Audio-Technica - AT2040

Checked a test on youtube where it’s AT2020 and AT2040 and can confirm they both pick up the room noise despite AT2040 being a dynamic mic

I checked a test on youtube and neither AT2020 (condenser) nor AT2040 (dynamic) reject unwanted sound. So can confirm

I would still stay away from a condenser mic as they tend to pick up absolutely everything. I love my Shure MV7, but you could always go for the MV7+ if you are feeling fancy. I also have an AT2040 that I really like, and I think that comes in USB as well. Is there any reason you want to stay away from XLR?

I have used both the AT2040 and the SM58 extensively. I think that the 2040 might be better for you considering that it is a hypercardioid pickup pattern compared to the cardioid pattern of the SM58. This means that the AT2040 will reject a lot more unwanted noise around the microphone while picking up your voice well. On the other hand, I have heard very good things about the podmic. That said, it does have a cardioid pickup pattern so it may not reject as much noise as the 2040.

I have never noticed any issues with the low end. My voice may not be the deepest but every recoding I have done with the 2040 sounds good to my ears. To be completely honest, I think the rejection of noise is more important than having a perfect low end. I know hearing a streamers PC or keyboard would make me click off immediately.

Do not get the Quadcast. They’re not worth the money. With $150 you could get a Rode Podmic, Audio Technica AT2040, or if you really want a condenser mic the AT2020. But I would highly suggest NOT getting a condenser mic. If you want a good budget mic, the Fifine AM8 is a great option at around $50 and has both USB and XLR. So if you decide to get an audio interface later, you won’t have to also get a new mic. If you’re hard set on a condenser mic though, the AT2020 is a highly respected budget condenser mic AND has a USB version for under $150 if I’m remembering correctly. I personally have the AT2040, and while it’s not the best out of the box, it pairs well enough with my voice and sounds fine with EQ. The downside to the Podmic and AT2040 is that they’re both XLR. They have USB versions but they’re a little more expensive. Don’t let anyone force you down the road of getting an interface + mic if you think a USB mic would work for your situation.

If you want a mic that sounds great, lasts long, and cuts down background noise, go for a dynamic XLR mic like the Audio-Technica AT2040 or Rode PodMic—both are solid for voiceovers in your budget. Pair it with an interface like the Focusrite Scarlett Solo, and you’re set. If you ever need cleanup or mixing to make your recordings sound even better, I can help with that too.

I use the ElgatoXLR dock with AKG 702s. I absolutely love these headphones and they're a little older now and they go on sale all the time. The open back makes them so much more comfortable for longer wear. The down side is they don't isolate noise to anyone else in the room but the sound stage on them is phenomenal and makes it super easy to tell direction. For a mic, I like my AT 2040. Buying separate products is a lot more versatile.

I've got a few too many! (But remember that for Emma forever ago was recorded with just one sm57) I'm a Logic Pro X user, I have a couple of free plugins that I use frequently, including HELM by Matt Tytel, SurgeXT, Spitfire audio LABS, and the Klevgrand DAW casette. (The stock apple plugins are very good, especially the compressor.) I have plenty of paid plugins, too, but these free ones are really worth your attention For vox: I either use an electrovoice RE50N-db, a beyerdynamic m80, or a Sennheiser e945. I use the 945 for all demos because it's my stage mic and it helps me figure out how my vocal melody fits live. I use the RE50N-db mainly for backup vox or for a double. For electric guitar: I either use an sm57 or an E609 (or my at2040 if I need it to be audible but not sound great to thicken the mix.) For acoustic guitar: I use the RE50N-db near the 12th fret and an sm57 near the sound hole unless I'm going for a really dark sound, in which case, I put the RE50N-db near the body around 4 inches past the bridge and cut out the mid frequencies For bass amp (rock context, otherwise I just line it in): AT2040 For capturing samples, I either use an Sm57 or my field recorder

Any of those are good mics, but you could shop.used or open box to save some money and put that toward quieting down your PC, which will be very helpful. The SM58 and Podmic have the advantage of being designed to be close to your mouth, so they have better built-in pop filtering. AT2040 will probably sound crisper out of the box, but it will need more help with pop filtering.

I find the AT2040 to be the superior option to the 2020 and if you're eying some of the highest priced mics it means you're willing to spend a bit more. Most people won't fully benefit from the Shure SM7B because most peoples vocals are within a narrower bandwith and so higher range mics are often more fluff than actual substance. Not to suggest even remotely there's no use case for it. As for an interface, I'm using a Scarlet 2i2 3rd Gen and she's a dream. 2 front XLR ports, good sound quality, powerful little machine.

Whether a microphone is a dynamic or a condenser has no effect on how much of the room it will pick up. If your room sounds bad, choose the AT2040, as its pickup pattern is hypercardioid, which *will* pick up less of the room.