This is a budget cardioid condenser mic, which basically is a nice way of saying it is cheap. However, it has some really nice features that you don't see on a lot of cheap condensers. It has a -10db pad and a high pass filter that are both activated by physical switches on the mic. I'd say this mic is best suited for the studio. It is really well built and seems quite tough, but like all condensers it is prone to feedback and picking up unwanted sounds. Those two aspects of the mic make it less than ideal for live use.

Another great thing is that it comes with a shock mount.


OVERALL OPINION

I really like this mic. It has great clarity. I've used it for recording acoustic guitar, bass amps, guitar amps, and vocals.

For acoustic it really captured the warmth and body of the guitar. It sounded great on its own, but I also tried blending it with an SM57 (placed at the 12th fret) and it sounded phenomenal. The SM57 really brought in some of the high end sparkle.

The -10db pad really comes in handy when recording loud guitars. Sounded great alone, and again, I also really liked it paired with an SM57. And the built in high pass filter makes it so you don't really need to eq your guitar tracks. Its really handy.

It also does great for vocals. I've used it extensively for recording my voice. Seems to stay very true to your actual vocal tone. Its also very sensitive.

I am a layman when it comes to studio, so I can't tell you which high end mics the AT2035 competes with. What I can tell you is that this is a clear, great sounding condenser that makes a great addition to any home studio.