Aston Microphones Element Bundle User guide

Owners Handbook

1

2

Thank you!

On behalf of the whole team at Aston Microphones I’d like to
thank you for investing in your Aston product.

Our microphones are designed and developed in the UK and
manufactured to the most exacting standards. Every Aston
product is individually tested at each key stage to ensure
reliable, consistent performance and the most musical sound
capture possible, so we’re sure that your new baby will provide
you with many years of perfect service.

Aston mics are far more than functional tools, they are charac­terful instruments, each recognisable by its unique sonic signature
and its quirky design features; the individually tumbled stainless
steel chassis found on Origin, Spirit ad Starlight, or the cool
purple LED glow of Stealth and Element.

Under the hood, each mic is laced with ground-breaking and
award-winning technology, with Stealth winning ‘Best Microphone’
at the coveted 2020 NAMM TEC Awards, and Element, in tests
by leading authority NTi Audio, being credited with having the
widest frequency response of any moving-coil microphone, and
with being the quietest (in a good way), mic on the planet.

Your Aston microphone has been voiced and tuned following
extensive blind listening tests by a panel of some of the biggest
names in British music recording and production (with Element
this process was famously rolled out to the wider music-making
community). Only when an overwhelming consensus put one
particular combination of capsule and circuitry way out in front
of both competing microphones and our other prototypes did
we approve the designs.

Our packaging has been designed to save space, and focus on
being as environmentally sustainable as possible, using 84%
recycled materials and being 100% recyclable.

We hope you enjoy what we’ve created, and thank you for
supporting our brand.

James Young

Aston Microphones

Hitchin, UK

3

Contents

Aston Origin & Spirit ................................................ 5

Aston Starlight & Starlight Stereo Pair .................. 12

Aston Stealth ............................................................ 18

Aston Element .......................................................... 22

Aston Accessories ....................................................... 28

Aston Halo & Halo Shadow ..................................... 32

Using Your Aston Microphone ............................... 35

Microphone Terminology & General Care ............ 35

Aston Owners Club

Please register your product to extend your 2 year limited
replacement warranty to 3 years, free of charge.

You’ll be automatically given membership to our exclusive Aston
Owners Club once you’ve registered here:

https://www.astonmics.com/EN/my-aston

4

Aston Origin & Spirit

Features:

• Wave-form mesh head - this unique design provides shock
absorption to protect the capsule, with elastic mesh memory.

• Built-in pop lter using the latest stainless steel mesh-knit

technology.

• Direct to stand microphone mounting option.

• 2mm, solid stainless steel, laser-cut and etched chassis.

• Capsule - The Aston Sound - developed by professional artists,
engineers and producers.
https://www.astonmics.com/EN/Aston-Sound

• Hi-Spec PCB and electronic components.

• Eco-friendly packaging. Well-designed, re-usable and
recyclable packaging.

Weights & Measures

Product length

Product width

Product weight

100% recyclable
and biodegradable
card box

(84% recycled bre)

100% recyclable
and biodegradable
card sleeve

100% recyclable
non cross-linked
Ethafoam 150 PE25
insert

Aston Origin Aston Spirit

125mm 4.92in 175mm 6.89in

54mm 2.13in 54mm 2.13in

450g 0.99lb 625g 1.38lb

72g 0.16lb 72g 0.16lb

22g 0.05lb 22g 0.05lb

40g 0.09lb 37g 0.08lb

5

Aston Origin

The Aston Origin is a high-performance cardioid pattern capacitor
microphone utilising a one inch capsule with a gold evaporated
Mylar diaphragm. It is versatile enough to use with most
instruments, excelling on both acoustic guitar and vocals. Its
hand-selected capsule is teamed with high-end transformer-less
circuitry using only the highest quality selected components.

The Origin is designed to deliver a direct, smooth and intimate
sound with the perfect balance of warmth and clarity for a
natural-sounding and transparent recording.

