I bought the AT2020 before hearing this test, because it seemed a very neutral mic. It has been for me, and this video confirms it. The AT and AKG do sound a lot alike, but the AT2020 is the most natural to my ears. The P120's top end might be tricky to work with.
Good review. For those saying what is the best mic, one needs to consider 'hardness' of the mic vs what you are recording. Voices that are softer sounding sound better with a harder sounding mic, in this case the akg. The 2020 would complement a thinner or huskier voice as it would add lower frequencies.
CaneMajor hey man! Great review! I have seen a few of your other videos. I review products as well and I can appreciate your work! Quick question. During the vocal test i noticed the caption p120 was on the left side (where the at2020 is) and then the second playback said at2020 ( with the caption beside the p120) I really liked the sound of the second playback more. Can you just confirm that the second playback was in fact the At2020 and not the p120? Cheers
I HAVE A MICROPHONE BEHRINGER C1 AND I AM IN ORDER TO BUY ANOTHER, TO WORK WITH 2 MICROPHONES AT THE SAME TIME ... OR CHANGE MY MICROPHONE SAME ... I THOUGHT THAT AT 2020 IS BETTER ON YOUR VIDEO ... TELL ME WHAT YOU I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER TO ME P120 or AT2O2O? FROM JA THANK YOU ... FROM BRAZIL I SEE YOUR VIDEOS VERY GOOD ...
Although a little over two years old, this video is still valuable and I appreciate you posting it. I've now purchased six of the AT2020s for a round-table style podcast recording. I just wanted to say thanks for the good video.
I have absolutely loved my AT2020s. For it's price, it's a good mic. I put one of these suckers in a sound room with a mini-grand, and the audio was beautiful. Crisp, full, and zero noticeable static. However, the draw back is that this mic will pick up all ambient noise just as well as it picks everything else. Noises you didn't know were there will be fairly noticeable. It's different settings allow for you to switch to avoid this for the most part (vocals, guitar, amps, or other things that are directional... but if you are trying to set up for drums, acoustic jams (with multiple audio sources), or pianos... you'll need to do so in a sterile environments.
It's funny because the gain if fine. What I'm talking about are small sounds in the audio file. This sucker doesn't exacerbate that ambient (which a lot of other mics do), but it is fairly sensitive (which is a super great thing, mind you). I'm not talking about hum, static, buzz, or pop (which would be explained by faulty equipment) but rather picking up REAL ambient noise in the environment. Hence my comment for recording in audio sterile environments (aka: sound proofed rooms, quiet locations, etc) for the above mentioned recordings. Cheers mate.
My perception is that the wind sound on the flutes was a little more present on the AKG120 while he depth of your voice is more present in the AT2020. Your comparison is very well done.
Don't have proper speakers set up right now so cant hear much difference HOWEVER, THANK YOU for doing this A/B test PROPERLY!I don't prefer the way most people will demonstrate one sound/source/mic...with a bunch of variables and then do the same long multi-part test with subject 2.THANK YOU for toggling between the two with the same source before moving to the next. If all that makes any sense.Point is..THANKS for doing this test intelligently.
This has been really helpful for me as I'm just starting to build up my OWN gear after years of using my high school or University's equipment. Was looking at the AT2020 and AKG P120 but was not sure which one I wanted for sure. Think I'm going to go with the AT2020, the recordings felt warmer to me and almost fuller, which is something that will help me with projects I usually tackle.
this was the review i was looking for thank you so much! i have a deeper voice like you so it gave me a good perception on how it would cope with mine. thank you
This was very helpful to me. I found the comparison of a number of different sources and the short length side by side comparisons made for an easy assessment of the different sound qualities.
For the budget and from the reviews I've seen, the AT2020 might be a good choice for me, I have a rather low voice and also use a lot of bass on my guitar amp (which is actually a kybd amp).
Hey! Welcome to recording! As far as your question, The USB versions of XLR microphones will sound identical to the XLR mics. The only difference between the two is how they get their power, the signal will be the same. Good luck and if you have any more questions I'll do the best i can.
well.sorry but no...the dac and electronics inside the mic are cheaper than your cool interfase. so cheap usb mics are way inferior and noisier than xlr mics and external interfase.
Having watched your comparison video I decided to go with the AKG120 and have just placed my order with Amazon. Thank you for your very useful and informative video.
I just bought the 2020 at a pawn shop for $40. Very impressed on flute and alto saxophone. What I noticed on your recordings was how much sweeter and less harsh on the flutes vs the AKG. Nice demo thanks. I'll be putting up a demo with the saxophones, flute and piano soon.
Hello! Welcome to recording! One of the first rules in recording is you, the artist, have final say on what sounds best to you. I like the AT2020 in this video because I like the way it handles my voice and lower frequencies. If you like they way the P120 sounds over the AT2020, for your recordings, it's your opinion that matters. Good luck!
