I was looking at the gear you recommend. Unfortunately, the Heil Sound is out of my price range currently. I was looking at the Audio Technica options. I am currently using a Blue Yeti microphone. Do you think the AT options would be an upgrade or am I better off with the one i have?
—Christian
The Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB is a great microphone I recommend for starting podcasters. If you had no mic, I would always recommend the ATR2100-USB over any Blue mic. But if you already have a Blue Yeti, it's fine to stick with it. The Yeti and ATR2100-USB aren't very different in audio quality. Where they are vastly different is in features (XLR and USB on ATR2100-USB), portability, price, and warranty.
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I actually did this exact switch from Blue Yeti to ATR2100. The reason is because the Blue Yeti picks up EVERYTHING! As a podcaster that holds more conversations and communicates with our audience via typing and communicates w/ the cohosts via shownotes, it was picking up way too much. Also the attachments (mic stand, shock mount, etc) for the blue yeti are expensive due to its weight. So I ended up switching the the ATR and I love it. I still have to be wary of my typing (I mute the mic when I do) and I have to get used to being much closer to the mic when I’m speaking.
I COMPLETELY AGREE. If my wife shuffles her feet under the desk on the wood laminate the mic picks it up with the gain down to about 1/3. I’ve been thinking about making the save switch. Thanks for your input!
I have a Samson Q2U Handheld Dynamic USB Microphone with Headphones and Accessories which is the clone of the ATR2100 and I love it! It’s so great!
I still think that a Blue Yeti will do the job, and there’s no need to switch to an ATR2100-USB. I understand if some people might prefer the ATR2100, but other than that the features offered by both are pretty much the same.
Right. If someone was unfortunate enough to buy a Blue Yeti, it can do the job—if used properly. The problems are that it’s almost designed to be misused, it’s overpriced, it’s bulky, it’s not versatile or future-friendly, and it’s really not ideal for podcasting.