Audio-Technica AT4050 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone Reviews

Great sounding mic. Recorded close with a 57 and 3 feet away with this and had a great full sound.

This is a great mic. It's versatile like a C414 or U87, it's a mic you can just leave on the stand and whoever walks in will sound good on it.

A real swiss army knife, although the adage "jack of all trades, master of none" may apply here. Or not, I think it's awesomely all-round and probably the best "first" mic you can purchase.

Audio-Technica makes very good mics, up there with the big names. Don't sleep.

I bought my AT4050 almost 20 years ago. It's a workhorse and I have never found a sound source that isn't captured with great fidelity. You can't lose with this mic.

Every vocalist needs a different microphone. My low gravely old guy voice will not benefit from the best mic for Michael Jackson or Arianna Grande. Just for grins I tried MJ's Shure SM7 and its smooth and buttery but my dark through the dark mic and no dice for me. So anything we say here may or may not translate to another reader. That said, I have probably tried 2 dozen mics for my vocals and guitars and I dont like any of the regular guy tube mics. They are smooth and warm but not what I need. I have currently settled on the WA 47jr (insane value), the AKG 414 (smooth like butta) and the AT 4050. This mike is like a poor mans 414 XLS. Is the 414 better, yes but 2-3 times the price better? No. Mind you the 414 may do other things better its a real workhorse so depends on what you need it for. Depends on the day for me, my allergies, my attitude but I pick either this mic, the 414 or the 47jr which yesterday gave me its slight increase in sparkle to make my tracks yesterday sound just right. Would this mic have worked, yes and its a real solid neutral cost effective choice. AT makes solid stuff.

I have recorded over 30 audiobooks with this mic. Everyone I know who has heard me in person says my recordings sound just like I normally do. There is no coloration, added or muted brightness, or anything else except extremely true and accurate sound.
As a narrator I tend to be dynamic, especially when I record multicast drama productions that involve shouts, wails, screams, etc. Again, this mic captures everything with crisp clarity. It also replicates the growl and rumble of my voice, particularly during steamy romance scenes, when I move closer to the mic to really work the proximity effect.
I have a TLM 103 as well, but I hardly ever use it due to the clarity and accuracy of this mic. It is just that good.

The mic is great! I'm here to request that Dustin Keesbury gets a raise. oh! And …"yesterday is not today's price" lol (fat joe voice)

I really use this Mike on everything. It is one of my go to microphones. Just learn how to position it for your room and it cooks. For the price you can not go wrong

This is an outstanding all around studio mic at a fabulous price point. Whether you're recording male vocals, female vocals, acoustic instruments, or voiceover, this mic is sure to impress. I'm a huge fan of it.

I've got mics from that very well known brand that we all love but sometimes the coloration just doesn't work with the sound source. I've never been disappointed by putting a 4050 in front of a sound source from kick drum to acoustic guitar to ... whatever. These are a real value and if you can only afford one large diaphragm condensor for your needs I'd put this one on your short list.

I've tested and used a lot of microphones, and I find this one incredibly hard to beat. At $... the mic is very affordable when it comes to quality microphones, and yet the quality that you get from it is transparent, and beautiful. I use this microphone paired with my UAD Apollo X4 and when paired with some of the Unison preamps, this thing sounds absolutely beautiful. My favorite combination is the Manley Voxbox Channel strip into the Fairchild Compressor. DANG, it's beautiful.

I wanted to get a Condenser mic for my project Studio , I really enjoy my sure sm 58 but wanted to have something I could get a nice pro sound out of for fancier projects ,started watching all the YouTube shoot outs , fell in love with the U 87 Ai , seeing the price tag I was like ouch ! So I contacted Lindsey Becker my sales person via email and asked about Condenser micraphones , She suggested the 50 mic shoot out sweet water has , man I felt like I was in the bread isle at the Grocery store choosing the healthiest loaf lol ...well I ended up going for the Audio-Technica AT4050
, reason behind my choice was not just sound.. as a dj I have used there ATH-M50x head phones for a couple of years and there rugged and sound amazing , any way its a great mic to go with ..with a couple plug ins you can get a real nice sound ! Cheers Enjoy!

That is, if you want your recording to sound like what your ears are hearing. If that's not what you're after buy something else. I A/B'd about 20 mics in a studio setting awhile back and couldn't justify spending more money because the AT4050 gives you precisely what you hear with your ears. No more, no less. A few years later I was working in Vegas as an "assistant producer" (glorified sound guy) and Randy Travis came to the casino I worked at and had AT4050's on ALL the stage amps. I asked the stage manager why he chose to use them and he said "because they perfectly reproduce the sound without adding or taking away anything". So, you've heard it from at least two pros.

What's there to say that hasn't already been said about these microphone? Dependable, great- sounding, and typical 'Audio Technica value. I've noticed that its tonality is particularly appealing in omnipolar mode. Thank you Sweetwater for the awesome sale prices I've acquired these for!

I've had a pair of these for years and find them very neutral and flexible. The self noise is low, the electronics are quite clean and uncolored. The pair is great for recording jazz ensembles, acoustic instruments and amplified blues bands.

My son love it, he stated that the sound quality is real clear on his recording.

