Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Review In 2024: Features, Pricing, and Comparisons
The Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB is one of the best entry-level USB microphones to start a podcast. The best feature of this microphone is it supports both USB and XLR outputs.
This microphone is perfect for someone starting a podcast or intermediate podcaster, singers, or even to attend business calls with professional-quality sound. The ATR2100-USB microphone shares one major thing in common with all other Audio-Technica products – it places emphasis on function over form.
Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Review
The ATR2100 is a USB microphone with a cardioid polar pattern and has a frequency response of 50Hz to 15kHz.It is integrated with a decent AD converter, along with a sampling rate of 16-bit, 44.1/48 kHz
Apart from that, even though this microphone has been marketed as a USB mic over the years, it also supports XLR output as well. This mic allows you to plug it into audio interfaces and audio mixers.
On the bottom panel of the mic, you’ll find a headphone out jack to monitor the sound level of the mic and a volume knob to control the sound,
Last, the ATR2100-USB microphone comes with everything you need to start a podcast, including – a USB cable, an XLR cable, a mic stand clip, and even a mini tripod mic stand for a desk.
Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB vs. Blue Yeti
Blue Yeti is one of the popular USB condenser microphones for podcasting, gaming, and youtube. It comes with 4 different mics polar patterns to use to pick up sounds. The Yeti microphone is available in different variations, including-blue yeti USB, blue yeti nano, blue yeti pro & blue yeti X.You will get a 3.5mm headphone jack to connect the studio headphones to monitor the sound recordings.”
Lets take a look at the pros and cons of this ATR2100-USB vs. Blue Yeti microphones:
Pros and Cons of ATR2100
Pros
- Small size and weight
- Easier for travel purposes
- Single function with high quality
- Cardioid Polar pattern means one-directional sound input
- Plugs directly into a computer
- Plugs straight into mobiles and tablets
- Headphone Jack 3.0
Cons
- Limited to cardioid polar pattern
- cheap in quality stand
- Sound input isn’t as sensitive.
- The on/off switch can cause loud sounds in the podcast recording.
Pros and Cons of the Blue Yeti
Pros
- Excellent Portability
- Eight polar patterns perfect for any situation
- (gain control): Adjustable sound-input sensitivity
- Adjustable headphone volume
- Mute Button
- USB connection
Cons
- Heavier to carry
- No handheld option
- No XLR Inputs – can’t use it with Audio Interfaces or MIxers.
- The included USB cable isn’t that great.
Audio-Technica ATR2100 VS SHURE SM7B
Shure SM7B is the #1 xlr connector dynamic microphone to use for recording podcasts &vocals in 2022. Even though Audio Technica atr2100 comes up with both usb & xlr connections, its an advantage if you want to use a simple recording setup. For using the SM7B dynamic mic, you need to get an external preamp like cloudlifter cl-1 to power the mic & an audio interface or audio mixers to connect the mic. Don’t forget to get an external xlr cable to secure the connection between the shure sm7b & audio interface. The Focusrite 2i2 is what I recommend using for solo or multiple host podcasts.
Audio-Technica ATR2100 vs. Samson q2u
Like audio Technica atr2100, the Samson q2u also has 2 inputs, both USB & XLR connections. The Samson q2u is a widely used professional handheld dynamic microphone with USB digital output to connect it to the computer & XLR output to connect the mic to an audio interface or audio mixers.Similar to audio technica atr2100, this mic uses cardioid pickup pattern to capture sound from in front of the microphone and less from the side and rear.It minimizes ambient sounds and other room noises getting into the mic and makes it easy to record podcasts &vocals.
Audio-Technica ATR2100 vs. SHURE SM58
The shure sm58 is a xlr connector handheld mic to record vocals in the podcasting studio. The uniform cardioid polar pattern of this mic delivers warm &crip sounds every time. It has a -built-in pop filter on the mic to keep any unwanted noise out of the mix. In the box, you will get the mic,a Stand Adapter, a storage band, and 2 years of warranty.
ATR2100-USB Shock Mount
To make things easy, Audio-Technica comes with a perfect ATR2100-USB Shock Mount. You will find the Knox Shock Mount for Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB here.This shock mount easily attaches with a standard 5/8″-27 thread and can be adjusted to meet different angles. It will also work fine with a Samson Q2U USB microphone. By getting this shock mount, you can easily increase the sound quality of your podcast by reducing unwanted sounds, especially from typing, clicking the mouse, or hitting your desk. See our best universal mic shock mount recommendations here.You’ll also want a boom arm or microphone desk stand to connect it to the table.
Final Thoughts
Without any doubt, ATR2100-USB is the best USB microphone to start a podcast in 2024. If you watched Buzzsprout: How to start a podcast course, you will notice that they are using this mic to record the course.
Check out the best podcasting course to learn how to start, grow& monetize a podcast.
You will get pretty much the same sound quality as the Heil PR-40, which is 3 or 4 times the price.
Because of the low price and flexibility of this microphone, it quickly becomes one of the most popular entry-level podcast mics to start a podcast.I also feature this mic in my top computer mics and the best XLR mics list post. Feel free to check out the ATR2100-USB microphone here.