Origin specications:

Transducer Type: Capacitor
Acoustic Operating Principle: Pressure Gradient
Directional Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz (+/- 3dB)
Equivalent Noise Level: 18dB A-Weighted
Sensitivity at 1 kHz into 1kohm: 23mV/Pa
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%: 127dB
Pad Switch: -10dB/0 dB
Low-Cut Filter: 80Hz
48 Volt Phantom power (+/- 4 Volts) is required for operation

Frequency Response

Polar Pattern

6

Cardioid Condenser

0dB

Origin

7

Aston Spirit

The Aston Spirit is a high-performance, switchable pattern,
microphone utilising a one inch, dual diaphragm, gold
evaporated capsule. A switch on the mic body selects from

Omni, Cardioid or gure-of-eight polar patterns. It is versatile

enough to use with most instruments in addition to main
and backing vocals. Its hand-selected capsule is teamed with
high-end transformer balanced circuitry using only the highest
quality electronic components. Its dual pad option allows it to

accommodate very high SPLs while its low cut lter cuts the

ultra-lows.

The Spirit is designed to deliver a beautifully open sound with
sparkling harmonics. This microphone is capable of delivering a
stunningly natural and transparent sound with just a subtle hint

of attery, capturing all the detail in the high range but without

adding the harshness that some capacitor microphones are
prone to.

Spirit specications:

Transducer Type: Capacitor
Acoustic Operating Principle: Pressure Gradient
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB)
Equivalent Noise Level: 14dB A-Weighted
Sensitivity at 1kHz into 1kohm: 23.7mV/Pa
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%: 138dB
Polar pattern: Omni/Cardioid/Figure-of-Eight
Pad Switches: -20dB/-10dB/0dB
Low-Cut Filter: 80Hz
48 Volt Phantom power (+/- 4 Volts) is required for operation

Frequency Response

8

Multi-Pattern Condenser

-10dB

0dB

Spirit

9

Polar Patterns

Figure-of-Eight

Cardioid

Omni-Directional

10

11

Aston Starlight &
Starlight Stereo Pair

Features:

• Laser-alignment sight for placement accuracy and recording recall

• Sintered metal head - unique & innovative design protects
capsule and provides excellent acoustic properties

• Gold-sputtered 20mm capsule, chosen in blind tests by a panel
of 50 top producers

• PCB - market-leading electronic design

• 1.5mm, solid stainless steel, laser-cut and etched chassis

• 3-position voicing switch: Vintage, Modern and Hybrid settings

• Pad switch: -20dB/ -10dB/ 0dB

• 3-position Low-Cut Filter

• Stereo pair comes with a mounting bar, 2 mic clips and 2
windscreens

Weights & Measures

Product length

Product width
(with laser)

Product width
(without laser)

Product weight

Accessory weight

100% recyclable
and biodegradable
card box

(84% recycled bre)

100% recyclable
and biodegradable
card sleeve

100% recyclable
non cross-linked
Ethafoam 150 PE25
insert

Aston Starlight

181mm 7.13in 181mm 7.13in

36mm 1.42in 36mm 1.42in

26mm 1.02in 26mm 1.02in

251g 0.55lb 502g 1.1lb

52g 0.11lb 392g 0.86lb

72g 0.16lb 164g 0.36lb

22g 0.05lb 55g 0.12lb

44g 0.10lb 130g 0.29lb

Aston Starlight

Stereo Pair

12

Small Diaphragm
Cardioid Condenser

ight

-20 0 -10

Laser Voice Cut dB

Starlight

-20 0 -10

Laser Voice Cut dB

13

Aston Starlight

The Starlight is a small diaphragm, end re condenser microphone
featuring a sintered metal head which combines extreme
durability with extraordinary audio transparency.

The addition of a laser not only makes precise alignment easy,
it also helps achieve consistency when re-establishing the
microphone position after de-rigging.

The 20mm gold sputtered capsule feeds into custom designed
transformerless electronics, with low noise and ultra-low distortion
as priorities. Using proprietary circuitry at the input stage of
the mic amp rather than simple post-EQ, we have also given

Starlight three dierent voices accessed via a switch on the

microphone body.

