Audio-Technica AT2040USB Hypercardioid Dynamic USB Microphone

The AT2040USB takes Audio-Technica's AT2040 hypercardioid dynamic podcast microphone and adds USB output, so the same broadcast-leaning tone that made the XLR version popular now plugs straight into a computer. The hypercardioid pattern is tighter than a standard cardioid, which keeps a computer fan or a roommate's footsteps out of the take, and a multistage foam mesh windscreen handles plosives internally without a separate pop filter.

A metal body houses an integrated shock mount to tame stand and desk noise, and the mic runs a high-resolution AD converter at up to 24-bit/96kHz over USB-C. A built-in headphone jack with its own volume and mix knob lets a streamer monitor with zero latency and blend the mic against playback audio, and a soft-touch mute button with a blue/red LED ring handles quick muting without reaching for software. It ships with a mounting clamp, a 5/8-inch to 3/8-inch adapter, and a USB-C to USB-A cable with adapter.