All user reviews of 5/5 for the Audio-Technica AT2020

Cardioid, large-diaphragm condenser mic.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for four years. I use it in stereo with a Shure KSM137. To be honest, the value for money of the AT2020 is clearly better than that of the Shure, even if the Shure sounds better (obviously). The AT2020 can handle SPL better than the Shure.
To cut it short: The AT2020 is an excellent mic considering its price. I recommend it to anyone that wants to use it in a home studio, for example. Very versatile to record acoustic instruments (like guitar) or as ambient mic for small combos.

Let me start off by saying this is a very good condenser mic. It's affordable and the sound it reproduces is nothing short of amazing, especially since most USB mics on the market are known for having a bad sound.

This mic only comes in 1 color (black) which I don't have a problem with. It would be nice to see in a few other colors such as silver and maybe red or even a chrome mesh.

The AT2020 comes with a USB cable as well as a small table top mic stand. It would be nice if it came with a wind screen, but for the price you can't expect many bells and whistles.

OVERALL OPINION

What I like most about this usb mic is that it reproduce accurately which is something I can't say for other usb mics out there. What I don't like is fact you can't do any freq cuts on the mic nor does it have any pattern selections but again it's a simple $100.00 Cardioid mic. It not many bells and whistles (I'm spoiled and picky).

I personally think the mic is well worth the $100 it's priced at. I'd charge a little more for it, somewhere between $100-150 would sufficient in my mind.

I've tried other usb mics before but was never impressed with the audio quality. When I stumbled upon the audio technica I had to get it, the company is known for creating quality products -So this was a no brainer for me.

If I had to make the choice again I'd strongly pick this mic over many others (including some powered condenser mics).


Few tips – This mic is sensitive and will pick up your computer noise, so it best to use it in an isolated recording area. If you have a pop filter use it, if you don't get one they are very cheap these days.

I've found this mic to perform well when recording the following

Male/female vocals
Acoustic Guitar
Drum Sets
Stringed instruments
Wind Instruments

It's a very versatile mic

For detailed specifications, see the website audio technica.

We regret only the absence of a switch and-10dB low cut, but at this price, it already.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for one month, I particularly like the transparency of sound, enhancing the top end without being garish, where a real presence (impresionnat for that price).

You just have to watch out for sibilant, very (too?) Present, so do not use on ssssifflantes voice too.

I will soon test it on a piano, I hope to get good results.
A quality / price ratio impresionant, a good choice for a micro visibly robust.

I do not put that 9 because of sibilants, which therefore can not provide a totally flexible use.

In any case, the votes of men (at least on mine), and although I use it with an entry-level preamp is to happiness!

PS: for a static, it does not pick up too much ambient noise, which is logical because the capsule is not a big one capsule '. So by using home-studio is ideal.

Condenser mic.
A mic for all occasions, as long as you have a good preamp behind it. Very (or even too) clean sound, so pay attention to sibilants and HF, which can be hard to get rid of during mixdown. But let's be clear, for $120 you really get your money's worth. It's very simple: To have something really better you have to spend three times as much. It lacks a low-cut and a pad, but if you have a good preamp or mixer, you already have everything you need, so such features are useless for someone who has outboard gear. It has to do with the price, I think, because the manufacturer launched the same mic with filter and pad with a higher price tag.

OVERALL OPINION

I've used it for about a year in my home studio and I'm satisfied with it. Yes, I compared ii to many others, but it was the flattest and most versatile in its price range. You really have to go to the next price range to notice a difference that justifies the investment. Granted, it's certainly not a Neumann!

Continuation:
I used it this week in post-production to record a Japanese female voice. It was perfect. The production thought it was a high-end mic. Almost no background noise and a nice precision in the high frequencies to give presence to the voice off. I can confirm this mic can even be used for broadcast without the slightest problem.

CHARACTERISTICS for I leave you to read the manufacturer's website or an opinion.

8 / 10 because the price for what you are really low quality and good value for money.

OVERALL OPINION

Reu there are two big weeks,
Test taking direct voice, but rather neutral according SETTING THE miking it is possible to gain some color.
Then before a test lamp and a marshall amp guitar gibson menace, and more j'tais qu'tonn sound. The sound is really close to the sound of the amp. Trs grip in the bass as in the acute effect of feedback from the amp clean trs (ADI test with an sm57 and quite dcu).

The report price is really great quality. For that price, hard to beat.

Condenser microphone for making mixed
guitar; OH; piano sax, vocals ....

