The Misunderstood Microphone - AudioTechnica AT2040 Review

[@DaveSoltura]

Do you think the AT2040 is still a good mic?🤔

[@borandom]

Hey uhh I was wondering is it not possible to use a xlr to usb cable instead of an audio interface because it’s a dynamic mic?

[@DaveSoltura]

@@borandom while you could… the noise would be immense! This is because: 1. You would be using the Analogue to Digital converter in the xlr to usb cable (which is very low quality 99% of the time) and 2. You wouldn’t have proper preamps to boost the gain of the mic. Audio interfaces have VERY good preamps. Now, USB mics have both decent A/D converters and preamps but they try to cram that into the base of a mic, so it’s not a lot of space. This is why a dedicated interface will still usually sound better. (USB mics keep getting better, though!) In short this mic would only sound as good as the preamps you power it with. If you’re really on a budget, try the $29 Teyun Q12 interface which I also featured on this channel.

[@borandom]

@@DaveSoltura wow I really appreciate your reply as I didn’t expect you to reply with such long and detailed message! Thank you!! I will check out the preamps you suggested in your channel and I assume I need a xlr to xlr cable and the usb to usb cable is provided inside the preamps box..? Again, thank you so much I’ll highly consider buying an audio interface!

[@DaveSoltura]

@@borandom Yes, you would need an XLR (Male) to XLR (Female) cable which is pretty standard! The female side (with three holes) connects to the end of the mic. The male side (with three pins) connects to the audio interface. :) Eventually, your upgrade path would be to upgrade your audio interface to an audio interface with beefier preamps. Enjoy!!

[@borandom]

@@DaveSoltura thank you so much! I’ll look up the audio interface upgrade probably in the next 2 years but I’ll make sure to check your channel out later if you’re still making mic reviews in the future hahaha again, thank you so much!

[@frosty6845]

I actually loved this mic right away when I got it, it sounds much better on my voice than the podmic, at least to me. I think both mics sound best when taking advantage of the proximity effect

[@DaveSoltura]

That’s valid!

[@jeebsa4m3]

CHARACTER VOICEOVER WENT CRAZZZZYYYYYYY

[@sushiIabel]

Sincerely appreciate the attention to detail here. I want a Shure7MB so badly lmao but I gotta start with this & hope I can work my way up.

[@gurgenmuratov1464]

Bought this mic after your review,year ago,love it,sounds incredible with dsp interface

[@ShaneT5S]

I do like the mic, personally more than the SM7b, but surprisingly the USB version of the AT2040 to me sounds a lot better than the XLR version. The XLR version sounds a lot more thin compared to the USB version, but the USB version is a lot more expensive. I did like the review though, I'm so glad you adopted spinning the mic around from Podcastage. Bandrew, and now you, are the only people I've seen do it

[@jasonbodden8816]

Whether or not you'd use the Hi Pass filter on the SM7B depends on the voice put being with it. For instance, your voice doesn't sound good with the Hi Pass filter on because it naturally has a lot of piercing high mid and top end frequencies that benefit from some low mids and bass frequencies. But if it's a person with a naturally boomy bass-heavy voice, it might work just fine to help alleviate overall muddiness in the lower end of things. So it really depends on the particular voice and how close to the mic that person is singing or speaking as well. Nothing in this vid screams that the AT 2040 is misunderstood. For podcasting, almost nobody talks right up on the mic like that. It's just not natural. The AT2040 is supposed to be a Broadcast type mic but doesn't really cut it. And nobody is going to clumsily be that close to the mic on a podcast so this is a no from me. But I will admit that when you got closer it did sound 100% better and less shrill. Another thing to consider is that every mic is not for every voice and I'm sure this microphone will work nicely for some people.

[@akhathos1618]

The best review I found for a microphone. If I had to make a decision to purchase ANY product, I would definitely turn to your channel. Thank you!

[@DaveSoltura]

Thank you for the kind words! That means a lot, considering that this is one of my less popular videos. I'll try to keep this review style, then. :)

[@coldsouth213]

great video. thanks for the hacks.

[@nicktayloriv310]

I've been using the 2040 for well over a year (replaced a PD70) and it's running through a DBX 286s and DBX 131s equalizer. I have no problems with it whatsoever. Put a foam pop filter on it and everything's groovy. I don't tap on anything while streaming or recording and the gate & compressor takes care of the stuff I don't want to flow through.

[@DaveSoltura]

That is fair! Killer signal chain, btw!

[@nicktayloriv310]

@@DaveSoltura Thanks.

[@JakopIskandar]

Love your review. It is my main mic though I still have much to learn about the placement. I never knew you can remove the filter inside. But if it can enhance my voice further.. why not have it removed.

[@DaveSoltura]

Glad it helps!

[@Unethical.FandubsGames]

14:25 Honestly. I'd rather go with a high sensitivity omni-directional condenser and close-mic in a pinch than use this mic. There's too much removed below 100hz and it's very noticeable. (Of course the opposite is true on the sm7b. Such an overpriced piece of crap.) With some EQ, rolling off at 8khz (Just to reduce some of that harshness), and some added reverb (Since it's very flat. Which is good.): It could sound alright. But I think this is best kept as a podcast mic with some compression. Probably a fantastic streaming mic, too.