Hello! I would recommend either the AKG Perception 120 or the AT2020 as the best two budget microphones I've heard so far. For vocals they are so close I would actually lean more towards the 120 because the 2020 sells for 20 to 30 dollars more and they sound so close for vocals. These are, in my opinion, the best mics for under 100.00. There is the MXL-990 but I haven't heard one and I don't have any experience at all with MXL. If you have any more questions I'll do the best I can.
Amazing comparison with so much different tests in a quick run. Honestly I have never seen a better microphone comparison. Thanks for convincing me to go get an AT2020.
Awesome video! Thanks for the vocal comparison, since it gave me a better perspective of what each mic sounds like and so far glad I got the AT2020 for vocals and pod-casting.
Hey! The AT 2020 is one of the few microphones that you can get in XLR and USB versions. XLR mics have a 3 prong jack that plugs into audio interfaces, recording equipment and some amps. The USB versions plug directly into the USB ports on computers. Both versions will sound the same. The USB mics will cost a little more but with XLR mics you will need an interface to record on your computer. If you have more questions I'll do the best I can.
I'm going to guess that the first mic he used in the intro is the AKG C1000 S. A very versatile mic, priced at under $200. There are similar versions, but pay close attention, so make sure you get the right one. It requires phantom power, or will accept a battery to provide the boost. Really a great mic for the price. I also want to tell CaneMajor that I really appreciate his review style. Very nice!
I thought the low-end on the AT2020 was much better for the drum, but the biggest thing for me was that the AT2020 picked up much less of the room sound, which is really important if your recording space is sub-par, and/or you're recording multiple instruments at once. For my own money, I'd argue that you can get a lot more out of a well-placed sm57 for rooms and situations such as these, especially when it comes to digital recording.
Hello! No! I never even heard of the CAD M179 but after looking it up I think it may be my next addition to my collection. It's frequency response is nice and flat, perfect for the instruments I record and I don't have a multi-pattern mic but I may need one soon. As far as other people's opinions about microphones. Your ears are the most important in the world. If YOU like the way a mic sounds your opinion is the only one that matters. Thanks for the tip about the M179! And good recording!
For those who want better quality a great option is the professional microphone RODE NT1 , value the most is offset by the quality. Excuse my English , I'm from South America.
Man, what a voice you have! Sounds so powerful and authoritative. I you were a scam artist and commanded me to open my wallet and give you all my money I think I would stand no chance. If you aren't a voice actor already you should consider becoming one.
In that video I used an M-Audio Fasttrack Pro, however I don't hear much of a difference between it and any of my interfaces. I go through all of the ones I have here. czcams.com/video/fe1nR7dNack/video.html
CaneMajor Thank you very much. So I guess It works so well with your thick and warm voice, much better than thin and bright voices of girls I recorded with.
Nice video! I can't understand how some people don't hear the difference. There are some very noticeable difference. Maybe they are listening on cheap speakers or headphones... I preferred the AT2020 on every source but the bamboo flute (first octave). To me it sounds a lot more natural, I felt more like I was listening the actual instrument and not to the instrument recorded by a microphone. The way the P120 handled the top end just screamed "microphone under $300". Even though the P120 is surly more versatile, if anyone is not planing on recording loud sources like guitar amps or drums I think the clear choice is the AT2020. The roll off isn't really much a a feature if you ask me, that is easily accomplished with basic eq, not to mention nearly every mixer has a high-pass directly at the front of the signal path. QUESTION: I have actually owned the P100 and have had good experience with the durability of the perception series. How does the Audio-Technica built quality compare the the AKG? Have you had any issues with the durability of the AT2020?
Thanks for this video by the way, it made my decision much easier than before and now im a proud owner of an akg perception p120 mic and its really clear
Hello! Yes, that is an AKG C1000S Mark 3 small diaphragm condenser mic, It was discontinued a few months ago and the Mark 4s are starting to show up now. The C1000S are mid range mics that are a few steps above the perception series. Good luck sir!
Thank you mr. Trace for this great video.. i agree, the AT2020 capture your voice deeply than P120.. i think it'll be back to what we're gonna use that mic for.. nothing can go wrong in that price range with those two mics.. i'm happy with my P120 :)
thanks for taking the time to compare mics ,, i own an at2020 xlr version & was thinking of getting the akg 120 due to the specs but after watching this video that would be pointless...thanks again
Thanks. You do a great job in your comparisons both in listening comparative tests and graphic representations of actual sound levels and quantitative analyses. ... Thanks again.
Hi from France ! thanks a lot for this, that's usefull for people who are looking for low price mic in this jungle !! Yes the AT 2020 gives more bass but sometimes i prefer the sound of P120, it's better for the flute here i think, so may be it'll be better with my voice.
