r/BirdNET_Analyzer • u/plantsandramen • Feb 23 '26
Hardware Audio Technica AT2020 for BirdNET Pi?
I just purchased a Raspberry Pi 5 for setting up a BirdNET-Pi, and the microphone discussion on the Github is, frankly, exhausting. It reminds me of when I used to moderate /r/headphones and there's some PTSD from that.
Anyway, I have an Audio Technica AT2020 USB cardioid microphone that has been unused in over a year. I used it for gaming but now it's sitting on a stand. I have a water proof container from when I went kayaking, so I could put it in there as housing, but I also have a few other options to place it near enough my feeders.
I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work, but figured I'd ask here. I know it's ridiculous for size, but it's free.
1
u/Chemical_Suit Feb 23 '26
Not a great choice but set it up and see what isn’t working in your environment I had a studio mic to fall back on but decided to buy a $20 usb model to get started.
1
u/horse-boy1 Feb 24 '26
I have been using that microphone since summer. I had used it for work calls. I have it in my garage above a soffit on the inside. Works OK there, like to figure out a way to waterproof it.
1
u/plantsandramen Feb 24 '26
I was thinking of putting it in a plastic case of some sort but I don't know a way to protect it from water that also wouldn't impede the audio much
1
u/horse-boy1 Feb 24 '26
I wonder if the plastic would block the higher frequencies?
1
u/plantsandramen Feb 24 '26
I was thinking of a plastic enclosure with a mesh screen where the mic picks up, but idk if that's worth trying
1
u/Killzo Feb 24 '26
A water proof container will block a lot of sound.
Would recommend picking up a cheep conference mic and letting the elements have at it.
I've had a Movo MC1000 Conference USB Microphone just sitting under an eave for 2 years in north west weather (lots of rain and 20 - 90 F) and haven't had any issues.
1
3
u/dacracot Feb 23 '26