Audio-Technica - AT2020

i got my first million streams (producing/mixing) with a presonus audiobox and a audio technica at-2020 mic. all together abt $250 but i was able to hone my skills using these

The At2020 is a cheap med diaphragm condenser with a pretty flat frequency response. Ive recorded plenty of vocals with it, used as a room mic, drum overhead, bass, etc. its not the greatest mic, no frills but useful and will get the job done.

Hey all, need some advice. I cut my demo on my Blue yeti USB mic. I know everyone says you shouldn't use USB mics, so i went out and bought an Audio Technica AT2020 XLR microphone and a Focusrite Solo audio interface to see the difference? Tested it out, and... the audio clips sound exactly the same to me...? Seriously, I dont hear a difference at all. I even hear a background hum in the XLR mic. (I soundproofed my studio the exact same way the last time.) Am I doing something wrong? Edit: Hey so in hindsight, maybe I should've been more clear. I never asked whether the Blue Yeti was better than the XLR. I KNOW an XLR mic is better, which is why I bought one. I was just confused because I got the right kind of equipment but wasn't seeing a difference. Thank you u/[Spriinkletoe](https://www.reddit.com/user/Spriinkletoe/) for the clarity!

I’ve got an Audio Technica AT-2020 that I still use today, just felt no need to change it. It was under £100 if I recall, can’t remember the exact amount though. I also own a Shure SM57 for live stuff, I play midwest emo influenced music with tapping on the guitar while singing, and find the lack of grille allows me to see more of my fretboard when I’m performing these sections. It’s basically an SM58 but without a grille. But you can buy an external pop shield for recording situations, and also use the mic for instruments so it’s more versatile.

Even the AT2020 ([link](https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1)) still holds its weight if you are looking for a more budget friendly option. I’d pair it with a cheap mixer if you can within your budget. For me I use scarlet solo ([link](https://a.co/d/bfw9oKG)) which are really simple and supply phantom power which you’ll need when using a condenser microphone.

i used a $50 fifine usb mic pretty much since i started posting videos. I bought a scarlet solo a few years back and just barely at the end of 2024 got the at2020 for $99

not a huge fan of the at2020 or 2035 for much. Theyre a bit harsh, and id take an sm57 or 58 any day over em

+1 for the AT2020. Great mic for the money.

Most decent mics are around the $100 mark, which is already half your budget. These would be things like the Lewitt LCT 240, Audio Technica AT2020, heck even an SM58 would be fine. If you can find them on sale, that will help with the rest of your budget. Alternatively, a USB mic like the Wave:3 would get you mic + interface in one go and it's a decent enough mic (it's also made by Lewitt). You just have no upgrade path and if the drivers go wrong or something, you're out both a mic and an interface. With a condenser mic, just about any interface would be good enough in terms of quality. Again, most decent ones start at around $100. What you get by paying more is not just better quality but also more features and driver support. My favorite pick for streamers is the Audient iD 14 mk II. It has really good quality, but it also has the ability to route your audio to 3 separate outputs that you can mix separately for yourself vs OBS. You could also do this using Wave Link with the Wave:3 or Wave XLR, but you'll get additional latency and the quality on the Wave XLR is lacking by comparison to most other audio interfaces. Unfortunately, good audio gear is not cheap and these recommendations are pretty much the low end price wise. I'm not saying you have to go nuts, $200 will get you a decent mic and interface, especially if you wait for sales or shop used, but it'll be hard to get mic and interface and arm and cables etc, so you may need to shop around and buy things piecemeal.

If you are on a budget there is some good deal on The at2020 used. It's 150$ CAD (right now 120$ on sale) new but if you don't mind buying used (since it can be gross if the previous owner spat on the mic whitout a pop filter...). I got one at 60$ and another for 80$ with a cheap arm and cable. May sound expensive to people in the US but for me in CAD it's a good deal. note: it's the XLR version so you need an audio interface or an other mean of powering it tho.