I bought 2 of them to record room and overheads and they are completely accurate. Pretty good at vocals and acoustic guitars too.

i have used akg p 220 and rode nt2a but this mic kill both of them it`s really great mic
it will last in my studio
with little touch on eq it will fit into any genre of music

I've owned a pair of these for close to 17 years now. Simply put, they work on everything with stellar results. Makes it hard to fork out additional cash on competing designs when these seem to be perfect. I've owned other LD condensers that were 3 to 4 times the price and just ended up getting rid of them and keeping the AT4050s. These mics are simply perfect in all aspects: performance, sound, quality, cost/value ratio, etc.

I've been using this mic for multiple applications - all vocals, most acoustic guitars, mandolin, fiddle, you name it. While I have some other great mics, this is the one that I go to first and would be the one I would keep if I could only keep one. I find the sound to be a great replication of what goes through it. Yes, it's expensive but worth saving up to buy. You will immediately see (actually hear) the difference. Bottom line, it's great!

I've used cheaper Rodes and the Bluebird mic over the years. I was always happy with the results but recently I've gotten more serious about home recording and decided to make an upgrade. I picked up the AT4050 and as soon as I plugged it in I was floored! The sound quality is significantly better that what I was used to and is a very noticeable difference compared to the budget condensers. I wish I would have bought this long ago!

I use this microphone all the time for live recordings especially for choral recordings. I love this mic and will never not use this!

The studio I work at has one of these, and I've begun experimenting with it on different instruments that come through. And I love the results I get with one of these plugged into a good preamp.

It sounds great on an upright grand piano, accordion, trumpet, vocals, drum room, It's a little too bright for some solo acoustic guitars, but still useful. It's quickly becoming my go-to mic.

I want to get another just so I have a matched pair.

I've been using this mic for about 6 months. I actually bought a pair to use as drum overheads. They sound great for that. I've also used it on acoustic guitar, bass guitar cab, and vocals. It has sounded very good on all of those sources. I'm particularly impressed with how good it sounds on vocals. It doesn't bring out too much sibilance and has a warm but still clear quality to the tone. It has really complimented most vocalists I've recorded lately. Very, very impressed. It's a great value too. It's sturdy, versatile (with the multiple polar patterns and pad), and it sound incredibly good. Will definitely purchase more products from Audio-Technica. These mics are smokin'

I used a borrowed one for the first time last night. My goal was to use it because of asthetics (it fit our act) and wound up being blown away by it's replication of the vocals.

It was perfect; clear and concise...When I go to doing some DAW work with live instruments and vocals, I'm going to grab this again! Wow!....

I use an ADK al 51 as well as an Audio Technica 4050 in a stereo configuration for high quality classical guitar...made by Simon Marty of Australia. The results are always crystal clear, in your face, full, three dimensional and so easy to EQ. Run the mix through Waves plug ins inc the SSL 4000 output compressor, and you will get better than anything ever before recorded, esp vocals and guitar. Sooooo good.

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.

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!

Been using this mic since 2009. This mic is great on vocals because its so warm. I recommend this mic all day everyday.

I really love this mic. I used an AT4040 for many years, this was the next step up and I'm glad I took it. There mic is clean and clear and bright. More articulate and truer in its representations than the 4040. Recordings I've made with this mic have been spot on--not only like I'm in the room with musicians, but like I've got my ear to the instrument or amp. That true. And I haven't found a single instrument or situation where it didn't impress me. I highly recommend the AT4050. For this price, you will have a very difficult time finding a better mic.

Love it, great mic, great value, very professional, versatile, I'm not complaining at all.

This mic has become my go to mic. It sounds great on everything I've thrown it on. It is the first thing I throw up on clean vocals and in many situations I've found it to sound better than my SM7b on hardcore vocals. It just sounds more... crisp. I recently threw it in front of a mesa going through an orange cab and it made my e906 sound muffled when I A/B'd them. I've also gotten the best acoustic recordings of my life with this thing. I don't regret this purchase at all. I now have more clients lined up than ever.

Its hard to believe but I`ve been using the 4050 now for 13 years. There are hundreds of microphones out there to choose but to me the 4050 still remains tough to beat. Want something for vocals, guitars, overheads? this mic handles all of it and some. The 4050 has a nice open sound without being overly bright. AT could easily charge double for this mic and get it so my advice for anyone looking for something versatile is to get the 4050 first. I have a TLM 103 which is a nice mic but time and time again, I prefer the 4050. Consider some of the studio classics: SM57, U87... the 4050 is another classic.

Its hard to believe but I`ve been using the 4050 now for 13 years. There are hundreds of microphones out there to choose but to me the 4050 still remains tough to beat. Want something for vocals, guitars, overheads? this mic handles all of it and some. The 4050 has a nice open sound without being overly bright. AT could easily charge double for this mic and get it so my advice for anyone looking for something versatile is to get the 4050 first. I have a TLM 103 which is a nice mic but time and time again, I prefer the 4050. Consider some of the studio classics: SM57, U87... the 4050 is another classic.

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

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.

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

Decent flat sounding mic. Surprised how many like this for a go to vocal mic. I'd recommend getting something else for vocals myself. Quality mic, but not the best mic for vocals if you want a nice modern sound from the start.

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.