Audio-Technica AT2005USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone Reviews

I actually bought this to play games with my friends. Orginally used a yeti mic but it kept picking up way to much background noise. This ended up being a perfect solution to my problem. Audio quality had been great and have heard no complaints from the people I'm talking to. The fact it came with a XLR connection is also great if I ever want to branch out.

The microphone was purchased for my daughter so I am writing this according to what she has reported. She uses it mostly for Discord and VR chat. She is very happy with it's performance. Personally, I am hoping it will be durable because she goes through headphone mics like one drinks water!

I bought one of these for a broadcaster on my station, since I already owned one and knew how it performed. Once he received it and connected it via USB to his system the sound difference between this and what he was using was like night and day. Several people's responses when we did a broadcast last night were "WOW! who bought him the $300 mic?!" Little do they know it's not, it's well built with a solid metal shell, not plastic like many others. It has the ability to be XLR/USB or both which is how I use mine. Also being dynamic there's no need for phantom power which is a bonus for us. It has it's own built in sound card which is convenient, however I run everything through a mixer so have no need for it. The cardioid pattern has proven ideal, the focus point is near center directly into the pickup coil, so any sounds from the side or behind aren't picked up as easily. If you want a good sounding mic without paying through the nose, then give this a try. All my broadcasters will be getting one for their remote systems as we move along, that's how impressed we all are with them.

This is perfect for my needs. And as always, Chance give great and friendly service. Thank you!

Audio-Technica never ceases to amaze me. ...this mic is ideal, it has both XLR and USB connections, a handy mini-stand, a pretty spiffy 16-bit 44.1/48k A/D converter, and to top it all off it has a full system-output option built right in; headphone-out and all!

The only cons I think of after using this model is that it isn't a Condenser, and it isn't 24-bit, but if that dosen't matter to your project, and you're looking for a highly capable 16-bit Dynamic mic that doesn't require an interface, AND won't cost triple digits, buy this thing!

I have a friend who has muscular dystrophy. Using a keyboard and mouse to control his computer is virtually impossible for him, so he uses dictation software called Dragon NaturallySpeaking. This mic delivers accurate sound for the software to understand his voice; using the computer's built-in microphone simply wasn't good enough. With the integrated audio interface in this mic, setup was super easy. He's very pleased with his purchase!

I've been playing harp for about 2 years and decided it was time to start recording myself so I could better assess my tone and intonation. I started reading about mics and was pretty freaked out by all the types and reviews. Then I started reading about recording software and issues with connectivity, interfaces, latency, TRRS adapters,, etc. I finally decided on the AT 2005USB because it had both analog and digital connectivity and the potential to connect headphones in case I had to use the headphone input on my Mac for recording. I figures one of these options was bound to work and... it wasn't going to break the bank. The mic arrived 2 days after I ordered it and since I didn't have a TRRS adapter I just plugged into USB, opened GarageBand and was successfully recording within about 5 minutes of having opened the box. Nice when stuff actually works outs. Very pleased with the mic and my playing is not too bad either.

We needed a good quality microphone with USB connectivity and it had to be priced right. Right out of the box and into the computer it went. It's now doing the weather and ID's for our station! As always, Sweetwater shipping was fast. The dual output (XLR & USB) make it ideal for field recording.

I'm using this to teach 1500 students online live-feed science classes via GoToTraining conferencing weekly. It is outstanding. The sound quality on the recordings is amazing also. I plan on buying two more for the teachers I'm hiring. The USB connection is so slick. I just love this thing. Much nicier than my clunky old headset.

I run this mic through the XLR connection and record with a Marantz PMD661 MKII.. I have been very pleased with the audio quality. I generally turn off my computer, which sits about 1 1/2 feet away, but there have been times when I need to do a quick voiceover, so I don't turn off the PC. The microphone does a good job of isolating my voice and not recording the PC fans.

Of course, you always have to make a number of test recordings until you find the microphone's sweet spot.

I have the mic in a shock mount, and I also added a wind screen to minimize vocal "pops."

