Audio-Technica AT2040USB Hypercardioid Dynamic USB Microphone

The AT2040USB is an ideal microphone for creators, featuring a dynamic design for excellent voice capture with added USB functionality. Combining the broadcast-quality performance of the AT2040 dynamic podcast microphone with plug-and-play USB functionality makes this the ideal microphone for podcasters, streamers, and other content creators to achieve professional results.

When live streaming, outstanding sound is just as important as interesting content and high-quality video. The AT2040USB microphone ensures a natural frequency response with rich, powerful lows and crystal-clear studio sound, making it easy for YouTubers looking to increase their viewership and streamers wanting to gain a professional edge.

This dynamic microphone also touts its quality with a highly directional, hypercardioid pickup pattern that helps eliminate common ambient noise, like the hum of a computer fan. With a narrower pickup angle than a cardioid design, the AT2040USB provides focused vocal capture, which is ideal and super effective for creators and gamers who stream and chat with followers.

Additionally, the microphone’s robust metal body includes an integrated shock mount to minimize unwanted noise and vibration, while its internal pop filter protects against harsh spoken sounds. For added noise, shock, and vibration cancellation that may be transmitted through a mic stand, boom, or mount, users can purchase the AT8458a shock mount separately.

The AT2040USB is equipped with a built-in headphone jack for real-time audio monitoring with no delay. It also features a quick muting function, with the silent touch-sensitive capacitive mute button to quickly and easily mute audio at the microphone and a two-state LED indicator ring displays a blue light when the mic is on and ready to capture audio and indicates red when it is muted.

This content creator microphone offers a USB Type-C™ output, which includes a USB cable (USB Type-C™ to USB Type-A) and USB adapter (USB Type-A to USB Type-C™) for plug-and-play functionality. Users can connect the microphone directly to a computer for immediate use, without audio interference or additional cabling. Whether it’s Twitch streaming, YouTube content creation, or online chats, the AT2040USB is well suited for all kinds of content creation.

Simple to Silence
A simple touch of the capacitive mute button immediately silences the microphone. The mic’s LED ring changes from blue to red indicating that the audio is muted.

Zero Latency Monitoring
A headphone jack with volume control allows you to monitor audio directly from the microphone, while the mix control allows you to blend your microphone signal with computer audio.

Clean Articulation
The AT2040USB’s multistage foam mesh windscreen includes a nonwoven filter to allow close-up use without annoying pops.

Quiet, Professional Performance
The mic features a specially designed, integrated shock mount that tames any noise, shock and vibration that might be transmitted through a mic stand, boom or mount. The low-cut filter eliminates low-frequency sound for additional reduction of vibration and surrounding environmental noise.

XLR or USB?
XLR microphones are analog devices that require an XLR cable (1) that feeds the analog signal to an audio interface (2). The interface then converts the analog signal to digital and feeds the audio to your PC (3) for recording.

Within USB microphones, all of the analog to digital conversion takes place within the microphone - no audio interface required. The digital signal is then fed via USB connection (1) directly into your PC (2).

Key Features

• Dynamic broadcast microphone with plug-and-play USB functionality is perfect for podcasters, streamers, and other content creators
• Hypercardioid pickup focuses on your voice and minimizes room noises and echo
• Multistage foam mesh windscreen provides superior internal pop protection
• Integrated shock mount tames noise, shock and vibration transmitted through mic stands, booms and mounts
• Built-in headphone jack with high-output amplifier and volume control enables real-time monitoring with excellent sound quality
• Mix control allows the microphone signal to be blended with prerecorded audio
• Silent soft-touch mute button provides convenient, reliable muting at the microphone
• High-resolution AD convertor with 24-Bit/96 kHz sampling rate for extremely clear, natural sound reproduction
• Switchable low-cut filter controls unwanted low-frequency sound
• Two-state LED indicator ring lights blue when mic is powered on and lights red when it is muted
• Professional-grade metal body for lasting durability
• Includes mounting clamp and USB-C to USB-A cable (with USB-A to USB-C adapter)

Technical Specifications

Element
Dynamic
Polar Pattern
Hypercardioid
Frequency Response
80-16,000 Hz
Low Frequency Roll Off
80 Hz, 18 dB/octave
Power Requirements
USB power (5 VDC)
Bit Depth
16 bit/24 bit
Sample Rate
44.1 kHz/48 kHz/88.2 kHz/96 kHz
Controls
Headphone level control, Mix control, Low cut, Mute
Weight
About 600 g (21 oz)
Dimensions
145.3 mm (5.7”) long, 52 mm (2.0”) maximum body diameter
Output Connector
USB Type-C
Headphone Output Power
77 mW (at 1 kHz, 1% T.H.D., 32 ohms)
Headphone Jack
3.5 mm (1/8”) stereo mini-jack
System Requirements
USB2.0 compliant
Supported OS
Windows 10, Windows 11
macOS Catalina, macOS Big Sur, macOS Monterey, macOS Ventura
Accessories Included
AT8487 mounting clamp
5/8”-27 to 3/8”-16 threaded adapter
USB cable (about 2.0 m (6.6'), USB Type-C to USB Type-A)
USB conversion adapter (USB-Type-A to USB Type-C)