Audio Technica At2020 article
Audio Technica At2020 for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The AT2020 has a few more requirements than a dynamic mic — but once you understand phantom power and side-address orientation, everything else falls into place.
So you have got an AT2020 — or you are thinking about getting one — and you are not sure where to start. That is a completely reasonable place to be. Condenser microphones have a few more requirements than a standard dynamic mic, and getting everything set up right makes a real difference to what you hear in the recording. Here is the whole picture, without the jargon overload.
What You Are Actually Dealing With
The AT2020 is a condenser microphone — that just means it uses a charged capacitor as its transducer rather than a moving coil. The practical implication for you as a beginner is that it needs a power source to work: 48-volt phantom power, supplied by your audio interface. No phantom power, no sound. Make sure you understand this before you set anything up.
It is also a side-address microphone — you aim the front face of the body at your source, not the top end. This trips up a lot of people. The Audio-Technica logo side is the front. If you are pointing the top of the microphone at yourself and wondering why it sounds strange, this is why.
The Gear You Need Before You Start
The microphone needs a few other things to function. If you do not have these yet, sort them before plugging anything in.
- An audio interface: This connects the AT2020 to your computer and supplies the phantom power. Entry-level interfaces from Focusrite, Behringer, Universal Audio and similar brands all work with it. The interface also contains the preamp — the circuit that amplifies the microphone's signal to a usable level.
- A balanced XLR cable: A three-pin connector at each end. It does not come with a cable.
- A microphone stand or boom arm: The included mount works, but you need something to mount it on.
- A pop filter: A round mesh screen that sits in front of the capsule. Essential if you are recording vocals — it stops plosive sounds (the air burst from a hard P or B) from hitting the capsule and causing a thump in the recording.
Step-by-Step: Getting the AT2020 Running
- Mount the microphone on your stand. Use the included swivel mount. Check it is secure — the microphone weighs 345 g, which is not light.
- Connect the XLR cable from the AT2020 to a microphone input on your audio interface.
- Open your audio software (DAW) and make sure the interface is selected as the input device.
- Enable phantom power on your interface. Look for a button labelled "48V" or "Phantom." Turn it on after everything is connected. If you have monitors on, mute them first — engaging phantom power can cause a brief thump.
- Set up a track in your DAW with the interface input as the source. Arm it for recording.
- Speak or sing into the front of the microphone (the side with the logo, not the top) at about 20–30 cm and watch the levels. Adjust the gain on your interface until peaks are hitting around –12 to –6 dB — loud enough to be clean, low enough not to clip.
- Place your pop filter about 5–10 cm in front of the capsule if you are recording vocals.
Getting the Best Sound: Placement Tips
The microphone will pick up what the room sounds like as well as what you are recording. A bare room with hard walls and no treatment will sound boxy and reflective in the recording. A few practical steps make a big difference:
- Record in the smallest practical space — a small, well-furnished room holds more sound than a large empty one
- Soft furnishings (curtains, a sofa, thick carpet) absorb high-frequency reflections
- If you are recording vocals, try standing between a wardrobe and a wall of hanging clothes — the soft surfaces absorb reflections remarkably effectively
- Keep noisy equipment (fans, hard drives) away from the microphone, or mute them if possible during a take
Understanding the AT2020's Character
This is a bright-sounding microphone — it has a slight high-frequency presence boost that adds clarity and articulation to vocals and speech. That is a feature for most uses, not a problem. But in a bright, reflective room, or with a particularly sibilant singer, that upper-frequency emphasis can become too much. If your recordings sound harsh or overly detailed, check the room first, then consider whether slight EQ in your DAW can tame it.
The microphone has no onboard controls — no pad, no high-pass filter. Everything beyond the basic signal is handled in your interface or DAW. That simplicity is part of what makes it manageable for beginners; there are fewer variables to wrestle with.
AT2020 vs AT2020USB: Which Did You Get?
If you bought the AT2020USB rather than the standard XLR model, the setup is different and simpler: just plug it into a USB port, set it as the input device in your software, and you are ready. No phantom power, no interface required. The trade-off is that the USB version has a slightly narrower frequency response (20 Hz–16 kHz vs 20 Hz–20 kHz) and less flexibility for future signal-chain upgrades.
When you are comfortable with the basics, the full overview goes into the technical specifications in detail. If you want to know how to get the most from the microphone for different sources — vocals, guitar, voice-over — getting the most from your AT2020 is the next read. And common mistakes to avoid is worth scanning before your first session.
You Are Ready to Record
This is not a complicated microphone once you understand the basics. Phantom power on, correct orientation, a pop filter for vocals, some basic room treatment and sensible gain levels — that is genuinely most of what you need to get clean, usable recordings from day one. The rest comes with time and experimentation.
Comments