We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-20 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a single plug-and-play microphone that works over USB today and XLR tomorrow, choose Audio-Technica AT2005USBPK; if you need a complete multi-input recording studio with an audio interface, phantom power and DAW software, choose Steinberg Recording Pack.
• Audio-Technica AT2005USBPK biggest strength: one handheld dynamic mic that speaks both USB and XLR, bundled with a boom arm and monitor headphones — a whole streaming setup in one box.
• Audio-Technica AT2005USBPK biggest trade-off: it's a single-channel dynamic mic, so it captures one voice at a time and won't power a condenser mic or record two sources at once.
• Steinberg Recording Pack biggest strength: a 2-in/2-out interface at 24-bit/192 kHz with phantom power, a Hi-Z instrument input, loopback streaming and three pieces of Steinberg software.
• Steinberg Recording Pack biggest trade-off: it's a system, not a single device — you'll be learning an interface, a condenser mic and a DAW before you sound good.
• Pick the Audio-Technica kit if you're a solo podcaster, streamer or voiceover artist who wants to be recording in ten minutes.
• Pick the Steinberg pack if you're a musician or producer who needs to record vocals plus guitar, or a condenser mic, at the same time.
The AT2005USBPK is built around a handheld dynamic microphone with two outputs living on the same body: a USB digital output for plugging straight into a computer, and an XLR analog output for conventional microphone inputs. That dual-path design is the whole point. You can start on USB with no interface, no preamp and no setup headaches, then move to XLR later when you add a mixer or interface — without buying a second microphone. The mic is unidirectional (cardioid), which is the right pattern for a single person talking into it, and the smooth, extended frequency response is aimed squarely at podcasting, streaming, home studio recording and voiceover work.
Around the mic, Audio-Technica bundles the pieces most beginners end up buying separately. There's an adjustable studio boom arm with full 360° rotation and spring-stabilized joints with thumbscrews, so you can reposition the mic with one hand instead of fighting a desk stand. There's a pair of ATH-M20x monitor headphones, whose circumaural design contours around the ears for good isolation in loud rooms — useful if you're recording next to a fan, a PC or a noisy apartment. And there's a built-in headphone jack on the mic itself for direct monitoring, which means you hear yourself without relying on your computer's output. The A/D conversion runs at 16-bit with 44.1/48 kHz sampling, and it's corded electric — no batteries, no charging.
Who should skip it: anyone who needs to record more than one source at once, anyone who wants to run a condenser microphone, and anyone who needs multi-track instrument recording. It's a one-channel, one-voice tool, and its 16-bit/48 kHz ceiling is modest next to what an interface-based rig offers. Also skip it if you already own an interface and good headphones — you'd be paying for duplicates.
Steinberg Recording Pack: Who It's For
The Steinberg Recording Pack is a different animal entirely: it's an ecosystem. At the center sits the IXO22, a USB 2.0 audio interface with 2 x 2 analog I/O running at 24-bit/192 kHz resolution. Two combo inputs accept either XLR or instrument/line connections, each with a mute button and a Class A mic preamp, and phantom power is available for condenser mics. There's also one Hi-Z input for plugging a guitar or bass straight in. Rounding out the hardware: an ST-M01 studio condenser microphone with a low-noise mic cable, and ST-H01 studio monitor headphones.
The feature list is where this pack separates itself from a simple mic kit. Latency-free hardware monitoring means you hear your input in real time while tracking, and because the IXO22 has two inputs, you can choose between mono and stereo direct monitoring. There's a separate headphone output, so your monitoring isn't tied to your main outs. The Loopback function merges incoming audio — a mic, an instrument or a line source — with playback from your DAW and sends the combined signal out to streaming software, which is exactly what you want for live online broadcasts where you need both your voice and your computer audio in the stream.
The software bundle is substantial: Cubase AI, Cubasis LE and WaveLab LE are included, plus Steinberg Plus. Cubasis LE in particular matters because it runs on iPhone and iPad, and the IXO interfaces automatically switch to Class Compliant mode when connected to an iOS device — giving you a genuinely mobile recording rig. Cross-platform support covers Windows 10/11 64-bit, macOS 11 and newer, and iOS.
Who should buy it: singer-songwriters, small project studios, and anyone recording acoustic instruments or vocals who needs a condenser mic and phantom power. If you want to lay down a vocal and a guitar at the same time, or you want to stream with game audio and your mic blended through hardware, this is the more capable system. The move to Cubase AI also gives you a real DAW to grow into rather than a bare recording utility.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for solo voice work (podcasting, streaming, voiceover) → Audio-Technica AT2005USBPK. One cardioid dynamic mic, one channel, zero interface required.
• Best for recording multiple sources at once → Steinberg Recording Pack. Two combo inputs with a Hi-Z instrument input let you track a mic and a guitar together.
• Best for condenser mics and phantom power → Steinberg Recording Pack. The ST-M01 condenser and the IXO22's phantom power go hand in hand.
• Best for a complete out-of-the-box booth → Audio-Technica AT2005USBPK. Boom arm with 360° rotation, ATH-M20x headphones, direct-monitoring jack and a pouch, all included.
• Best for higher-resolution recording → Steinberg Recording Pack. 24-bit/192 kHz versus the Audio-Technica's 16-bit, 44.1/48 kHz conversion.
• Best for live streaming with blended audio → Steinberg Recording Pack. The Loopback function merges mic/instrument input with computer playback for broadcast.
• Best for flexibility across USB and XLR without extra gear → Audio-Technica AT2005USBPK. Both outputs live on the microphone itself.
• Best for mobile/tablet recording → Steinberg Recording Pack. Class Compliant mode plus Cubasis LE on iOS.
• Best for a beginner who wants the shortest path to "recorded" → Audio-Technica AT2005USBPK.
In my opinion, the right answer depends on how many things you need to record at once — and that's not hedging, it's the actual dividing line. If you record one voice, I'd buy the Audio-Technica AT2005USBPK. It removes every barrier between you and a finished recording: the mic, the arm, the headphones and direct monitoring are all in the box, and the USB/XLR dual output means it won't become dead weight when you eventually upgrade. If you record instruments, need a condenser mic, or want to stream with blended audio, I'd buy the Steinberg Recording Pack — the IXO22's preamps, phantom power, Hi-Z input, loopback and software bundle are a genuinely more capable foundation. Buy the kit that matches how many inputs you actually need, not the one with the longer feature list. And do check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since these two packs sit in very different budget tiers.
Yes — for a single host or solo narrator it's a well-matched tool. It's a unidirectional dynamic mic with a frequency response designed for podcasting, streaming and voiceover, plus a built-in headphone jack for direct monitoring. It won't record a second person or an instrument at the same time.
Yes. The IXO22 has two combo inputs with Class A mic preamps, and one of them doubles as a Hi-Z instrument input, so a microphone and a guitar can be tracked simultaneously. You also get a choice of mono or stereo direct monitoring.
No. It has a USB digital output that connects directly to a computer, so you can record without any interface. The XLR output is there for when you want to use conventional microphone inputs with a mixer or interface later.
The Audio-Technica kit is the safer bet in an untreated, noisy space. Its handheld dynamic mic is less sensitive to room reflections than a condenser, and the ATH-M20x's circumaural design gives you isolation while monitoring. The Steinberg pack's condenser mic will capture more of the room.
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