This mic used to be a hidden gem. It's not hidden anymore! In all honesty, seeing you embrace this mic leaves me feeling relieved that I can actually trust my ears because I was stunned you didn't have it in your previous affordable mics vid and thought there must've been something I was missing!
I have a friend with a studio here, he does both 24 track analogue & digital, he has mics worth $1-10K! He said few $100 mics do almost if not AS good a job in most circumstances! IS the sound quality $K difference? NO!
I remember recording a bluegrass group in a studio that had a pretty beefy mic collection. In the live room that day, we had out a Neumann U47, some Neumann small-diaphragm condenser, a Royer R121, and an AT-2020. Nearly everyone agreed that the AT-2020 was the best sound for our guitar part, and later used it on mandolin and harmonica. Obviously, tools are only valuable when used properly, but seriously the AT-2020 is an incredible microphone at an insane value.
Hi Glenn! I've been using this mike for years as my go-to (bad singer on a budget) and it has always performed. I use it with a FRM RNC through an FX loop (I'm a LOUD singer) and I've put it through its paces. I'm very happy with the sound and it's the one I recommend to everyone as a first mike for bedroom production.
I concur 110% That mic is the first and only condenser mic I bought and I too have been using it for years. I think for non professional home studios you really only need an AT2020, a few SM57s (I also highly recommend the GLS ES57 knock off for $35 just don't drop it), and maybe an SM58 and you can record everything from instruments to vocals.
My first mic for now 6 years or so, and still my only one! I think that when I outperform it, I'll be making more than enough money to buy whatever I should want. Highly recommended to everyone. (or stay away, AT discontinues it and they might get highly appraised and $$$) 🤪
When I used to work at Guitar Center, when somebody wanted to get into recording on a budget, the AT2020 was always my first recommendation. Next step up, where it kept the value for cost at a higher price point, was the Rode NT1. After that, you've got to spend almost or over a grand to get something noticeably better. I loved this review and video. This mic deserves to be showcased
The AT2020 and the MXL 990 are seriously some of the most ridiculous "bang for the buck" $100 mics out there IMO. I've used both on various sources over the years and have never had one complaint. It is truly a golden age for affordable gear we are currently in these days. Great content Glenn! Cheers!
i love that mic i bought it in 2010 for 80 bucks and did my 1st solo record with it, my 2nd i used a mxl990 on most of it, got it for about the same price and on the 3rd i used a mix of both and even blended them on a few tracks. that at2020 is insanely good. Regrettably I sold all my condenser mics when I was doing more live work than I did studio work. but for that price its easy to get another. edit - i only recorded vocals with it, they were for a rap side project.
ive been using this mic FOR YEARS ! and still love it for my clean vocals in the studio! finally a video i can use to show clients that it doesn't suck !
Great review Glenn, and thanks for the mention. The thing about a great microphone like the AT2020 is that it's clean and flat. So it works well with pretty much any source when you want an honest uncolored capture.
Makes me so happy to see you do a review on the 2020! It was my first microphone I got and still use on occasion. I bought the commemorative Silver one with the shock mount and it is my talkback mic at work. :)
The AT2020 was my first condenser purchase and it never let me down. I recommend it because it's cheap for beginners but will always have a place in a growing mic locker. I do normally mention the AT2035 because that one has a pad and bass roll-off for a little more money (like $30 bucks-ish). I've been saying this for years, but no one seems to listen much. Maybe they will listen to you.
Regarding vocals, I've seen shootouts and for some but not all voices the AT2020 beat out $500 - $1000 mics. But that's the thing with vocals, mic matching is a thing that ignores price (to a degree).
I've been using the at2035 for a few years for just chatting with friends online mostly for games and d&d, and as far as I can tell it's never failed me for the sound quality through a scarlet solo 2nd gen. Great mics all around
I love what you do for the music community. You came out with the ELE drum pack (literally taking everybody's home recording capabilities to new heights that no other company has come close to touching yet), and your suggestions on speakers (especially the creambacks) seem to be making waves too. Now that your channel has become so popular (with no signs of slowing down), do you ever fear your influence will grow so big that you'll end up pioneering the next generation's overdone generic sound?
I've had lots of AT mics over the years and still have a bunch in the collection. I did notice what I'd call very high frequency hash on all the sources in this vid. I was listening on a pair of individually calibrated Beyer DT 770's through Sonar Works calibration software. It could have something to do with the RUclips conversion algorithm as the very top sounded like it was compressed. I've noticed this on AT condensers before and I don't think that it detracts from the "bang for the buck" that all AT mics have. This just goes to prove that you don't need a mic at 15x or more the cost to get great recordings. One of my mentors said, "Don't pay for a difference that you don't hear just because the specs or the hype tells you it's better."
It's not just you. There are reviews out there talking about this exact issue with these mics. If I could remember where I saw them I'd link. But my brain is bad.
I bought the AT2020 after Ethan mentioned it on that episode and have been using it alongside the Sm57. Been totally blown away with how well they blend together, so thank you Ethan for the recommendation.
I'm glad you finally reviewed this mic and are giving it the praise it deserves! I had one for 10 years before upgrading to the AT4040. Audio-Technica makes great stuff!
Audio-technica is making some pretty awesome gear in the latest years huh, the keyboards, audio interfaces and mics I heard are pretty great cheap alternatives to bigger brands. Btw at 4:13 holy shit Glenn!!
