Aim Audio's Made-in-Berlin Inspire and Essence Pro Studio Condenser Microphones deliver class-leading levels of Audio Performance and Dynamics
I don’t usually cover Pro Studio Microphones on this site - while since two of my good pedal-friends Bruce and Rico are involved in this excellent venture, I felt I owed it to them to help put this new Pro Studio Gear company on the map - and its really cool initial product offerings - which have been several years in the making.
My two friends are part of a consortium of audiophile technology entrepreneurs with long roots in Pro Studio Gear, interestingly and back in the day - Rico helped set up a recording studio in an abandoned fish-processing plant on the east coast of my former home country Iceland - Silo Studios at the Fish Farm Creative Arts Centre, in Stöðvarfjörður. Rico spent 3 months at Studio Silo setting up all the necessary recording, mixing and audio processing equipment - and helped wire-in all the major systems - inhere.is/2015/05/enrico-preus/.
Hitherto for me personally I’ve really just dipped my toes in the world of microphones, I use a shock-mounted Audio-Technica AT2035 Condenser Microphone with Pop Filter - for my Boss RC-600 Loop Station - where that is very much an entry-level model. Very decent for that tier of the market - but very much a good quality sort of budget option. The Aim Audio INSPIRE and ESSENCE are a whole several classes above - and you can see by how precisely everything is made here, and the incredible super-tight tolerances on how everything fits so neatly together. The INSPIRE in particular is a really impressive device.
My aim eventually is set up a TPS-style 3-Mic Room system - one per each L & R Amp Channel, and a central Microphone for stereo ambience. That is going to be an expensive process at some stage - as I need to invest in 3 Pro Studio Mics, an Audio Interface, and suitable DAW / Sound Editing Software - while where I am currently in the cycle I would rather continue to fund my Pedal Exploration Journey - where there is still so much more to cover there.
Were money no object - then I could very well go for 3 of the INSPIRE mics - while that indeed would be a very expensive journey, and I’m not quite ready for that yet!
For Recording Studios world-wide though, Performance and Practice Spaces - these Aim Audio Microphones are superb, properly innovative, and exceptional high quality manufactured microphones - several years in development - they surely sound every bit as good as they look! The fact that they’re made in the heart of Berlin - a world audiophile manufacturing centre - makes them even more special.
Here follow some of the early launch videos from NAMM, followed by Key Feature details for each device :
INSPIRE Multipattern Condenser Studio Microphone - €799 | $699 | £679
Key Features :
- Truly innovative, with multiple Patent-Pending features
- Developed by an experienced team of experts in audio
- All-metal housing with unique oval design
- Class-Leading Audio Performance (>140 dBA internal headroom*)
- Switchable between Electronic or Transformer Balanced Output stages
- Custom-wound Toroidal Audio Transformer with VITROPERM core
- Dual 1” Large Diaphragm True Condenser (Gold Sputtered Mylar)
- Sound chosen by blind listening tests, using our industry leading panel
- 5 Switchable Polar Patterns, with voltage reached indication
- -10 and -20 dB Pad options
- 80 Hz Low Cut or 110 Hz Roll Off switches
- Integrated Peak-Level Metering
- Backlit Controls (dimmable and lockable)
- Built-in direct-to-stand mounting
- Powered by regular 48 V Phantom Power
- Included Custom ORBIT Shock Mount, with adjustable clamp angle
- Included SENTRY Magnetic Reversible Pop Filter
- Made in Berlin, Germany
ESSENCE Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone - €549 | $499 | £469
Key Features :
- Truly innovative, with multiple Patent-Pending features
- Developed by an experienced team of experts in audio
- All-metal housing with unique oval design
- Class-Leading Audio Performance (>140 dBA internal headroom*)
- Switchable between Electronic or Transformer Balanced Output stages
- Custom-wound Toroidal Audio Transformer with VITROPERM core
- 1” Large Diaphragm True Condenser (Gold Sputtered Mylar)
- Sound chosen by blind listening tests, using our industry leading panel
- -10 Pad option
- 80 Hz Low Cut switches
- Integrated Peak-Level Metering
- Backlit Controls (dimmable and lockable)
- Built-in direct-to-stand mounting
- Powered by regular 48 V Phantom Power
- Optional Custom ORBIT Shock Mount, with adjustable clamp angle and more (+€149)
- Made in Berlin, Germany
ORBIT Custom Shock Mount with SENTRY Pop Filter - €149 | $129 | £129
ORBIT Features :
- Custom designed to robustly cradle both INSPIRE and ESSENCE Microphones
- Half-Open / Open-Front Design
- Secure Sliding Clamping Operation
- Full Access to Microphone Controls
- Rubber Rings in place of regular elastics
- Up to 190 degrees of mounting position swivel
- Single handed secure operation
- Largely made from glass-reinforced nylon
SENTRY Features :
- Coated Stainless Steel Design
- Precisely-aligned acid-etched hexagonal holes
- Developed for optimal airflow
- Curved surface area to more closely hug Microphone's shape
- Easy to place - with custom integrated localised magnets (non-interfering)
- Reversible in either direction - Front & Rear
