Headphones are plugged into the mini-jack socket on the side of the mic and a thumbwheel potentiometer governs the headphone level, while another adjusts the balance between the direct signal from the mic (for latency-free monitoring) andthe computer's stereo output. As well transmitting the mic signal, the USB connection brings stereo audio back from the computer.

The USB side of things caters for 16-bit A-D conversion (which can accommodate a dynamic range of over 90dB) and a sample rate of 44.1kHz. Pads shouldn't be necessary, though, given that the mic can handle pretty high SPLs. There are no pads or filters, so any necessary low-cut EQ must be applied after recording. This isn't exceptional but it's adequately low for typical close-miked studio applications, which is precisely what this mic is intended for. The signal-to-noise ratio is quoted as 74dB (1kHz at 1Pa), which equates to a self-noise or EIN figure of 20dB. A blue LED inside the basket confirms that the mic is powered up. Power is drawn from the USB port, the standard full-size USB connector taking the place of the usual XLR socket. The latest version, the AT2020 USB+, puts that right, and bundled accessories include a conventional standmounting swivel clamp, a small tripod desk stand and a 10-foot USB cable.Īs with the other AT2020 variants this is a side-address, medium-diaphragm (16mm diameter) cardioid mic, and its back-electret capsule features a low-mass diaphragm with a frequency response in excess of 20Hz to 16kHz, and a maximum SPL handling of 144dB (1kHz at 1% THD). As with many of the early USB mics, though, this lacked features, such as a headphone output, that are needed for some applications. A USB version must have seemed a no-brainer to Audio-Technica, and the AT2020 USB was released a few years ago. Audio-Technica's AT2020 is often recommended as an modestly priced mic that gives much better results than you'd expect.

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