The all time desert island microphone!!!!! 
by Eddie Mapp from New Orleans, La, September 2008
Music Background:  Live sound engineer: Evanescence, Stone Temple Pilots, Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society

Without a doubt one of my favorite all around do everything WELL microphones. I've used these live on several tours on everything from Kick drum, snare drum, toms, bass guitars, electric guitars, overheads, leslie, saxophone, and vocals. For singer songwriters try two 4050's both in figure 8 position. Use the first to help cancel vocals in the guitar mic using the null point (ask your sales person for further polar pattern info) and use the second to cancel guitars in the vocal mic.

  excellent, crisp, full-range microphone with great detail and bass response 
by simon from sydney australia, August 2008
Music Background:  engineer, musician, educator

i chose the 4050 over a U87 for an acoustic git and voice album for my uncle years ago and since have bought a 4033 and 4041 and like them alot. I found that with the 4050 his voice sounded just like I know him to sound face to face. This was the clincher for me.

I reckon Audio Technica mics would have to be some of the most underrated mics on the planet! They are all very good in my experience and simply in a different league from other mics in their price range.

Some people say they are bright but i'd say crisp. I find they cut through mixes very well and need very little work to make them sit right in the mix.

The 4050 is a superb choice on Male voice where a crisp but full sounding take is required. AT mics tend to make other mics like Rodes sound a bit soft and blurred in my opinion although I do like and own Rodes including 2 original NT-1 mics i use mostly for toms and the k2 which is nice for a more fizzy sound than the AT4050 on voice.

The 4050 is also great on stringed instruments of all sorts as it has an excellent mid/low response and enough high end clarity and sparkle to make acoustic instruments come to life where a tube mic tends to sound too flabby and boomy.

A Neumann U87 sounds dark in comparison to an AT4050.

Watch it though when EQ'ing the top end of this mic or it can tend to sound a bit too extreme and a tad plastic

  Pure Gold For Vocals 
by D.J. from Monterey, TN USA, June 2008
Music Background:  Vocalist, Recording Engineer, Live Sound Engineer

First let me say that I fully recognize and agree with other reviewers who have noted the versatility of this mic in its ability to perform flawlessly while recording various accoustic instruments (guitar, piano, etc.). I want to focus my review, however, on its performance as a vocal mic and hopefully offer some assistance to anyone who is currently weighing the multitude of options when it comes to purchasing your first (or second) vocal mic for your studio.
The most important factor when deciding which dedicated vocal mic I wanted to purchase for my home studio several years ago was the price-to-performance ratio. In other words, as I moved up in price point to different microphones, was the performance significantly improved enough (or noticeable enough) to justify the next highest priced mic? I literally demo-ed dozens of microphones from the $200 price range up to those costing more than $2000, and this mic won HANDS DOWN!! I just didn't hear enough difference to justify spending that much more on a vocal mic, when that money could buy a bunch of other hardware or software that I needed, and since purchasing the mic 8 years ago, I have NEVER been disappointed in its performance as a vocal mic or wished that I had a different mic for any vocal tracks that I have cut.
If you are looking for specifics, let me say that the response and reproduction of any high frequencies is incredible. You will literally hear every crack, pop, growl, and any other nuance that you put into your vocals come through exactly as you sang it. I have a voice in the higher range and sing rock music. I typically use my "scratchy" voice with lots of intentional cracks, and even need that "80s scream" from time to time, and this mic delivers perfectly every time. The only instance in which I could imagine someone finding a mic with a better performance/price ratio would be for someone with a deep bass or baritone voice. This mic does great for low vocals as well, but I am not familiar with other mics that may be better suited for very deep vocals.
The bottom line is that before you spend your money on that mic "you just gotta have" that costs several thousand dollars, you NEED to try this one first. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed, and that you will also be very happy about all the other gear you can get with the money you didn't spend on your vocal mic!

  Awesome mic for the price! 
by Jared from Spokane, WA, December 2007
Music Background:  Musician, Producer, Recording Engineer

This was the first condenser mic that I purchased when building my project studio and bought it souly on reading positive reviews like this one. Since then I have only found that expensive mics like the U87 hold up to it. All other budget large condenser mics sound tiny and lifeless. The 4050 always sounds full and uncolored, and effects spice up the signal nicely when applied correctly. It has never let me down for anything I have used it on. Vocals, acoustic guitar and misc. percussion are where I have used it most, but have had great results with it on unusual applications like kick drum. Due to its high SPL rating, it never chokes out. I paid less for this mic 4 years ago and the price keeps creeping up. Buy it before it’s no longer considered a budget mic.

  Great mic...kinda boring at times 
by Neil from Cleveland, Ohio, November 2006
Music Background:  Engineer/Musician

I have a pair of these in my cabinet. They get used on every session, but somewhat by default. I use them as drum overheads in XY. They give a really natural kit sound without a ton of cymbal wash. I like using one in omni with an acoustic guitar in a good room. They end up on vocals sometimes, but I will usually go for something with a valve in it there. I'm not getting rid of mine anytime soon. They're great when you want something to sound like it really does with a touch of that condenser "breath". If you want something colored, this mic will bore you.

  The Swiss Army Knife of Microphones! 
by Matt from Georgia, September 2006
Music Background:  Recording Engineer/Mastering Engineer

Not a better, more versatile mic on the market in my opinion. It has been my "go to" mic for 10 years. It gives a clean, uncolored sound that allows me to use it on any sound source with confidence. Vocals, acoustic guitars, guitar cabinets, piano, etc. The bass rolloff is handy, and the figure 8 pattern allows great flexibility in your use of the mic. There are mics that may sound better in certain situations, but if i had to choose a single microphone to handle an entire project, this would be at or near the top of my list

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