Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone

• Handheld dynamic microphone with USB digital output and XLR analog output
• USB output connects to your computer for digital recording, while the XLR output connects with your sound system conventional microphone input for use in live performance
• Smooth, extended frequency response ideally suited for podcasting, home studio recording, field recording, voiceover, and on-stage use
• Built-in headphone jack allows you to directly monitor your microphone output without audible delay
• Cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of unwanted sounds from the sides and rear
• Dynamic Microphone With Usb Digital Output & Xlr Analog Output
• Usb Output Connects To Computer For Digital Recording, While The Xlr Output Connects With Sound System'S Conventional Microphone Input For Use In Live Performance
• Built-In Headphone Jack With Volume Control

This microphone is quickly becoming a standard for podcasters. It can be used without a mixer or preamp by connecting it to a computer with a USB cable. If you want to use it with a mixer, it also has XLR output. Both the USB and XLR outputs can be used at the same time.

The mic's sound is excellent. The podcaster's microphone of choice and justifiably so is the Heil PR40. It's the one that Leo Laporte uses on his Internet and radio shows. If you can afford a PR40, buy one. However, if you want to save some money and get a fabulous value, buy this mic. It's cheaper than a Shure SM58, a Blue Snowball, or Audio Technica AT2020, and it sounds better.

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I bought 2 of these mics to use as guest mics on my podcast and I'm floored by their sound quality. I have a Shure SM7B mic costing 7 times as much as this mic and although I like the Shure a little better, I'm sure that this is because of my investment. The ability to work with both USB and and XLR is another great plus.

The sound quality is amazing for a mic in this price range and in my opinion is equal to other mics costing at least triple the price. Unlike another rater, I haven't had any problems with my mics using the USB or a mixer.

This mic is cheap enough to buy as just a Skype mic, but also good enough to work well with podcasting, and by this I mean head and shoulders over some other cheap mics like the Blue Snowball. Also, because it is a dynamic mic it also cuts down on the background noise.

Please don't feel that this is some sort of starter mic, it isn't. Even for triple the price it would still be the best sounding mic in my humble opinion. Also, my Mackie mixer has no problem powering this mic and does so easily, plus it works great on USB mode.

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The microphone was delivered a week early, and was an excellent buy. The mic is used for podcasting and just perfect for the job. Works perfectly on either my iMac or iPad.

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I use this mic for podcasting, and I am very pleased with the quality for a $40 microphone. I run the USB output straight into my Apple MacBook Air MD224LL/A 11.6-Inch Laptop (NEWEST VERSION) (with linein, soundflower and audacity so I can record Skype calls using the mic). It's completely plug and play with the Mac. If you speak at a normal conversational level, the levels may seem a bit low, but there is just about zero noise, so you can amplify it fearlessly and get fine results. Speaking with more of a stage voice or singing into it will results in higher levels if you want.

My only complaints are minor: the desk stand that comes with it is a little cheesy and light weight, so I can't mount my pop filter to it, and you definitely need a pop filter. You may want to get your own desk stand. Also, the blue LED light stays on even when you have the microphone switched off. Would that the LED changed color or went off when the switch was off.

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I work for a company that produces quite a few podcasts, and we needed a bunch of common microphones. Everyone had something different, working with different acoustic environments, etc. I tested a few microphones, and went with the ATR2100, because it is friendly with most rooms, unlike many condenser microphones, due to it's very good off-axis rejection. In terms of signal to noise, it's not the cleanest thing around, and there is a bit of a mid-range peak that is particularly noticeable with my voice, not so bad with others, but that's all taken care of in post-production processing. Fortunately, what noise there is from the mic's internal preamp mostly appears to be preamp hiss, not that nasty USB system bus noise found on far too many interfaces, so it's easy to clean up with multi-band gates, FFT-based noise reduction, and other similar things. Most people don't complain about preamp noise from the ATR2100 in it's default, unprocessed state, and I've certainly seen far worse. The convenience factor makes up for it, anyway.

I've used the ATR2100 on Mac, Windows and iPad, all with good results. I've also used it as a standard analog microphone with a few preamps, ART TPS-II, Focusrite Saffire Pro14, and in-line with a Cloudlifter CL1, and others. Not bad, but not my favorite microphone for my particular voice. That having been said, microphones are incredibly subjective, and a mic that sounds terrible on your own voice may sound great for someone else.