Vintage voicing [ ] introduces some subtle low end lift while
gently rolling back the extreme highs for a classic warm, smooth
sound. The ‘middle’ Modern setting [ ] adds some airy high­end lift while the third Hybrid setting [ ] delivers a nominally

at response but with just a little low end lift. With its laser

guide, sintered head and multiple voices, Starlight is the most
comprehensive instrument mic package on the market today.

Starlight specications:

Transducer Type: Capacitor
Acoustic Operating Principle: Pressure Gradient
Directional Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz (+/- 10dB)
Equivalent Noise Level: 15dB A-Weighted
Sensitivity at 1kHz into 1kohm: 42.1mV/Pa
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%: 130dB/ 140dB/ 150dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (rel. 94dB SPL): 79dB A-Weighted
Pad Switches: -20dB/-10dB/0dB
Low-Cut Filters: 80Hz, 140Hz
48 Volt Phantom power (+/- 4 Volts) is required for operation

Frequency Response

dB

+20

0

-20
50Hz 100 200 500 1K 2K 5K 10K 20K

Modern

Hybrid

Vintage

80Hz HPF

140Hz HPF

14

Polar Pattern

270°

300°

240°

125Hz
250Hz
500Hz

1KHz

330°

210°

0°

0

-5

-10

-15

-20

dB

180°

2KHz
4KHz
8KHz

16KHz

30°

60°

90°

120°

150°

Starlight Laser

The Aston Starlight is equipped with a Class 2 Laser driven by
48V phantom power provided via the XLR cable from a mixing
console/mic preamp. It does not require any batteries.
The Starlight’s laser is emitted through the laser aperture located
on the top front of the microphone. Switch the Laser to the “I”

position to turn it on and “O” position to turn it o.

The Laser is not designed to be left on during use.

Starlight laser specications:

Wavelength: 650nm
Divergence (Spot Size or Beam Diameter): 10x10mm @ 5m
Maximum Average Power: 0.9mW

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LASER

2

Complies with IEC / BS EN 60825-1 (2014) and 21 CFR

1040.10 and 1040.11 except for deviations pursuant to
Laser Notice No. 50, dated June 24, 2007

Wavelength: 655nm

Max Average Power: 0.634 mW

IEC / EN 60825-1:2014

Laser Voice Cut dB

Manufacturers Name:
Manufacturers Address:
Location of Manufacture:

Date of Manufacture:

Serial Number:

-20 0 -10

Aston Microphones Ltd

3 Hunting Gate, Hitchin SG4 0TJ

United Kingdom

CAUTION

Though the laser is of a very low power, the following precautions
should be observed. Never aim a laser into the eyes or stare
directly into the beam and only activate the laser while setting
up the microphone position. Check that nobody is in the path of
the laser before switching it on. When working outdoors, ensure

that the laser is never aimed into the ightpath of aircraft or

into the audience. Use of controls or adjustments or perfor-

mance of procedures other than those specied herein may

result in hazardous radiation exposure.

16

17

Aston Stealth

Features:

• Broadcast quality cardioid microphone for studio and stage

• 4 settings – 4 dierent voices – 4 discrete signal paths

• Works with and without 48V phantom power

• Autodetect function senses 48V and activates built in preamp

• Class A Mic Pre built in – no external gain lifting device
required

• Unique Sorbothane internal shock mount

• Excellent o axis (side) rejection

• Built-in purple LED phantom power indicator – switchable for
Stealth mode

• Aston’s legendary build quality

• Sound developed by 92 top engineers, producers and artists
and the Aston 33 panel

• Supplied with quick release stand mount

Weights & Measures

Product length

Product width

Product weight

Clip - US/European
thread adaptor

100% recyclable and
biodegradable card
box

(84% recycled bre)

100% recyclable and
biodegradable card
insert

100% recyclableand
biodegradable card
sleeve

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Aston Stealth

196mm 7.72in

58mm 2.28in

692g 1.52lb

48g 0.10lb

144g 0.28lb

154g 0.30lb

22g 0.05lb

Studio & Live Microphone

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Aston Stealth

The Aston Stealth is a large chassis, broadcast quality, end re

dynamic mic with four switchable voice settings, each tailored
to deliver unparalleled performance across a broad range of
applications: The settings are:

V1 (Vocal 1): This was voted top in blind testing for a range of
male vocal takes, regardless of the pitch of the singer.

