AT2020 Plus Edition Help

[EmeraldKiwi]

So I have a predicament here. I would like to purchase O2s AMP and ODAC combo thingy all in one thing you know? I also would like to purchase Senheiser's 558s to go along with that. THEN I was thinking about the regular AT2020, but my friend said there's an AT2020 plus edition that has a few more features. I checked it out, and it has 2 dials for something, but most importantly, an audio jack to monitor sound directly. My predicament is this: How can I use the 558s to go through the ODAC combo AND go to the microphone to monitor the sound? How does it work? Thanks.

[Fluffinator]

So I have a predicament here. I would like to purchase O2s AMP and ODAC combo thingy all in one thing you know? I also would like to purchase Senheiser's 558s to go along with that. THEN I was thinking about the regular AT2020, but my friend said there's an AT2020 plus edition that has a few more features. I checked it out, and it has 2 dials for something, but most importantly, an audio jack to monitor sound directly. My predicament is this: How can I use the 558s to go through the ODAC combo AND go to the microphone to monitor the sound? How does it work? Thanks.

Not worth it, you wouldn't want too, unless you absolutely needed to monitor your voice, just use it with your O2. You could download software to monitor your voice too, adding another thing into the loop wouldn't be very good in my opinion. I have a Yeti with that feature and I don't like using it because it picks up all my backround noise and keyboard sounds when I'm listeneing to myself, unless your only doing voice overs you should just not worry about it.

[Deletive]

at2020 usb version or XLR? because with an audio interface + AMP with an At2020 xlr is probably the most ideal.

[EmeraldKiwi]

at2020 usb version or XLR? because with an audio interface + AMP with an At2020 xlr is probably the most ideal.

It's the USB version. I don't know how to use XLR cables... Would I need a special sound card for it or would my motherboard (ASUS MAXIMUS VII Hero) have a port for it? I was going to ask how XLR cables work in another thread... Is there a difference in sound quality in terms of microphone sound?

[ShearMe]

Simply plug a cable between the output of the mic and the input of the O2 amp.

[Deletive]

It's the USB version. I don't know how to use XLR cables... Would I need a special sound card for it or would my motherboard (ASUS MAXIMUS VII Hero) have a port for it? I was going to ask how XLR cables work in another thread... Is there a difference in sound quality in terms of microphone sound?

Yes there is a difference between sound... Usually how it would work is you would need an audio interface with phantom power, then from the audio interface there is an usb cable to your computer.

[ShearMe]

It's the USB version. I don't know how to use XLR cables... Would I need a special sound card for it or would my motherboard (ASUS MAXIMUS VII Hero) have a port for it? I was going to ask how XLR cables work in another thread... Is there a difference in sound quality in terms of microphone sound?

USB is digital. XLR is analog.

A USB Mic has more internals that allow your computer to receive the audio signal.

An XLR Mic must be plugged into an audio interface to send the signal to your computer. Usually this interface offers more control over certain mic functions such as gain, and can also apply effects such as EQ.

[EmeraldKiwi]

USB is digital. XLR is analog.

A USB Mic has more internals that allow your computer to receive the audio signal.

An XLR Mic must be plugged into an audio interface to send the signal to your computer. Usually this interface offers more control over certain mic functions such as gain, and can also apply effects such as EQ.

So does that mean I need a sound card? I'm confused...

[spwath]

So does that mean I need a sound card? I'm confused...

No, you will need a xlr to USB adapter.

[EmeraldKiwi]

Okay I re-read like every post on here and I'm still 200% confused. An XLR cable will definitely not go into the O2s input port. I'm 99% sure of that. Can someone please explain what the input port is supposed to be used for? Because apparently the mini USB on the back transfers the sound signal AND the power to the thing. 

 

EDIT:

Oh, and spwath said I would need an adapter for XLR input to USB output, but if I were to do that shouldn't I just start out with the freaking USB version in the first place?

[ShearMe]

Okay I re-read like every post on here and I'm still 200% confused. An XLR cable will definitely not go into the O2s input port. I'm 99% sure of that. Can someone please explain what the input port is supposed to be used for? Because apparently the mini USB on the back transfers the sound signal AND the power to the thing. 

 

EDIT:

Oh, and spwath said I would need an adapter for XLR input to USB output, but if I were to do that shouldn't I just start out with the freaking USB version in the first place?

 

okay okay okay - lets start from the top

 

Microphones capture sound through a simple mechanism that converts sound waves into electrical waves. Analog audio is this electrical wave. It is an alternating electrical current. XLR is analog audio, and the most common connection for studio products (microphones, speakers, etc). USB is a digital format. it transfers ones and zeros between components. In order to convert analog audio to digital, you need an ADC (analog to digital converter). USB microphones have an ADC built in so that you can simply connect the mic to a computer. If you buy an XLR mic, you need to get this ADC as another component, usually referred to as an audio interface.

 

Obviously, a USB mic is more simple to setup. This is why I recommend USB. Outside of a studio, you wont need to adjust volume/gain enough to justify the additional cost of an audio interface.

[EmeraldKiwi]

okay okay okay - lets start from the top

 

Microphones capture sound through a simple mechanism that converts sound waves into electrical waves. Analog audio is this electrical wave. It is an alternating electrical current. XLR is analog audio, and the most common connection for studio products (microphones, speakers, etc). USB is a digital format. it transfers ones and zeros between components. In order to convert analog audio to digital, you need an ADC (analog to digital converter). USB microphones have an ADC built in so that you can simply connect the mic to a computer. If you buy an XLR mic, you need to get this ADC as another component, usually referred to as an audio interface.

 

Obviously, a USB mic is more simple to setup. This is why I recommend USB. Outside of a studio, you wont need to adjust volume/gain enough to justify the additional cost of an audio interface.

So I'm just going to go for the USB mic. It is 100x more simple than the XLR mic. But my original question is still unanswered. How do I monitor my microphone?