British pro audio brand Aston Microphones have only been in business for a year but have already gained an enviable reputation for their Spirit and Origin large diaphragm condensers and their Halo reflection filter. At the NAMM show in Anaheim, they have revealed their first small diaphragm condenser, but there’s much more to it than meet the eye. And, incidentally, if it were to meet your eye, you might go blind. That’s because it has a laser inside it. That’s right, an actual functioning, phantom-powered laser.
Aston are calling the Starlight the first ever laser targeting pencil microphone, and the idea is that it allows for recall of mic positions in the studio and for live applications. Here’s their explanation "This is very far from being ‘just a gimmick’ as cardioid pattern microphones always produce their most accurate response when aimed directly at the sound source. This is especially true when using a spaced stereo pair as the laser makes it possible to aim both microphones at exactly the same point. Not only does the laser make precise alignment easy, it also helps achieve consistency when re-establishing the microphone position after de-rigging. Repeatable mic positioning has never been easier.”
The mic also features Aston’s variable voice switching for sound contouring. The mic has 3 modes of operation (Vintage, Modern and Hybrid), courtesy of some front-end, inductive, active filtering at the input stage of the preamp section (rather than simple post-EQ) to alter the response of the capsule without adding any noise to the circuit. The benefit of this, claim Aston, is that the voicing switch is effectively the equivalent of changing the capsule to achieve different tonal characteristics and frequency response.
The mic sports a ‘sintered’ head. Sintering is a process of compacting and forming a solid mass of material by heating it or applying pressure without melting to the point of liquefaction. The result, in this instance, is a porous metal that allows sound transparently to enter but is also very robust.
The Starlight will be shipping late February 2017, and will be available as either a single mic with mic clip and wind gag, or as a stereo matched pair along with two custom Aston Rycote shock mounts, wind gags and a stereo mounting bar. The latter configuration will cost £599. The accessories will also be available to purchase separately.
