Impressive single mic recording on an Ashton Spirit

equalsql

Just chanced on this recording session. The dynamic and frequency range of the Ashton mic they are using is pretty impressive.

Seems it could be a good affordable all rounder for the home studio.

https://www.astonmics.com/EN/product/mics/spirit

octatonic

Yes, that is a pretty good representation of how they sound.
I am guessing they recorded that in omni, which has a bit of a kick in the top end (around 10k).

The Spirit wouldn't be my first choice as a single mic recording but it works well here.
I have a pair of them- I like them on female vocals & piano in cardioid, as room drum mics in omni.

camf

@octatonic What would you suggest as a decent mid-price alternative? Cheers.

equalsql

octatonic said:

Yes, that is a pretty good representation of how they sound.
I am guessing they recorded that in omni, which has a bit of a kick in the top end (around 10k).

The Spirit wouldn't be my first choice as a single mic recording but it works well here.
I have a pair of them- I like them on female vocals & piano in cardioid, as room drum mics in omni.

What would be your first choice @octatonic ?

octatonic

camf said:

@octatonic What would you suggest as a decent mid-price alternative? Cheers.

Give me a more exact figure- under £500? a grand?

octatonic

equalsql said:

octatonic said:

Yes, that is a pretty good representation of how they sound.
I am guessing they recorded that in omni, which has a bit of a kick in the top end (around 10k).

The Spirit wouldn't be my first choice as a single mic recording but it works well here.
I have a pair of them- I like them on female vocals & piano in cardioid, as room drum mics in omni.

What would be your first choice @octatonic ?

Without a doubt a Neumann U67, but I don't imagine that will be under consideration.

How fixed is the budget?
With mics it is easy to creep into a higher price range- the Spirit is, what, £300?

I'd go with either a Lewitt LCT441 or an Audio Technica AT4050, but they are both more expensive than the Aston, at £350 or about £500 for the AT.
If you can go to £500 then it is only a bit more to get a C414 at around and then something like an OC818.
Before you know it you've spend a grand and are looking at used U87s instead- at least that is what happens with me.

Around £300 the Spirit is compelling and I'm sure you'd be happy with it.
FWIW I bought mine in Singapore at $320 SGD (£180 a piece)- looking outside the UK might be the way to do it, as I think we pay more for them here.

equalsql

octatonic said:

equalsql said:

octatonic said:

Yes, that is a pretty good representation of how they sound.
I am guessing they recorded that in omni, which has a bit of a kick in the top end (around 10k).

The Spirit wouldn't be my first choice as a single mic recording but it works well here.
I have a pair of them- I like them on female vocals & piano in cardioid, as room drum mics in omni.

What would be your first choice @octatonic ?

Without as doubt a Neumann U67, but I don't imagine that will be under consideration.

How fixed is the budget?
With mics it is easy to creep into a higher price range- the Spirit is, what, £300?

I'd go with either a Lewitt LCT441 or an Audio Technica AT4050, but they are both more expensive than the Aston, at £350 or about £500 for the AT.
If you can go to £500 then it is only a bit more to get a C414 at around and then something like an OC818.
Before you know it you've spend a grand and are looking at used U87s instead- at least that is what happens with me.

Around £300 the Spirit is compelling and I'm sure you'd be happy with it.
FWIW I bought mine in Singapore at $320 SGD (£180 a piece)- looking outside the UK might be the way to do it, as I think we pay more for them here.

Thanks for all that good info  
Certainly my budget is around the £300 mark so your suggestions are extremely helpful.

Stuckfast

Well it certainly has a lot of bottom end if that recording is anything to go by! Also a fairly hefty boost in the sibilance region.

It's quite interesting to listen to it in mono. All the nice reverb disappears and you get a much clearer idea of how the mic itself sounds.

camf

At that, the Aston Spirit does seem great value, though. 

octatonic

Stuckfast said:

Well it certainly has a lot of bottom end if that recording is anything to go by! Also a fairly hefty boost in the sibilance region.

It's quite interesting to listen to it in mono. All the nice reverb disappears and you get a much clearer idea of how the mic itself sounds.

That is only in omni mode.
It is tamer in the high end in cardioid- I'v never used it in fig 8.