Touchy Feely

At the time of writing we are currently preparing for our first gig since lockdown restrictions started to ease. This is all very exciting and also coincides with what may be one of our last microphone posts. With that in mind heres something that you won’t have seen before, the AKG C411. Strictly speaking this......

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In-DI-spensible

Welcome again everyone to our weekly look into the Astra Sound microphone cupboard. Along with our collection of microphones we also have plenty of DI boxes which we store there. Over the years many people have asked what a DI box does so we will try and explain whilst highlighting some of our own. Meaning......

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Shurely this is Beta

Hello and welcome to this weeks look at the Astra microphone cupboard of wonders. Out of the dusty depths for this Friday we have the Shure Beta87a. Used primarily as a vocal mic, this condenser takes the sound of an sm58 and takes everything up a level. The beta87 was designed with vocals in mind......

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A box of tricks

Firstly, something a little serious. The sporting world are taking a stand against online abuse and the failure of social media platforms to act. Internet trolls are able to comment anonymously which has lead to some shocking abuse that has included unacceptable racial abuse. To pressure companies to act there will be a social media......

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Larger than Life

Welcome everyone to another look into the dusty cupboard of Astra Sound’s mics! This week we have dug out the Audio-Technica 4033. The Audio-technica 4033 is a large diaphragm condenser with a cardioid response pattern. Many large diaphragm condensers feature switchable pattens but cardioids are used most frequently in live sound. Unlike every other mic......

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Eggcellent mics

Hello and welcome to our weekly microphone posts. Astra hopes you all had a great Easter but now its time to get back to work. This week, inspired by all things egg related, we are going to focus on a couple of egg shaped mics! The EV N/D308 and N/D408. The N/D308 is another microphone......

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A Stereo KISS

Our second post this week is about the Shure sm81, another pencil condenser. This mic has long been a staple studio microhpone. It is a versatile, rugged and great sounding mic which also performs well in live settings. A cardioid pattern and a flat frequency response from 20-20000 Hz. We very often use these as......

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A mic or not a mic?

The eagle eyed amount you would have noticed a lack of posts last week. This was due to the shock of having a job to go to! However, this week we will endeavour a double post to satisfy your microphone information needs Having recently talked about condenser microphones it feels appropriate to continue with one......

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Are you Shure?

In our post last week we discussed the iconic D12 and the reliable D112. Next up is an unusual kick drum mic, the Shure SM91.  Its flat design points to its original purpose as a conference mic. This mic is a directional boundary microphone which is different to every other mic we’ve covered. A small......

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Kick start

Microphone

Hello again and welcome to our weekly look at Astra’s microphone list.  I think its fair to say that after the vocals, the next most important part of a band mix is the kick drum. Theres something ever so satisfying about feeling that thump in your chest. Also, it gives a solid base to build......

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