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)

The mic is absolutely a solid starting point. It’s a step up from the lowest-end USB mics and it’s easy to plug in and make something that doesn’t sound like you’re in a tunnel. Here’s the truth about it: Can you do amateur work with it? Yes. Amateur podcasts, YouTube stuff, hobby voiceover, stream chats - it’ll get you there. You can be intelligible, clean, and listenable. Can it take you to professional voiceover? Maybe, but not automatically. Voiceover isn’t about the mic alone. It’s about **performance, mic technique, room control, editing, and delivery**. Pros use better gear because those tools help capture more detail and give engineers flexibility. But plenty of working pros started on modest mics and upgraded only when their business needed it. If you only have the AT2020USBX today, work with it. Learn about **placement, room treatment, and editing**. That’s where most people actually improve the sound more than changing gear. When you find yourself booking paying gigs regularly, then consider stepping up to an XLR setup with an interface and maybe a mic that suits your voice better. That’s when the investment actually pays you back. A few practical points: * USB is convenient, but XLR rigs give you **more control and better quality ceiling**. * Treat your room as part of the chain. Even a cheap reflection filter or blankets on walls makes a bigger difference than swapping mics. * Your voice and performance matter far more than the exact model of mic. Mic alone won’t make you a pro. Discipline, craft, and consistency will.

At2020usbx is a USB c mic that sounds great. Logitech makes a bunch of cameras for streaming, you just need to pick the price point for you.

It’s my daily driver. I’ve recorded a lot of audiobooks through ACX and done a few video game parts using it without any issue. As others have said, it’s the room treatment (I’ve got an insulated closet converted into a booth), your acting, and your editing that’ll carry the rest.

I upgraded from a cheap USB mic to a calibration mic (also not ideal) to an AT2020 USBX. It makes a huge difference! Cheap USB mics have a really high noise floor, which is heavily amplified by compression. The calibration mic was a tiny bit better than the cheap USB mic but still no contest compared to the AT2020. And you can get even better mics than the AT2020 but I wanted to save money and not get an audio interface just yet and now I'm doing fine without one.

I had a lot of problems with my USB AT2020 + found the XLR version to have a tinny, hollow sound. Get a dynamic mic for the same price and learn to mix!

Good call with the SM58, it’s a solid beginner mic for vocals and it’ll still be useful as you level up. For home recording, you’ll need an audio interface to connect the mic to your computer and headphones. Something like the MOTU M2, Scarlett Solo, or even the cheaper Behringer UMC series will do the job. If at any point you decide to switch to USB, Audio-Technica AT2020 USB or Shure MV7 are both excellent and more plug-and-play. But with the SM58, you're starting with something versatile that’ll last.

You could go for a mic with a built-in audio interface. For example: Shure MV7 – it has a USB output and is based on the legendary SM7B, the favorite mic of many podcasters. The sound is a bit different but still very similar. It’s a dynamic mic, so it’ll cut out a lot of background noise. You mentioned that noise isn’t a problem for you, BUT even if the room is quiet, an untreated space will still have nasty echo and reverb. Dynamic mics help reduce that. Rode NT-USB – this one’s condenser, not top-tier but still miles ahead of the mics you listed. AT2020USB – also a solid condenser option. If you’re okay with having a few more devices on your desk, getting a mic + external audio interface combo will give you noticeably better quality. Some good budget interfaces: Focusrite Scarlett Solo – some people say it’s overrated, but I wouldn’t agree UAD Volt – nice SSL 2 – from the company behind the mixing consoles used on half the hit records ever made And for mics to pair with them: - Audio-Technica AT2020 - sE Electronics X1s (i personally very like it🙃) - Rode NT1 --- No mic should ever be right up to your mouth. Even stage vocal mics are meant to have a bit of distance. For all the ones I mentioned, keep roughly 20 cm (about 8 inches) away. Personally, I don’t even pay attention to how far mine is — it’s on a boom arm, sometimes ends up half a meter (around 20 inches) away, and I just don’t care. It still sounds fine, since most apps for calls and stuff already do some loudness leveling. But if you actually want better sound — stay around 20–30 cm (8–12 inches).

AudioTechnica AT2020 USB is a good mic (I use it for most of my YouTube videos). It doesn't require XLR or a separate audio interface. If you already have an audio interface though, with XLR and phantom power, then look into getting a pencil condenser microphone instead. I record in OBS (because I'm screen recording too) and edit in Audacity, but you can record straight into Audacity.

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