Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone User Manual

Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP is a cardioid condenser USB microphone designed for podcasting, home studio recording, and streaming. It features a built-in headphone jack for monitoring, a mix control dial to adjust the balance between computer audio and microphone input, and a touch sensor for muting the microphone. The microphone also has automatic gain control and noise-reduction functions to optimize audio quality. With its versatile features and ease of use, the AT2020USB-XP is an excellent choice for content creators seeking professional-sounding audio.

PDF

Document

AT2020USB-XP

Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone

User Manual

English

Safety precautions

Cautions for the headphones

Cautions for charging case

Cautions for rechargeable battery

Notes on use

About water-resistant (drip-proof) performance

For a more comfortable Bluetooth communication experience

Part names and functions

Headphones

Charging case

Accessories

Charging the battery

Charging the headphones and charging case

Charging headphones without the USB charging cable

Power supply ON/OFF

Turning on the product

Turning off the product

Connecting via Bluetooth

Pairing a Bluetooth device

Pairing with Fast Pair

About pairing

Wearing the product

Touch sensors

Unlocking

Using the product

Listening to music

R (right) side headphone touch sensor operations

L (left) side headphone touch sensor operations

Talking on the phone

R (right) side headphone touch sensor operations

L (left) side headphone touch sensor operations

Hear-through mode

Low latency mode

Auto power off function

Indicator lamp display

Pairing

Connecting

Battery level

Voice guidance

Cleaning

Eartips

Eartip size

Replacing the eartips

Resetting

If the product operates abnormally (reset)

Troubleshooting

Specifications

Headphones

Microphone

Communication specifications

Other

Trademarks

Safety precautions

Although this product was designed to be used safely, failing to use it correctly may result in an accident. To ensure safety, observe all warnings and cautions while using the product.

Cautions for the product

• Do not subject the product to strong impact to avoid malfunction.

• Do not disassemble, modify or attempt to repair the product.

• Do not handle the product with wet hands to avoid electric shock or injury.

• Do not store the product under direct sunlight, near heating devices or in a hot, humid or dusty place.

For customers in the USA

FCC Notice

Warning

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Caution

You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part

15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Contact

Responsible Company: Audio-Technica U.S., Inc.

Address: 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, Ohio 44224, USA

Tel: 330-686-2600

For customers in Canada

ISED statement

CAN ICES-3(B)/NMB-3(B)

Notes on use

• Be sure to read the connected device’s user manual before use.

• When the product is used for a long time, the product may become discolored due to ultraviolet light (especially direct sunlight) and wear.

• Use the included USB cable for connection.

• Make sure to hold the plug when connecting and disconnecting the USB cable. The USB cable may become severed or an accident may occur if you pull on the USB cable itself.

• When using the USB cable, be careful not to twist it to prevent damage to the USB cable.

• Do not wind the USB cable at the base of the plug to prevent a disconnection.

• Do not use a USB hub or USB extension cable.

• When plugging the USB cable into the microphone and the connected device, check that the connector is facing in the correct direction before inserting it straight. Inserting the plug diagonally may cause a malfunction.

• When not in use, disconnect the USB cable from the product.

• Make sure that no foreign matter enters inside the mesh part of the product. Performance may be degraded.

• Depending on the surface treatment of the table on which the product is installed, the desk stand may leave marks on the table.

• For important recordings, perform a trial recording beforehand to make sure that the sound is recorded correctly.

• Operation is not guaranteed with all computers.

• Operation cannot be guaranteed in a home-built computer, personal OS upgrade, or multi-boot environment.

• Audio-Technica will not be liable in any way for any loss or damage to software or data connected to the product.

Part names and functions

Microphone

➊ Microphone

➋ Mute indicator lamp

Lights blue when audio input is enabled. It lights red when the microphone is muted.

➌ Mix control dial

Adjusts the balance of the volume level of the sound coming from the computer and the monitored volume level of the audio being input (voice).

➍ Touch sensor for mute

Turns the muting of the microphone on/off.

➎ Automatic gain control indicator lamp

Lights when the automatic gain control function is on.

➏ Headphone level control dial

Adjusts volume of headphone output.

❼ Noise-reduction indicator lamp

When the noise-reduction function is on, the noise-reduction indicator lamp lights in three levels depending on the level.

❽ Automatic gain control button

Turns the automatic gain control function on/off. When the function is turned on, the gain is automatically corrected when the input signal is excessive to prevent output distortion.

➒ Noise-reduction button

Turns the noise-reduction function on/off. When turning it on reduces ambient steady noise. The function level can be set in 3 levels each time the button is pressed.

➓ USB terminal (USB Type-C™)

Use to connect the included USB cable.

⓫ 3/8" Stand mounting screw hole

Use when attaching the stand.

⓬ Headphone jack (3.5 mm (1/8") stereo mini-jack)

Use to connect headphones.

Included accessories

➊ Stand

➋ USB cable (USB Type-C to USB Type-A)

➌ 3/8"-16 to 5/8"-27 threaded adapter

➍ USB conversion adapter (USB Type-A to USB Type-C)

➎ Pop filter (AT8175)

Setting up the product

For best results, set up the product so that it is facing the sound source. When using it to record voices, place it directly in front of the speaker/singer. Do the same thing when recording sound such as acoustic guitar, drums, or piano. Before using the product, try setting it up in various positions, to discover how best to record sound in your current environment.

Attaching the stand

You can use the stand to place the product on a table or a similar surface.

Attach the stand to the mounting screw hole on the product, and then turn the screw to secure the parts. Adjust the angle of the product, and then turn the grip of the stand to tighten it.

