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.