I have been using the 2020 for a couple years now and it works exceptionally well for my bedroom recordings. I typically have the gain 3/4 on my Presonus studio 24c audio interface which in the beginning I thought was pretty high. I enjoyed the workout you gave it. Thanks
EPIC Scream LMAOOOOO....when I worked as a Janitor at Steve's Music store in montreal in my early 20's and when I asked the resident studio Guru (awesome old dude who had a don't waste my time vibe every time anyone talked to him) "which studio mic would you recommend that would be the one mic to rule them all if you had less than $500". This is the mic he told me hands down was the absolute clear choice. He even added that this mic was not just a good for the price mic, that it was also a must have in any studio. AND, That was the story of me buying my 1st condenser mic.
The guitar-playing half of our dad rock duo bought a matched pair of AT2020s several years ago. We've used them on vocals, cabs, and acoustic guitars. It's a solid, versatile, and inexpensive mic. One of them even survived getting dropped hard enough to slightly dent the grill. (And don't look at me. I wasn't the klutz who dropped it.)
I bought this microphone last year because my work had us doing all the work seminars and training workshop on microsoft teams and playing rpg's on discord. I honestly have zero issues and it's brilliant though obviously none of what I use it for will ever push it. Mine's the USB version, btw.
This is such a quality example of Glen ignoring brands, prices and the bullshit while standing by a product that is just genuinely good as is. A lot of people(potential bass players) will think it’s snobby to call affordable products shit when it happens to be the case but seeing content like this puts all that shit in the dirt. So Thank you for always being straight up regardless if that means there’s butthurt comments after the Hammer of truth makes a cameo appearance or not. I look forward to seeing more content later down the road. Cheers.
Recorded my first album w a pair of At2020’s and 3 Audix i5’s and the audix kick mic through a presonus fp10 in my gritty Portland basement 12-13 years ago. I can confirm - DELIVERS THE GOODS.
I use AT2020 for 3 years already and I still think it's the best price to quality budget microphone on the market..! \m/ So happy you love it and just confirmed what I thought about it since it came to my studio.
SM7B is a great mic for the right purposes. It’s just that I think people overstate what those right purposes are. I think a lot of singers get seduced by the idea of a dynamic mic that doesn’t require a lot of thought to sound good, and they assume that the SM7B is that mic. In reality, it requires a lot of gain, good mic discipline, and the right kind of processing and EQ to make it shine. For a bit more money, the RE20 offers all the advantage of a dynamic mic but with brighter highs and easier pickup pattern and proximity effect. For a bit less money, most singers will be better served with a condenser like Rode NT1. But if your budget is $100 to 150, get an AT2020 or 2035. It’s way more versatile than an SM7B and will sound better in untrained hands for anything but spoken word.
Hey Glenn Honestly bud your rhythm playing has gotten a lot better. Ive noticed something though on your leads. Lots of guys don’t play with straps and thats fine if thats your thing, but Vs, LPs, and a bunch of other guitars slide down ur legs when ur trying to play and u gotta grip harder on your fretting hand and that makes u push harder and ur notes go sharp. 7:22 is what I mean. Its subtle but its there. Glenn i highly recommend a thick leather strap. Put the weight of the guitar on your shoulders and let ur hands be free. Believe me, it helps a lot. Also try a chair without arms, armchairs of all types are a pain in the ass for playing, especially with a V Keep up the great practising, its clear to see how hard youre working and as someone whos been a practising slouch youre making me pick up my guitar much more often
While I use the TLM103 now, I SWEAR by the AT-2020 and recommend it to most beginners. The amount of mileage and bank for the buck you'll get from it is INSANE
First time now where I've watched your videos and went, "EYYYYY he's talking about a piece of gear that I actually own unlike the other things that I can't get, and he's praising it! :D"
Been using that mic for years for amps, singing, screaming, and spoken voiceover. It does need to be backed off gain-wise for voiceover, BUT yeah, I’m glad to see this mic getting some recognition. It’s been an absolute workhorse and one of the most valuable pieces of gear I have. I actually got it in a bundle with the AT2021 which I actually use more for acoustic instruments, and it’s also extremely cool.
I absolutely LOVE this mic. I've had it a little more than 5 years now, and it hasn't failed me yet. Sometimes you can find a deal where it comes bundled with a boom stand, XLR cable, and pop screen for less than $120🤘🏾
Glenn: I might be overdoing the intros guys, sorry about that! Also Glenn: HELLLOOOOOOO EVERYBODAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
This is also a mic that people upgrade from when they “get serious” so you can find it used for like $50 pretty regularly. It’s big sister the at2035 is an actual LDC with pad and hpf and a shock mount for not much more, and if you find those used (or refurbed from like Amazon warehouse) they’re often less than $100.
I picked this up as my first condenser mic when they were first released. The major selling pitch for me was SPL handling was off the charts at the time.
I love this mic. I've been using one for two years now. Replaced my old reliable SM57. I use the AT2035, which is the identical mic with a 80hz high-pass filter and 10db pad (which solves that "quiet acoustic" issue). It sounds awesome for the money.
I love this mic, I've had it and solidly used it for 7 years now. Works great as a Hi Hat mic and great on guitars too! I mainly use it as a second vocal mic about 1.5m away from the vocalist
Was going to say it's a bit soon to mention longevity and reliability, but the Comments section has that covered. It's now at the top of my shopping list, at £80, for a high-performance condenser mic. Thanks all for this recommendation. 🎸🎤🥁🎹⚡🤘🏻
The vocalist that my band picked up in 2013 had one of these. It looked cool and sounded pretty good. So I got one for myself. Many years and albums later, here I am with the thing still sitting on my desk. It just works.