I just bought the AT2020, the non usb one. I was comparing it with a Rode NT1A, and I decide the NT1A's lack of mid frequency was getting to me. I like the AT2020's boominess, which sound like the old type of hand held stage mics, but for those who don't like the boominess, this can be fixed with a little bit of eq-ing. Considering my noisy recording environment, which is constantly filled with sounds of car wheezing by and dog barks, I'm able to get decent studio like quality recordings with this mic, with little to no background noises at all. I reckon this has something to do with the side and back of the mic, which kinda shuts out the noises. I'm using this with a Focusrite 2i4, and I have no idea if the 2i4 helps in enhancing the mic's audio quality. Anyway, for those with a tight budget and a noisy recording environment, I would say this mic is the one to go with to get decent studio quality recordings.
The first rule of recording is you as the artist have final say over what sounds best to you. If you like the way the 2020 picks up your voice or instrument use it! We all hear things differently, have different tastes and opinions. It's YOUR opinion that counts when recording YOUR music.
What would be interesting is a comparison between a top-notch studio microphone, such as a Neuman, and one of the better budget mics, and maybe even a low-cost budget mic such as the Behringer B1.
- Hi! I came for the comparison and stayed because the FIRST MIC when u start to talk... Witch microphone that? And please tell me, if you use a preamp or any other post production... cuze I wanna buy this... amazing with your voice is = WOOOOW! Thank You! -
Hello! Both of these microphones have almost imperceptible self noise. That is one the first things I look for in a microphone. As far as the C03U, I've heard recordings with that microphone and they had a problem with noise as well. Thanks for the confirmation.
The AKG sound just a tiny bit better (clearer) for my ears, Plus it has the 2 switches that are pretty useful. I personally would go for the AKG then, However they both sound very similar.
I find the 2020 more natural sounding, and the 120 colored with a V-shaped EQ-ing. Great Demonstration of the two mics... Awesome voiceover voice, too :)
Thanks for this review! Honestly, to me I heard very little differnce between the 2. But since I already own the At2020 I don't see any reason to go out and get the 120, lol.
Thanks man , i am going to buy AT2020 tomorrow so excited now :) After watching your video i really want it . Because before i used Akp Perception 420 , Perception 120 also but AKG mic's have some mid frequency problem which doesnt comes natural to ear, i have also rode and neumann mics but for litle projects i can use AT2020 like semi professional mic . I will test and write you my reviews also. I will use it with some pre-amps like focusrite and tc-helicon so it will response great i hope
Hi! Is there a confusion here? You have shown the text of P120 on the AT2020 side in the image while recording your voice. I found the the your voice more warm and bassy when you say AT2020 which is the characteristic of P120.
Hey! Sorry for the late response! I answered you a week ago from my phone but it didn't make it to CZcams. Look at the bottom of your microphone. If it has a round connector with 3 pins it is an XLR microphone and will need a USB interface to go between your mic and your computer. If it has a rectangular connector it is a USB mic and can plug directly into your computer. Good luck and if you have any questions I'll do the best I can.
хороший обзор. у akg p120 в этом видео мне звук понравился больше, чем у at2020. конечно, это моё субъективное мнение. спасибо за этот небольшой обзор.
Hello, Can you please make a sound review of the comparison between AKG D7S &AKG D57 Dynamic microphone, with your expert opinion about superiority in case of vocal recording speially Indian music.
I just bought AT2020 USB mic for my youtube channel, but after some hours of testing, I cannot get the static background noise out, it seems to capture a lot of noises around. I think i'll return it to the store, I just cannot find the solution to get it working with clear sound without the background noises, even my old cam mic from Logitech Pro web cam is don't capture the background noise or has any static noise in it. Will opt for some mic with Phantom. Any helpful sugestion regarding at2020usb , any possible solutions or recommendable condenser mics, right now thinking of something like Samson c01.
Hello! What kind of software are you using for recording? USB microphones without built in gain controls like the AT2020 USB are controlled by the operating software mixer and or the recording software. The only time I had that problem was with a USB mic, my windows mixer's recording volume was set too high. Lets start there. Let me know what you find. We'll get you recording.
CaneMajor So basically i was gonna use xsplit gamecaster software, which got no audio filtering or any other control over sound, so windows 8 basically is controlling , and only option I got , was just for regulating basic sound . The mic was capturing sound infront of me , like 30 cm, yet it was capturing the sound from my PC and other strange noise from other room. When I tried to lower the sound on it, my voice sound went down as well, I tried finding the golden point, but sadly even when I could barelly hear my voice, I hear very low background as well. EDIT: Some people told me the problem is USB slot, i need SS USB slot to lower the background noise, I tried pluging it to usb 3.0 but nothing changed.
OK, Go here, download and install audacity. audacity.sourceforge.net/. make a few recordings and let me know how they turned out. We'll start again tomorrow.
CaneMajor Thank you for you care, but its done bought Samson C01, satisfied with the sound quality. Got some issues with cables while conectiong to the sound card, but now is fixed. Thanks again for your intentions to help me!