[@dostrimos5636]

I tried a few mics and i was unhappy with the sound. This one made my voice sound cleaner and more crisp. Made my streams sound quality a lot higher

[@kiriau4672]

Are you using any post affects? Mine is really quiet when using the focusrite gen 3 solo. Any recommendations for how to increase the volume?

[@DaveSoltura]

Hi! That's to be expected of the Solo. My best recommendation is to get very close to the mic. Here's a video on mic placement: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3KVmXpooJiZaK8

[@IntentionallyCringe]

I have the same problem. I have to turn the gain way up high but then it picks up too much. Tried using voicemeeter banana but it couldn't increase the volume up high enough as I wanted.

[@ShanMichaelEscasio]

Hello, it seems you are so knowledgeable about mic stuff so maybe you can answer me/give me your insights: I am also a content creator here on youtube. I purchased my first ever interface for my birthday last January 20, a PreSonus Audioboc Go. Overall for my synth keyboard, i have no problem with it. But my main issue is with my dynamic mic (Samson Q7 with a 200ohms impedance). When i use that mic in my audiobox go, i crank the gain almost at the max (just shy away from introducing hissing). So I made an assumption that the Audiobox go struggles with high impedance mics like the Q7. Am I wrong? Also, since you say that the 2040 is not gain hungry, maybe that's the right mic for me? I also have an untreated room. Although that 600ohm impedance worries me. So (I'm assuming again). Correct me if I'm wrong. But does this mic need phantom power? And if it does, maybe that can aleviate the impedance issue?

[@DaveSoltura]

Hi! Phantom power is for condenser microphones. It seems the Audiobox has a fairly average amount of gain for the price (50db), but the corresponding EIN (or how noisy it is), isn’t indicated. This isn’t a rule, but manufacturers usually hide EIN when the preamps are generally noisy. Overall, the AT2040 just isn’t a good buy compared to microphones like the Fifine Tank 3 (the closest equivalent to what the AT2040 was going for), and Fifine AM8, which are simply better options. Either of those aren’t as gain hungry as the AT2040 and sound better out of the box. You may eventually want to upgrade your interface for even better sound, or use an in-line preamp like a Fethead. But I think any of the aforementioned mics + your interface will be more than satisfactory for most people. :)

[@eliasmenasse2837]

what shock mount did you use ?

[@DavidFloresMusic]

Hi, I would like to ask if this is a good mic for video calls, some vocal recording and streaming games? Thank you in advance

[@DaveSoltura]

It can definitely serve those purposes! But you would need an audio interface. Consider getting the Maono P200x instead: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3OunYZ_lNSsraM

[@DavidFloresMusic]

@@DaveSoltura thank you po sa pagsagot 🙏

[@DaveSoltura]

@@DavidFloresMusic Just saw your channel is for music. In that case, my favorite mic as of late for vocals is the K688. :)

[@DavidFloresMusic]

@@DaveSoltura ohh thank you for checking my channel, do you have video reviews about that mic?

[@DaveSoltura]

​@@DavidFloresMusic I do! Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6nPe4WdZ7ygrq8 The new versions apparently have working cables. (I talk about how the included cables are bad in the review.) The K688 is great for its tone, and the the Maono PD200x for its features (such as 24-bit audio). I imagine tone is extra important for you, so I'd go for the K688. :)

[@TrueShayari]

I am very tired of asking everyone. But I did not get the right advice from anyone. Some say to buy a dynamic mic, some say to buy a condenser mic. I want to record my poetry professionally at home. Please tell me a good mic and audio interface which gives me professional sound quality within my budget. My room is not Sound proof, My total budget is 350 dollars for audio interface, mic and headphones.

[@UndercastEsmeganitrospeed]

AT2020 or AT2040, im unsure which fits my use case better ( probably the 40 as its a dinamic, but I wont alwsys be 100% in front having perfect placement), my use case is basically streaming, sitting in discord, Fleet commanding, etc

[@DaveSoltura]

If you’re decided on these two mics and you know placement won’t be perfect, the AT2020 would be more sensitive for farther positions.

[@noostNL]

I am looking into this mic but then the USB version, without any interface. Is this OK? Or what should I aspect? Will be using it for online-streaming kind of things. No podcasts

[@DaveSoltura]

I don’t have the USB version, but it should serve online streaming purposes well.

[@PawFromTheBroons]

I wasn't aware Audio Technica released a chrome 2020.

[@DaveSoltura]

It’s a fingerprint magnet, though!

[@dothanhtung.]

Best review about at2040. Thank you so much 😍😍😍. I think Shure Sm58 better

[@MrTsetso]

So, in a nutshell, you hate it, right?

[@DaveSoltura]

I wouldn’t say “hate”! Just that there are better sounding mics for the price.

[@ronnieryanpc]

You should just give me that mic

[@JonToons0208]

First

[@hamurabidios]

With your voice you need a mic that costs 5000 minimum to sound good

[@DaveSoltura]

Guess I gotta start saving, then!