V2 (Vocal 2): This setting came top for a range of female vocal
takes. As with V1 this was more to do with timbre than pitch.
In both cases these results are subjective and we recommend

trusting your ears to nd the best settings for your needs.

G (Guitar): At home on anything from Spanish guitar through to
raucous guitar cabs!

D (Dark): A vintage sound, reminiscent of classic ribbon mics.

Stealth works with or without 48V phantom power. In passive
mode (unpowered) the active circuit is completely bypassed and
Stealth operates with the simplest possible signal chain to give a
beautifully clean sound.

When in active mode Stealth features a high quality built-in
Class A Mic Pre Amp, dispensing with the need for an expensive
external gain lifting device.

A unique built-in Autodetect function senses the presence of
48V phantom power and will automatically switch the mic to
active mode.

Phantom power mode is indicated by purple LED oodlights.
These can be switched o when the mic is to be heard but not

seen, for example in broadcast and video environments.

Stealth includes a proprietary internal shock mount design with
the capsule suspended in mid-air, completely isolated from the
mic chassis, and supported at 3 points by Sorboathane polymer
hemispheres.

Stealth comes supplied with a specially designed adjustable
quick-release stand mount.

Stealth specications:

Transducer Type: Moving coil
Directional Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Equivalent Noise Level: 10dB

Sensitivity (passive mode) at 1kHz into 1kOhm: ave. 1mV/Pa*
Sensitivity (active mode) at 1kHz into 1kOhm: ave. 150mV/Pa*

Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%: 140dB

* Varies across the 4 voices

20

Studio & Live Microphone

Frequency Response

Polar Pattern

Proposition 65 information for California residents:

WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. (California law requires
this warning to be given to customers in the State of California.)
For more information: www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

21

Aston Element

Features:

• Large diaphragm active moving coil studio microphone

• Tailored for vocals, acoustic instruments and electric guitars

• Voicing developed by public vote

• Specially developed Ridyon™ capsule combines the best
features of dynamic, condenser and ribbon mic technology

• World’s quietest microphone (NTi Audio tests)

• Widest frequency response of any electromagnetic (ribbon or
moving coil) microphone ever made

• Proprietary active circuitry

• Backlit LED logo badge conrms presence of 48v phantom

power

• Legendary Aston build quality

• Designed and developed in the UK

• Full 10 year warranty (requires registration)

Weights & Measures

Product length

Product width

Product weight

100% recyclable and biodegradable corrugated

Pop box

Mic box

Shock box

22

Aston Element

163mm 6.4in

58mm 2.28in

275g 0.6lb

paper mixed recycled content inner layer

116g 0.26lb

104g 0.23lb

130g 0.29lb

Studio Microphone

23

Aston Element

Aston Element is a large diaphragm active studio microphone

developed, by public vote, to oer unprecedented performance.

Its unique Ridyon™ capsule takes the best features of dynamic,
condenser and ribbon mic tech, without the drawbacks each of

these traditional favourites often suer from.

Element’s backlit LED logo badge glows Aston purple when
the active mic is receiving the 48v phantom power it requires
(The LEDs are dual-purpose, also functioning as an intrinsic
part of the audio signal path).

Anechoic tests by NTi Audio, the world’s leading authority in

scientic audio measurement, have rated the new mic at 3.8

dBA (A-weighted) making Element the world’s quietest studio
microphone! It also has the widest frequency response of
any electromagnetic (ribbon or moving coil) microphone ever
made.

