The Audio Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone features an all-new proprietary design, with the proven reliability of Audio-Technicas modern engineering and manufacturing expertise.Ideal for project/home studio applications, the AT2020 features a custom-engineered low-mass diaphragm, providing extended frequency response plus the ability to handle extremely high SPLs. The AT2020 has a fixed cardioid polar pattern to allow isolation of the desired sound source. The mic features excellent performance specifications, including a flat, extended frequency response (20 20,000 Hz), high SPL handling capability (144 dB), and a wide dynamic range (124 dB). Every aspect of the AT2020 has been tailored for a very smooth, natural sound while ensuring maximum accuracy, making it a perfect complement for todays digital recording equipment. The AT2020 comes standard with a pivoting, threaded stand mount, which attaches securely for easy and precise placement. The microphone requires 48V phantom power that may be provided by a mixer/console. In addition, the AT2020 measures 6.38 inches long, has a maximum body diameter of 2.05 inches, weighs 12.1 oz., and comes with a soft protective carrying pouch.Audio Technica AT2020 FeaturesThe price/performance standard in side-address studio condenser microphone technologyIdeal for project/home-studio applicationsHigh SPL handling and wide dynamic range provide unmatched versatilityCustom-engineered low-mass diaphragm provides extended frequency response and superior transient responseCardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and rear, improving isolation of desired sound sourcePivoting, threaded stand mount attaches securely for easy and precise placement of the microphone

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Great Mic! My 1st Studio mic!
So happy to get my new mic it sound great but i have not rec with it so i give 4 star for the design, the sound, the price etc… so if u are look for a Studio mic that are around $80 THIS IS THE ONE!

5 Stars For the price this is it!
I have a couple other condensor mikes with shock mounts in the same price range, but this one is the best. Not sure you can do much better for anywhere near the price. I loaned one to a friend and he immediately returned his mike to the shop for one of these. Nice neutral sound, solid construction, I use it with a tube amp to get some non-linear compression for voice.

5 Stars Astonishing sound and value for well under 100 bucks!
I was especially fortunate and got a new one for around [...]

making this beautiful-sounding vocal mic

a spectacular bargain for the home-recording musician or audio-blogger.

I don’t know of any truly-decent large-diaphragm condensers with

the full 1″ diaphragm size for under [...] (don’t be a sucker for the

super-cheapies that look so big & cool). The AT2020 has a 2/3-inch diaphragm size, but

sounds better & bigger than anything else I have ever heard in the price range.

If you can spend [...]on a wonderful AT2035 or maybe a Studio Projects mic,

then by-all means, do it.

But the AT2020 [...]on all competition under [...], IMO.

I use it with the Studio Projects VTB1 Mic Preamp and the sound is B-I-G.

The AT2020 and the VTB1 are definitely a sweet pair together.

Although, I suspect any decent preamp used properly with the AT2020

would sound pretty darn good.

And DO use a preamp, even if only a $30 Art Tube MP.

Count on buying the 2 items together.

The pre will “send your AT2020 to the gym”, by giving it

a thicker, fuller, BETTER sound.

The thing to remember with preamps is to

try to get close to the *loudest possible clean sound*

coming out of the preamp and generate

a BIG signal going IN to the recording device, which should

have its input gain quite LOW (maybe like “2″ or even “1″).

Watch your clipping/overload levels,

listen for any audible noise or distortion in the recording,

and make adjustments to cut those sound flaws, if they are present.

For vocals,

Experiment with going as loud as you can from the preamp while still sounding CLEAN,

until you find you particular setup’s “sweet spot”.

“Straight-up” dial-settings is often around where you end up.

The AT2020, used with a decent pre like the one I have (there are many others),

should get you a serious studio vocal sound

with pro-quality clarity and little coloration.

IMO, it’s got to be the world champ of under-[...]studio Condenser Mics,

at least right now (in 2009),

until something more miraculous comes along.

And if you are presently recording vocals with

something like an SM58, moving up to the AT2020

with a modest preamp will absolutely blow your mind–Much “bigger” sounding,

with much finer detail, presence and clarity.

I hear this mic is good for miking electric guitar cabs

and various percussion too.

But voice is its forte, I believe.

It’s a gem.

5 Stars Great Value
Let’s face it…I’m just a hobby musician. A guy in his mid-30′s who has tinkered with music most of his adult life. I’ve played both as a solo artist and with bands. I’ve also been fortunate enough to spend time in actual recording studios with true professionals. None of this qualifies me as an expert…but I do have a certain level of familiarity on the subject.

I purchased this mic to supplement my home studio. I was hoping to get a little better sound than my usual stable of dynamic mics provide. I think I got pretty lucky with this purchase – it’s my understanding that in this particular price range, you shouldn’t expect a whole lot. I mean, it’s just a microphone, right?

What I will say is that I was certainly satisfied with my purchase. I’ve used this microphone in conjunction with a tube preamp on a handful of recordings with great success. I bought this with the intention of using it for vocals, but I’ve found that I actually prefer it to record my acoustic guitar – this microphone picks up all the sound that I’m looking for from my acoustic – it’s the nice, mellow, and full bodied sound that I hear when I’m playing, but that I was never able to capture before. In terms of its originally intended use, I felt is was only a slight improvement over the SM58 that I typically used for vocals – however, I wouldn’t put too much stock into my assessment, as vocals are not one of my strengths when it comes to music (let’s face it, autotune was created for a reason, right?)

Granted – everyone is going to have different opinions of this product, and I happen to think it works great for those of us on a budget. In terms of value – it is a great product for a fantastic price. I liked this microphone so much, I plan on buying at least one more.

4 Stars AT2020
This is a wonderful microphone. I use it to record interviews in the field instead of a shotgun set up. It is more hassle to use because it requires phantom power. But it provides a clean, clear, warm voice print.

