Audio-Technica AT4040 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

As a hobby, I record my solo piano arrangements and improvisations of songs from the American jazz and swing era. I'm now recording my 15th album, this time a two-CD set of songs by Harry Warren. Earlier albums focused on songs by Irving Berlin, Ellington, Burton Lane, Jimmy McHugh, James Van Heusen, Harold Arlen, and so on. For years, I used a pair of Audio-Technica AT2035 Cardioid Condenser Microphones, feeding an Avid box and Pro Tools. The AT2035s were pretty good, though prone to distortion in loud passages. I must confess that I did not take very good care of them, and over time the diaphragms were too dusty to clean without damaging them, which I believe affected the sound. Before starting my current album, I knew it was time to upgrade mics. As you know, condenser mics can be really expensive, and figuring out which ones are worth it is a subjective affair. So, I decided that going with another pair of Audio-Technicas would be a safe and affordable strategy - as long as I moved up to a better model of AT. After reading many reviews, I settled on the Audio-Technica AT4040. Using my new pair of AT4040s, I have now recorded all 17 of the songs from CD #1 of my next album, plus finished the editing and mastering. I can now say that I am very pleased with the much-improved sound I get from the AT4040s. Note that I use a "close-mic" configuration, where the mics are under the piano. (See my photo.) I own and play a 7-foot Yamaha C6 has a very bright sound with a far more complex overtone structure than a Steinway; it's more like a Boesendorfer. This makes the C6 a great instrument for jazz and other pop music, but a challenge to record from above the strings or at a distance (as in a hall). The AT4040s are really good in a close-mic configuration, which can overwhelm other mics because it's louder than distance mic'ing. Likewise, the AT4040s are not overwhelmed by the extremely complex high frequency structures that result from playing jazz harmonies on a bright piano like the C6. For example, unlike most other jazz pianists, I have a strong and nimble left hand (due to classical training), which I apply to much walking bass and stride playing. My old AT2035s were easily overwhelmed by the booming bass of my 7-foot C6, and they didn't accurately capture this aspect of my playing. My new AT4040s, on the other hand (pun intended), are down-right ravenous with bass frequencies in a close-mic situation, like mine. I'm guessing this is due to the AT4040's large diaphram and transformerless circuits. In closing, I'd say that the AT4040s are not overwhelmed in any frequency range that a complex and bright grand piano like mine can produce. One positive outcome, is that I can record with a higher gain, which amounts to a stronger recording - free of distortion despite being louder - which sounds better on a wide range of playback devices, from acoustic stereos to ear buds on a smartphone. In addition, the AT4040 comes with an excellent shock mount and a cover that fits even when the mic is in the shock mount. Finally, I record and edit with headphones on, which can reveal noise; I find the AT4040 to be very strong but quiet. My only regret is that I didn't upgrade to the AT4040s earlier. Cheers!

Excellent microphone! Quite and sounds great! Total upgrade from my last mic. Super happy with my purchase.

If you are looking for a really good all-around Mic, this is it. This is as stated: no fancy pickup pattern selection. It has good rejection of sounds outside of the pickup pattern which is important to dry vocals in smaller rooms. However, it is very sensitive and picks up everything within the pattern. The attenuation switch comes in handy when recording loud sounds and it also has a bass roll off if you need it. Vocals are very clear and I don’t hear any coloring with this microphone. I hear details in my vocals I didn’t hear in my other microphones. Yes, the price is a little high for the beginner but take it from me, it is worth it. I tried the cheap mic route and I was disappointed as I had to ‘fix it in the mix’ after the fact. I searched on YouTube and found a shootout between this Microphone and others. Look it up, I think you will be as impressed as I was. This microphone sound is a close second to a microphone 10x the cost. It is one of the few economically priced consumer microphones that can be found in professional studios. One thing that really sets this microphone different is the minimal proximity affect. I can get as close to it as I want and my voice does not get muffled like other mics I have used. All microphones have some proximity affect. The better the mic, the less overbearing it is.

I was excited to unbox this and see how it sounds with live sound. This is the best mic I’ve ever used. The sound was definitive and captured not only my voice but also easily picked up the guitar I was playing. It fits nicely into the shock mount that was purchased at the same time. This is my go to mic for any recording I do. Great product.

I picked this up when it was on sale. I'm really happy with the purchase and like it as a vocal microphone. It captures the voice is a very likeably way IMO. I've used quite a few budget mics over the years and I think the AT4040 is really hard to beat in this price range. The one negative is I do find it has a good amount of sibilance. But in this price range, you are not going to get perfection. But I think the build quality and, at least in my case, the very pleasing way it caputres the voice make it a great buy overall. I really like the Audio Technica shockmounts as well. So as far as $300 mics go, I would put this right up at the top of the list.

This product has been working since 2014 for me so the quality is great. The only thing you should consider is the pricing. It could be cheaper.

I use this for voice acting and singing. While I'm still working on getting the right sound, this does a fantastic job on minimizing the electric fuzz usually heard in some of these condensor mics. And the microphone quality is so crystal and surreal, I'm beginning to like how my voice sounds in it. Very great product from Audio-Technica.

at2035 vs a4040 Pros - at4040 Better material "heavy duty" Better sound quality " less background noise" Looks pretty Premium packaging Pros - at2035 Mic made of metal Sounds better than at2020 A really nice leather carrying case Cons - at4040 Little bit more pricey for some Cheaper carrying case Cons- at2035 Cheap shock mount "plastic" Some noticeable background noise Conclusion the at4040 is a great Upgrade from the at2020 or at2035 the only thing you might miss out on is the leather carrying case. Get the at2020 or at2035 if your on a budget Get the at4040 if you want one of the best get this It's great place to start for pro audio. Not saying this is the best microphone ever but it works for me.

o melhor microfone nessa faixa de preço, e ainda bate alguns mais caros, simplesmente excelente

Ottimo microfono: perfetta risposta in frequenza, buon volume di uscita e basso rumore di fondo. Consigliato!

It's what I expected for the price and range. It might be a little better than the idea you'd get from the way other techies speak of it. Great for melodeons, which is why I bought it.

LO super recomeindo , es un excelente microfono para los Estudios de grabacion sobretodo para la voz, pero sobresale que tiene gran rango de saturacion , puedes grabar bajos electricos y hasta percusion , congas y etc... es un Gran microfono ya tengo un año con el...

Excellent XLR microphone, that has improved the quality of my recordings significantly compared to a Zoom H1N. It is versatile and works with acoustic guitar, vocal recordings, and I have also tried it with an indian percussion instrument (khanjira). In all cases, it captures the dynamic frequency range quite well, without colouring the recording too much. Would highly recommend if you have a sound card, and are in the market for an XLR microphone upgrade.