Element is supplied with a proprietary magnetic Pop Filter which
all-but eliminates unwanted plosives and ‘esses’.
It automatically attaches in seconds, in exactly the correct position
for use, and the magnets used to achieve this are shielded from
the mic’s capsule to ensure the audio remains completely free
of artefacts. You can turn the pop shield upside down on the
mic when recording instruments, so you don’t have to keep
putting it away between takes. Also included is a custom Shock

Mount, designed specically for Element, which clips quickly and

easily to the mic.

Element is covered by a full 10 year warranty.

Project Element

In a world-rst, Aston Element was developed in conjunction

with the musicians and producers who would ultimately be
using it. More than 4000 people signed-up to participate in a
series of blind listening tests, the results of which guided the
Aston engineers in modifying the prototypes, until Element was
outperforming not only direct rival mics but some far costlier
options too.

Element specications:

Transducer Type: Moving coil
Directional Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
Equivalent Noise Level: 3.8 dBA (A-weighted)
Sensitivity (passive mode) at 1 kHz into 1 kOhm: ave. 12mV/Pa
Maximum SPL for THD 0.5%: 132dB

24

Studio Microphone

Frequency Response

Polar Pattern

IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING – NEODYMIUM MAGNETS

The Element Pop Shield attaches to the Element microphone using strong
Neodymium magnets, safely secured by a custom designed housing in both the
Pop Shield and the mic itself. The magnets cannot be exposed under normal use.

However please note the following important safety precautions:

1. Heart pacemakers

Neodymium magnets can have a dangerous eect on medical implants such as

pacemakers. Please ensure the Pop Shield is never in close proximity to any such
device.

2. Children

All Neodymium magnets should be kept away from children at all times as swallowing

or direct contact carry signicant health hazards.

Should your Element Pop Shield become damaged, please contact Aston
Microphones Ltd on 0845 500 2500 or email [email protected]

25

Element Accessories

The Element bundle comes supplied with an ingenious magnetic
pop shield and a proprietary design clip-on shock mount

developed specically for Element.

Aston Element Pop Filter

The proprietary magnetic Pop Filter attaches to Element in a
split second to eliminate unwanted plosives and ‘esses’.
It automatically attaches in exactly the correct position for use,
and the magnets used to achieve this are shielded from the
mic’s capsule to ensure the audio remains completely free of
artefacts. You can turn the pop shield upside down on the mic
when recording instruments, so you don’t have to keep putting
it away between takes.

Aston Element Shock Mount

The specically designed ergonomic Shock Mount clips quickly
and easily to your Element, and is extremely eective at

stopping unwanted vibrations reaching the mic.

26

27

Aston Accessories

Features:

• Aston SwiftShield (Universal Shock Mount and Pop Filter Set),
Aston Shield GN (Pop Filter and Gooseneck) and Aston Swift
(Universal Shock Mount)

• Universal mic mount - ts mics 40 to 60 mm diameter (full list
of compatible mics on www.astonmics.com)

• Ultimate mechanical isolation with Aston’s ‘ShockStar’ technology

• Super-hardwearing Aluminium and glass-ll nylon construction

• Ultra-swift proprietary mounting system

• Solid stainless steel pop shield with ‘Hextech’ lter holes

• Deluxe gooseneck mounts to any stand

Weights & Measures

Product
length

(assembled)

Product
width

(assembled)

Product
height

(assembled)

Product
weight

Shield
surface
area

Gooseneck
length

100%
recycleable
blister
pack

28

SwiftShield

175mm 6.89in 135mm 5.31in 170mm 6.69in

145mm 5.71in 60mm 2.36in 145mm 5.71in

160mm 6.30in 530mm 20.87in 60mm 2.36in

190g 0.42lb 270g 0.6lb 140g 0.31lb

158 x

135mm

6.22 x

5.31in

n/a n/a 392mm 15.43in n/a n/a

90g 0.2lb 90g 0.2lb 90g 0.2lb

Shield GN

158 x

135mm

6.22 x

5.31in

Swift

n/a n/a

Ultimate Reection Filter

29

Aston SwiftShield,
Shield GN & Swift

Aston SwiftShield combines the Aston Swift shock mount and the

Aston Shield pop lter into one bundle, to give you the perfect

set up for your studio vocal mic.

