The Professional's Source Since 1973
  • Help
Ask Our Experts800.606.6969
Hello, Log InAccount & Orders

Bild Shop Specials

Video Chat with a Pro Audio Expert - Live

Aston Microphones Spirit Large-Diaphragm Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone (Stereo Pair)

BH #ASTSPIRITST2 • MFR #AST-SPIRIT STEREO PR
Print
Aston Microphones Spirit Large-Diaphragm Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone (Stereo Pair)
Key Features
  • For Studio Recording
  • Ideal for Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
  • Omni, Cardioid & Figure-8 Patterns
  • 1" Gold-Evaporated Capsule
Delivering a versatile mic for a variety of studio needs, the Spirit from Aston Microphones, presented here in a stereo pair, is a multi-pattern, large-diaphragm condenser microphone with cardioid, omni, and figure-8 patterns. Excellent on numerous instruments, but excelling at voice and acoustic guitar, the Spirit is a studio workhorse.
More Details
In Stock
Free Expedited Shipping
Protect Your Gear
Add a protection plan from $111.59
Ask an Expert
800.606.6969

Aston Microphones Spirit Overview

Delivering a versatile mic for a variety of studio needs, the Spirit from Aston Microphones, presented here in a stereo pair, is a multi-pattern, large-diaphragm condenser microphone with cardioid, omni, and figure-8 patterns. Excellent on numerous instruments, but excelling at voice and acoustic guitar, the Spirit is a studio workhorse.

The Spirit is designed to deliver an open sound with sparkling harmonics. This accurate microphone provides natural and transparent recording, capturing detail in the high range, but without adding the harshness that some condenser microphones tend to. This is thanks to the 1" gold-evaporated capsule and transformer-balanced circuitry. The Aston Spirit stereo pair includes two SwiftShield combination pop filter shockmounts and one stereo mounting bar.

Stereo Pair
With a stereo pair of the Spirit microphone, along with the included stereo bar, you get easy and high-quality stereo recording for a variety of applications. Capture pristine and full-sounding drum overheads, acoustic guitar, choirs, orchestras, interviews, and much more. With multiple patterns on each mic, stereo configurations become a lot more versatile.
Wave-Form Spring Head
The Aston Spirit has their signature wave-form spring head. This unique design not only looks great, but delivers an unprecedented degree of protection for the heart of your microphone, the capsule.

The shock-resistant wave-form design allows the head of the mic to distort if given a heavy knock, and then return to its normal position, without any damage. It also offers a degree of off-axis rejection, helping to eliminate unwanted artefacts from your recordings.

Built-In Pop Filter
Aston’s vocal condenser microphones have an exclusive mesh-knit pop filter built into the wave-form head. The random weave allows sound to pass while drastically eliminating unwanted plosives at source.

It also shields against multiple wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, making their microphones ideal in critically sensitive electronic applications. This completely encapsulating, single piece, mesh cage is formed in stainless steel, so won’t rust with use, and can even be removed and washed.

Direct-to-Stand Mounting
Yet another unique design element of the Aston Spirit is the use of custom molded end caps with integrated XLR and universal stand thread adapter. Because the internal shock absorption system is so good, you can mount the microphone directly to a stand via this built-in thread and interchangeable thread adapter with outstandingly low handling noise. The design also makes Aston microphones extremely easy to repair and maintain.
Chassis
Part of the beauty of our microphones is the custom finish of each chassis. There are no mass-produced paint job finishes here. Instead, each chassis is individually tumbled for up to 4 hours to give it a very hard-wearing, extremely beautiful, finish. The 2mm solid stainless laser cut and etched body looks and performs great.
PCB
  • A superbly balanced mix of discrete and integrated electronic circuitry
  • Harmonised circuit stage arrangement for easy integration from phantom power input circuitry to the capsule voltage bias
  • Novel non-linear voltage/current source rectification to provide controlled amplification and smooth/clear audio output
Swift Shockmount
The Aston Swift shockmount is not only elegant and designed specifically to show off your mic in all its glory with its open-fronted design, but boasts the fastest mic mounting system in the world. Combined with Aston’s internal shock-absorbing system, the Swift gives supreme performance in seconds.

