Aston Starlight Mic & Black Halo
19 January 2017
Aston Microphones’ NAMM stand sees two new products hit the market. Technically, the black version of the Halo reflection filter dubbed the Shadow isn’t exactly ‘new’ — it’s simply a change in colour scheme in response to customer requests from those who don’t dig Aston’s preferred shade of purple. Everything else is the same — the shape, PET felt construction, and outstanding absorption.
The Starlight is properly new, though. It’s Aston’s first ever laser targeting pencil microphone, allowing for recall of mic position in studio use, and quick setup on the live stage too. The unique small-diaphragm condenser showcases Aston’s variable voice switching for sound contouring, a nearly indestructible build quality, a signature sintered head, and Aston’s famous tumbled 100% stainless steel chassis.
With a cardioid polar pattern mic, sound will vary in frequency response when even slightly off axis. The addition of a Class 2 laser to Starlight with on/off switch helps you easily recall mic positions in the studio to set up can be easily replicated. It’s original, and quite functional.
Starlight’s capsule itself is a 20mm gold sputtered type which feeds into bespoke transformerless electronics designed with low noise and distortion as priorities. You can choose between Vintage, Modern and Hybrid settings thanks to some fancy 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.
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