The Aston Swift shock mount takes microphone mounting to the

next level of ease. With 2 quick release spring clips designed to t

a wide range of mics, from 40-60 mm diameter, mounting your
microphone takes seconds.

We have reconceived the shock system, and as with all our
products worked from the ground up on an entirely new design

idea. The ‘ShockStar’ suspension eliminates the need for ddly
rubber bands, but oers a high level of elasticity for maximum

isolation. As with all Aston products, the use of novel materials
and our unique, architectural, approach to design is setting new
standards for the industry.

The pop lter itself features a unique, solid stainless steel shield,
with precisely acid etched hexagonal lter holes, to give crystal

clear vocals, with perfect acoustic performance for plosive (pop)
control. It also presents a large surface area and curves around
the mic, so vocalist movement is never an issue. Together with
your mic, the Aston SwiftShield set will give you everything you
need for vocal mic applications, and really make your set up
stand out from the crowd.

The Aston Shield GN pop lter has been engineered to give you
a perfect t on any mic stand in seconds and has one of the best

quality goose-necks you’ll ever see… no more limp or hanging

pop shields, no more ddly thumb screws… The Aston Shield

GN has a big, sturdy, crocodile clip to mount quickly and easily
onto mic stands of any shape or size, and has an exceptionally
well-engineered goose-neck support with matte-black rubberised

nish, which stays exactly where you put it. You’ll LOVE using

this product.

30

31

Aston Halo & Halo Shadow

Features:

• Hi Tech construction with patented PET felt

• Radically improves isolation

• Double curved form improves isolation top and bottom as well
as at the sides

• Much bigger surface area and depth of acoustic material

• Better diusion, for both direct source and primary reections
to the rear of the lter

• Lightweight

• Proprietary ‘easy-mount’ hardware also accommodates your
microphone mounting hardware

Weights & Measures

Product depth

Product width

Product weight

100% recyclable
and biodegradable
card box

(84% recycled bre)

100% recyclable
and biodegradable
covering box

32

Aston Halo Aston Halo Shadow

302mm 11.89in 302mm 11.89in

530mm 20.87in 530mm 20.87in

1.85kg 4.08lb 1.85kg 4.08lb

2.25kg 4.96lb 2.25g 4.96lb

0.8kg 1.77lb 0.8kg 1.77lb

Ultimate Reection Filter

33

Aston Halo & Halo Shadow

The Aston Halo/ Halo Shadow microphone screen is designed to

address the shortcomings of other ‘reection lter’ style products

combining low weight with minimal audio colouration.
Designed, engineered and tested in the UK, the Halo combines
modern advances in material technology and production, cutting
edge patented manufacturing processes and rigorous acoustic
testing to bring you the ultimate in portable acoustic devices.
Using patented PET Felt and beautifully engineered hardware
components, your Aston Halo has been created to the most
exacting standards. PET felt is one of the most lightweight and

ecient, technical acoustic products available on the global
market today. An additional side benet is that PET acoustic felt

is made from 70% recycled PET plastic bottle material and so is
also very environmentally friendly.

The Halo is actually made from two PET felt shells, with 100mm
of loose PET acoustic material sandwiched internally. These rigid
shells provide the structure as well as the absorbing surface,
removing the need for any internal support, making Halo
incredibly light and strong. Halo’s hardware allows easy, fast and
stable mounting. Every Aston Halo is individually tested during
manufacture to ensure reliable and consistent performance and
the most musical sound capture possible.

The Halo oers radically improved performance while maintaining

the green credentials of our manufacturing process (as with
our mic packaging which is 100% recyclable and 84% recycled
material). It also contributes both sonically and visually to the
creative environment, helping the artist to get the best from

every take. In our opinion, the Halo oers the very best possible

solution for portable room acoustics available today.