CaneMajor Yea, i hear on your video to some very high interference noise from both of those mic's, that i dont hear with the third mic where you start the video with. Of course with Audacity you can take it out but my experience is that you take out more then just that noise. For a balanced mic such noise shouldn't be there i think. Of course it are not Neumann mic's, but still when the factory would make a 1:1 audio coil between, then there is still a lot of differences between the Neumann and the AKG or AT.....euw thinking while i type, was your mixer connected to ground?
Yea I bought a XLR cord from Amazon. It has a USB on the other end and I plugged that end into my computer and the other end into my at2020 and it didnt even register. There was no blue LED light that was supposed to come didnt. Suggestions?
Man, the mic in your main part sounds way more smokingly clear than the ones you reviewed so my question is.... what mic is that you have and what pre is it going into? thanks!!
OK, only the USB versions of the mics will have a blue light. If you have an XLR mic you will need a regular XLR mic cable and a USB interface. The interface connects to the computer with a USB cable. Check out my video about USB interfaces.
Hello! Between these two the AT2020 will probably give you a richer tone but the 120 will sound great with your voice for skyping and Pod-casting. Good luck!
Wow brilliant review, i'll probably go for the cheaper cause both are great, and i only wnat a quality dedicated mic for Skype, video recording and simple tasks.
Hello! Recording from an amp with these mics could be a problem because of the hiss that comes from the amp. If you can't equalize out the amp's self noise it will be picked up by the microphones. To adjust for this you will have to move them further away from the amp. With this in mind I think the 2020 would do a better job because it's higher quality diaphragm. Good luck!
With that voice any microphone will rock! :)
Chirs Brown Jordan Spekers No Air
Love how you do multiple comparisons and put out actual graphs and numbers to really show off the differences.
Please become a narrator for a tv show or a movie. Your voice is sooooo amazing
I bought the AT2020 before hearing this test, because it seemed a very neutral mic. It has been for me, and this video confirms it. The AT and AKG do sound a lot alike, but the AT2020 is the most natural to my ears. The P120's top end might be tricky to work with.
Good review. For those saying what is the best mic, one needs to consider 'hardness' of the mic vs what you are recording. Voices that are softer sounding sound better with a harder sounding mic, in this case the akg. The 2020 would complement a thinner or huskier voice as it would add lower frequencies.
You have a perfect voice for documentaries and also a multiple instruments musician. I hope one day you become famous, keep up the great work!
Thanks man! Good luck with your projects as well!
CaneMajor hey man! Great review! I have seen a few of your other videos. I review products as well and I can appreciate your work! Quick question. During the vocal test i noticed the caption p120 was on the left side (where the at2020 is) and then the second playback said at2020 ( with the caption beside the p120) I really liked the sound of the second playback more. Can you just confirm that the second playback was in fact the At2020 and not the p120? Cheers
Yes yes! The Second sample was from the AT2020.
I HAVE A MICROPHONE BEHRINGER C1 AND I AM IN ORDER TO BUY ANOTHER, TO WORK WITH 2 MICROPHONES AT THE SAME TIME ... OR CHANGE MY MICROPHONE SAME ... I THOUGHT THAT AT 2020 IS BETTER ON YOUR VIDEO ... TELL ME WHAT YOU I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER TO ME
P120 or AT2O2O?
FROM JA THANK YOU ... FROM BRAZIL I SEE YOUR VIDEOS VERY GOOD ...
33 GANG BMRMB Hello! The AT2020 is a slightly better microphone than the P120. I recommend it over the old and new P120s. Good luck!
Your microphone comparisons are among the best I have seen on CZcams. Thank your for your great work and distributing useful information!
Thank you! I'm just trying to help fellow artists and producers save time. Good luck with your projects!
CaneMajor
Thank you for the reply. I look forward to seeing more of your future videos!
Although a little over two years old, this video is still valuable and I appreciate you posting it. I've now purchased six of the AT2020s for a round-table style podcast recording.
I just wanted to say thanks for the good video.
I have absolutely loved my AT2020s. For it's price, it's a good mic.
I put one of these suckers in a sound room with a mini-grand, and the audio was beautiful. Crisp, full, and zero noticeable static.
However, the draw back is that this mic will pick up all ambient noise just as well as it picks everything else. Noises you didn't know were there will be fairly noticeable. It's different settings allow for you to switch to avoid this for the most part (vocals, guitar, amps, or other things that are directional... but if you are trying to set up for drums, acoustic jams (with multiple audio sources), or pianos... you'll need to do so in a sterile environments.
It's funny because the gain if fine. What I'm talking about are small sounds in the audio file. This sucker doesn't exacerbate that ambient (which a lot of other mics do), but it is fairly sensitive (which is a super great thing, mind you).
I'm not talking about hum, static, buzz, or pop (which would be explained by faulty equipment) but rather picking up REAL ambient noise in the environment. Hence my comment for recording in audio sterile environments (aka: sound proofed rooms, quiet locations, etc) for the above mentioned recordings.