Note

• Use the included 3/8"-16 to 5/8"-27 threaded adapter when installing the product on a commercially available microphone stand.

Attaching the pop filter

Install the pop filter while slightly widening the mounting area to avoid damaging the microphone.

Connection procedure

➊ USB conversion adapter (USB Type-A to USB Type-C)

➋ USB Type-A

➌ Headphone input plug

➍ USB Type-C

➎ Audio-Technica logo

Connect the USB cable (USB Type-C side) to the USB terminal on the underside of the product.

Connect the USB cable (USB Type-A side) to the computer.

• If necessary, use the USB conversion adapter (USB Type-A to USB Type-C) depending on the USB terminal of the computer you are using. Use the USB conversion adapter for the USB terminal of the computer side. Do not connect it to the USB terminal of the product side.

•

If you are using Windows, refer to "Computer settings (Windows)" (p. 1010) to do the settings.

•

If you are using Mac, refer to "Computer settings (macOS)" (p. 35) to do the settings.

• Make sure that the mute indicator lamp lights blue (ready for audio input).

If you are using headphones, connect the headphones to the headphone jack.

Computer settings (Windows)

For Windows 11

Use the USB cable to connect the product to a computer.

Confirm that the mute indicator lamp on the product lights.

• The computer automatically recognizes the product and the driver is installed on the computer. In the lower right part of the screen, a message appears indicating that new hardware has been found or a notification appears indicating that the driver software has been installed.

Click "Start Menu" and select "Settings".

Select "System".

Select "Sound".

Under "Output" and "Input", confirm that the product is selected.

• If a device other than the product is being used as the output device, select this other device from "Choose where to play sound".

• If you are using commercially available recording software to record audio, refer to "Microphone privacy

settings" (p. 12) to configure the settings.

Microphone privacy settings

If you are using commercially available recording software, check the microphone privacy settings.

Click "Start Menu" and select "Settings".

Select "Privacy & security".

Under "App permissions", select "Microphone".

Check that "Microphone access" is set to "On".

Check that "Let apps access your microphone" is set to "On", and then check the list to confirm that the recording software you are using is set to "On".

• If it is not set to "On", change the setting of the recording software you are using to "On".

Check that "Let desktop apps access your microphone" is set to "On".

• Changing this setting to "On" allows the recording software to access the product.

Microphone property settings

To change the microphone level and sample rate of the microphone, configure the following settings.

Click "Start Menu" and select "Settings".

Select "System".

Select "Sound".

Under "Advanced", select "More sound settings".

In the "Playback" tab, confirm that the product is selected.

• If the product is not selected, select the product, and then click "Set Default".

Double-click the product's icon, and open the properties window.

Select the "Levels" tab, check that the microphone speaker icon is on, and then click "OK".

• If it is not on, click the microphone speaker icon to turn it on.

In the "Recording" tab, confirm that the product is selected.

• If the product is not selected, select the product, and then click "Set Default".

Double-click the product's icon, and open the "Microphone Properties" window.

Select the "Levels" tab to adjust the microphone level.

• To adjust the microphone level after you start recording, make the adjustments from this window.

• This setting is different from the "Volume" setting in the "Sound" window.

To change the microphone sample rate, select the "Advanced" tab, select the sample rate and bit depth under

"Default Format", and then click "OK".

• With this product, you can select a sample rate of up to 192 kHz. Selecting a high sample rate may result in high-quality recorded audio data but will also make these files large.

• For stable recording with less load on the computer, change the sample rate to 48 kHz.

• When controlling the microphone from the recording software, select the "Give exclusive mode applications priority" check box under "Exclusive Mode". The sample rate will be set according to the settings of the recording software.

When a "Device In Use" message appears, click "Yes".

Select the "Advanced" tab under the "Playback" tab, select the same sample rate and bit rate that you changed in step 11, and click "OK".

• If you change the sample rate of the microphone, the sampling frequency setting in "Playback/Record" must be the same.

When a "Device In Use" message appears, click "Yes".

Caution

• If the mute indicator lamp is blinking, the sampling frequency setting in "Playback/Record" on your

Windows PC is different. Match the sampling frequency setting to the correct setting.

• Automatic gain control is available only when the sampling frequency is 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or

96 kHz. If the sampling frequency is set to a sampling frequency that cannot be used, the Automatic gain control indicator lamp will blink three times and turn off (indicating an error). Set to a supported sampling frequency.

• Noise-reduction is available only when the sampling frequency is 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. If the sampling frequency is set to a sampling frequency that cannot be used, the noise-reduction indicator lamp will blink three times and the light turn off (indicating an error). Set to a supported sampling frequency.

For Windows 10

Use the USB cable to connect the product to a computer.

Confirm that the mute indicator lamp on the product lights.

Click "Start Menu" and select "Settings".

Select "System".

Select "Sound".

Under "Output" and "Input", confirm that the product is selected.

• If a device other than the product is being used as the output device, select this other device from "Choose your output device".

• If you are using commercially available recording software to record audio, refer to "Microphone privacy

settings" (p. 2525) to configure the settings.

Microphone privacy settings

If you are using commercially available recording software, check the microphone privacy settings.

In the "Sound" window, select "Microphone privacy settings".

Check that "Allow apps to access your microphone" is set to "On".

Check that the recording software you are using is set to "On" under "Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your microphone".

• If it is not set to "On", change the setting of the recording software you are using to "On".

Check that "Allow desktop apps to access your microphone" is set to "On".

• Changing this setting to "On" allows the recording software to access the product.

Microphone property settings

To change the microphone level and sample rate of the microphone, configure the following settings.

In the "Sound" window, select "Sound Control Panel".