OVERALL OPINION

I have for some days

strength: very sensitive so no need of force to gain less of breath, very good frequency response I find it quite right, and then physically beautiful

I essey the JM27 Joe Meek; Oktava mk012; AKG C451 in overhead (because originally I took it for her)

value for money out of the ordinary frankly awesome!

this choice I would do without the experience that microphone is in a word AWESOME

What kind of microphone? (Song, sound, mixed ..)
sound recording

What technology? (Electret, condenser ...)
capacitor

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
2 days

What is the particular feature you like best and least?
The sound is clear that trs is a voice (women, men), a guitar or bass.
The sibilants are unfortunately Submitted trs. The output level may be higher.

Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
Neumann, AT4040, C414, C214, ...

How do you report qualitprix?
Trs trs good: there is no concession on quality but on the "options": no high-pass or pad on the microphone.

Exprience with, you will do again this choice? ...
Without hsiter: I had no room in the budget for more than 200 micro and it satisfies me!

FC the previous categories

OVERALL OPINION

<ul class="ul">

How long have you use it?

</ul>

2 years now

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Have you tried many other models before buying it?

</ul>

No

<ul>

What is so special that you like most and least?

</ul>

Price as all those who have but the fact that it is cardioid only and therefore use home studio in a room is not soundproof, it will not pick up all the sounds around

<ul>

How would you rate the quality / price?

</ul>

EXCELLENT

<ul>

With experience, you do again this choice?

</ul>

I do not think there is better for that price

A friend took mk2 studio projects in the same price range and test the audio technica come out better.

I had a couple mindprint trio for the Class A preamp which gives a good marriage

Nothing special. Just a cardioid condenser. Probably best kept in the studio. AT says it's an all purpose condenser. Obviously it's a budget mic.

OVERALL OPINION

I was in a Sam Ash last year browsing around. I know a few of the staff there pretty well and they take care of me. I started talking to a guy about condensers and said I was in the market for a good cardioid. I needed something to pair with an sm57 for micing electric in my studio. He recommended I do a shootout right in the store. We ended up trying about 12 different mics. Some up to $1500. I got a PRS CE22, played it through a Mesa electrodyne and miced up the speaker with an SM57. We went through the heard pairing condensers with it. Eventually we narrowed it down to 2. The 2020 and a U87. Now obviously the U87 is massively more expensive. I won't lie, I think it sounded a little better than the 2020. But can you guess which one I bought? Yeah.

Since then I've used the 2020 extensively for cab micing. What I like to do is put 1 or 2 57's close to the cone area, and then put a 2020 about a foot or 2 back for ambience. It works great this way. I found the 2020 is good for acoustic guitar if you pair it with something like an sm81, oddly enough. It has a full sound that never gets bassy. For the price I think it's a pretty sweet mic. To me, it doesn't sound great with a lot of things. On vocals it's meh. Can't be used on drums. But when paired with another really good mic it can shine. Check it out. It's not a lot of money so it's not a total loss if you don't care for it. But I promise you will find SOME use for it. It just takes the right situation.

See specs
No -10db pad like on the 2035, which can be annoying for specific applications.
The ssss are nice and clear and the anit-popped pppp come out pretty good.
Updated review after some time with a sax take.

OVERALL OPINION

I tested it today with a "voice off" recording.
Directly connected to the digi 002 preamp with phantom power. Very satisfying results. Lots of time gained, almost no clean up needed, no noise.
I'll try it with an external preamp, but I'm not sure that's necessary other than to attenuate it or give it some tube warmth.
I used to use a tbone at home, and standards in the studio to record voice off.
For live a beyerdynamic vintage and shure.
In my home studio I used a dynamic mic up to now. This AT2020 is a very interesting addition for the price.
It remains to be seen what an akg precision 120 can provide in the same price range.
Excellent value for money, secondhand.

See below

OVERALL OPINION

I tested it for rap, guttural screaming, vocals, acoustic and electric instruments. It always performed all right. Excellent as room mic for ambiances, for vocals, it can handle high SPLs. Excellent quality for the price.

Conclusion:

+Effective all-around mic
+No ugly coloration
+Correct frequency response, rather proper reproduction.
+Correct built and component quality
+Value for money

-No real personality.
-Odd finish on all mics of this model, apparently that's normal but it's ugly (the paint has bubbles).

All in all: Good value for money. A mic for less than $250 (back then) that is very satisfying and does its job well.