Cheers mate.
+I beat the game! (my achievments) Hey! Put some of those recordings on CZcams! We would love to hear quality 10x better than what's on this video!!!!
P120 sounded great for acoustic guitar, to my ears, and it's not something I would have considered. Thanks, this is useful.
My perception is that the wind sound on the flutes was a little more present on the AKG120 while he depth of your voice is more present in the AT2020. Your comparison is very well done.
Was it just me or did the 120 seem to be more detailed then the 2020 but the 2020 had a more filling sound texture.
Exactly that's messed up. I guess the 120 would be easier to mix with tho?
@@matthewgreaves5291 Yeah, or capability to fiddle with
@@seanisthebomb117 Dman boi u answered after 7 years
Thanks! The AT2020 and AKG C1000S are my top two narration mics. When I need to sound my best I pick one of those two. Good luck!
Don't have proper speakers set up right now so cant hear much difference HOWEVER, THANK YOU for doing this A/B test PROPERLY!I don't prefer the way most people will demonstrate one sound/source/mic...with a bunch of variables and then do the same long multi-part test with subject 2.THANK YOU for toggling between the two with the same source before moving to the next. If all that makes any sense.Point is..THANKS for doing this test intelligently.
Cool! I still think the P120 is the best mic I've ever heard for the lowest price. Good luck and good recording sir!
Thanks. The drop at low frequencies have a P120 it was noticeable immediately, especially on the drum.
This has been really helpful for me as I'm just starting to build up my OWN gear after years of using my high school or University's equipment. Was looking at the AT2020 and AKG P120 but was not sure which one I wanted for sure. Think I'm going to go with the AT2020, the recordings felt warmer to me and almost fuller, which is something that will help me with projects I usually tackle.
Hello! Yes, the AT2020 is a legend and is an excellent choice for a first microphone! Good luck and happy recording!
this was the review i was looking for thank you so much! i have a deeper voice like you so it gave me a good perception on how it would cope with mine. thank you
This was very helpful to me. I found the comparison of a number of different sources and the short length side by side comparisons made for an easy assessment of the different sound qualities.
For the budget and from the reviews I've seen, the AT2020 might be a good choice for me, I have a rather low voice and also use a lot of bass on my guitar amp (which is actually a kybd amp).
Hey! Welcome to recording! As far as your question, The USB versions of XLR microphones will sound identical to the XLR mics. The only difference between the two is how they get their power, the signal will be the same. Good luck and if you have any more questions I'll do the best i can.
well.sorry but no...the dac and electronics inside the mic are cheaper than your cool interfase. so cheap usb mics are way inferior and noisier than xlr mics and external interfase.
Thank you very much your reply, I'm going to purchase the AT2020 and an ART USB mixer. I might purchase a better mic later on!
Having watched your comparison video I decided to go with the AKG120 and have just placed my order with Amazon. Thank you for your very useful and informative video.
I just bought the 2020 at a pawn shop for $40. Very impressed on flute and alto saxophone. What I noticed on your recordings was how much sweeter and less harsh on the flutes vs the AKG. Nice demo thanks. I'll be putting up a demo with the saxophones, flute and piano soon.
A well put together video to see the comparison of both mic with various instruments. Thank you sir.
Hello! Welcome to recording! One of the first rules in recording is you, the artist, have final say on what sounds best to you. I like the AT2020 in this video because I like the way it handles my voice and lower frequencies. If you like they way the P120 sounds over the AT2020, for your recordings, it's your opinion that matters. Good luck!
You just nailed the information I was looking for right on the head. This video might be an oldie, but it's still absolutely relevant. Good job!
Hello! I would recommend either the AKG Perception 120 or the AT2020 as the best two budget microphones I've heard so far. For vocals they are so close I would actually lean more towards the 120 because the 2020 sells for 20 to 30 dollars more and they sound so close for vocals. These are, in my opinion, the best mics for under 100.00. There is the MXL-990 but I haven't heard one and I don't have any experience at all with MXL. If you have any more questions I'll do the best I can.
Amazing comparison with so much different tests in a quick run. Honestly I have never seen a better microphone comparison. Thanks for convincing me to go get an AT2020.
Awesome video! Thanks for the vocal comparison, since it gave me a better perspective of what each mic sounds like and so far glad I got the AT2020 for vocals and pod-casting.
Hey! The AT 2020 is one of the few microphones that you can get in XLR and USB versions. XLR mics have a 3 prong jack that plugs into audio interfaces, recording equipment and some amps. The USB versions plug directly into the USB ports on computers. Both versions will sound the same. The USB mics will cost a little more but with XLR mics you will need an interface to record on your computer. If you have more questions I'll do the best I can.
Test start at - 1:48
I'm going to guess that the first mic he used in the intro is the AKG C1000 S.