The microphone weighs 9.5 ounces and feels very high quality.

In the video below, I have it mounted to a swing-out arm, and I can then adjust the angle to place it in front of my mouth. (I replaced the two side ring lights with LED panel lights, and the camera is mounited above. I built this video station, largely from scrap wood.)

I purchased this microphone in order to supplement the microphones which are built into the Tascam DP-008 8-track Digital Pocketstudio. Although the built in microphones perform reasonably well they are much too close together to provide much channel separation when simultaneously recording dual tracks. The approximately 10 foot long microphone cable provided plugs directly into the XLR connection on the back of the DP-008 without the need of any additional pre-amps or adapters. This microphone can also connect directly to a PC USB port using the USB cable which is likewise provided. This microphone features a mini earphone monitor connection with a built in volume control. The microphone comes complete with a well constructed plastic microphone holder that can be used with a standard microphone support stand or attached to the desktop mini tripod stand (supplied). Finally ...it also includes a convenient vinyl storage pouch which may be used to store either the microphone or its included accessories. Its performance overall appears to be in line with what one would expect of a microphone at this price level. It's not a "studio quality" product, however it is a good, well designed, general purpose microphone for non-critical applications. I have not tested its USB capabilities, however with its built in earphone monitor jack and volume control and its well designed mini tripod stand it could be a good starter for someone interested in trying pod casting but not yet willing or able to purchase a higher performance product. Over all for the price it offers a lot of potential.

These mics are really solid and seem to be built really well. I like the dual-mode of XLR and USB outputs, paired alo0ng with the headphone out jack. Very versatile mics for podcasting.

Really decent mic that I am using straight into a pc with audacity, Clear and sharp, helpfully ignores noises off, and is kind to me moving around. Recommend.

Firstly let me thank Sweetwater for their Unparalleled Service Fast Shipping And Friendly Staff Since 2005. My Rep Robert Johnson got me this Mic in no time at all.
For the price this is truly a great Beginner a Semi Pro And for anyone who wants to sketch his musical ideas on their laptop
Mic. It"s an Audio Technica so you can"t go wrong there. The recording is CD quality 16 bit 48 kHz so that"s excellent. So I highly recommend it as your first Podcasting and Recording USB mic. It also doubles as an XLR Dynamic Microphone !!! How cool is that? And With all the accessories you need its a WINNER Go get it.

Plug and play. So simple to use with a computer – no need for an audio interface or additional software. It just plain works! AND it sounds pretty darn good, too. Obviously the spectrum isn't as rich as a high-end condenser mic, but it delivers a quality signal with decent highs and lows. Plenty good for vocal demos, voice overs, or podcasts. The XLR input makes this product even more versatile and recommendable – especially for the modest price. Love it!

I am a podcaster that carries all my equipment with me to recording sessions. This microphone is serving me well. Would recommend it as a relatively inexpensive option with reasonable quality.

After messing with it a bit, got it to work and it's great! Recorded a whole song using it!

The mic works fine, but it was other technical issues that made having the mic a bad fit, so I had to exchange it for something else. The mic is very sound sensitive, picks up everything.

I have purchased another Audio-Technica mike, model MB 3k, a couple of times in the past. It felt great in the hand and had a great sound. A really nice, reasonably priced mike. When I saw that it was no longer being sold at Sweetwater, I checked out what they had in stock and came across this model (AT2005USB.)

I don't like this mike nearly as much as the MB 3k. The built in USB setup requires the XLR cable to be attached in an odd manner, offset from the center. To me it just feels strange in the hand. Good sound quality, but kind of pricy.

On the plus side the USB hookup works well when recording on your computer. Great for iMovie voiceovers.

I purchased this mike almost 6 months ago. Out of the box it is a very nice mike. Excellent, clear vocals and an on/off switch that has held up well. It seems to be made out of quality materials and is sturdy. However, a few weeks ago it began to cut out on me in the middle of use. This symptom has gotten worse over time. I have babied this mike, no hard use or drops, so I am not pleased with the lack of durability. Buyer beware.