First time i heard this mic, it was in a small room with laminate floor in my buddies condo. He recorded my buddy who was a singer and acoustic guitarist songwriter, live off the floor. The mic was back a bit, and just kinda around head level,as he was sitting down. When i heard the mix of that recording ,I went to Long and McQuade the next day and bought the mic. I been using it for years. I use it for live streaming,with a little bit of compressor and effects. Sounds pretty good, for RUclips live streams
I had one of these for years, upgraded it to a Shure SM7B and sold it. I kind of regret selling it, because it could be a great room mic in retrospect. Cool microphone indeed!
It would be interesting to hear more mics like this tested in other situations in studio, a pair for overheads or room mics maybe? Doing background vocals, or maybe trying em out on bass amps?
I kinda wish you would show how this mic sounds as an overhead mic for drums. Other than that, great video as always and I will definitely add it to my wish-list!
Wish I could watch all of your stuff as soon as you post. GREAT info dude! I have had one of these for years, this mic was all I could afford at the time and turned out to be the best dam'd mic i just "lucked" into. Glad you support that decision. Though I always wonder if I've missed a more recent vid where you have found a better mic. That's ok, this one still works well, but maybe you've found the next one I NEED that is even better! Thank you for your honest reviews. Even though I'm not a metal geek, just call me Mr. Classic Rock, I REALLY enjoy your "passionate and energetic language" (right up my alley) and the info your present is very "present" even for us classic folk! I can't get enough of your "volume!" Keep SHOUTING the truth, man!
I've been using the $300-range AT-3035 on vocals, acoustics, drum overheads and rooms religiously for 20 years! Discontinued now but still easy to find used.
Everything sounds good if it is the only thing you are hearing. It is only when comparing to other equipment that the really good sounding stuff stands out. Nothing (worse, or maybe better) than having a piece of gear that sounds good to you, and then you A/B it against another piece of gear, and that new bit is SO MUCH BETTER. You never knew what you were missing until you heard better. This is what mixing is all about, figuring out all the little things that make each individual sound sound better, by doing comparisons and testing techniques/gear, and in turn, the whole collective that much better. YOU HAVE TO COMPARE TO EVALUATE SOUND QUALITY!
I've got this mic in my studio and have used it for a number of years and still do amongst a couple of others. I've got lots of examples of it in use on my channel and I think it's excellent for the money 💰💸
I love this microphone! I've had one of these for 3 or 4 years now, it's still in mint condition, and It would take a lot more than what I paid for it to buy it.
Sounds GREAT, GLENN! For $99?! PS You're a fucking BAD-ASS high-range singer w/ great range, ta boot! And your acoustic playing is totally great, too! Enough of me gagging on yer gag-thing, but keep up the great work; you are by far way more entertaining and informative than so many twiggits on RUclips. MUCH LOVE from MARYLAND! ;)
I once bought an RB500 ribbon mic from Thomann for 100-ish bucks, almost never use anything else (with a cheap FET preamp). It saved me hours of headaches EQ-ing brass and woodwinds, sounds great on vocals and drum overheads, and I still need to test it on guitar cabs.
Coincidentally I just bought an AT2020 a couple weeks ago for recording vocals. My ears liked it just fine, but it's great to have a vote of confidence from someone whose opinion I trust. Keep up the Fearless Gear Reviews!
I have a lot of respect for Ethen Winer because of his great understanding of recording and the studio and not catering to the pompous wannabe elite, and even more now as a great human for showing love for his cat in having it in his picture for all to see, as if he'd rather put it in the spotlight over himself. And it's a cutie too.
I've been using the 2020 for years. In my opinion is the best mic period. I find it super flat which is great for many things. Also the 2020 being "flatter", it suits better for my baritone voice, thing that the Shure sm7b for example does not do since it kills a bit of the high-end.
I am a 6 octave Dramatic Tenor Operatic Metal Singer and vocalist, I have had engineers just use SM58s and shit with me. I have deep balls in the tone at 6'4 270lbs, but hit a hit C and clip the fuck out of sensitive mics. So, SM58.. Can't wait to try one of these. Might have to get one for my bass amp in my Orange Rockerverb100MKII/Bass/Dark Terror wall
I got mine on special at like 170$ for the set with the pencil condenser. One of them eventually ended up toppling off from it's overhead stand. I got a new one and used an upgrade kit from DIY Mic Parts to fix the broken one. The kit essentially replaces all the guts but it did revive what was just a dead mic! We still use them in the garage studio and keep the upgraded AT-2020 for direct vocals. Also, I used it a lot on my Vistalite kick... 2' away from the closed front end and you were in full blown 70's rock glory!! Side note, I want to get more DIY kits.. the parts are awesome and I find it fun to spend an evening sipping IPA and building a kit. If the AT-2020 kit is any indication of the build quality of the rest, I want to build some more for the mic vault!!
I've used this mic for over a year for vocals, spoken word and sometimes classical guitar. I don't have much experience with other condenser mics, but this one is definitely great for the price.
Dude you ever plan on doing a video on how you actually hold out these loud screams you do at the beginning of each video? Even with your vocal demos for the mic your range and breath control is spot on. Maybe something along the lines of your video on how you practice guitar. Cheers.
