Quick Answer: While the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference, in a head-to-head comparison, we generally recommend the Audio-Technica AT2035 over the Blue Yeti due to its superior recording quality, as long as you have a quiet recording environment and the budget for an audio interface. However, the Blue Yeti excels in versatility, allowing you to adjust settings for different recording scenarios and more easily record while traveling.
The Audio Technica AT2035 and the Blue Yeti are two of the top choices for content creators today, due to their overall decent sound quality and reasonable price. However, which you choose to go with can have a substantial effect on your recording process and overall audio quality. We’ve broken down the feature sets and key differences in an easy-to-follow guide.
Sound Quality Differences
Let’s face it—while many factors will affect your decision on which microphone to ultimate go with, sound quality is one of the most important things to consider with a microphone. Thus, we’ve chosen to compare the two microphones on this level first.
Signal & Preamp Quality
One of the key differences between the two microphones in this department is the fact that the Audio Technica AT2035 feeds audio via an XLR connection, a high-quality connector that can provide the ‘phantom power’ required to power condenser microphones. XLR is the defacto standard among Recording Engineers, and for good reason. This connector offers exceptional signal quality when using quality cables. However, one should be aware that it requires an audio interface to receive the signal and send it to your computer. The final output quality of the microphone will also largely be affected by the preamp of the audio interface used to power the microphone.
The Blue Yeti on the other hand uses USB to interface with your recording environment. While this may be great for convenience, the problem with this approach from a sound quality perspective is that the signal must be boosted from a preamp that lives in the microphone, which will ultimately be lower quality than one that lives in an audio interface. Additionally, the conversion of the audio from analog to digital is left to either the microphone or the computer’s sound card, as opposed to the superior processing offered by Audio Interfaces.
Winner: Audio Technica AT2035
Signal to Noise Ratio
In an ideal world, there would be absolutely no sound signal sent from the microphone when no sound is picked up by the microphone. In this instance, microphones would have a signal-to-noise ratio of Infiniti. However, the world is not ideal, and the laws of physics apply to microphones. While the Audio Technica AT2035 features a Signal to Noise Ratio of 82db, the Blue Yeti boasts an impressive 100db, meaning that it takes the cake. However, it should be noted that this is one of the technical specifications that may be extremely difficult if not impossible for all but the most trained ears to pick up on.
Winner: Blue Yeti
Real World Experience: How each microphone sounds
It’s great to talk about the details of what might make these mics sound exactly as they do. However, what ultimately matters is how they actually sound. While the Blue Yeti is no slouch for its price, ultimately, most sound professionals would stand behind the Audio Technica AT2035 for controlled recording environments. This microphone is known to give you the crisp yet bassy sound that radio professionals love.
Winner: Audio Technica AT2035
Features & Versatility
While both feature a great deal of features, Blue’s Yeti microphone is generally considered to be the more versatile of the two, due to its multiple recording modes that allows you to choose different styles of recording depending on your specific recording scenario.
Recording When There Are Background Noises
The Audio Technica AT2035 is an extremely sensitive microphone, which is part of what makes it sound so brilliant and beautiful. However, this sensitivity applies to background noises as well, and the Audio Technica AT2035 may be more prone to picking up Grandma’s snores from the other room. Sorry, Gram!
Winner: Blue Yeti
Recording Outside of the Studio
The Blue Yeti comes with a stand and does not require an audio interface, meaning it’s super easy to take it with you to your interviews outside of the studio. The Audio Technica AT2035 is generally better suited to stay in one place, although it can be taken to other environments with a portable audio interface and desktop microphone stand.
Winner: Blue Yeti
Multi-Person Recording Environments
The Blue Yeti features USB connection, meaning that it can connect to virtually any computer out there. This is awesome
However, on the flip side, the Audio Technica AT2035 has one huge ace up its sleeve: It uses XLR. This is a huge benefit if you are needing to connect multiple inputs to your computer, as you won’t have to hassle with clumsy software solutions to accept multiple audio inputs simultaneously (as opposed to multiple channels). In order to get XLR as an option from Blue, you’ll need to upgrade to the $250 Yeti Pro.
Winner: Audio Technica AT2035
Price
At the time of writing this article, the price difference between these two microphones may be the starkest difference, and that’s saying something. The reason why is that Blue recently reduced the price of the Yeti, and you can now get it for just $95 on Amazon. Additionally, the Blue Yeti is an all-in-one recording solution that comes with a built-in pre-amp and Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC). It also requires no arm as it functions as a mic stand as well.
While the Audio Technica AT2035 is great value for the price, its already higher price is further increased when factoring in additional equipment needed. The additional cost of an audio interface, microphone stand and XLR cable may be enough to break the bank for some starving podcasters. Factoring all of the equipment into consideration, expect to budget between $300 and $350 for everything you need.
Winner: Blue Yeti
All Factors Considered: Which Mic Should You Purchase
If you’re in a recording environment that is quiet and stationary, you don’t plan on recording on the go, and you’re willing to invest in an audio interface, the AT2035 is the clear winner. However, if your needs vary, you want to take the mic over to a friends house from time-to-time, or you’re on a tight budget, then the Blue Yeti will be the way to go.
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