A very versatile mic, priced at under $200. There are similar versions, but pay close attention, so make sure you get the right one. It requires phantom power, or will accept a battery to provide the boost. Really a great mic for the price. I also want to tell CaneMajor that I really appreciate his review style. Very nice!
You are correct sir! That is the C1000S MK3, the MK 4 was released last year. Thanks a lot and good luck with your projects!
데릭피코너 pls subcribe me
I thought the low-end on the AT2020 was much better for the drum, but the biggest thing for me was that the AT2020 picked up much less of the room sound, which is really important if your recording space is sub-par, and/or you're recording multiple instruments at once. For my own money, I'd argue that you can get a lot more out of a well-placed sm57 for rooms and situations such as these, especially when it comes to digital recording.
Hello! No! I never even heard of the CAD M179 but after looking it up I think it may be my next addition to my collection. It's frequency response is nice and flat, perfect for the instruments I record and I don't have a multi-pattern mic but I may need one soon. As far as other people's opinions about microphones. Your ears are the most important in the world. If YOU like the way a mic sounds your opinion is the only one that matters. Thanks for the tip about the M179! And good recording!
Very good comparison, with diagrams, voice, instruments.. exellent job!
For those who want better quality a great option is the professional microphone RODE NT1 , value the most is offset by the quality.
Excuse my English , I'm from South America.
+Dalmessa Messa Hello, The RODE NT1 is an excellent mic, it is a few levels above these two.
Man, what a voice you have! Sounds so powerful and authoritative. I you were a scam artist and commanded me to open my wallet and give you all my money I think I would stand no chance. If you aren't a voice actor already you should consider becoming one.
Excelente job. Me encantó la comparación. Tengo el Akg P120. Los próximos videos los grabaré con éste!!
Thanks for this. I'd love to see a comparison between the AT2020 and the Marantz/Denon MPM-1000.
Best comparison I've ever seen! Great! Thank you.
CKTV The first mic may be AKG C1000S. I had two C1000S in our studio and used for Overheads, Guitars, Vocal. Great Mic.
Yes, that is the C1000S Mk3. The Mk4s arrived last year. They take 2 AA batteries instead of a 9 Volt. It is still one of my best microphones.
CaneMajor Hi, thanks for great video. I am using AT2020 at homestudio too. But your test sample is way better. Which mic preamp did you use?
In that video I used an M-Audio Fasttrack Pro, however I don't hear much of a difference between it and any of my interfaces. I go through all of the ones I have here. czcams.com/video/fe1nR7dNack/video.html
CaneMajor Thank you very much. So I guess It works so well with your thick and warm voice, much better than thin and bright voices of girls I recorded with.
your Channel is good for comparing cheap mics that actually sound very well. The quality of mics today are so good.
Trace, you should have a vastly successful career as a voice actor with that stunning voice.
Nice video! I can't understand how some people don't hear the difference. There are some very noticeable difference. Maybe they are listening on cheap speakers or headphones... I preferred the AT2020 on every source but the bamboo flute (first octave). To me it sounds a lot more natural, I felt more like I was listening the actual instrument and not to the instrument recorded by a microphone. The way the P120 handled the top end just screamed "microphone under $300". Even though the P120 is surly more versatile, if anyone is not planing on recording loud sources like guitar amps or drums I think the clear choice is the AT2020. The roll off isn't really much a a feature if you ask me, that is easily accomplished with basic eq, not to mention nearly every mixer has a high-pass directly at the front of the signal path.
QUESTION: I have actually owned the P100 and have had good experience with the durability of the perception series. How does the Audio-Technica built quality compare the the AKG? Have you had any issues with the durability of the AT2020?
Thanks for this video by the way, it made my decision much easier than before and now im a proud owner of an akg perception p120 mic and its really clear
WOW ! What a scholar and a gentleman.
O melhor video sobre a comparação dos mics!
Hello! Yes, that is an AKG C1000S Mark 3 small diaphragm condenser mic, It was discontinued a few months ago and the Mark 4s are starting to show up now. The C1000S are mid range mics that are a few steps above the perception series. Good luck sir!
Thank you mr. Trace for this great video.. i agree, the AT2020 capture your voice deeply than P120.. i think it'll be back to what we're gonna use that mic for.. nothing can go wrong in that price range with those two mics.. i'm happy with my P120 :)
thanks for taking the time to compare mics ,, i own an at2020 xlr version & was thinking of getting the akg 120 due to the specs but after watching this video that would be pointless...thanks again
Thanks. You do a great job in your comparisons both in listening comparative tests and graphic representations of actual sound levels and quantitative analyses. ... Thanks again.
How considerate to make a video like this!
Great job
Hi from France ! thanks a lot for this, that's usefull for people who are looking for low price mic in this jungle !! Yes the AT 2020 gives more bass but sometimes i prefer the sound of P120, it's better for the flute here i think, so may be it'll be better with my voice.