I’ve had this exact mic for about 4 years now! It’s awesome and more than meets my needs for my home studio. I use it mostly for acoustic guitar and vocals but it can everything in between, and it has never let me down. Other $99 bargains: Shure SM57 and Sony MDR-7506
@@heatnationwpb MXL makes awesome stuff...I bought an MXL 990/991 combo package back in 2003. The 991 died a few year later but the 990 lives on, despite being being beaten up and abused over the last nearly 20 years. Back then you could get that combo for $69 and they are still selling the same combo for only $109. Incredible bargain.
@@EdEditz I personally think the 7506s are some of the best cans you can buy at any price and I have bought 4-5 pairs of these since the late 90s. They are neutral, comfortable, and high-quality. I've tried other brands at many price points, but I just keep coming back to them. I also know a few sound engineers who swear by them and I see them often in studios and on professional AV boards.
I've had a pair of AT2020s for a few years now. I bought them used on eBay for like $100 for the pair. Best money I've spent in a long time. I use them for drum overheads recording and vocals recording and acoustic guitar. The results are surprisingly good. Crisp, good dynamics handling, and actually I really like the sound with hard rock vocals- I haven't noticed distortion at all. Glad to see you review this mic Glenn!
Hey, Glenn, I just thought I'd point out that the AT2020 comes in two versions: XLR and USB. When ordering, please make sure you get the one that's appropriate for your particular purpose. Great video and AWESOME shredding.
If you have a little bit more budget, I strongly suggest to get a 2035...I have one and I love it. Its a little bit more quieter, and take more gain from your audio interface without distorting too much compared to the 2020.
GLENN!!! Love the show and so happy to see my go-to mic given a thorough shootout I haven’t quite been able to do myself in the three years I’ve been learning to record my music. I guess I got lucky when I bought about $200 worth of gear in 2020 while in quarantine looking to reignite the passion for music. While the AT2020 seemed to work on everything, I always wondered if I could do better and as time went on and my skills improved, I tried a few other mics that, while I’m happy to have select pieces that work a little better on drums or for live performance, never came close to the quality of sound I got from the AT2020 on absolutely everything in a home studio setting. Thanks for confirming my suspicion that I fell ass backward into maybe the single best gear purchase of my life and may never experience again without diligent research and patience. Fuck you, Glenn. Xoxo+metal
I love the AT2020. Recorded a bunch of stuff on in - from guitar cabs to acoustic gutiar to drum room to even metal screams. Not the greatest sounding mic by any means, but it's dirt cheap, low noise, kinda pleasant to the ear (actually waaaay prefer it to the oh so popular NT1-A) and works on pretty much anything. Great allrounder to have flying around.
Audio Technica are a serious mic brand. Completely under rated. My favourite mic ever is the AT4060. I have had one since 1999 and just found another of similar age. serial number within 100.This mic works on anything. I also have a pair of 4033 which are outstanding for the €300 euro price. I am going to buy a pair of there at2020 based on this video. because? why not at that price they are a great addition to any studio mic collection.
Dude, I don't care who says what. I simply LOVE these intros!! Not to mention, you can sure hold a note for a long time...ever consider singing!? And Dayum, you even acoustic guitar skills now! KEEP GOING GLENN! Thanks for the great tip about the AT2020. It's currently $79.99 at Sweetwater!! Omma get one this payday!!
This mic used to be a hidden gem. It's not hidden anymore!
In all honesty, seeing you embrace this mic leaves me feeling relieved that I can actually trust my ears because I was stunned you didn't have it in your previous affordable mics vid and thought there must've been something I was missing!
I have a friend with a studio here, he does both 24 track analogue & digital, he has mics worth $1-10K! He said few $100 mics do almost if not AS good a job in most circumstances! IS the sound quality $K difference? NO!
I remember recording a bluegrass group in a studio that had a pretty beefy mic collection. In the live room that day, we had out a Neumann U47, some Neumann small-diaphragm condenser, a Royer R121, and an AT-2020. Nearly everyone agreed that the AT-2020 was the best sound for our guitar part, and later used it on mandolin and harmonica. Obviously, tools are only valuable when used properly, but seriously the AT-2020 is an incredible microphone at an insane value.
Hi Glenn! I've been using this mike for years as my go-to (bad singer on a budget) and it has always performed. I use it with a FRM RNC through an FX loop (I'm a LOUD singer) and I've put it through its paces. I'm very happy with the sound and it's the one I recommend to everyone as a first mike for bedroom production.
Mic*
It actually was my first mic. RNC was my second compressor 😂
@@WadeHarris919 What was your first?
I concur 110% That mic is the first and only condenser mic I bought and I too have been using it for years. I think for non professional home studios you really only need an AT2020, a few SM57s (I also highly recommend the GLS ES57 knock off for $35 just don't drop it), and maybe an SM58 and you can record everything from instruments to vocals.
My first mic for now 6 years or so, and still my only one! I think that when I outperform it, I'll be making more than enough money to buy whatever I should want. Highly recommended to everyone. (or stay away, AT discontinues it and they might get highly appraised and $$$) 🤪
When I used to work at Guitar Center, when somebody wanted to get into recording on a budget, the AT2020 was always my first recommendation. Next step up, where it kept the value for cost at a higher price point, was the Rode NT1. After that, you've got to spend almost or over a grand to get something noticeably better. I loved this review and video. This mic deserves to be showcased
The AT2020 and the MXL 990 are seriously some of the most ridiculous "bang for the buck" $100 mics out there IMO.