The Shield SM clips on and off the Swift mount quickly and easily when switching between vocal and instrument applications. Utilizing Aston’s Hextech perforation acid etching process, the Shield gives excellent plosive (pop) control without affecting the tone of your recordings at all.

Eco-Friendly Packaging
Aston Microphones have put their hearts and minds into creating the most beautiful performance pieces possible with each Aston product. When it comes to packaging they believe simplicity is king. Protective, reusable, environmentally sensible packaging that doesn't cost the earth.
UPC: 787790560852

Aston Microphones Spirit Reviews

Built like a tank!

By Sam
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2018-07-20

I've been using a pair of Aston Spirits for the past year and totally enjoyed everything I've recorded with them, from concerts to singer-songwriter duets and even field recordings (long story!). First off, huge kudos to Aston on the build quality- as the title says, these are built like a tank. Well, maybe not like SM57-hammer-a-nail-into-a-plank level, but for a condenser mic, these are the sort of mic that doesn't mind being carried from gig to gig or the occasional rough treatment by "helpers". In a way they kind of remind me of power tools from the mid 20th century- the sort of thing that looks and feels like it's probably going to outlive you. Well, at least from the outside anyway. On that note, Aston seems to have very good QC too- despite not being factory matched (and actually more than 1,000 serials apart!), the two mics fit very well together and, if not for the serial numbers on the mics and their boxes, would be all but interchangeable. However, the real important part of course of any mic is the sound quality, and that is definitely an area where the Spirit definitely weighs in quite highly. I must be clear- the Spirit is a bit on the brighter side of the spectrum; obviously it's nowhere near the level typical of SDC's, but it's quite clearly not a U47 if that's the kind of sound you want. However, I can happily report that the mic completely lacks that 'cheap highs' sound that you get with budget LDC's; the highs are very smooth and as other reviewers have pointed out, the mic really takes to EQ'ing quite readily, so you can really reshape the sound without fear. Overall I would suggest the general frequency response of the mic lends itself most immediately to female and tenor vocals and voice-overs, acoustic guitars, woodwinds, percussion, and as a general all-purpose recording mic. I find they excel as a 'mid' spaced pair when recording samples or ensembles, and also work very well in blumlein configuration as one might expect. Some particularly bright instruments (e.g. some saxophones) might benefit from a darker sound than the Spirit provides raw. I hope one day Aston might consider a revised Spirit with the same 'vintage-semi-modern' voicing switch they did on the Starlight SDC's, as that would really turn the Aston from a quality multi-tool into the mother of all studio Swiss Army knifes. Although the built-in mic stand mount is a great idea, after a few months I bought their (now discontinued) Rycote shockmounts, which were good enough I even used it on a boom once (another long story)! I would recommend getting their latest shockmount system, but I haven't tried them yet. Overall, if the sound of the Spirits matches your voice/needs well, then I sincerely don't think I could recommend another mic in or below this price range before it. I don't think I will be letting these two go any time soon!

WOW! Amazing sound!

By Anonymous
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2016-03-07

Wow! Just wow! I bought my Aston Spirit, reaching out from AKG, Blue, and Neumann, to a new mic brand after such outpouring love in reviews of the Aston Origin. I needed a multi-pattern mic that was versatile. The box seems inexpensive and it did require a separate shockmount. (It has one built-in but it mounts the mic directly to the stand. Not terrible but not versatile.) The Spirit was amazing for male and female vocals of alternative, pop, classical, and operatic vocals. I tracked my acoustic guitar and it was astounding, as well as for my violin and cello. I would say this could stand up to most upper echelon mics in versatility and clarity. Even as a room mic the Spirit sounded stellar! It was perfect for small room recording, large space studio, ambient sound recording, and close-up instrumental recording. I love using the Spirit. It is truly a favorite of mine as microphones go.

See any errors on this page?
Whatever You Need, We've Got It