Updated May 1/12
Audio-Technica USB Mics
Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Studio Microphone
$149 - in stock
Includes tripod desk stand, pivoting stand mount, USB cable and storage pouch.
The new AT2020 USB offers studio-quality articulation and intelligibility.
It plugs right into your computer’s USB port, and functions
seamlessly with your favorite recording software. Equipped with
a USB digital output, the AT2020 USB is perfect for home studio
recording, field recording, podcasting, and voiceover use. The
AT2020 USB is based on the design of Audio-Technica’s
critically acclaimed AT2020 cardioid condenser microphone and
features a low-mass diaphragm, custom-engineered for extended frequency
response and superior transient response. Side-address studio condenser
with USB digital output (Windows and Mac compatible). Crystal-clear,
natural sound for podcasting, home studio recording, field recording,
and voiceover use. Custom-engineered low-mass diaphragm provides
extended frequency response and superior transient response. Cardioid
polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and rear,
improving isolation of desired sound source. Low self-noise – perfectly
suited for sophisticated digital recording equipment.
Professional-quality performance for any application!
Large-diaphragm condenser mics are often favored for vocal and
acoustic instrument performances because they bring warmth and
richness to live performance and recording sessions. The AT2020
from Audio-Technica combines the valued characteristics of these
condenser mics with an open, airy quality for the most natural
representation of your music.
Side-address design captures room ambience
The AT2020's side-address element is different than most condenser
mics because of its open design. The average condenser mic catches
your audio source down inside the capsule, which can lead to
a pristine, but slightly sterile track. Side address mics preserve
the natural ambience of the room, so your tracks are filled with
the airy, dynamic quality your ears expect to hear. External
processors can inject artificial environmental characteristics
back in to your audio source, but with the AT2020 there's no
need. Your tracks will already sound natural, blending into the
mix with little effort.
Cardioid pickup pattern
While its side-address design opens up the performance, the AT2020
uses a cardioid pickup pattern for improved aiming control. The
condenser element focuses on sources directly to the front, while
rejecting unwanted sounds from the sides and to the rear. As
a result, you bring 'the room' into your recordings, but only
the parts you want. This isolation makes it possible to record
multiple tracks simultaneously without one track bleeding into
the next. In a live situation, you can position the AT2020 for
the best pickup of your intended source without worrying about
feedback problems from loudspeakers or other microphones. Your
audience can focus on the music with no distractions.
High SPL handling
Many musicians shy away from condenser mics because they tend to
be more 'delicate' than dynamic mics. Audio-Technica makes their
mics to be used in the real world, not pampered for fear of damage.
The AT2020 is rated at a maximum Sound Pressure Level of 144
dB, so it can accurately reproduce loud instruments and strong
vocals with clarity and precision. A jackhammer at a distance
of one meter measures approximately 100 dB SPL, so you get an
idea of the AT2020's capabilities.
Wide dynamic range
While 'maximum loudness' is important, it is only part of the picture.
The AT2020 also has an impressive 124 dB dynamic range. This
means it can reproduce the quietest sounds as faithfully as the
big booms. For acoustic instruments such as drums, pianos, and
guitars, dynamic range is crucial for bringing out all of the
expressiveness in a performance. From whisper-quiet vocal parts
to thunderous crescendos, you hear all the subtle differences
that bring mood, tension, and diversity to your performance.
If you have added these elements to your music, it is important
for the audience to hear them. The AT2020 will make sure they
do.
Innovative condenser element
These impressive ratings are made possible by unique engineering
of the condenser element. Condenser microphones rely on a polarizing
voltage to reproduce sound. The AT2020 requires 48V phantom power,
so be sure your mixer or microphone preamp supplies this voltage.
Most condenser mics send the charge directly to the diaphragm
element, which needs to be thick enough to handle the incoming
voltage. Audio-Technica instead runs the voltage to the back-plate
of the condenser, so the diaphragm can be much thinner and more
responsive. In many cases, the diaphragm is just 2 microns thick.
That's less than 1/10,000h of an inch! All this technology translates
into better sonic definition, and cleaner, clearer tracks. You'll
spend less time mixing and editing in the studio and less time
tweaking settings live, because your tracks will start off already
sounding great.
Ultra-quiet performance
Thinner, low-mass diaphragms also have the advantage of reducing
handling noise. Sensitive condenser mics often pick up subtle
vibrations from the mic stand or through the floor, which can
lead to tedious editing and possibly unusable tracks. The AT2020
limits these intrusions into your tracks for the cleanest possible
signal. Studio engineers are always under a time crunch. Why
add unnecessary steps if you don't have to? The AT2020 lets you
start off with high-quality source material for quicker turnaround
time on all your projects. |
