Audio-Technica AT2005USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone

Sturdy

This microphone has lasted me for about 6 months! I use it in random with a microphone cover and try to keep it turned off when not using. For someone using it pretty often, I was really happy with it!

Manufacturing Error

Just opened the box, put the mic in the stand and it fell over. Upon further inspection I found the nut was mid-threaded and is completely useless. Other than that good quality audio so far but now I have to hold it by hand until I can find a replacement part, so that’s annoying.

SO FAR SO GOOD

I was extremely skeptical about buying this since I got a microphone that sounded terrible, I needed no background noise or as little as I can get, and to my suprise this does AMAZING at getting rid of background noises I am so relieved that it sounds very good too as far as when I’m in game I’m not sure yet, but this is definitely satisfactory my old microphone was the zealsound k66 just spend the extra cash it’s worth it also the microphone stand is quite big but not in a good way honestly better off buying a better one/ or boom arm

1:50

Great for noisy rooms but ADC is an issue

This mic is really good for having gotten it on sale for $60. I like to keep my fan on and it was really loud in my blue yeti, my friends could barely hear me and my voice calls sounded like garbage from the noise reduction. This mic has great sensitivity when speaking close to it in a noisy room. However there is a problem with the ADC that i noticed and that it has a lot of white noise in the USB present even with the mic off (turning it off and recording the noise reports -72db, similar to the quantization noise level of an 11-bit ADC, not 16-bit like it advertises.) This can probably be solved by hooking up xlr to an external adc though, unless it's not part of the adc, but i don't know much about audio engineering.

GREAT QUALITY! JUST WHAT YOU NEED

LOVED THE QUALITY AND SOUND OF THE MICROPHONE. PERFECT FOR PERFORMING ON ZOOM...FOR ZOOM CONCERTS.

Heads up with the switch it has an error.

The switch has to be on the Off Setting To Actually Record And Play in Real Time Audio which is weird so maybe that's why so many people say it doesn't work please Watch video.

0:46

JARELLANO

December 11, 2021

Great Sound and 2 ways to connect

If you are just beginning as content creator, my advice is start with what you have and focus on content quality. So buy this one and connect via USB straight to your PC.

If in the future you want improve, then connect via XLR and buy an audio interface. This will improve your sound quality even more.

If you buy this one, there is room to grow because has 2 ways to connect to your PC: via USB and via XLR cable.

A couple of things to mention: this is a cardioid duynamic microphone that needs to be close to your mouth but as a bonus will not pick up noise/sounds in your room. If you, just like me, does not have sound proof room and sometimes the wife is arguing with our toddler, then this takes care of me.

I have added a video with audio of a $20 conderser microphone and I compare to this one.

Is all made of metal and it feels sturdy, highly recommended.

5:24

Bad Mic

DO NOT BUY THIS MIC!!

I purchased this mic in January and it has only done bad things for me. When you first get it out of the package it seems like a solid mic and it worked fine to start with. After about a month later i started to have problems cutting in and out of important calls. It was extremely frustrating and just today it broke. I didnt touch the mic at all, i was just talking to one of my friends online and the mic cut out just like that and it wont work. I have tried all of the steps to fix the mic and have come to the conclusion that its broken. By no means should a microphone malfunction after a month and break after 2. Extremely disappointed in this mic and i would highly recommend that one stays away from it.

Great for Online Class

I bought this just before the pandemic hit to record online lessons for my students. The sound recording quality far exceeded my expectations. Other teachers have commented on how clear and professional my recordings sound. The included tripod is usable but not at all what i'd call high quality. I rigged up a mount on an old adjustable desk lamp frame I had around. Looks a little sketchy but it works great!

Great budget podcast Mic

I would suggest AT2005 Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone if you are starting out to produce a podcast.

Great Podcasting/Streaming Mic with room to grow!

I recently got this mic after envying the sound quality one of my cohosts had on the podcast we run together. I had previously been using the Blue Snowball, and the sound quality was "robotic" for lack of a better word. No amount of editing was helping to eliminate that effect. My teammates in games also complained that when I got loud over something exciting, it was very annoying and shrill.

With the at2005usb mic, I sound like I am right there in the room! No distortion. No issues at all. Best part? I just opened the package, mounted it on my boom arm and plugged in the usb. I didn't need to to do anything from a software point of view either! I just started recording that night on audacity!

This mic being a dynamic cardioid mic, my teammates never hear my mechanical keyboard clicking, since it only picks up sounds directly in front of it. If you live in a noisey house or appartment, this mic will help cut out all that extra noise that you and your audience want none of. I do run a little bit of a noise gate via Voicemeeter Banana, but you really should not have to.

A boom arm is 100% recommended for gaming with this mic, if you are a streamer. A cheap $20 boom will easily support this mic.

The reason I said this mic has room to grow, is the ability to also use this mic with an XLR setup. That requires more investment in the mix amp and phantom power though, so I am in no rush on that front. This thing sounds great via usb already! This mic competes with the Blue Yeti or HyperX quadcast on price, but competes with much more expensive mics in terms of sound quality! I'd recommend this to anyone interested in sounding good, be it for podcasting, youtubing, streaming, voice over work, etc.

Update in 2024: I am still using this same mic with ZERO issues. I have upgraded every part of my setup from the PC, to the peripherals, monitor, desk... everything. But not this mic. Because it just works. And it's cheaper now than it was 5 years back. If you are on the fence, just buy it.

This microphone by @USAudioTechnica is of terrible quality. The USB jack uncouples from the silicon ...

This microphone by @USAudioTechnica is of terrible quality. The USB jack uncouples from the silicon inside without any jimmying around at all making the product unusable.

Orlando Mergal

March 2, 2017

Good sound and cheap construction

It's a pitty that the quality control on these mikes isn't as good as the sound. The heaphone jack on mine never worked and now the USB port is dead as well. At least I still have a regular XLR mike. Save your money and buy something like an iRig with an ElectroVoice RE50. Then you'll have quality.

chikinhammr

March 6, 2016

Great Sound, Affordable Price.

This mic was recommended to me by a professional radio broadcaster. It makes my podcast sound more gooder! No really. It does. I added a windscreen to it. The pic I'm including is with that windscreen installed. It does not come with the mic!

Five Stars

Update 05/02/16 -- This mic was great... up until today. I use this mic once per week to do a podcast. Today I take it out of it's little pouch got to plug in the usb and the port in the mic breaks off of the board

Fantastic. I use it for podcasting. I'd buy another one of I needed another mic