Today I'm testing out maybe my favorite USB microphone that I have tested out to date. The Audio Technica ATR2100-USB
The reason I like this microphone so much is because of a very special attribute...it has a USB plug as well as an XLR plug! That means that you can use this microphone to record directly on to your computer, then take it down to your bowling alley and use it on the PA to sing some Lynyrd Skynard Karaoke. In all seriousness, this is an AMAZING feature because it allows you to grow and upgrade to an audio interface with a better preamp and more control over your microphones sound.
What's In the Box
- Microphone
- Microphone Clip
- Microphone Stand
- USB Cable
- XLR to XLR Cable
- Documentation
Performance / Features
The build quality of this microphone feels decent. It has a metal body, but the grill feels like it's plastic, or at least it is metal that is coated in plastic. There is an LED light on the front to indicate the microphone is plugged into the USB port and is receiving power, and directly below that there is an on/off switch that feels somewhat flimsy.
On the bottom of the microphone we have a USB port to connect the microphone to your computer. There is a headphone jack to allow for latency free monitoring and audio playback when it the microphone is connected to your computer through the USB cable. There is a headphone volume control. And lastly there is an XLR plug which allows you to plug your microphone into an amplifier, mixer, or preamp.
(note: the headphone jack does not work when the microphone is only plugged in using an XLR cable. It also does not work if you are connected to an XLR cable and the usb cable is plugged into a charger. However, it does work if you have the XLR cable plugged in and the USB cable plugged into your computer).
The mic has a Cardioid Polar Pattern, and it is decent at cancelling background noise. When I was typing on the keyboard it did pick up a bit of noise in the background. So it is not the best at cancelling out noise, but it still sounds pretty good!
The frequency response is 50Hz - 15kHz which is plenty for a starting podcaster or voice over artist. Voice sounds incredibly crisp and clear through this microphone and acoustic guitar sounds full and wide as well. I think it does fall a little flat when recording electric guitar though.
Pros
- USB Microphone & XLR Microphone (allows room to expand and grow)
- Nice build quality
- Good sound
- Latency free monitoring (in USB Mode)
- Decent at noise cancellation
Cons
- No microphone gain control
Conclusion
This is hands down my favorite USB microphone that I have tested out yet. This is because of the microphones versatility. It provides great sound through the USB function, and it still allows you to grow and get better microphone preamps, or even use the microphone in a live situation. With that being said, I wish I could recommend this to everyone who is just starting out as solo podcaster or anything. It's an amazing product and I'm glad that I finally got around to testing it out.
If you have any additional questions about this headset, leave them in the comments on this site or on the youtube channel, and I will try to reply ASAP.
Audio Technica ATR2100-USB: http://amzn.to/1nSfAy5
