This Audio Technica mic, the ATR2100-USB, is just kickin'! INCREDIBLE off-axis rejection at 90º for you stage types, almost absolute rear-end rejection. It sounds as good as comparative tests I've heard of the Apogee MiC (all respect to Apogee, a wonderful company) and comes with all the extras: tripod stand, both USB and XLR cables of realistic length, mic clip you can use on the tripod stand or a regular mic stand.
Sound is, of course, the bottom line: What should you reasonably expect of a mic that costs so little? To be shocked, that's what. Excellent sound, slight presence rise at about 2K, peaks a bit higher at 5K. Amazing for around $36 on Amazon, and it sounds better than some AT mics I''ve used that cost a couple hundred dollars; less peaky and intrusive in the high mids. With that more moderate presence boost, it'd likely be super for guitar as well, though I've not experimented with that as yet. Wow! I've run a recording/production suite since 1978, and have worked with many mics costing as much as 30x this price: Neumanns, AKGs, other Audio Technicas, Rødes, Sennheisers, on and on. For my purposes, this $36 mic (at time of my purchase) stands up in this good company as being quite usable, and for voice, perhaps almost in range of some of the best. No, it's not an $8,000 Neumann. It doesn't need to be.
I have no complaints about the excessive noise floor that others have mentioned. Frequency response is excellent, distortion remarkably low. Yes, it rolls off rapidly at the bottom end at around 50Hz, but you're going to be rolling that off anyway most of the time. You may have to look elsewhere if you're recording taiko drums or whalesong. Or maybe not. Thirty six dollars! I keep shaking my head. This feels like a mistake. It compares favorably to the Apogee Mic in online tests, and stands tall against a Røde NT1 I'm using for voice over work in the main studio. I look forward to bringing it into the A studio with its hypercritical speakers and hearing what it can do.
In operation, I've tried it on the Mac with Logic Pro X and on the iPad, using the required Camera Connection Kit, in Garage Band and Meteor. It performed very well. In Garage Band, I was able to listen to the already recorded tracks while monitoring the voice via the ATR2100-USB's integral headphone jack, 1/8". Yup. Playback of accompaniment material with zero-latency monitoring on your voice. Good stuff. On the Mac, I needed to unplug the mic in order to hear playback through my speakers, for some reason; this was not true on the iPad, as plugging the headphones into the iPad jack resulted in playback even with the mic still plugged in. I'll experiment further with Logic - may be a Mac thing, or I may just have messed up. Goldberg's Law: "there's always one more button."
So would I recommend this mic? To anyone. If you're cutting a classical violin partita album you'll have to use your own judgment, but A/B tests may yield surprises. I can't speak to longevity, obviously, since this just arrived. I've had some mics I've used successfully for 10 years and more. But for Windows, Mac or iOS recording (latter with the CCK), this is a tough one to beat. Don't even try.
