When the ASTON brand first came together the first decision to make was ‘what are our core values.’ After some brainstorming it quickly became apparent what these would be; it was of the upmost importance that all their products were designed, assembled and manufactured right here in Britain.
This gave them the ability to locally prototype and control engineering processes, use local suppliers and most importantly, allowed them to have a reduced environmental footprint.
Good for your mic, good for your planet
The ASTON signature tumbled chassis, the Origin, Spirit and Starlight, all have a unique chassis finish which is not only fingerprint and scratch resistant but the process of producing the solid stainless steel is also chemical free and will last a lifetime. Their detailing is laser engraved, which is far less polluting than other methods and packaging is all UK manufactured; made from 84% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable and the boxes and sleeves are also 100% biodegradable.
Local Suppliers
ASTON pride themselves on their core values and this couldn’t be more so, than when you look at their suppliers. They source 90% of their components from local UK sub contract manufacturers; from the toroidal transformers used in their Spirit mic, to the moulded parts used in the head and base of their mics. Their printed circuit boards are also made in the UK by three of Europe’s leading hi tech manufacturers, who also look after the final assembly for the Origin, Spirit and Starlight.
Uniquely British
Every single detail of an ASTON microphone, from the beautifully finished chassis to the enamel badges have been carefully thought through and executed to the highest standard. The rugged quality and high-end performance have meant these microphones have become an industry standard, used in thousands of professional recording studios by some of the biggest names in the industry. The incredible price point has not only allowed these mics to succeed in the professional industry but you too can own an ASTON mic for your own home recording purposes.
The Aston Sound – Made in the UK
A vital part of the manufacturing process for ASTON was to ensure the right team were in place to ultimately make the best sound possible. Instead of using your standard pencil pushers to put a brief together ASTON handed the entire sound development process to what they call Aston 33.
At the very beginning, The Aston 33 were a panel made up of some of the very top producers, engineers and artists in the UK. Over the course of 6 months, they took on a series of blind listening tests and gave their input on the products through each state of development. Now, the panel has expanded and now includes professionals from the USA and beyond involving over 70 industry pro audio experts.
The result of this process has been remarkable… multiple award winning mics, competing with some of the most expensive and sought after mics in the world, the likes of Neumann and Telefunken, but costing a fraction of the price.
A Legacy is born
The biggest single reason ASTON have for wanting ‘Made in the UK’ as their core value is ultimately to go down in history as building the first mainstream UK mic brand. This independent British brand have become true advocates and certainly lead the way in their ability to sell well priced products all made on British soil. Their attention to detail, quality control and high production standards far outweigh the benefits of any cost saving they could make for producing their mics abroad.
Their ultimate goal…? To make the UK the most influential in the modern music industry and for ASTON to be a part of this revolution. Not a bad idea, if you ask me.
Click here to check out our full range of ASTON products or contact us for further information [email protected]
