Aim Audio INSPIRE + Pack Multipattern Condenser Studio Microphone with Shockmount & Custom Case

Designed to provide effective low frequency absorptionMade in Berlin, Germany, the INSPIRE is a new innovative, high-performance studio mic. It comes with a range of unique, useful and innovative features, including Aim Audio's patented switchable Transformer/Electronic Output stage. From a direct, beautifully open and fast response, to smooth and intimate sounds with sparkling harmonics and deep lows, INSPIRE is surely going to become a top choice wherever and for whatever source you wish to use it on.

Additionally, it has a fresh look, backlit and tactile controls, reversible orientation, built-in Peak Level Metering, a hand-built 1” Gold Sputtered Mylar true condenser capsule (externally polarized), along with the revolutionary ORBIT shock mount, complete with the SENTRY magnetic pop filter and the INSPIRE + PACK is one of the finest new audio products to ever hit the market – all at a price/performance ratio that defies regular convention.

Amazing Features • Truly innovative, with multiple Patented 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

custom electronicsAim Audio developed the Aim sound by carrying out a number of double blind tests with a team of leading studio engineers, musicians, artists and audio professionals across the world. Along the process and to find out what style and tonality worked best with their custom electronics, they also compared each of these tests by ear and included checking these results randomly, against some of the most popular and best competitor mics on the market.

a world firstFor the Transformer-based circuit, the Aim Audio team developed a Custom Wound Toroidal Transformer with a nanocrystalline VITROPERM core. This special design doesn’t sound harsh or just add distortion, like many off the shelf transformer circuits can do, but it provides a slightly thicker and richer LF, plus a slightly airy top end and a slower transient response. Useful for all sorts of audio; from aggressive or velvety smooth vocals, to heavy guitars or a brass section, this mode gives a beautifully open sound with shimmering harmonics.

While the super clean Electronically Balanced Output will react much faster with transients and can handle higher SPL, even at ultra-low frequencies. Perfect for catching fast moving audio like shiny drum overheads or tracking acoustic guitars, without any ‘smearing’ of the audio, this mode gives stunningly transparent and natural recordings. It captures all the detail in the HF but without adding a zingy quality that some condensers can be prone to.

Aim Audio’s patent-pending output switching technology is a world first. Now for the very first time, you can easily swap between these two distinct types of output and choose exactly which style best suits your source, at source. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder why it’s not been done before!

lights out!Many mics are just plain darn hard to read when setting up on dark and moody stages or in studios, where you often want to get the best atmosphere for a performance. Aim Audio thought about how best to change this, so the LED backlit controls on INSPIRE make it easy to see exactly what settings the mic is set to, at a moment’s glance. They’re also completely powered by regular 48V Phantom Power, so no extra hardware is required!

Although LEDs are cool, not everyone will want them on all the time or have it potentially distract an artist from a performance. With that in mind, all of the controls can be easily dimmed to three levels or even turned off. This makes INSPIRE a perfect ‘invisible mic’ for video, calming studio environments or in live settings. You can also easily lock the buttons too, great if you want to stop performers from “fiddling” or to prevent accidental changes while moving the microphone’s position.

Ultra-versatileINSPIRE is equipped with 5 distinct Polar Pattens (Cardioid, Wide Cardioid, Super Cardioid, Omni and Figure-8) via the Patten Select Wheel. While for many sources the regular Cardioid mode (right in the middle of the wheel) will give the most direct and focused sound, it pays to try different patterns depending on what you wish to achieve sonically. Not only can choosing the right polar pattern help you to make better sounding recordings, but you can also get a less direct or natural tone with other patterns depending on your space or acoustics. Experimentation is encouraged and this gets even better when you use a pair of mics!

A little known secret with most multi-pattern mics, is that the polarization voltage supplied to the capsule usually takes a little while to settle down when you change the pattern. This is why the backlit LED in the INSPIRE polar pattern wheel will flash until the correct polarization voltage or switching settings have been reached, making it super handy when audibly testing what works best for your source at speed. When selecting a different pattern, the LED only takes a short time to settle, but only once the LED is steady, it indicates the optimum performance has been reached, so you can get the full benefit of hearing what setting sounds right for you and the source.

minimal noiseA perfect take can ruined because you didn’t spot the mic was peaking and causing input distortion. Despite the electronics of ESSENCE being capable of 140 dB + of internal headroom (that’s louder than a jet taking off above your head!), very many mic preamps are just not capable of either taking anywhere near that kind of level or even sounding great if they do. Which is why mics generally have pad options on them, to help reduce the output level. In addition, many interfaces, mic-preamps and even DAW meters don’t always show fast clipping peaks before they can irreversibly damage a take.

While the average source should not present an issue, loud amps, drums or even singers with the odd peaking transient can distort your input. So, a simple Peak LED Level meter was fitted, which will flash Orange when the level is approaching the ‘danger level’ and will go Red to show when you should use a Pad. The mic itself won’t be distorting, meaning you can turn this feature off if you are using a high-end input device. Even though INSPIRE should not distort internally at this level, as this is displayed at source it makes it way easier to set the -10 or -20 dB Pad controls and will help you make better distortion free recordings, no matter what kind of kit you are using. The mic also has switches for a Low Cut Filter at 80 Hz and a gentle Roll Off Filter at 110 Hz. These are useful for helping to reduce wind noise, close proximity effect or even vibration, assisting you to get the best sound possible for your recordings.

Do the switches belong on the front or rear?For a vocalist who wants to record themselves, having the switches right on the front would make the most sense, but if an engineer wants to control and see the settings or you want to record a guitar amp etc. the rear does make it much easier to maintain access. As INSPIRE has a highly matched dual capsule and a symmetrical acoustic design, it meant that you can simply switch between both sides and maintain the sonic signature, no matter which side is in use. Simple and effective, in any of the three Cardioid modes, the FRONT and BACK controls will switch and invert the entire orientation of the microphone. This means that all the controls practically will move from the front to the back of the microphone and/or vice versa, to best suit exactly how you want to use it!

easy setupINSPIRE is equipped with an integral direct-to-stand mount thread in the base of the microphone, which makes setting up in tight spaces a breeze. Aim’s custom capsule holder is also made from a superior rubberised Anti-Vibration material, meaning it will protect your takes from most knocks and bumps that could ruin a recording. However, for the absolute best shock-mounting experience, the INSPIRE + Pack includes ORBIT, a revolutionary patent-pending multi-position Shock Mount and the SENTRY magnetic Pop Filter, as part of the package.