Aston Microphones’ Element is destined be the first microphone ‘to have a sound crafted by the public, the musicians, engineers and producers who will eventually be using it to create their own musical magic’.
Every Aston mic to date has been developed in conjunction with the Aston 33 panel, a 600-strong group of professionals who, through blind listening tests, aim to make each mic outperform its competition. Presently, the forthcoming Element mic is at the prototype stage and the company is opening its final development to public influence.
To this end, there will be several stages of public voting between late April and July 2020. At each stage, candidates will listen blind to five takes of each of three audio sources (male vocal, female vocal and acoustic guitar) recorded on prototypes of the new model, alongside a number of competitors’ mics – then rate them, from best to worst.
After each voting stage Aston’s design team will modify the prototypes in line with the results, and the blind listening test process will be repeated. Only when the new mic is consistently judged to be the best sounding microphone will the Element be signed off for production.
‘The classics of the mic world differentiate themselves by having their own subtle yet recognisable sonic character, and this is subjective. So how do you know in advance if your new mic design is going to please the ears of the world’s top music and audio professionals?’ the company reasons. Simple. You ask them.’
This was the development process behind the Aston 33, named to refelct the 33 panel members that took part in the evaluation procedures.
For the new Element, sound files are being recorded by independent professional musicians at Soho Sonic Studios, one of London’s leading recording facilities. ‘At each stage, five iterations of Element and other market leading microphones, are used to record audio files for male vocals, female vocals and acoustic guitars. A separate track is made for each mic, with gain levels pre-balanced such that record levels are the same. The final recorded files for each source are labelled A-E (with a separate key denoting which number relates to which mic known only to the test team). The files are then randomised prior to uploading for voters to audition, so, for example, Mic A is not necessarily always the same product between different sources. Then it’s over to you to decide which version you like best, which second best, and so on.’
There will be several stages of public voting between May and July. For each round you will be able to download a range of sound files; five takes for each of three audio sources (male vocal, female vocal and acoustic guitar). No details of the mics used in the test will be given, which may be all iterations of Element, or may be a mix of other brands. The mic number will also vary from source to source, such that Mic A for Male vocals, may be different to Mic A for guitars.
‘Then you simply rate what you are hearing, from best to worst, using the drag and drop voting page, submit your votes and you’re ready for the next stage. Aston will email you to let you know when each round is open and when it is due to close. ‘
Between each stage Aston’s engineers will collate all the voting data and re-engineer the prototypes according to the panel’s preferences. Once the Aston Element is voted the best-sounding microphone by a majority of the panel, the process will close and details will be released of the winning version, along with that of the other mics used at various stages of the test.
