The AT2020USB+ mic from Audio Technica is an excellent choice for an affordable, high-quality USB mic. In this post we will describe how to set it up for voice narration recording.
Components
When purchased new, the mic comes with a zippered storage pouch, a USB cable, a swivel mic stand adapter and a short metal tripod stand. The swivel adapter will connect to any standard 15.8mm (5/8 inch) or 9.5mm (3/8 inch) euro stand.
Mic Position
The AT2020USB+ is a side address, cardioid condenser mic. This means that it is designed to be highly sensitive to sound on one side of the mic body (the side that says AUDIO-TECHNICA). It is significantly less sensitive on the opposite side (labelled BACK on mic). It is not an end address mic like many common vocal singing mics and some broadcast studio mics. So while it will capture some sound from the end (top), it is incorrect to use it this way and will likely result in low volume for the narrator’s voice and too much reflected sound from the table or the ceiling. The example below shows how to use the AT2020USB+ as a side address mic.
It is usually a good idea to use a pop filter to protect the mic from strong blasts of air caused by some parts of speech. These blasts of air (called plosives) can cause short thumping sounds or distorted sections in the recording because it caused the signal level to spike too much. See the post Mics for Voice Recording in Sub-Optimal Environments for information about pop filter options for the AT2020USB+.
USB Connection
The AT2020USB+ will connect to your laptop or compatible mobile device with the standard USB cable provided (cable type is USB A -> USB B). Once the mic is connected, your software may automatically identify the mic and make it the default sound source for recording. However, it is always a good idea to still take a moment to check the control settings in your recording software to make sure it is using the AT2020USB+ as the sound source.
Adjusting Mic Gain
Most likely you will need to adjust the gain (sometimes described as the volume or sensitivity) on the mic. Adjusting the gain allows you to make the ideal balance of the narrator’s natural volume and the sensitivity of the mic so that you are recording at a quality level in your software (try to range between -18dB and -6dB). There is no gain adjustment on the mic body. The gain must be adjusted on your recording device. Depending on the recording software used, there may be adjustable gain settings for the mic in the software interface. If not, you can adjust the gain by entering your computer Control Panel. Inside the Control Panel, select Sound, then select the Recording tab as shown below.
Right-click on the AT2020USB+ in the list of devices and select Properties. In properties, select the Level tab and adjust the level as needed.
Playback Listening
The AT2020USB+ is equipped with a headphone jack that can be used for listening (monitoring) the recording. Depending on your recording setup, this option may be helpful or it may not be. We find that in an optimal recording scenario, multiple people benefit from hearing the playback of the recording. For this reason, we typically use the default speaker output settings on computer that provide better versatility for connecting a variety of listening equipment for the team. However, if using the headphone jack on the mic works better for you it is easy to route the playback signal through the jack on the AT2020USB+. In your recording software or in your Control Panel, simply select the AT2020USB+ as the listening device.
Control Panel Sound Shortcut
Making a desktop shortcut to your Sound settings is easy to do and can be helpful. Simply launch your Control Panel, right-click on Sound and select Create Shortcut.
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