - Users are able to speak slightly on the top, although with diminished volume. There will be no volume on the rear, making it impossible for users to speak. The microphone is intended for usage through the side, and the closer the user gets, the more pops they will hear. To prevent pops, users may take a few steps back.
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
Sources
Tags
- Cardioid Benefits
- Functionality
- Limitation
- Noise
- Performance
- Plosives
- Polar Pattern
- Mic Quality
- Self-noise
- Sensitivity
- Sound Rejection
- Specifications
- Sound Pressure Level
- Transient Response
- Value
- Volume
Sources
- OldTimemusic
- YouTube
- BEST GUITARS NOW
- Produce Like A Pro
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
squirrelpotpie
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
squirrelpotpie
Tech Examined
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Tech Summit
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Meeesh-
03/10/2021
synthman7
03/10/2021
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
pneuma2014
02/16/2021
MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
See All Sources
Build, Design & Handling
- Build
- Controls
- Design
- Dimension
- Durability
- Head
- Limitation
- Material
- Origin
- Pros
- Cons
- Pattern
- Versions
- Stand Mount
- Style
- Value
- Versatility
- XLR Port
- Inclusion
- Positive
- Negative
Build - If you intend to use AT2020 for a variety of purposes, it should most likely be in a safe and pleasant studio environment. It can, however, still be used on the road. It is constructed like a tank, compact, 9.6 inches long, 2.6 inches wide, and weighs only one and a half pounds, has an all metal build, and a detachable pivoting threaded stand mount It is well-made, tough looking, and has a beautiful professional look. It could be a fragile mic since, generally, condenser mics are more fragile than dynamic mics.
Controls - It has mix volume control and headphone volume control that can manipulate mic-signal.
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Design - AT2020 is a great product that offers exceptional and clear sound quality. It is designed for digital recordings and offers high quality A/D converter with 16 bit, 44.1/48 kHz sampling rate.
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Dimension - AT2020 is typical for a project studio budget and a side-address microphone with a 16 mm diameter capsule which does not compromise warmth or body in sound reproduction. It is not that heavy, relatively small, and weighs 12 oz.
Durability - It can last for a long time and can still function flawlessly. It doesn't seem to age and works perfectly fine even after a few drops.
Head - Its head is comprised of a strong wire mesh that protects it if it is dropped. This material can also gather sound but is not a replacement for a pop filter in suppressing unwanted sound.
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Limitation - It also lacks the ability to switch polar patterns, lacks a high pass filter and a pad, and lacks frills.
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
Material - AT2020 has another fine layer of mesh inside that reduces plosives. Its body is all metal as well.
Origin - AT2020 is made in China.
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Pros - AT2020 has clear defined sound and is extremely versatile. It has excellent transient response, has a low mass diaphragm, and is affordable.
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Cons - It only has a cardioid polar pattern. It is also not appropriate for live use, and it requires a pop filter.
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Pattern - It is a cardioid polar pattern condenser microphone.
Versions - It has two versions: XLR and USB. USB is a bit more versatile as it can be plugged into any computer. On the other hand, XLR is a good option for musicians who are using a music interface.
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Stand Mount - The original stand mount that was added to the microphone is not ideal, as it is occasionally uncomfortable to use on the desk.
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Style - AT2020 has an XLR style and requires phantom power to be operated.
Tech Examinad
05/29/2020
Value - AT2020 gives a good price for being an excellent mic and is good for a lot of things.
OpietMushroom
02/16/2021
Versatility - AT2020 is extremely versatile. It can be used for music production, recording guitars and vocals, gaming, and also chatting.
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
XLR Port - There are no switches or dials, but the XLR port can be found at the bottom.
Inclusion - Inside the box, there is the microphone with the firm mounting system, high quality padded and zippered leather soft pouch for storage and travel, an instruction manual, a 5/8 to 3/8 inch microphone stand adapter which will screw onto the bottom, and XLR cable for a nice mic arm.
Sources
Tags
- Build
- Controls
- Design
- Dimension
- Durability
- Head
- Limitation
- Material
- Origin
- Pros
- Cons
- Pattern
- Versions
- Stand Mount
- Style
- Value
- Versatility
- XLR Port
- Inclusion
Sources
- OldTimemusic
- BEST GUITARS NOW
- Produce Like A Pro
- YouTube
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/07/2021
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Tech Examinad
05/29/2020
OpietMushroom
02/16/2021
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
Produce Like A Pro - MAX MCALLISTER
09/17/2021
OldTImemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
See All Sources
Comparison
- AT2020 vs AT2020 USB
- AT2020 vs AT2035
- AT2020 vs AT2035 - Inclusion
- AT2020 vs AT2035 - Quality & Price Difference
- AT2020 vs Q2U
- Comparison - AT2020 vs Neewer NW-700
- Comparison - Old vs New
- Samson Q2U Dynamic Mic
- Positive
- Negative
AT2020 vs AT2020 USB - Both of the models are good and decent, but the USB variant has lower quality. AT2020 is not bad, most likely overkill for discord and game chat, but a good budget mic for streaming and video recording.
