Which Picks up More Background Noise: Snowball or at2020

[LCBradley3k]

It seems like the snowball prevents more background noise, but the audio quality of the at2020 is better, but it is more expensive (at least for the usb version).

Do you think the at2020 will pick up background noise, because the snowball doesn't seem to pick up much at all.

One more question, if I got the xlr version of the at2020, could I just get a simple xlr to usb adapter? Would that decrease quality by a lot? Thanks.

 

[DarrenVocal]

It seems like the snowball prevents more background noise, but the audio quality of the at2020 is better, but it is more expensive (at least for the usb version).

Do you think the at2020 will pick up background noise, because the snowball doesn't seem to pick up much at all.

One more question, if I got the xlr version of the at2020, could I just get a simple xlr to usb adapter? Would that decrease quality by a lot? Thanks.

I don't know about the background noise one, but I'd say if you get the XLR version of the AT2020, and just hooked it up to the computer using a XLR to USB adapter, your audio will simply sound like a toaster. Get a decent audio interface if you want your XLR AT2020's quality to be good. Besides, if you are mixing song etc, background noise won't really matter, because the background instruments will cover up the background noise. I hope you have a better idea now.

Cheers,
Darren.

 

[LCBradley3k]

I don't know about the background noise one, but I'd say if you get the XLR version of the AT2020, and just hooked it up to the computer using a XLR to USB adapter, your audio will simply sound like a toaster. Get a decent audio interface if you want your XLR AT2020's quality to be good. Besides, if you are mixing song etc, background noise won't really matter, because the background instruments will cover up the background noise. I hope you have a better idea now.

Cheers,
Darren.

Well it wouldn't be that much for music (although I would use it for a little amateur guitar recordings), it would mainly be for commentary and I don't want the sound of my keyboard getting in the way.

 

[DarrenVocal]

Well it wouldn't be that much for music (although I would use it for a little amateur guitar recordings), it would mainly be for commentary and I don't want the sound of my keyboard getting in the way.

If you do not want the sound of your keyboard getting in the way, that would not be the background noise problem(I thought you were referring to the hissing noise). First of all, get a quieter keyboard if possible. Second of all, make sure your microphone is pointed AWAY from the keyboard. Third of all, dynamic microphones tend to pick up less background noise, unlike the condenser ones. Condenser microphones are used in studios because they take it you have taken care of background noise and do not wish to turn the input gain up too much that they pick up background noise. I hope this helps you.

Cheers,
Darren.

 

[LCBradley3k]

If you do not want the sound of your keyboard getting in the way, that would not be the background noise problem(I thought you were referring to the hissing noise). First of all, get a quieter keyboard if possible. Second of all, make sure your microphone is pointed AWAY from the keyboard. Third of all, dynamic microphones tend to pick up less background noise, unlike the condenser ones. Condenser microphones are used in studios because they take it you have taken care of background noise and do not wish to turn the input gain up too much that they pick up background noise. I hope this helps you.

Cheers,
Darren.

It seems every mic is going to have background noise, so it is hard to tell via reviews.
How does the ATR2500 look? It's dynamic.

Although it seems the snowball still picks up the least background noise.

 

[Steenamaroo]

There are specific reasons why one mic picks up less ambient sound than another.
It's not really a gamble or a guess. It's just down to how they are manufactured and how you use them.

Ok, there will be subtle differences between designs, but broadly speaking it comes down to this.....

Polar pattern is important.

Omni is the worst for your; It's designed to pick up all around it.
Cardioid is probably the most common. It has some degree of rear rejection, but there are better options.


How you use the mic is also important. People say dynamic mics pick up less background noise. It's not as simple as that.
Dynamic mics generally let you get closer to them as they are often designed to be more resilient to blasts of air etc.

If you set up a dynamic and a condenser with the gains set so that each captures your voice at the same level, they'll both pick up background noise at the same volume, all other things being equal.

Being closer to the mic means your voice has increased in volume while the background noise has stayed the same.

The drawback of this (to some) is that you're likely to hear the proximity effect which means your recording will be very bassy.
If you can control that with a high pass then you're fine.

Bottom line, the mic capturing the lowest background noise is probably the mic that you're closest to.
Are headset mics an option?

 

[LCBradley3k]

There are specific reasons why one mic picks up less ambient sound than another.
It's not really a gamble or a guess. It's just down to how they are manufactured and how you use them.

Ok, there will be subtle differences between designs, but broadly speaking it comes down to this.....

Polar pattern is important.

Omni is the worst for your; It's designed to pick up all around it.
Cardioid is probably the most common. It has some degree of rear rejection, but there are better options.


How you use the mic is also important. People say dynamic mics pick up less background noise. It's not as simple as that.
Dynamic mics generally let you get closer to them as they are often designed to be more resilient to blasts of air etc.

If you set up a dynamic and a condenser with the gains set so that each captures your voice at the same level, they'll both pick up background noise at the same volume, all other things being equal.

Being closer to the mic means your voice has increased in volume while the background noise has stayed the same.

The drawback of this (to some) is that you're likely to hear the proximity effect which means your recording will be very bassy.
If you can control that with a high pass then you're fine.

Bottom line, the mic capturing the lowest background noise is probably the mic that you're closest to.
Are headset mics an option?

I think I'm going to go with the Snowball in the end. I know a lot of Youtubers who use it and they don't have a problem. Plus it has a separate cardioid setting which reduces background noise. The audio quality isn't the best of the bunch, but I'm just starting out so it is fine.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Just keep the keyboard in the null and get as close to the mic as you can.