I've used both on various sources over the years and have never had one complaint.
It is truly a golden age for affordable gear we are currently in these days.
Great content Glenn!
Cheers!
I love my MXL 770!
i love that mic i bought it in 2010 for 80 bucks and did my 1st solo record with it, my 2nd i used a mxl990 on most of it, got it for about the same price and on the 3rd i used a mix of both and even blended them on a few tracks. that at2020 is insanely good. Regrettably I sold all my condenser mics when I was doing more live work than I did studio work. but for that price its easy to get another.
edit - i only recorded vocals with it, they were for a rap side project.
Dang, full mix demo has a killer bass tone. Growly, but not over distorted.
4:14 holy shit dude! Didnt know you could hit those high notes that well🤯🤯
ive been using this mic FOR YEARS ! and still love it for my clean vocals in the studio! finally a video i can use to show clients that it doesn't suck !
Great review Glenn, and thanks for the mention. The thing about a great microphone like the AT2020 is that it's clean and flat. So it works well with pretty much any source when you want an honest uncolored capture.
Daamn Glenn! That shred session was the best way to wake up this morning. Shred on man! SHRED ON!!
Makes me so happy to see you do a review on the 2020! It was my first microphone I got and still use on occasion. I bought the commemorative Silver one with the shock mount and it is my talkback mic at work. :)
When you went high with your scream, vibrato kicked in at the peak. Keep it up!
The AT2020 was my first condenser purchase and it never let me down. I recommend it because it's cheap for beginners but will always have a place in a growing mic locker. I do normally mention the AT2035 because that one has a pad and bass roll-off for a little more money (like $30 bucks-ish). I've been saying this for years, but no one seems to listen much. Maybe they will listen to you.
Regarding vocals, I've seen shootouts and for some but not all voices the AT2020 beat out $500 - $1000 mics. But that's the thing with vocals, mic matching is a thing that ignores price (to a degree).
I've been using the at2035 for a few years for just chatting with friends online mostly for games and d&d, and as far as I can tell it's never failed me for the sound quality through a scarlet solo 2nd gen. Great mics all around
I love what you do for the music community. You came out with the ELE drum pack (literally taking everybody's home recording capabilities to new heights that no other company has come close to touching yet), and your suggestions on speakers (especially the creambacks) seem to be making waves too. Now that your channel has become so popular (with no signs of slowing down), do you ever fear your influence will grow so big that you'll end up pioneering the next generation's overdone generic sound?
I've had lots of AT mics over the years and still have a bunch in the collection. I did notice what I'd call very high frequency hash on all the sources in this vid. I was listening on a pair of individually calibrated Beyer DT 770's through Sonar Works calibration software. It could have something to do with the RUclips conversion algorithm as the very top sounded like it was compressed. I've noticed this on AT condensers before and I don't think that it detracts from the "bang for the buck" that all AT mics have. This just goes to prove that you don't need a mic at 15x or more the cost to get great recordings. One of my mentors said, "Don't pay for a difference that you don't hear just because the specs or the hype tells you it's better."
It's not just you. There are reviews out there talking about this exact issue with these mics.
If I could remember where I saw them I'd link. But my brain is bad.
I bought the AT2020 after Ethan mentioned it on that episode and have been using it alongside the Sm57. Been totally blown away with how well they blend together, so thank you Ethan for the recommendation.
I'm glad you finally reviewed this mic and are giving it the praise it deserves! I had one for 10 years before upgrading to the AT4040. Audio-Technica makes great stuff!
AT2020 been my go to for years. Great little mic.
I just bought this mic about 2 weeks ago and LOVE IT. So much better than the mics Ive been using that are like 25+ years old. Great show!
2:48 We appreciate you're digging the Happy Cab Glenn, thank you!
Audio-technica is making some pretty awesome gear in the latest years huh, the keyboards, audio interfaces and mics I heard are pretty great cheap alternatives to bigger brands.
Btw at 4:13 holy shit Glenn!!
Awesome intro, don't stop!
I have this mic very clean and clear and well built its sweet spot is a little bit closer than I thought it would be
I have been using the 2020 for a couple years now and it works exceptionally well for my bedroom recordings. I typically have the gain 3/4 on my Presonus studio 24c audio interface which in the beginning I thought was pretty high. I enjoyed the workout you gave it. Thanks
Presonus interface + Audio Technica mic = my favorite bedroom/portable rig.
Dude that full mix was my favorite I’ve heard from you so far. Fucking fire
EPIC Scream LMAOOOOO....when I worked as a Janitor at Steve's Music store in montreal in my early 20's and when I asked the resident studio Guru (awesome old dude who had a don't waste my time vibe every time anyone talked to him) "which studio mic would you recommend that would be the one mic to rule them all if you had less than $500". This is the mic he told me hands down was the absolute clear choice. He even added that this mic was not just a good for the price mic, that it was also a must have in any studio. AND, That was the story of me buying my 1st condenser mic.
The guitar-playing half of our dad rock duo bought a matched pair of AT2020s several years ago. We've used them on vocals, cabs, and acoustic guitars. It's a solid, versatile, and inexpensive mic. One of them even survived getting dropped hard enough to slightly dent the grill.
(And don't look at me. I wasn't the klutz who dropped it.)
I bought this microphone last year because my work had us doing all the work seminars and training workshop on microsoft teams and playing rpg's on discord.
I honestly have zero issues and it's brilliant though obviously none of what I use it for will ever push it.
