Audio-Technica - AT2020USB-XP

Did some searching and perhaps the Audio Technica AT2020USB-XP (AT2020USB-X, which has a couple less features and saves ya a buck) would work for you? I love my AT2020’s so this would be my go to USB-C choice. Even has a headphone port which is sweet because you won’t need a hub to use wired headphones with it.

The XP has auto gain. Not sure about manual control of it though.

Looks like it has noise reduction too [Link to the main site](https://www.audio-technica.com/en-ca/at2020usb-xp?srsltid=AfmBOorIBBGl9QvMwtH4KIKHE3YVG-QMgYmpz6CpO-6Iorz7XcsjAluA)

Get the AT2020usb mic. It’s affordable, sounds incredible & plugs directly into the computer so you dont need an interface. PS gift is not a verb

If you don't have a lot of money then get an Auna or a t.bone from Thomann if you're from Europe instead of those cheap noname Amazon microphones. Alternatively if you have money get an Audio Technica AT2020USB

This is what I ended up going with! Bought one for 50 bucks second hand off eBay. One day in the future when I’ve learned more, I’ll revisit and maybe try a different mic. For now though, this’ll be better than recording with my phone. Y’all might see me posting about figuring it out along the road

Oh that’s good to know actually, I’m kind of on a crunch for this project. I bought second hand off eBay but that’ll still take a little bit. Any website recommendations for renting?

Shure SM7B, or MV7, or if your budget does allow it The AT2020 USB, this mic is truely bomb... Please don't go for a blue snowball, or blue yeti 😭 Also look up the different between a dynamic mic and a condenser mic, background noise is a big difference. Sm7b is dynamic, zero background noise. At2020, picks up everything, because it's designed to be in a studio, to pick up everything.

Yeah, honestly with just starting out and not already having an interface... the AT2020USB is probably a good choice. I'm not the biggest fan of the microphone but there is no denying it's popularity. And this way you won't have to also spend $50+ on an interface.

Do you have a way to record a microphone? The microphone itself can be $70 but you also need an audio interface to plug it into and record with. Do you have a computer? A Used AT2020USB just USBs into a computer so you don’t need an interface. We use one at work for voiceovers. You can get them super cheap used.

Yeah look for an Audio Technica 2020USB on eBay or something similar. Then you just need software to record with. I have used Cakewalk, it’s free and easy to use. Those two together should be enough to get you started.

The SM58 is “the” microphone. It can do just about anything and lots of major artists have used it for recording. It is good at everything. It’s not the best at everything though. It’s a dynamic microphone so its pick up pattern is pretty tight, as in you have to be close to it for it to pick up sound, so it is good in live and studio environments. Only downside to the SM58 is it can be dark and muddy on its own without any processing. You also need an audio interface to plug it in to. The AT2020USB is a microphone with a built in audio interface. It’s a condenser microphone so it is more sensitive which means more background noise. It does have a pick up pattern where it only picks up sound in one direction. It’s also got a brighter sound with no processing needed. Like at home in my home studio recording drums, vocals and amps with my audio interface and DAW where I play audio engineer I use the SM58 for basically everything. At work when my co worker needs to record a voice over for a commercial, I use the AT2020USB because I can just plug it in to a computer position it, hit record and have a great sounding vocal track without all of the other hardware or processing.

The AT2020 USB is quite good generally

I came here to give this answer. This is a good mic from a known maker. Don't try and find a "super good deal". Buy it from a good source to avoid knockoffs. Direct from Audio Technica or an approved vendor. I personally give my business to Sweetwater (I'm in the US).

I got this mic in 2010 and it still works perfectly. OP— do know that this mic is pretty sensitive. Sensitivity is great but your son will need to learn how to edit the recording settings as to not get a recording full of ambient noise (he can also edit the raw audio directly.)

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.