Five stars cuz that's all there are. --BobboGoldberg, 9/1/13
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Product information
| Item Weight | 1.7 Pounds |
|---|---|
| Microphone Form Factor | Microphone Only |
| Item dimensions L x W x H | 10.62 x 2.2 x 7.9 inches |
| Power Source | USB |
| Number of Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Material | samsung |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 80 dB |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Frequency Response | 5E+1 Hz |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00042005170210 |
| Manufacturer | Audio Technica |
| UPC | 809185813067 168141352225 729224793146 804066560849 731215371684 808111675878 887617975569 223371735351 086007490105 777785570867 080000292162 727908817485 782386077509 765042443542 806293526612 100177371269 041114706822 042005170210 014445260134 088021803381 115970721746 611101429029 163120779239 151902961514 012306027063 071020503260 602573026274 763615804837 012300453806 809186269665 809385664612 872182668930 639767660297 881110003880 151904900269 042005179299 012302293110 012302968711 729224787558 999993346847 807030494089 782386462510 |
| Item Weight | 1.7 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 10.62 x 2.2 x 7.9 inches |
| ASIN | B004QJOZS4 |
| Item model number | ATR2100USB |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #117,010 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #363 in Multipurpose Dynamic Microphones |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | March 8, 2011 |
| Color Name | silver |
| Hardware Interface | USB |
| Material Type | samsung |
| Mixer Channel Quantity | 5 |
| Size | case |
Warranty & Support
Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here [PDF ]
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Compare with similar items
This Item  Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | — | $128.64 | -18% $44.99 Typical: $54.99 | $169.00 | -34% $99.00 List: $150.00 | -17% $189.00 List: $229.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Jun 8 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Jun 8 | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Jun 4 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Jun 8 | — |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Fifine shop | Frontrow Tech LLC | Amazon.com | Adorama |
| power source | USB | Usb-c | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric |
| connectivity tech | USB | USB, XLR | XLR, USB | USB | XLR | USB |
| connector type | USB, XLR | XLR/USB | XLR, USB | USB Type-C | XLR | USB |
| model number | ATR2100USB | Q9U | AM8 | MV6 | PODMIC | PODCASTER |
| material | samsung | — | Sturdy Material, ABS Plastic, Metal | — | Metal | Metal |
| audio sensitivity | — | -10 decibels | -50 decibels | — | -57 decibels | -51 decibels |
| frequency range | — | — | 50Hz-16KHz | — | 20Hz ~ 20kHz | 40Hz - 14kHz |
| frequency response | 50 hertz | — | 16 KHz | — | — | 48 KHz |
| signal-to-noise ratio | 80 decibels | 78 decibels | 80 decibels | — | 78 decibels | — |
| hardware platform | PC | Television | PC, Laptop, Desktop, Mixer, Sound Card, Audio Interface | PC | PC | PC |
| polar pattern | Unidirectional | Unidirectional | Unidirectional | Unidirectional | Unidirectional | Unidirectional |
11 years and still kicking!
Other than a small dent in the mesh from when I dropped it while moving a while back it is is perfect condition. Still works well 11 years later. Although id recommend getting a better stand soon as the one that came with it was cheaper but worked for a long time as a backup for travel.
Top reviews from the United States
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Top reviews from other countries
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Adelyne MoreReviewed in France on August 24, 2017
Très bon micro pour le prix
Style: ATR2100-USBVerified Purchase -
- TaylorReviewed in Canada on January 7, 2019
A cost effective option for new streamers!
Style: ATR2500-USBVerified Purchase -
Raziel T.Reviewed in Mexico on August 13, 2019
Excelente calidad de sonido. Material resistente.
Style: ATR2500-USBVerified Purchase
El producto me gustó tanto que acabo de pedir un segundo micrófono para poder grabar mis podcast con dos participantes. La calidad del audio es excelente. La voz se escucha muy clara y con buena presencia. En comparación con el micrófono AT2020 graba el sonido un poco más brilloso, mientras que el AT2020 en más cálido con bajos más profundos.Raziel T.Excelente calidad de sonido. Material resistente.
Reviewed in Mexico on August 13, 2019
El material del micrófono se siente de un aluminio robusto y resistente y tiene buen peso.
Me parece que el ART2500 es ideal para grabaciones de podcast porque lo puedes conectar muy rápido mediante usb sin la necesidad de una interfaz de audio. Mientras que el AT2020 me parece más útil para grabación de canto en estudio.
Yo lo uso en mi macbook pro 2017 y con logic pro 10.4.5. El dispositivo se detecta al instante. Pero como no se conecta a una interfaz de audio, debes regular el gain desde las opciones de sonido del sistema. Los botones de volumen del micrófono me parece que son para ajustar los monitores, pues tienen una conexión directa para audífonos.
Lo único no tan bueno es la base que incluye, pues es de plástico y se siente algo frágil. De momento me ha funcionado bien, pero al transportarla hay que tener cuidado de no lastimarla.
Si tu intención es utilizar este micrófono para tu podcast te lo recomiendo 100%.
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Amazon KundeReviewed in Germany on October 10, 2019
Perfekt für Podcast-Anfänger
Style: ATR2100-USBVerified Purchase
