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The AT2020USB-XP is a microphone that also serves as the tech that converts your voice into the digital medium to be recorded on a computer. Converting analogue signal to digital language can become complicated, involving subjects like sample rate, bit depth, latency and dither, but the AT2020USB-XP handles all of this in its stride. You can explore more complex jargon when you’re ready!
Microphones are used to amplify our voice, and traditionally they’re required to be connected to a cable, which was connected to an external pre-amplifier, and another cable, before arriving at a device to record what the microphone hears. If you’re new to recording and microphones, this might be a bit much, and the beauty of the AT2020USB-XP is that it is an all-in-one solution.
The AT2020USB-XP is a microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, meaning it only hears what’s in front of the mic and rejects sound behind it – i.e. there won’t be spill from multiple microphones when streaming or interviewing. It’s capable of hearing the full spectrum of sound that human ears perceive, so you won’t lose anything, while it also connects to your computer via USB, both powering the electronics of the mic itself as well as sending audio wherever you need it to go.
The AT2020USB-XP has an automatic gain control, meaning that it can detect and automatically set the ideal volume for your voice or other source. There’s a soft-touch mute button and handy red LED to let you know the mic is muted, returning to a ‘Power On’ blue indicator when active.
The AT2020USB-XP has a built-in headphone output and volume control on the capsule itself, allowing you and any other creators to set their own headphone volume from their own mic. The AT2020USB-XP also has a slider to mix between microphone volume and computer audio, so you can hear game sounds, podcast guests or other sound that’s coming from the computer. If you don’t want to hear your own voice at all – that’s fine too!
Small additions like a custom desk stand and clip-on pop filter help to isolate the mic from a desktop, to prevent the mic picking up bumps or knocks on the table, and the pop filter prevent the burst of air from plosives—the ‘pop’ from sounds like ‘p’, ‘t’, ‘k’ words etc. as well as sibilance, the sometimes harshness of ‘s’ and ‘t’ sounds.
If a “cardioid condenser microphone, pre-amplifier with phantom power, mic stand, multiple XLR cables to connect it to a A/D-D/A (analogue-to-digital, digital-to-analogue) convertor” sends you into a tech-jargon headspin, the AT2020USB-XP might be the mic for you.
In use, the AT2020USB-XP was easy to set up. Connecting it via the (included!) USB cables had the mic showing the blue ‘Power On’ indicator immediately, and it was available as an ‘input’ device on my computer’s preferences. From here, I could easily select it in different streaming and recording software. The soft-touch mute was totally silent, some other mics emitting an audible click or pop when switched to mute.
The volume of my headphones was easy to set, and the mix slider between computer audio and my own voice was a breeze to adjust, having me comfortable and able to focus on my content quickly. There’s nothing worse than hearing too much of the wrong stuff and struggling to focus on speaking, streaming or gaming!
Admittedly, the mic sounds great even without the included pop filter, but immediately became more consistent and, for lack of a better word, professional sounding, once I attached the pop filter. My voice was even and coherent, the automatic gain control also playing its part to keep it at a healthy volume. I had the mic ready to record in moments, without having to sync up multiple pieces of equipment, as well as a computer.
All in all, the AT2020USB-XP is a great solution for someone who has a need for a microphone, but without the budget (or patience) to invest into multiple pieces of equipment to record it. The AT2020USB-XP is a USB microphone, so it’s plug-and-play, and all the controls you might need are on the mic chassis itself, close enough for you to adjust on the fly.
The included pop filter and mic stand are added bonuses, assisting the automatic gain control and soft touch mute to provide uninterrupted, consistent sound for your audience. The ease of use only adds to the package, allowing you to focus on great conversation and content rather than stressing over the equipment you’re using to capture it.
Straight out of the box, the Audio Technica AT2020USB-XP includes everything you need to start recording, is of high enough quality to record music and instruments, and being well-and-truly qualified for spoken word in podcasting, gaming or other streaming content. As you progress, the AT2020USB-XP will always come in handy, being a total recording package that fits in your bag. You’d be lost without one, so heck, get two!
From August 1 – September 30, you can redeem a free accessory with any 20 Series microphone when you buy from any authorised Australian dealer, head here for more info!
This article was made in partnership with Audio-Technica.