I just bought the AT2020, the non usb one. I was comparing it with a Rode NT1A, and I decide the NT1A's lack of mid frequency was getting to me. I like the AT2020's boominess, which sound like the old type of hand held stage mics, but for those who don't like the boominess, this can be fixed with a little bit of eq-ing. Considering my noisy recording environment, which is constantly filled with sounds of car wheezing by and dog barks, I'm able to get decent studio like quality recordings with this mic, with little to no background noises at all. I reckon this has something to do with the side and back of the mic, which kinda shuts out the noises. I'm using this with a Focusrite 2i4, and I have no idea if the 2i4 helps in enhancing the mic's audio quality. Anyway, for those with a tight budget and a noisy recording environment, I would say this mic is the one to go with to get decent studio quality recordings.
now way that the rode is not better than the AT, Rode is by far better hence the price difference: AT = 99 bux Rode NT1A = 269! yea buddy
The first rule of recording is you as the artist have final say over what sounds best to you. If you like the way the 2020 picks up your voice or instrument use it! We all hear things differently, have different tastes and opinions. It's YOUR opinion that counts when recording YOUR music.
Excellent job. Thank you
What would be interesting is a comparison between a top-notch studio microphone, such as a Neuman, and one of the better budget mics, and maybe even a low-cost budget mic such as the Behringer B1.
Nevermind. I searched for AKG and compared to your vid and seems it is an AKG C1000S.
I felt a much deeper and richer bass presence with AT2020 when you played the drum. Do you agree?
Com uma voz dessas fica tocando flauta... deveria cantar.
I LOVE THIS GUY, HE HAS SUCH GREAT ENERGY AND CHARACTER! ROCK ON MY Moorish Brother!
Greetings! I believe the AT2020 is a better microphone for vocals than the P120. Good luck!
u sure ? Not AKG P120 ?
@@qwertyuigr akg is better
really good, straight forward, concise comparison! I like it, cheers!
Great job! I got a lot out of the video and don't feel too bad for my decision as I just purchased the AT2020 on eBay 20 minutes ago.
- Hi! I came for the comparison and stayed because the FIRST MIC when u start to talk... Witch microphone that? And please tell me, if you use a preamp or any other post production... cuze I wanna buy this... amazing with your voice is = WOOOOW! Thank You! -
Hello! Both of these microphones have almost imperceptible self noise. That is one the first things I look for in a microphone. As far as the C03U, I've heard recordings with that microphone and they had a problem with noise as well. Thanks for the confirmation.
Hello! I'm a big fan of Cubase, I use version 6 Elements on my laptop and that's what I use for my comparison videos.
best comparison video by far.
which of the two makes a better voice over microphone? I'm leaning towards the AT2020
You should try Doubling the flute tracks panning one all the way left and the other all the way to the right to give it a layered effect.
Litterally exact video I was looking for
The AKG sound just a tiny bit better (clearer) for my ears, Plus it has the 2 switches that are pretty useful.
I personally would go for the AKG then, However they both sound very similar.
great comparison, but i would have liked to hear the bass freq and sensitivity adjustments on the p120 as that seems like an important factor.
I covered that here. czcams.com/video/8_eJ3yd-O08/video.html
That covers the differences a little more in depth but the Perception 120 doesn't have any adjustments to help the low end.
cool. thanks for the reply.
I find the 2020 more natural sounding, and the 120 colored with a V-shaped EQ-ing.
Great Demonstration of the two mics... Awesome voiceover voice, too :)
Pls suggest a good microphone. I hv budget for these.
1. Audio Technica AT2020
2. Lewitt LCT 240PRO
3. AKG P120
4. Audio Technica AT2035
5. AKG P220
6. Rode NT1-A
Suggest at least top 3.
I dont know a Lewitt mics, my list:
1. Audio Technica AT2035
2. AKG P220
3. Rode NT1-A
I must having hearing issues, both sound exactly the same
Thanks for this review! Honestly, to me I heard very little differnce between the 2. But since I already own the At2020 I don't see any reason to go out and get the 120, lol.
Really hard to judge a mic when the voice itself is so awesome! LOL
Thanks man , i am going to buy AT2020 tomorrow so excited now :) After watching your video i really want it . Because before i used Akp Perception 420 , Perception 120 also but AKG mic's have some mid frequency problem which doesnt comes natural to ear, i have also rode and neumann mics but for litle projects i can use AT2020 like semi professional mic . I will test and write you my reviews also. I will use it with some pre-amps like focusrite and tc-helicon so it will response great i hope
Man, they sound so similar. Great video.
Hi! Is there a confusion here? You have shown the text of P120 on the AT2020 side in the image while recording your voice. I found the the your voice more warm and bassy when you say AT2020 which is the characteristic of P120.