Mine's the USB version, btw.
This is such a quality example of Glen ignoring brands, prices and the bullshit while standing by a product that is just genuinely good as is. A lot of people(potential bass players) will think it’s snobby to call affordable products shit when it happens to be the case but seeing content like this puts all that shit in the dirt. So Thank you for always being straight up regardless if that means there’s butthurt comments after the Hammer of truth makes a cameo appearance or not. I look forward to seeing more content later down the road.
Cheers.
9:40 Someone likes Nevermore! Holy hell man, quite the shred and a very tasteful homage to some classic Jeff Loomis
the At2020 is still my satisfying affordable mic ever. since 8 years
I've had my AT2020 from 2010 and it's a workhorse man. It's been treated a bit roughly, but has held up amazingly well and sounds so good. I love it.
Recorded my first album w a pair of At2020’s and 3 Audix i5’s and the audix kick mic through a presonus fp10 in my gritty Portland basement 12-13 years ago. I can confirm - DELIVERS THE GOODS.
Hey Glenn, just wanted to say thanks for that intro, was very sleepy this morning and now I'm wide awake!
I use AT2020 for 3 years already and I still think it's the best price to quality budget microphone on the market..! \m/
So happy you love it and just confirmed what I thought about it since it came to my studio.
I've been using my AT2020 for about 7-8 years. Couldn't be happier to have it. Crazy versatility.
I've had the at2020 for going on 15 years or more. I've used it on a lot of my vocal covers and I actually prefer this sound over my sm7b. Great mic!
SM7B is a great mic for the right purposes. It’s just that I think people overstate what those right purposes are. I think a lot of singers get seduced by the idea of a dynamic mic that doesn’t require a lot of thought to sound good, and they assume that the SM7B is that mic. In reality, it requires a lot of gain, good mic discipline, and the right kind of processing and EQ to make it shine. For a bit more money, the RE20 offers all the advantage of a dynamic mic but with brighter highs and easier pickup pattern and proximity effect. For a bit less money, most singers will be better served with a condenser like Rode NT1. But if your budget is $100 to 150, get an AT2020 or 2035. It’s way more versatile than an SM7B and will sound better in untrained hands for anything but spoken word.
That was my first decent microphone 20+ years ago, although a slightly different design. Still got it, still use it!
Have had mine for a year and love it. Best cheap condenser mic out there! Gets the job done
Hey Glenn
Honestly bud your rhythm playing has gotten a lot better.
Ive noticed something though on your leads.
Lots of guys don’t play with straps and thats fine if thats your thing, but Vs, LPs, and a bunch of other guitars slide down ur legs when ur trying to play and u gotta grip harder on your fretting hand and that makes u push harder and ur notes go sharp. 7:22 is what I mean. Its subtle but its there.
Glenn i highly recommend a thick leather strap. Put the weight of the guitar on your shoulders and let ur hands be free. Believe me, it helps a lot.
Also try a chair without arms, armchairs of all types are a pain in the ass for playing, especially with a V
Keep up the great practising, its clear to see how hard youre working and as someone whos been a practising slouch youre making me pick up my guitar much more often
While I use the TLM103 now, I SWEAR by the AT-2020 and recommend it to most beginners. The amount of mileage and bank for the buck you'll get from it is INSANE
The spoken word quality was impressive. Would make a killer YT, Podcast or vlogging mic. Lots of presence and detail.
First time now where I've watched your videos and went, "EYYYYY he's talking about a piece of gear that I actually own unlike the other things that I can't get, and he's praising it! :D"
Been using that mic for years for amps, singing, screaming, and spoken voiceover. It does need to be backed off gain-wise for voiceover, BUT yeah, I’m glad to see this mic getting some recognition. It’s been an absolute workhorse and one of the most valuable pieces of gear I have. I actually got it in a bundle with the AT2021 which I actually use more for acoustic instruments, and it’s also extremely cool.
I absolutely LOVE this mic. I've had it a little more than 5 years now, and it hasn't failed me yet. Sometimes you can find a deal where it comes bundled with a boom stand, XLR cable, and pop screen for less than $120🤘🏾
Glenn: I might be overdoing the intros guys, sorry about that!
Also Glenn: HELLLOOOOOOO EVERYBODAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
This is also a mic that people upgrade from when they “get serious” so you can find it used for like $50 pretty regularly. It’s big sister the at2035 is an actual LDC with pad and hpf and a shock mount for not much more, and if you find those used (or refurbed from like Amazon warehouse) they’re often less than $100.
I picked this up as my first condenser mic when they were first released. The major selling pitch for me was SPL handling was off the charts at the time.
I love this mic. I've been using one for two years now. Replaced my old reliable SM57. I use the AT2035, which is the identical mic with a 80hz high-pass filter and 10db pad (which solves that "quiet acoustic" issue). It sounds awesome for the money.
I love this mic, I've had it and solidly used it for 7 years now. Works great as a Hi Hat mic and great on guitars too! I mainly use it as a second vocal mic about 1.5m away from the vocalist
Was going to say it's a bit soon to mention longevity and reliability, but the Comments section has that covered.
It's now at the top of my shopping list, at £80, for a high-performance condenser mic.
Thanks all for this recommendation.
🎸🎤🥁🎹⚡🤘🏻
Never thought Glen would bust out a country riff.. but I'm here for it
The vocalist that my band picked up in 2013 had one of these. It looked cool and sounded pretty good. So I got one for myself. Many years and albums later, here I am with the thing still sitting on my desk. It just works.