DaaromMike
05/09/2021
AT2020 vs AT2035 - AT2035 claims a higher dynamic range and SPL limits because of being more sensitive, but sensitivity can be a root of concern for some. It has larger diaphragm and is better at picking up audio. AT2020, on the other hand, is a bit quiet and has to be above 95% gain on the input even without a pop filter. Furthermore, it is perfect in terms of closer proximity, price, performance, and voiceovers.
AT2020 vs AT2035 - Inclusion - AT2035 comes with a carrying case and a shock mount, but AT2020 comes with a soft bag. AT2020 has satisfactory audio quality, but AT2035 has better sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, filter switch, and inclusion of shock mount and case.
squirrelpotpie
05/29/2021
AT2020 vs AT2035 - Quality & Price Difference - AT2020 is better as it is more budget-friendly, but AT2035 has better audio quality. However, they are almost the same and AT2035 isn't worth the extra $70.
SiphonX_reddit
05/29/2021
AT2020 vs Q2U - AT2020 has a good-sounding value. On the other hand, Q2U is quite a deal for its price and sounds good in vocals; it doesn’t need an interface to get into computer USB. It is plug and play, has a headphone output, can carry sound from the computer speaker driver, and is dynamic. However, it is not meant for acoustic music.
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Comparison - AT2020 vs Neewer NW-700 - There is no post-processing for AT2020 when it is off by six inches. With Neewer NW-700, the gain must be decreased because it is an incredibly hot mic and also very resonant. Furthermore, the sound quality is poor.
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Comparison - Old vs New - Old and new sounded exactly the same as both of them are made from qualities or metal.
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
Samson Q2U Dynamic Mic - Q2U is a dynamic mic that requires the user to be closer for best results. It does a better job of blocking sounds, and it features USB input with XLR for flexibility. It can be compared to ATR2100x as they are exactly the same with a slightly less rich sound, better warranty, fewer reviews about ports breaking from unplugging things, and a worse stand. Take note that distance from the mic will determine whether the Q2U or AT2020 operates better. Specifically with the AT2020, users must use it more than a foot from their lips.
pinkgiraffe88
02/16/2021
Sources
Tags
- AT2020 vs AT2020 USB
- AT2020 vs AT2035
- AT2020 vs AT2035 - Inclusion
- AT2020 vs AT2035 - Quality & Price Difference
- AT2020 vs Q2U
- Comparison - AT2020 vs Neewer NW-700
- Comparison - Old vs New
- Samson Q2U Dynamic Mic
Sources
- YouTube
See All Sources
Pricing
- Feasibility
- Kit
- Price
- Value
- Positive
- Negative
Feasibility - The XLR and USB microphones are easy to use. The second choice is slightly more expensive, but not much.
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Kit - Kit does retail for 149 dollars
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
Price - It cost around 100 for over the last five years, sale price is $80, normal price is $100 and has never been $169. It is a great mic when combined with Motu M2 or M4. AT2035 is usually $150.
Value - AT2020 is released in 2004 and still one of the most popular mics in its price range. It is a condenser version of SM85 or e835 but it sounds totally different. It can last for years, has downsides but is good for the price. The shock mount is also good. It is budget-friendly, killer, and quality mic for its price. It is cheap but does its job really well. It also has a good build quality for the price, has various applications it can comfortably operate in, represents a remarkable product with great value, and offers the same quality as the other high-level mics used in the professional recording studio.
Sources
Tags
- Feasibility
- Kit
- Price
- Value
Sources
- BEST GUITARS NOW
- YouTube
- OldTimemusic
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
Podcastage
05/21/2020
Tech Summit
09/02/2020
friesguy5467
02/16/2021
Tech Examined
05/29/2020
BEST GUITARS NOW - Dave
02/11/2022
OldTimemusic - Joseph L. Hollen
06/06/2022
Podcastage
05/21/2020
KwyjiboTheGringo
02/16/2021
dsiurek2019
03/10/2021
JimmyNeutralized
03/10/2021
See All Sources
Dynamic vs Condenser
- Dynamic vs Condenser
- Positive
- Negative
Dynamic vs Condenser - Dynamic mics are better for stage work. They work well in recording loud sounds and are suitable for those who want to use a mic to perform with. Condenser mics are better in a studio, better at higher frequencies and more gentle sounds. They need external power, which used to be a problem but not anymore because of phantom power invented by Neumann. However, they don’t work well in live environment.
See All Sources
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