The Aston Microphones Origin is a unique-looking, high-performance large-diaphragm condenser mic with a 1-inch gold-evaporated capsule. The Origin’s cardioid polar pattern, 10dB pad, and 80Hz highpass filter make this mic an all-around studio and stage workhorse. It delivers a lovely, open sound with shimmering harmonics and Sweetwater engineers have found the Origin to be accurate and versatile, excelling in most applications especially on vocals and acoustic guitars. The build quality is outstanding: Aston has hand-selected the capsule and paired it with high-end transformerless, balanced circuitry employing top-drawer components. The Origin delivers a true and transparent-sounding rendition of the source, capturing treble detail without a trace of harshness. If you’re after quality on a budget, Aston Microphones’ Origin is highly recommended.