9:42 damn Glenn, your Jeff Loomis boy is killing it as always. No seriously, I quite like and admire his playing!
I have 6 of these mics, and they are badass. Audio-Technica rarely lets me down.
I bought an at2020 at a pawn shop close to 10 years ago, dropped it on several occasions and it still works! It's a kickass mic
First time i heard this mic, it was in a small room with laminate floor in my buddies condo. He recorded my buddy who was a singer and acoustic guitarist songwriter, live off the floor. The mic was back a bit, and just kinda around head level,as he was sitting down. When i heard the mix of that recording ,I went to Long and McQuade the next day and bought the mic. I been using it for years. I use it for live streaming,with a little bit of compressor and effects. Sounds pretty good, for RUclips live streams
I had one of these for years, upgraded it to a Shure SM7B and sold it. I kind of regret selling it, because it could be a great room mic in retrospect. Cool microphone indeed!
It would be interesting to hear more mics like this tested in other situations in studio, a pair for overheads or room mics maybe? Doing background vocals, or maybe trying em out on bass amps?
I kinda wish you would show how this mic sounds as an overhead mic for drums. Other than that, great video as always and I will definitely add it to my wish-list!
One of the first Mics I purchased when I started my bedroom studio about 15 years ago!!! Still sounds and works great!!!!!
Thank you for the heads up Glenn! Just picked one up on Amazon $59 Black Friday special
Wish I could watch all of your stuff as soon as you post. GREAT info dude! I have had one of these for years, this mic was all I could afford at the time and turned out to be the best dam'd mic i just "lucked" into. Glad you support that decision. Though I always wonder if I've missed a more recent vid where you have found a better mic. That's ok, this one still works well, but maybe you've found the next one I NEED that is even better! Thank you for your honest reviews. Even though I'm not a metal geek, just call me Mr. Classic Rock, I REALLY enjoy your "passionate and energetic language" (right up my alley) and the info your present is very "present" even for us classic folk! I can't get enough of your "volume!" Keep SHOUTING the truth, man!
I've been using the $300-range AT-3035 on vocals, acoustics, drum overheads and rooms religiously for 20 years! Discontinued now but still easy to find used.
Everything sounds good if it is the only thing you are hearing.
It is only when comparing to other equipment that the really good sounding stuff stands out. Nothing (worse, or maybe better) than having a piece of gear that sounds good to you, and then you A/B it against another piece of gear, and that new bit is SO MUCH BETTER. You never knew what you were missing until you heard better.
This is what mixing is all about, figuring out all the little things that make each individual sound sound better, by doing comparisons and testing techniques/gear, and in turn, the whole collective that much better.
YOU HAVE TO COMPARE TO EVALUATE SOUND QUALITY!
I've got this mic in my studio and have used it for a number of years and still do amongst a couple of others. I've got lots of examples of it in use on my channel and I think it's excellent for the money 💰💸
I love this microphone! I've had one of these for 3 or 4 years now, it's still in mint condition, and It would take a lot more than what I paid for it to buy it.
Sounds GREAT, GLENN! For $99?! PS You're a fucking BAD-ASS high-range singer w/ great range, ta boot! And your acoustic playing is totally great, too! Enough of me gagging on yer gag-thing, but keep up the great work; you are by far way more entertaining and informative than so many twiggits on RUclips. MUCH LOVE from MARYLAND! ;)
had this mic for years, serves me well for everything(gameing, vocals, acoustic guitar recording)
The look on Your face when You were playing this acoustic blues standard 🤣 Priceless
This is the beginning of my grand journey as a lead vocalist for my band
I once bought an RB500 ribbon mic from Thomann for 100-ish bucks, almost never use anything else (with a cheap FET preamp). It saved me hours of headaches EQ-ing brass and woodwinds, sounds great on vocals and drum overheads, and I still need to test it on guitar cabs.
I've been using the USB version of this mic for many years for recording directly to computer and it is a great microphone what it is used for.
Been using it on EVERYTHING for ten years, amazing mic.
Coincidentally I just bought an AT2020 a couple weeks ago for recording vocals. My ears liked it just fine, but it's great to have a vote of confidence from someone whose opinion I trust. Keep up the Fearless Gear Reviews!
I have used it on the majority of my podcast episodes. Killer spoken word mic with the right gain settings.
What I like about the A/T 2020 is that it sounds great for the money no fancy fluff no B/S. Thanks so much for the review.
I have a lot of respect for Ethen Winer because of his great understanding of recording and the studio and not catering to the pompous wannabe elite, and even more now as a great human for showing love for his cat in having it in his picture for all to see, as if he'd rather put it in the spotlight over himself. And it's a cutie too.
I've been using the 2020 for years. In my opinion is the best mic period. I find it super flat which is great for many things. Also the 2020 being "flatter", it suits better for my baritone voice, thing that the Shure sm7b for example does not do since it kills a bit of the high-end.
I am a 6 octave Dramatic Tenor Operatic Metal Singer and vocalist, I have had engineers just use SM58s and shit with me. I have deep balls in the tone at 6'4 270lbs, but hit a hit C and clip the fuck out of sensitive mics. So, SM58.. Can't wait to try one of these. Might have to get one for my bass amp in my Orange Rockerverb100MKII/Bass/Dark Terror wall
Flat.. not. Look at the specs
AT2020 is my favourite mic ever, been using for everything since 2010.
