AT2020USB or the Samson C01U

[tonypham]

I've recently found a few Best Buy gift cards around my house which altogether totaled to around $500. I wouldn't like to use my entire amount towards a quality microphone, but I would like to purchase a <$200, quality make.

Microphones | Best Buy (for reference).

I have a bass-baritone voice and am looking to find a proper microphone for recording. At first I looked to purchase an SM-57, but my friend suggested that I invest in condenser microphones. Do either of the AT2020USB or the Samson C01U have positive reviews within this forum? I'm not sure which to pick of the two, or to even pick either of them at all.

 

[The Cancers]

USB mics generally don't have a good reputation here for anything but podcasting.
Don't really have any advice past that, just giving you the general impression I've gotten off the board.

 

[tonypham]

you would recommend an sm57 then?

 

[The Cancers]

Nope.
I don't know what other equipment you have, what your ultimate goals are for this recording, what uses you hope to get out of this particular mic (live or just studio), what characteristics of dynamic vs. condenser mics you are looking for (let alone whether you understand the differences in their characteristics).

Basically, I ain't selling anything, so I don't have any reason to give you false info, and I don't know enough about you to tell you it would be a good idea for you to spend $100 on anything.

All that aside, the SM58 is a professional microphone used on stage and in studios around the world, so it's obviously capable of being a useful recording tool.

 

[tryan225]

I received an at2020usb as a present a while ago. I gotta say it sounds pretty good for anything, not just podcasts. If you don't mind overdubbing and tracking everything separately, I would highly recommend it.