Should i get a audio interface or audio technica at2020?

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atifkt

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I bought a dynamic mic for 70$. Now due to bad quality equip. i'll have to buy an audio interface. SO i wanted to ask if i should buy an audio interface or audio technica at2020 usb mic?
 
Get the interface. It will give you more future options.
 
It depends what you want.

If you never plan to use more than one mic, say for vocals only, go USB.

If there's any chance you might want to stereo record or multitrack or anything like that, pick up an interface.
 
i plan on going for one mic and only for vocals ( rap ). Nothing else.
Than wil the audio technica at2020 be good choice for good sound?
 
Like anything, it will have its limits, and to some extent you usually get what you pay for.

A good sound? It's all relative; It depends what your expectations are.


The best thing you can do is trial run one somewhere, and the second best is to look for a video demo of one.
Try to find a raw demo (no effects) to get an idea of how good or bad these things are.
 
You'll probably want the audio interface, as you needs will probably grow and develop over time, and going that route will at least give you the flexibility to adapt your needs without binning everything.
 
Even if you only plan to use one mic, I still suggest you go the interface route. As you progress, you will likely decide you want to own more than one mic--say a bright condenser for vocals that sound one way and a warmer darker dynamic for music that suit at sound. With an interface, you can just swap mics--with USB you'd need a different USB mic each time.

An interface will also give you more flexibility for monitoring (headphones when recording, speakers for mixing) rather than trying to use the rubbish mini jack on your computer.
 
in the audio technica at2020 mic will i get sound better than a 100$ dynamic mic as it is said that condenser mic are more sensitive so they pick up sound better
 
I don't mean to be awkward but that can't really be answered.

A usb mic is a microphone, a preamp and converters in one package.
A $100 dynamic 'XLR' mic is just a microphone.

I would imagine an sm58 into a neve pre and apogee converters would be better than any budget usb mic, but then, what does better mean?


If you've already spent money on a microphone (what is it, btw?), It makes more sense to pick up an interface to go with it.
Like the other guys said, flexibility in monitoring, owning a few mics, even recording line level signals from synths/keyboards.

You may be looking into this in the future.
 
+1 for what Steenamaroo just said--but I'll throw in an extra "it depends" and say that a mixture of your voice, your room acoustics and your expectations will come into this as well.

Condenser mics like the AT2020 tend to be brighter sounding than dynamics. Some voices sound great this way, others benefit from the warmer/darker character of a dynamic--it all depends on what you want. Similarly, the greater sensitivity of a condenser is a double edged sword. If the acoustics of your room are good, it can help bring them out. If your acoustics suck, a condenser will record the suckage with more clarity and detail!
 
I suggest that you spend some time reading the "stickies" at the top of this forum.
 
It'd probably sound brighter and clearer that a dynamic straight up, but like those guys? I doubt it; Who knows.

I can't tell what the vocal mic is but it looks like Neumann. The guitar mic certainly is.
There's a potential few grand already, and the chances of skimping on the signal path are pretty low.


You usb condenser will get you closer to what you want, but probably not anywhere a professional recording.
Any use?
 
I have to use it for rap for youtube i want to get close enough quality like those guys?

or like this guy Justin Bieber - Boyfriend (MattyBRaps Cover) - YouTube

I just want quality like these guys nothing more. And for recording for an album i'll think for a mic. later but just tell me will the audio technica usb at2020 give me quality close enough like these guys?
 
Steenamaroo said:
You usb condenser will get you closer to what you want, but probably not anywhere a professional recording.
Any use?
Click to expand...

Same as anyone else on this forum, I doubt it, but can't prove it.

Do you want me to just say yes?


Let me explain a bit. There's more to it than the mic.
We have no idea where you're recording or what you sound like.
If you sing like Barry White, that mic may be no use at all, or it may be perfect.

If you're doing your singing in a dull muddy sounding room, or a super bright echoey tiled room, it's gonna sound completely different.

The only real answer you'll get is that broadly speaking, condenser mics sound brighter than dynamics, and broadly speaking, $100 mics won't sound like a neumann or w/e.
 
Closer than a dynamic? Yes.

Close enough to satisfy you? Only you can answer that. But, as others have said, you're asking us to compare a hundred dollar mic to ones costing ten or twenty times as much. There WILL be differences. (And don't forget they've also recorded in studios with carefully designed acoustics probably costing six or seven figure numbers.)
 
I mean the crisp and clear quality they get in their recordings.
Will that be acquired through audio technica at2020 usb as it's in my budget too.
 
It'll be pretty crisp and clear, yes.
The best thing you can do is watch an unmolested review, recorded through an at2020, or try one out somewhere.



Skip to 2:28 for rapping.
 
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