As an audio professional, I'm often asked by friends who record podcasts at home for microphone recommendations. So, I was excited when I got the opportunity to review Audio-Technica's new AT2040 hypercardioid dynamic podcast microphone, as it's designed to fit the needs of content creators on a budget. Having used several Audio-Technica mics in the past, I can attest to the level of quality that many of their products deliver. The AT2040 is designed as a lower-priced alternative to its big brother, the BP40 broadcast microphone.
When I received the AT2040, I first noticed its impressive build quality, which felt sturdy enough for regular use in less experienced hands. The mic includes a mounting clamp for quick and easy attachment to a stand. Since the AT2040 is marketed as a podcast microphone, I wanted to test it for dialog work. When I set the mic up in front of a speaker to record, I immediately noticed how midrange-forward it sounded. The upper mid response, in particular, seemed somewhat boosted, which at times sounded a bit unnatural when compared to a different mic, such as the Shure SM7 [Tape Op #36]. Because the upper mids are an important frequency range for clarity and intelligibility of speech, I can understand why the designers would want to emphasize this region for a mic used primarily on the voice. However, I found that the mic didn’t work as well with some voices as it did with others, as it emphasized a nasally characteristic, although this can easily be compensated for with some subtractive EQ. According to the specs on Audio-Technica’s website, the AT2040 has a frequency response of 80 to 16,000 Hz. I noticed that the mic didn’t exhibit a lot of pronounced low end, which worked well for the podcast I was recording since I probably would have cut anything below 80 Hz anyway.
I found the AT2040 to be particularly impressive in its directional characteristics, with a very tight focus on whatever source it was pointed at. The mic did a good job of rejecting ambient noises in the room, like when I shuffled through paper on the other side of the speaker or moved around in my chair. From where I was sitting in the room, I could hear outside street noises, but I was happy they didn’t get picked up by the microphone when I analyzed the recording later on. However, when I had the speaker move off-axis from the mic, their voice sounded very unnatural, and the overall volume dropped quite a bit. Because of the hyper-directionality of the AT2040's polar pattern, it is important for the speaker or vocalist to stay on axis while using the mic. I also noticed that the microphone was rather sensitive to handling noise. This is often a challenge when I’m recording a voiceover for a podcast. The noise from moving the mic or its stand came through rather problematically. However, this could be minimized with the use of a shock mount – the AT8458a is available for $29.
Overall, the AT2040 is a solid microphone for the price. Due to its directionality, it would be particularly useful for content creators and podcasters who are working in untreated rooms, with the need to minimize unwanted ambient noises. The AT2040 can capture vocals with clarity and detail, but did have more of a midrange emphasis when compared to other podcasting mics I’ve used. Because of its affordable pricing, I think it's a good choice for podcasters, YouTubers, and other content creators in the market for an easy-to-use, reliable microphone on a budget.
_disp_horizontal_bw.jpg)