I got mine on special at like 170$ for the set with the pencil condenser. One of them eventually ended up toppling off from it's overhead stand. I got a new one and used an upgrade kit from DIY Mic Parts to fix the broken one. The kit essentially replaces all the guts but it did revive what was just a dead mic! We still use them in the garage studio and keep the upgraded AT-2020 for direct vocals. Also, I used it a lot on my Vistalite kick... 2' away from the closed front end and you were in full blown 70's rock glory!!
Side note, I want to get more DIY kits.. the parts are awesome and I find it fun to spend an evening sipping IPA and building a kit. If the AT-2020 kit is any indication of the build quality of the rest, I want to build some more for the mic vault!!
I've used this mic for over a year for vocals, spoken word and sometimes classical guitar. I don't have much experience with other condenser mics, but this one is definitely great for the price.
Dude you ever plan on doing a video on how you actually hold out these loud screams you do at the beginning of each video? Even with your vocal demos for the mic your range and breath control is spot on. Maybe something along the lines of your video on how you practice guitar. Cheers.
I’ve had this exact mic for about 4 years now! It’s awesome and more than meets my needs for my home studio. I use it mostly for acoustic guitar and vocals but it can everything in between, and it has never let me down. Other $99 bargains: Shure SM57 and Sony MDR-7506
Don't sleep on the MXL 770 either! Phenomenal mic for this price point & even comes with a shock mount & hard case. 👍
7506's are headphones and none too good ones either. Go for Audio Technica with budget headphones would be my advice.
@@heatnationwpb MXL makes awesome stuff...I bought an MXL 990/991 combo package back in 2003. The 991 died a few year later but the 990 lives on, despite being being beaten up and abused over the last nearly 20 years. Back then you could get that combo for $69 and they are still selling the same combo for only $109. Incredible bargain.
@@EdEditz I personally think the 7506s are some of the best cans you can buy at any price and I have bought 4-5 pairs of these since the late 90s. They are neutral, comfortable, and high-quality. I've tried other brands at many price points, but I just keep coming back to them. I also know a few sound engineers who swear by them and I see them often in studios and on professional AV boards.
@@James-eg3nf I've had basically the same experience with the 990/991 combo. Worth it for 70 bucks. I still use the 990 as a room mic sometimes
I've had a pair of AT2020s for a few years now. I bought them used on eBay for like $100 for the pair. Best money I've spent in a long time. I use them for drum overheads recording and vocals recording and acoustic guitar. The results are surprisingly good. Crisp, good dynamics handling, and actually I really like the sound with hard rock vocals- I haven't noticed distortion at all. Glad to see you review this mic Glenn!
Hey, Glenn, I just thought I'd point out that the AT2020 comes in two versions: XLR and USB. When ordering, please make sure you get the one that's appropriate for your particular purpose. Great video and AWESOME shredding.
Which version is best for singing?
@@BloodyShedProductions XLR is going to be higher quality, but USB would be fine for general use. It has a built-in sound card, so you're good to go.
For budget mics, Audio Technica and MXL can do no wrong in my book
If you have a little bit more budget, I strongly suggest to get a 2035...I have one and I love it. Its a little bit more quieter, and take more gain from your audio interface without distorting too much compared to the 2020.
Agree, I have 2035's, 2020's, and 4050's. Great sounding mics
GLENN!!!
Love the show and so happy to see my go-to mic given a thorough shootout I haven’t quite been able to do myself in the three years I’ve been learning to record my music. I guess I got lucky when I bought about $200 worth of gear in 2020 while in quarantine looking to reignite the passion for music. While the AT2020 seemed to work on everything, I always wondered if I could do better and as time went on and my skills improved, I tried a few other mics that, while I’m happy to have select pieces that work a little better on drums or for live performance, never came close to the quality of sound I got from the AT2020 on absolutely everything in a home studio setting. Thanks for confirming my suspicion that I fell ass backward into maybe the single best gear purchase of my life and may never experience again without diligent research and patience. Fuck you, Glenn. Xoxo+metal
Thank you for this unforgettable intro!
I love the AT2020. Recorded a bunch of stuff on in - from guitar cabs to acoustic gutiar to drum room to even metal screams. Not the greatest sounding mic by any means, but it's dirt cheap, low noise, kinda pleasant to the ear (actually waaaay prefer it to the oh so popular NT1-A) and works on pretty much anything. Great allrounder to have flying around.
The MVP in that mix was the bass tone holy shit that sounded great 😍
Hi,
The AT2020 is on sale now, for $79usd at Sweetwater.
- Myran
Act immediately! Tuesday 10-11-22 Amazon has it for 59.99
Owned the 2020 and 2035, both had lovely sound
Been using it for 5 years, great piece of engineering
I use two at2020's for my overheads on drums, love them!
Audio Technica are a serious mic brand. Completely under rated. My favourite mic ever is the AT4060. I have had one since 1999 and just found another of similar age. serial number within 100.This mic works on anything. I also have a pair of 4033 which are outstanding for the €300 euro price. I am going to buy a pair of there at2020 based on this video. because? why not at that price they are a great addition to any studio mic collection.
That intro! 😂🔥🤘
Dude, I don't care who says what. I simply LOVE these intros!! Not to mention, you can sure hold a note for a long time...ever consider singing!? And Dayum, you even acoustic guitar skills now! KEEP GOING GLENN!
Thanks for the great tip about the AT2020. It's currently $79.99 at Sweetwater!! Omma get one this payday!!