Hello! The text indicates what mic I recorded with. Sorry about the confusion.
the perception sounds clearer imo
Hey! Sorry for the late response! I answered you a week ago from my phone but it didn't make it to CZcams. Look at the bottom of your microphone. If it has a round connector with 3 pins it is an XLR microphone and will need a USB interface to go between your mic and your computer. If it has a rectangular connector it is a USB mic and can plug directly into your computer. Good luck and if you have any questions I'll do the best I can.
Hey! I'm using an AKG C1000S condenser microphone in the introduction. That was my first condenser microphone.
By chance I buy the best AT2020
Greetings from Argentina
Thanks so much for helping me with my question, you are great! Thanks again CaneMajor!
хороший обзор. у akg p120 в этом видео мне звук понравился больше, чем у at2020. конечно, это моё субъективное мнение. спасибо за этот небольшой обзор.
They sound pretty much the same, but the AT2020 is deeper and sounds much better. But the AT2020 dislikes air pressure more if you listen closely.
Hello, Can you please make a sound review of the comparison between AKG D7S &AKG D57 Dynamic microphone, with your expert opinion about superiority in case of vocal recording speially Indian music.
thanks for taking time to reply! i have an extra room too for recording and stuff. i hope it works the same way for me. thanks a lot!
I just bought AT2020 USB mic for my youtube channel, but after some hours of testing, I cannot get the static background noise out, it seems to capture a lot of noises around. I think i'll return it to the store, I just cannot find the solution to get it working with clear sound without the background noises, even my old cam mic from Logitech Pro web cam is don't capture the background noise or has any static noise in it. Will opt for some mic with Phantom. Any helpful sugestion regarding at2020usb , any possible solutions or recommendable condenser mics, right now thinking of something like Samson c01.
Hello! What kind of software are you using for recording? USB microphones without built in gain controls like the AT2020 USB are controlled by the operating software mixer and or the recording software. The only time I had that problem was with a USB mic, my windows mixer's recording volume was set too high. Lets start there. Let me know what you find. We'll get you recording.
CaneMajor So basically i was gonna use xsplit gamecaster software, which got no audio filtering or any other control over sound, so windows 8 basically is controlling , and only option I got , was just for regulating basic sound . The mic was capturing sound infront of me , like 30 cm, yet it was capturing the sound from my PC and other strange noise from other room. When I tried to lower the sound on it, my voice sound went down as well, I tried finding the golden point, but sadly even when I could barelly hear my voice, I hear very low background as well.
EDIT: Some people told me the problem is USB slot, i need SS USB slot to lower the background noise, I tried pluging it to usb 3.0 but nothing changed.
OK, Go here, download and install audacity. audacity.sourceforge.net/. make a few recordings and let me know how they turned out. We'll start again tomorrow.
CaneMajor Thank you for you care, but its done bought Samson C01, satisfied with the sound quality. Got some issues with cables while conectiong to the sound card, but now is fixed. Thanks again for your intentions to help me!
CaneMajor Yea, i hear on your video to some very high interference noise from both of those mic's, that i dont hear with the third mic where you start the video with. Of course with Audacity you can take it out but my experience is that you take out more then just that noise. For a balanced mic such noise shouldn't be there i think. Of course it are not Neumann mic's, but still when the factory would make a 1:1 audio coil between, then there is still a lot of differences between the Neumann and the AKG or AT.....euw thinking while i type, was your mixer connected to ground?
Hey! As the artist you have final authority over your work. If you like the way the P120 sounds use it. Peace.
Thanks for the video. Liked your flute very much. Hope to listen to your music more and more.
Yea I bought a XLR cord from Amazon. It has a USB on the other end and I plugged that end into my computer and the other end into my at2020 and it didnt even register. There was no blue LED light that was supposed to come didnt. Suggestions?
Man, the mic in your main part sounds way more smokingly clear than the ones you reviewed so my question is.... what mic is that you have and what pre is it going into? thanks!!
i think the at2020 sound more full and rich.
Westberry Films agreed. It has a nice bass to it that really compliments the sound perfectly.
it compliments his voice perfectly.
On the flutes though audio technica messed up a bit,on guitar though it did much greater.
OK, only the USB versions of the mics will have a blue light. If you have an XLR mic you will need a regular XLR mic cable and a USB interface. The interface connects to the computer with a USB cable. Check out my video about USB interfaces.
thanks for the compare.... I am looking for a good enough XLR för skypiing and some podcasts.
Hello! Between these two the AT2020 will probably give you a richer tone but the 120 will sound great with your voice for skyping and Pod-casting. Good luck!
So good review buddy, it helps me to decide!
Wow brilliant review, i'll probably go for the cheaper cause both are great, and i only wnat a quality dedicated mic for Skype, video recording and simple tasks.
Hello! Recording from an amp with these mics could be a problem because of the hiss that comes from the amp. If you can't equalize out the amp's self noise it will be picked up by the microphones. To adjust for this you will have to move them further away from the amp. With this in mind I think the 2020 would do a better job because it's higher quality diaphragm. Good luck!