Aston Microphones Stealth, Shield GN User Manual

Owners Handbook

1

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 built in the UK to the most
exacting standards. Every Aston product is individually tested
at each key stage during manufacture to ensure reliable and
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 microphones are built using a tumbled stainless steel
body so there is no paintwork to chip or scratch and legends

are laser etched so will never wear o. 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.

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. 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.

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

James Young

Aston Microphones

Hitchin, UK

32

Contents Aston Origin & Spirit

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

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

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

Aston Accessories ....................................................... 22

Aston Halo & Halo Shadow ..................................... 26

Using Your Aston Microphone ............................... 29

Microphone Terminology & General Care ............ 29

Aston Owners Club

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

Features:

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

• Built-in pop ilter 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.

• Hi-Spec PCB and electronic components.

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

Weights & Measures

Aston Origin Aston Spirit

Product length

125mm 4.92in 175mm 6.89in

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

www.astonmics.com/owners-club

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

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

54

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

Cardioid Condenser

0dB

Polar Pattern

Origin

76

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

Multi-Pattern Condenser

-10dB

0dB

Frequency Response

Spirit

98

Polar Patterns

Figure-of-Eight

Cardioid

Omni-Directional

1110