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.

Good recommendations, except for the microphone. 57 works best with loud instruments, 58 is a live vocal mic. The AT2020 has a very weak bottom end, but that’s usually the way you’ll mix pop/rock/metal vocals anyway. Still, I’d probably go for something more neutral and learn the common mixing habits. Behringer and some other brands make large diaphragm condenser mics that really are pretty ok, as low as $50. Scarlett Solo is a solid choice.

Any cheap USB XLR interface and a Shure SM58, Audio Technica AT 2020, Rode Podmic, Lewitt LCT 240, plus a Rode PSA-1 arm. 200 USD is top 10% audio budget. >!I stream using a rock-bottom budget setup around a Behringer XM 8500.!<

If it's targeted as "for gamers" it sucks. Same goes for RGB. The hyperX mics are subpar to basically anything at the same price. The best you can go with for price/utility is an AT2020. An arm clamp can be set up anywhere by the way, you could get a cheap IKEA drawer and set it there.

XLR all the way, I run it through a focusrite scarlet solo, got it new for €100.

At2020 is what i use with a mic arm going through a program that reads background noise in your room and cancels it out. Very good for under $100

Yep, I’d recommend the AT2020 or even the AT2035. Throw it onto a Scarlett Solo and you’re good to go.

XLR+audio interface is the way to go! USB mics are definitely improving over time, but you’re not going to get the same quality, and you’re not going to have the same level of control without an interface. Often, high quality condenser mics are simply more sensitive, which is why you’re hearing more background noise despite being in the same surroundings. That isn’t a flaw with the mic, but more so with the space. That said, condenser mics are often so sensitive you’ll never get “true silence.” That’s where post-processing with noise reduction comes in, though of course reducing as much as possible is the best solution to avoid splicing your vocals! I will say regarding the AT2020–it’s a great starter mic, but definitely on the lower end of XLR mics, which could be one of the main reasons you’re not hearing a stark difference! It tends to be very bright, and can often sound screechy as a result. I know some VAs who absolutely rock it, but they do a lot of EQ and have a very well-treated space. In a nutshell: If you aren’t getting the sound you’d like, I’d recommend trying to improve the treatment of your space, working on the post-processing/EQ, or potentially working on mic technique as well! Sometimes the solution can be as simple as taking a step back.

AT2020 it’s a safe bet when it comes to $100 bucks ones.

choose any USB or XLR **condenser** mic that’s in your budget. common ones are the HyperX Quadcast (S, 2, 2S, …), Elgato Wave:3, Logitech Blue Yeti, Logitech Blue Snowball, Audio Technica AT2020, … condenser mics are much more sensitive to background noise and just noise in general when compared to dynamic mics, such as the SHURE MV6. a dynamic mic is what singers use on live stage performances and what a lot of podcasts use because when you’re talking in a room with a lot of noise or across from someone else who is also speaking, you don’t want to pick up these external sounds. however the tradeoff with a dynamic mic is that the clarity can be lower compared to condenser mics, and a condenser mic that’s been adjusted for the acoustic environment can sound absolutely phenomenal. if you’re setup with multiple people on a couch, and the microphone is placed relatively centered so everyone’s voice can reach the mic, you’ll want it to be a condenser because that extra sensitivity will make all of your voices clearer even when the decibel level is low. some condenser mics like the Blue Snowball have multiple pickup patterns like *Cardioid* and *Omnidirectional*. Cardioid is the standard pickup pattern which picks up directly in front of the microphone. It sounds the best and offers the best clarity. Omnidirectional on the Blue Snowball activates multiple pickup zones around the microphone so that audio can be heard from multiple angles. This is typically used for live studio recordings or circumstances such as yours where multiple people need to be heard in a room. due to the sensitivity of condenser mics, if you don’t have an *acoustically tuned* room with proper isolation and foam padding, you may want to experiment with **noise gates, limiters, and compressors** to reduce the amount of unwanted background noise. if you use OBS, it has a built in tool for all of them.

Blue Yeti is probably the best option for exactly $100 in the U.S. especially now with the acquisition by Logitech. Blue Snowball is an older smaller unit for around $50 that still sounds quite good. If you can stretch to $150, the Elgato Wave:3 is considered one of the best USB condenser mics for streamers due to its great sound and well-made software that comes with it. Audio Technica AT2020 is an old but gold legend. still sounds great for around $100 in 2025 (21 years later), however it may not have the software support that the HyperX QuadCast, Logitech Blue mics, or Elgato do, and I believe it only has a Cardioid polar configuration. HyperX QuadCast (original model, not the 2 or S) is $80 and comes with a cool red light effect and a very intuitive tap-to-mute placement.

What does a "gaming" microphone do that a "non-gaming" microphone can't? You can get semi-pro gear like an AudioTechnica2020 for a fraction of 300 dollars.