Buying your first podcast microphone can get confusing fast. You start looking for something affordable and suddenly you’re comparing dynamic and condenser microphones, USB and XLR connections, polar patterns, audio interfaces, sample rates, and a dozen other specifications.
The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB tries to make that decision easier.
It’s a dynamic cardioid microphone with something particularly useful for beginners: both USB and XLR connections.
You can plug it directly into your computer and start recording through USB. If your podcast grows and you eventually buy an audio interface or mixer, you can switch to XLR without replacing the microphone.
That makes the ATR2100x an interesting option for new podcasters, YouTubers, streamers, voiceover creators, and anyone who wants a relatively simple microphone with room to grow.
But is it actually worth buying? Let’s take a closer look.
What Is the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB?
The ATR2100x-USB is a handheld dynamic microphone designed for applications such as podcasting, home recording, voiceovers, and content creation.
It uses a cardioid polar pattern, which means it focuses mainly on sound coming from the front while reducing pickup from the sides and rear.
But the feature that really makes this microphone stand out is its connectivity. You get:
USB-C output
and
XLR output
The USB connection lets you record directly into a computer.
The XLR connection lets you connect the microphone to traditional audio equipment such as an audio interface or mixer. For someone starting a podcast, that’s a very useful combination.
ATR2100x Specifications
Let’s quickly get the technical details out of the way. The ATR2100x is a dynamic microphone with a cardioid polar pattern and a frequency response of 50 Hz to 15 kHz.
Its USB connection supports up to 24-bit audio with sample rates reaching 192 kHz. There’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack built into the microphone.
The microphone weighs about 268 grams, or 9.5 ounces. Audio-Technica includes USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables, along with an XLR cable, stand clamp, and small folding tripod desk stand.
That’s a pretty complete package for someone getting started.
USB and XLR Is the Big Selling Point
If I had to choose one reason to consider the ATR2100x, it would be this. You don’t have to choose between USB and XLR.
Imagine you’re starting your first podcast. You don’t own an audio interface. You don’t have a mixer. You don’t really understand what either of those things does yet. That’s fine.
Connect the ATR2100x directly to your computer through USB. Open your recording software. Choose the microphone as your input. Start recording.
Six months later, your podcast has grown. Now you have a co-host and want to build a proper two-microphone XLR setup.
You can buy an audio interface and connect the ATR2100x through its XLR output. The microphone grows with your setup.
That’s much better than buying equipment you immediately need to replace when your recording needs change.
How Does the ATR2100x Sound?
For spoken-word recording, the ATR2100x gives you the kind of sound you’d expect from a microphone designed with podcasting and voice recording in mind.
Speech comes through clearly, and its 50 Hz to 15 kHz frequency response covers the important range needed for spoken voice.
It’s not trying to capture every frequency up to the limits of human hearing. It doesn’t need to.
For podcasting, you’re mainly concerned with making your voice clear, natural, and easy to understand.
Like most microphones, though, the ATR2100x sounds best when you use it correctly. Don’t put it two feet away and expect intimate broadcast-style audio.
This is a microphone you’ll generally want relatively close to your mouth. Experiment with the distance until you find a position that works for your voice.
It’s a Dynamic Microphone
The ATR2100x uses a dynamic microphone design. That’s useful for podcasting. Many people record podcasts in bedrooms, offices, living rooms, or other spaces that weren’t designed as studios.
You may have a computer running nearby. Maybe there’s traffic outside. Perhaps your walls create some reflections.
A dynamic microphone used close to your mouth can be a practical choice in these environments. That doesn’t mean the ATR2100x magically removes background noise.
No microphone does.
If someone starts vacuuming beside you, you’re probably going to hear it. But close microphone placement can give you a strong vocal signal compared with sounds farther away.
For home podcasting, that’s often exactly what you want.
The Cardioid Polar Pattern Helps
The ATR2100x has a cardioid polar pattern. In simple terms, the microphone is most sensitive to sound coming from the front and less sensitive to sound coming from the sides and rear.
