Looking at first mic, Yeti, AT2020

[birchswinger]

Hi, everyone, this is my first post here.

I am considering the Yeti as a first time mic buyer wanting to get into podcasting (and wanting to interview people).

There is a review of it here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/microphones...i-usb/4505-6469_7-33871254.html?tag=mncol;lst

I was originally looking at the Audio Tecnica AT2020 USB. However, I believe it's only intended to be used directly facing the microphone, whereas with the Yeti it seems you have a number of options, either recording omnidirectional, bidirectional (opposite sides of the mic), and two different recording styles for head-on recording. I really don't understand a lot of this stuff, but I do think the bidirectional and omnidirectional recording options would be good for recording interviews. However, I do like the asthetics of the AT2020 more and I'm also a sucker for the fact that Amazon lists it as having been retail 249 and it's now 94, whereas with the Yeti it's a newer product retail 149, yet I can't find it very much discounted anywhere. Psychologically I like to think I'm getting a deal.

I'm asking for this as my Christmas present. Anyone with any recommendations? Thoughts on the quality of AT2020 vs Yeti? Like I said, I like the omnidirectional and bidirectional recording of the Yeti, but I also am curious to know whether the overall quality of the AT2020 is better.

Or are there other models I should be looking at as well?

Thanks!

BTW, I will be using this with a MacBook Pro with Garageband.

 

[12milluz]

The 2020 is an excellent mic and I do recommend it. However, if you are going to doing interviews and such, like you said, the single pattern will be limiting.

Blue microphones are also fantastic mics so I have heard (by word of mouth and recordings) but I have not had any personal experience with them. As far as the 2020 going for $94, that's about the going price, or maybe a little less anywhere else. No one sells it for $250. Don't fall for marketing hype- get the mic you need. If you really need the interviewing capabilities, get the Yeti. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Also, either will work with the Macbook and Garageband.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Blue has a webcam with built in microphone that is supposed to be pretty good too...depending on what you want to do it might kill 2 birds with one stone.

 

[birchswinger]

The 2020 is an excellent mic and I do recommend it. However, if you are going to doing interviews and such, like you said, the single pattern will be limiting.

Blue microphones are also fantastic mics so I have heard (by word of mouth and recordings) but I have not had any personal experience with them. As far as the 2020 going for $94, that's about the going price, or maybe a little less anywhere else. No one sells it for $250. Don't fall for marketing hype- get the mic you need. If you really need the interviewing capabilities, get the Yeti. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Also, either will work with the Macbook and Garageband.

Thanks, that's good advice, probably what I'll end up doing.

Blue has a webcam with built in microphone that is supposed to be pretty good too...depending on what you want to do it might kill 2 birds with one stone.

Thanks for the suggestion...I actually have a webcam built into my computer, and the built in mic on Macs is pretty good, so I actually want to go to something above and beyond that level of mic, but again I appreciate the suggestion.

 

[moresound]

There is a model out that takes USB or XLR very versatile in the long run, I can't remember the name (it's white in color) but I had seen it in a B&H a/v catalog along with a whole slew of others like rode, shure and most major brands all for under 150.00
Try a google search USB and XLR mic or go to B&H.com in the mic section.

 

[moresound]

found it in b&h catalog its the se-electronics usb2200a thats both xlr and usb another model of same company is usb1000a

 

[birchswinger]

found it in b&h catalog its the se-electronics usb2200a thats both xlr and usb another model of same company is usb1000a

Thanks for the tip. I looked it up, and it looks too pricey for me. Also, what is XLR, is that just when you connect it with an audio cord instead of USB?

 

[12milluz]

Right, the standard connector in the audio industry for microphones is the XLR connector. He was recommending that as you could later use it with a live system or different audio interface.