I’ll still be rocking my Audio-Technica ATR2100 (pictured) when I can, but the Samson Q2U has a little warmer sound to it, I find.
You may have seen me on social media or live-streaming and on videos using a different microphone than the one I’ve been using for FIVE YEARS. It took a lot to drag me away from my favorite mic of all time, the Audio-Technica ATR2100.
But, Audio-Technica has discontinued the microphone and created a newer model, the Audio-Technica ATR2100x. While the Audio-Technica ATR2100x seems to function the same and the price point is still below $100 ($99 at the time of this post), I am not sure how well it will work with my voice until I get a chance to test it out.
You may see in past articles, I praise the Audio-Technica ATR2100 for giving great sound, low price, the option of s USB or XLR connection (great for recording flexibility), and a Lifetime Warranty— that last part is what really sold me over the other microphones I recommend.
Giving up using the ATR2100 had nothing to do with the microphone itself. In fact, in the five years I’ve had it, it’s been phenomenal! But part of my job as a podcasting pundit, I believe, is to use the tools I recommend as much as possible. And, since I can’t recommend a microphone that’s no longer being made, it’s time to try something new.
I was able to grab the Samson Q2U a few years back when it went on sale for $35! But even when it’s not on sale, the price tag was generally less than the ATR2100 anyway. As I said, the only difference for me was not having a Lifetime Warranty.
But I bought it as a spare and as a travel mic anyway. The few times I used it, I loved it and it wasn’t a huge difference between the sound of the Q2U and the 2100. The Q2U seemed to run a little “hotter” — meaning it tended to record my voice a bit louder than the other. But to the untrained ear, the difference between using the two mics isn’t that different for my voice.
It is a little heavier, but the extra weight makes it feel a bit sturdier, so I like it.
As I said, it also has the capability of being plugged in via USB and XLR cord, meaning I can plug it right into my laptop and start recording via USB, but if I want to upgrade my equipment in the future, I can also use the Samson Q2U with a mixer, audio interface or on stage plugged into a sound system. Having that variability means the mic can grow with me and my podcast, which I love.
(Psst. If anything in this post gets too tech-y, feel free to check out my Podcasting Glossary 😉)
As of the time of this writing (April 2020), Amazon may not have as many Samson Q2Us available, but there are usually podcasting packages that include it with headphones or a boom arm, like this one.
So at this point, my No. 1 Microphone Recommendation is the Samson Q2U, but if you can’t get that one you can also check out the Audio-Technica AT2005 and Audio-Technica ATR2100x. All are usually below $100 and come with the USB/XLR ports I love for easy plug-and-playability, and, most importantly, they will make your podcast sound great without having to sound treat your recording space like crazy or record in a closet!
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