That’s useful when you’re recording one person. Put your mouth in front of the microphone. Position unwanted noise toward less-sensitive areas when possible.
For example, if your computer fan is noisy, try arranging your setup so the computer isn’t sitting directly in the microphone’s main pickup direction. Cardioid won’t eliminate the fan. But smart positioning can help reduce how noticeable unwanted sounds become.
Built-In Headphone Monitoring
There’s a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the bottom of the ATR2100x. This lets you monitor audio directly from the microphone when using its USB functionality.
There’s also a headphone volume control. This is more useful than beginners sometimes realize.
You want to know what your microphone is actually hearing. Maybe your chair is squeaking. Maybe the microphone is picking up more room sound than you expected. Perhaps you’re speaking too quietly.
Monitoring through headphones can help you notice problems before you finish recording an entire episode. That’s much better than discovering them during editing.
You Don’t Need an Audio Interface
This is one of the biggest advantages for beginners. When you’re using the ATR2100x through USB, you don’t need to buy an audio interface. Your setup can simply be:
ATR2100x → USB cable → Computer
That’s it.
You can use the money you saved on an interface for a decent boom arm, headphones, or simply keep it in your pocket. Later, if you decide you need an interface, the XLR connection is waiting for you.
This makes the ATR2100x a good bridge between a beginner USB setup and a more traditional XLR studio.
Using the ATR2100x Through XLR
The XLR output changes what you can do with the microphone. Suppose you’re building a podcast with four people.
Managing four separate USB microphones on one computer can become unnecessarily complicated.
Instead, you could use XLR microphones connected to an interface, mixer, or podcast recorder with enough microphone inputs.
Now the ATR2100x works like a traditional XLR dynamic microphone. You can build a more flexible recording system around it.
Ideally, each microphone can also be recorded onto its own track. That gives you much more control when editing.
Build Quality
The ATR2100x has a straightforward handheld microphone design. Audio-Technica describes it as having rugged metal construction.
It doesn’t look like an enormous broadcast microphone designed to dominate your camera frame.
That’s actually something I like about it. It’s relatively compact. You can put it on a boom arm at your desk, use it with a microphone stand, or pack it away when you’re finished.
The physical on/off switch can also be useful, particularly outside a traditional studio environment. It’s a simple design that concentrates on what you actually need.
The Included Desk Stand
Audio-Technica includes a folding tripod desk stand. It’s nice to have because it means you can technically start recording without immediately buying another stand.
But I wouldn’t make it the permanent centerpiece of a podcast studio. Small desk stands can make microphone positioning awkward. You generally want the microphone relatively close to your mouth.
If the microphone is sitting far below your face, you may find yourself leaning toward it while recording.
A proper microphone stand or boom arm can make positioning much easier. Start with the included stand. Upgrade if it becomes annoying.
Do You Need a Pop Filter?
It can help. When you speak close to a microphone, words containing sounds such as P and B can create bursts of air. These are known as plosives. If the air hits the microphone strongly, you can hear an unpleasant pop in the recording.
A foam windscreen or pop filter can help control this. You can also position the microphone slightly off-axis so you’re speaking across it rather than blowing air directly into it.
Microphone technique is free. Learn that before trying to solve every problem by buying another accessory.
.
Final Thoughts
The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB is the kind of microphone that makes sense for someone who wants to start podcasting without turning microphone shopping into a month-long research project.
Plug it directly into your computer through USB and record.
If you eventually build an XLR studio, keep the microphone and connect it to your new equipment. That’s the real appeal.
It’s simple enough for your first episode but flexible enough that you don’t necessarily need to replace it when your podcast becomes more serious.
The ATR2100x isn’t going to turn a noisy bedroom into a professional recording studio. No microphone can do that.
But give it a decent room, position it properly, set your levels correctly, and it can become a very capable microphone for podcasts, videos, streaming, and spoken-word recording.
If you want your first podcast microphone to be easy to use today while leaving you room to upgrade tomorrow, the ATR2100x-USB is a strong place to start.