As a top industry leader in both consumer and professional grade audio gear…
You probably already known that Audio-Technica is far more than just a microphone company
But you might be wondering…
Does that mean their mics aren’t as good as some of the more specialized companies?
Well as I’m about to show you in today’s post, the answer is…Absolutely NOT.
Because with the current selection of microphones in their catalog…
You can assemble an amazingly well-rounded mic locker using absolutely nothing else.
Ready to find out how? Then let’s begin.
First up…
1. AT2020
Quite possibly the most popular model in the Audio Technica catalog…
The AT2020 is one of those mics that everyone knows…and most have tried at some point.
Why is that exactly? Well mostly…it’s the price.
Among the top budget large diaphragm condensers on the market, the AT2020 is quite likely the cheapest of all.
Combine that with the fact that hundreds of online reviews from home studio owners all agree…
It simply sounds great.
Which is why it’s an obvious choice for first pick on the list.
- Click to compare prices – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
NOTE: For an upgraded version of this mic, check out the AT2035 – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann), which adds a 80Hz hi-pass filter, a –10dB pad, plus the following accessories:
- shockmount
- pop filter
- mic cable
For an even more premium model, there’s the AT4040 – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann).
Up next…
2. ATR2500 USB
As the quality of USB mics have improved over the years…
Their popularity has grown tremendously…especially among home studios.
And despite the HUGE competition in this category…
The ATR-2500 USB has still managed to become as well-known as almost anything out there.
Like all good USB mics, it features the following:
- Built-in headphone jack
- Adjust headphone volume
- AD convertor (16 bit, 44.1/48 kHz sampling rate)
And for compact setups, it comes with a convenient desktop stand as well.
Check it out:
- Click to see current price – (Amazon)
The only notable feature missing from the ATR2500 USB is…mix control, which allows you to conveniently balance the relative volumes of the live and pre-recorded tracks.
For this feature, you’ll want the slightly more expensive AT2020USB – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF) instead.
Up next…
3. ATR2100 USB
As you’ve probably noticed by now…
For some strange reason, 99% of USB mics are large diaphragm condensers.
Right?
Well if you’re looking for something different, you might want to check out the impressively unique AT2100 USB.
First off, it’s dynamic, which is rare for USB mics. Second, it’s a handheld stage mic, which is even more rare.
But you might be wondering…
How exactly would one use a USB mic on stage?
Well, the answer is…you wouldn’t. Because the AT2100 actually has both USB and XLR outputs.
So you could use it both in the studio, and on-stage as well.
Pretty cool, huh? Check it out:
- Click to see current price – (Amazon)
Up next…
4. ATM650
Now that we’ve covered the more “mainstream” mic options…
Let’s look at some of the more “professional” ones.
First up…the ATM650, which can most easily be described as Audio Technica’s answer to the Shure SM57.
Assuming you’re familiar with the SM57, you can already guess that the ATM650 works well on a wide range of instruments including guitar cabinets, snares, and toms.
But here’s how it’s unique:
- a hypercardioid polar pattern for improved isolation of sound sources.
- a unique floating design that reduces handling noise.
Check it out:
- Click to compare prices – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Up next…
5. Audio Technica PRO 37
For cymbals, acoustic guitar, pianos, and anything rich in hi-frequency content…
The standard tool of choice is of course, the small diaphragm condenser.
And in the Audio Technica catalog, the best option is surely the PRO 37.
With all the standard qualities you might expect from a small diaphragm condenser, it features:
- good transient response
- low off-axis coloration
- high SPL
Check it out:
- Click to compare prices – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
And for a cheaper alternative in this category, also check out the AT2021 – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF).
Up next…
6. AT2050 Multi-pattern
While it might look similar to the AT2020…
The truth is that the AT2050 is in a category all its own.
Known as a “multi-pattern” mic, it allows you to switch between the 3 most common polar patterns: cardioid, figure-8, and omni.
Other key features of this mic include:
- 80 Hz high-pass filter
- 10 dB pad
- pop filter
- XLR mic cable
It’s also worth noting that while most quality multi-pattern mics are priced at $1000 and up…
The AT2050 is nowhere near that, and is quite possibly the cheapest reputable model on the market.
Check it out:
- Click to compare prices – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Up next…
7. AT4050ST
Now if you thought the AT2050 was versatile…
Here’s another mic that takes things even on step further: the AT4050ST.
Known as a “stereo microphone”, it offers convenient way to record in stereo without having to use two mics.
Here’s how:
- within the mic are two separate cardioid and figure-8 capsules.
- the output of this mic is a unique 5-pin XLR which uses a special cable that transmits 2 channels of balanced audio.
These two features combined provide a super-simple way to record using the traditionally complicated mid-side stereo method.
Others features include:
- 80 Hz high-pass filter
- 10 dB pad switch
- Custom shock mount
And that’s about it. Check it out:
- Click to compare prices – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
Up next…
8. AT4081
When you think of ribbon mics…
Audio Technica is clearly not the first name that comes to mind, right?
In fact, you probably didn’t even have known they made ribbon mics.
So let me introduce you to something new: the AT4081.
How does this mic differ from other ribbon mics?
Well…without getting to technical, this mic has an impressive 18 patents pending for its unique design characteristics…
The most notable one being a proprietary MicroLinear ribbon imprint that offers superior durability compared to the average ribbon mic on the market.
Check it out:
- Click to compare prices – (Amazon)
As an alternative to the AT4081, check out the AT4080 as well.
And finally…
9. Honorable Mentions
Now that we’ve covered the more popular Audio Technica mics…
Let’s conclude with 3 of their lesser known mics which few people have heard of.
As you may have noticed, there are 2 key mic categories we have not yet covered…
- Bass Mics
- Dynamic Broadcast Mics
And while Audio Technica doesn’t currently have any big standouts in these categories, they do have a few that might become more popular in the future.
So here they are…
For bass mics:
- AE2500 – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
- ATM250 – (Amazon/Thomann)
For dynamic broadcast/vocal mics:
- BP40 – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)