How to setup and use my Aston Halo

The Halo can greatly improve the quality of recordings made in
untreated or partially treated rooms. To get more information

about how to setup and use the Aston Halo reection lter

please visit:

https://www.astonmics.com/EN/product/Halo/Halo#tab4

34

Using Your Aston Microphone

If you are an experienced audio practitioner, then you’ll need
little instruction in using Aston microphones - just apply
standard 48 Volt Phantom power to our capacitor models and
you’re in business. For the Spirit and Origin models, the Aston
badge denotes the front of the microphone when using cardioid
pattern for main vocals, guitars and so on. When using the Spirit

in gure-of-eight mode, the logo denotes the ‘positive’ side of
the microphone. The Starlight is end-re, meaning that it needs

to be aimed directly at the sound source where the laser helps
with exact placement.

You can nd detailed information on using your Aston product,

and hints & tips on setting up for best results, here:

https://www.astonmics.com/EN/product/Mics/Origin#tab4

https://www.astonmics.com/EN/product/Mics/Spirit#tab4

https://www.astonmics.com/EN/product/Mics/Starlight#tab4

Microphone Terminology
& General Care

Microphone Terminology

Pad: The pad switch on a microphone reduces its output level,
which is often necessary when working close to very loud sound

sources such as kick drums, guitar ampliers or brass instru-

ments. At very high sound levels the electrical signal generated
by the microphone can cause distortion both in the microphone
circuity itself and in the pre-amp to which it is connected. If your
pre-amp meters indicate a safe level but you are still hearing
distortion, then try the 10dB pad position. Mics that have a 20dB
pad setting can deal with even higher sound levels, but unless
you are in the habit of recording tank battles at close quarters,

you’ll probably nd that the 10dB pad does the trick. Do not use

the pad when working with quiet or moderate level sounds as
under those circumstances it may lead to slightly more back­ground noise (circuit hiss).

Low-cut Filter: The low cut lter reduces the level of signals at

the bottom of the audio spectrum and in most cases will have
little or no eect on the tonality of vocal recordings.
Its purpose is to reduce the level of those very low frequencies

35

that you don’t need to capture, and unless you are recording

bass instruments or kick drums, you can usually leave the lter
engaged. Where the mic has two lter settings, try both and use

the highest one if you can’t hear any tonal changes in what you

are recording. When recording vocals a low-cut lter will reduce
rumble from trac noise or from vibrations passing up the mic
stand from the oor and will also compensate for the bass lift

that occurs naturally when a cardioid pattern mic is used close

to the mouth. It can also help reduce the eect of ‘popping’

when enunciating M, P and B sounds, though a separate pop
screen is to be recommended where the singer works close to
the microphone.

General Care

While Aston microphones are amongst the most durable
capacitor microphones on the market, they should still be
handled with care. If cleaning is required, use only a damp cloth
or pre-moistened screen wipe pads and avoid harsh or solvent
based cleaners. Also never spray any type of contact cleaner or
polish near the capsule or basket area.

The high impedances inside capacitor microphones make them
susceptible to moisture or condensation, so if you hear any
strange crackling sounds, leave the mic to dry out in a warm
room. This is particularly important when moving a microphone
from a cold vehicle to a warm studio where a vocalist’s damp
breath can otherwise cause problems. Once dried out the
performance should return to normal.

Obviously dropping microphones is to be avoided but one
advantage of the Origin and Spirit basket design is that the
outer Wavespring is designed to deform if subjected to a knock
or impact, thus absorbing much of the energy. This can easily
be pushed back into place making dented baskets a thing of the
past. When not in use, it is good practice to store microphones
in their boxes or to cover them with a plastic bag to avoid the
ingress of dust.

When using a typical boom stand, make sure that the boom
is aligned with one of the three legs as this provides the most

stable conguration and reduces the risk of toppling.

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ASTON MICROPHONES

®

3 Hunting Gate, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 0TJ, United Kingdom

BUILT IN BRITAIN

Tel. [phone]

www.astonmics.com