I also plan to use it to record my children’s musical performances here at home. So for home concerts and for my field work, this mic works for me.

DD

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews

Here’s Amazon’s take:

Sony Stereo Type Mic for Digital Recording

This compact, portable microphone is for advanced amateur use and is ideal for instrumental recording, thanks to Sony’s sensitive Electret condenser microphone. The one-point stereo design–a single mic for stereo recording–is like having two microphones in one. This mic is ideal for portable DAT or MD digital recorders, with a frequency response of up to 18,000 Hz and a 90 dB dynamic range, and is a great complement to digital recording systems. The mid/side (MS) capsules create a natural stereo panorama; the mid capsule picks up monophonic sound while the side capsule picks up left/right difference sound. Subtracting and adding the two capsule signals yields separate left and right channels and permits electronic adjustment of the pickup angle. The mid/side (MS) switch also selects pickup angle between the left and right channels. Choose 90 degrees for a single voice or instrument, or 120 degrees to pick up many voices and instruments arranged across the stage. The rotating mid capsule adjusts the stereo-pickup pattern for a wide range of recording situations. A Cannon XLR connector from the microphone body to the supplied cable provides a secure, reliable, low-noise connection, while the oxygen-free copper Litz cord ensures superlative conductivity, minimum loss, and minimum noise. The L-shaped stereo miniplug fits most portable recorders. Supplied accessories include a detachable cable, stand, holder, windscreen, and carrying case.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great Mic For Concerts
I’m far from an expert on cammies and mics, but this is definately a great buy. I film concerts w/ a cammie that has an external mic output. This microphone has given me excellent results. Very, very clear sound. Have never gotten any hissing or cackling. Does a very good job at filtering out excess noise (i.e. people around you), and picks up the sounds of a concert well. You can also adjust how the mic picks up the audio. You can choose 90 degrees, which is basically straight ahead, or 180 degrees, which will pick up sounds from the side as well as straight ahead. A very good microphone, I highly recommend this item.

4 Stars affordable, compact
Bought this after it was recommended to me on the Soundslides board. I use it with my Edirol R-09 HR to record audio for photo slideshows. The Sony mic is compact, I didn’t need an adapter for it to fit the Edirol and comes with a few accessories. The sound quality is excellent, it fits in my camera bag, it has a long cord, and I am not going to cry too much if I drop it as it wasn’t that pricey. My biggest complaints are that if you aren’t conscious of what you are doing, you can get alot of mic handling noise – the build of the mic handle seems to really accentuate it. Also it has an on/off/90 degree and 360 degree switch and I often forget to turn it off and it drains the battery. Still, it’s an excellent mic for the price and for someone starting out doing simple interviews and so on. To hear a sample of it, click on the slideshow here. [...] Recorded on an Edirol R-09 HR with the Sony mic on a large aircraft carrier, handheld by me.

4 Stars Useful mic priced lower than ever, but here are a few tips.
This proven mic has come down in price, while the one below it–the Sony DS70–has remained pretty much the same. For the extra 15 bucks, the Sony MS907 is easily worth the upgrade. The only advantage of the DS70 is not having to worry about having a fresh battery installed. The MS907 sounds fuller and richer, but frankly I did not judge it to be superior to the overall effect of the 4-point microphone that comes with the popular Zoom H-2. Whether or not you choose to use it in place of the onboard mic of a high-end personal audio recorder really comes down to a matter of personal taste. On the other hand, if you’ve picked up the new Zoom H-4n, this Sony stereo mic would be an excellent choice for complementing the onboard ones since the new Zoom allows for use of onboard and external mics simultaneously.

As for recording to a software audio program on an iMac, that particular computer has an audio input that will accommodate the 3.5mm plug (but be aware that many computers do not have such an input–in that case, look at a USB mic such as those from Blue). Even with the right fit and a fresh battery, I found the MS907 to be somewhat underpowered for optimal results. It wasn’t until I plugged it into an Onkyo preamp that I was satisfied. Again, I suspect that a mic with a USB connector would permit better gain levels with most computers.

There are adequate mic amps on Amazon for $20-$40, capable of boosting your signal by 48 volts, or 60 dbs. A Mac user willing to spend a bit more should look at the MXL Signal Booster Amp for Mac Computers, which costs a bit more but saves you the bother of USB conversion. Finally, if you’re trying to make professional announcements for radio use, etc., you’ll soon discover that, unless you’re incapable of puckering (which means you’re not much of a kisser), the plosives (“p” sounds) will run away with everything you try to say. The only solutions I’ve found are to write scripts that are devoid of plosives (the “voiced” “b” phoneme is almost as much of an offender as the voiceless “p” phoneme) or to pick up a “pop filter.” The latter are little more than 6″ circles of cheese cloth costing $20-$30 each, but I’m about to give in and order one from Amazon.

The last advice I’ll offer is not to indulge in candy or a sweet soda while broadcasting. It’ll thicken your saliva and make you sound like someone attempting to communicate with his dentist after being shot up with novocaine (or is it lidocaine, these days?)–in any case, it’s sugar cane, and fuctose syrup, that will muck up your elocution, making your gums talk louder than your words.

5 Stars best $69 ever spent!
This mike not only is a major improvement over the little electret mike that comes with Sony MD recorders, but I also use it in a cheap little Olympus WS 310 recorder, and get amazing clarity and warmth.It makes all the difference. I was about to buy a new bigger better recorder and tried this mike, was astounded at the clarity even on low end recording devices. The battery seems to last forever too…. if you remember to shut it off!

5 Stars Excellent microphone
I purchased this microphone to use with our canon video camera. We have used it to record several music recitals and band concerts and have been pleased with the audio quality.

Buy/More Info

A post from: Microphone Reviews