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Lighthearted blog copy for quirky, boutique microphone brand

What Happened in Vegas?

Letting the team loose in Las Vegas would normally be cause for concern, but on this occasion it turned out to be a gamble that paid off.

We’re exhibiting at InfoComm 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s a vast, tech-heavy show packed with IT, AV, AI and just about every other acronym you can imagine. Against that backdrop, the Aston range of all-analogue tools for musicians, producers and broadcasters proved to be something of a calm oasis.

Visitors had the chance to get hands-on with Apex, Aston’s first handheld performance microphone, featuring a built-in preamp and selectable voicings. Also on show was the award-winning Stealth, now available with a custom Side Mount as part of the new Stealth Broadcast bundle. Rounding out the line-up were established favourites including the Origin and Spirit large-diaphragm condensers.

It’s been fantastic catching up with old friends, making plenty of new ones, and having so many great conversations on the stand.

With a bit of luck, the team will be too exhausted to hit the casinos later… but this is Vegas.

Gareth Southgate’s Selection Headache

Here’s England manager Gareth Southgate using one of three Aston Stealth microphones to share his thoughts on leadership, success, and the unique pressures that come with operating at the very top of football’s pyramid.

The Stealths were deployed by producer Tom Griffin for an episode of The High Performance Podcast, in which Southgate was interviewed by broadcaster Jake Humphrey and leading organisational psychologist Professor Damian Hughes. The series explores the experiences, motivations, and leadership qualities of high-achieving individuals — whether they’re leading teams, businesses, or, in this case, a nation.

By guiding England to the 2018 World Cup semi-final and the Euro 2020 final (played in 2021), Southgate has become England’s most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey’s historic World Cup triumph in 1966. Unlike Sir Alf, however, Southgate has had to make his squad selections and tactical decisions under the relentless glare of modern scrutiny — with millions of armchair managers on social media convinced they’d do the job better.

Debates continue to rage over 3-5-2 versus 4-2-3-1, which of England’s glittering attacking options should support Harry Kane, and whether Luke Shaw or Kieran Trippier should start at left-back. But for us, the really pressing question isn’t tactical at all.

Which of the Stealth’s “back four” voice settings did Gareth Southgate select to capture those famously calm, considered, and eloquent responses?

History/lifestyle article for Treecare company

Famous Trees of Kent

Kent is home to some of England’s most remarkable and historic trees, many of which have become local landmarks with fascinating stories attached to them.

The St Lawrence Lime, Canterbury

The St Lawrence Cricket Ground in Canterbury was once home to a remarkable 27-metre-high lime tree known as the St Lawrence Lime. Positioned inside the boundary of the cricket pitch, the tree was so prominent that special rules were created for matches played there. Any ball that struck the tree was automatically scored as a four, and batsmen could not be caught out from a rebound.

Although its precise age was unknown, the tree was believed to be at least 150 years old. Sadly, in 2005, extreme high winds caused the tree to split in two, bringing its long life to an end. This outcome was not entirely unexpected; the lime had been diagnosed with heartwood fungus in 1999 and was not expected to survive for more than another decade.

The Majesty Oak, Fredville Park

The Pedunculate Majesty Oak in Fredville Park, Nonington, is one of the largest oak trees in Britain and is widely regarded by tree enthusiasts as the country’s most impressive oak. Although its exact age is unknown, experts estimate it to be more than 1,000 years old, making it a living witness to a millennium of history.

The Knole Park Oaks and the Origins of Sevenoaks

The oak trees of Knole Park are closely linked to the town of Sevenoaks, whose name derives from a long and often inaccurately told legend. Over the centuries, various groups of oak trees have stood in the area, many of which were lost to storms and age.

Seven oak trees were planted at the nearby Vine Cricket Ground, six of which were famously destroyed during the Great Storm of 1987. Although ceremonial replacements were planted, six of these were later vandalised. Today, nine oak trees from different eras stand at the site, reflecting the town’s enduring association with these iconic trees.

The Scotney Castle Hornbeam, Lamberhurst

The 600-year-old hornbeam at the National Trust’s Scotney Castle near Lamberhurst is another of Kent’s arboreal treasures. In 2017, it was shortlisted for the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year award, ultimately losing out to the Gilwell Oak in Epping Forest.

Hornbeam trees, which resemble beech, are known for their distinctive twisted trunks. In centuries past, their leaves were believed to possess healing properties, adding to the tree’s historic and cultural significance.

Technical copywriting for Audio brand website

Stereo Microphone Techniques: A Practical Guide

When captured and used carefully, stereo recordings can dramatically open up your mixes and often make the difference between a good track and a great one.

Experimenting with the placement of two microphones can be both fun and rewarding, but there are a few important pitfalls to be aware of. Using different microphone models can make it difficult to achieve a balanced, cohesive sound, while placing microphones at different distances from the sound source can introduce phase issues. Phase cancellation occurs when left and right waveforms partially oppose one another, resulting in a thin or hollow sound.

Although some phase problems can be corrected during mixing, it’s always better to capture clean, coherent audio at the source. A simple way to check for phase issues is to listen to your recording in mono. If elements of the sound become weak or disappear altogether, conflicting waveforms are likely present.

If you’re new to stereo recording, the following three techniques are widely used and make excellent starting points—especially when used with a matched pair of identical microphones.

X/Y Stereo Microphone Technique

The X/Y technique is one of the most commonly used stereo setups. It employs two identical microphones positioned at right angles to one another, with their capsules aligned as closely as possible. This coincident placement minimises phase issues and ensures strong mono compatibility.

Directional microphones with good off-axis rejection tend to work best in this configuration. Within the Aston range, the Starlight small-diaphragm condenser or the Stealth dynamic microphone are both well suited. As these microphones offer multiple voicings, ensure both are set identically to maintain tonal consistency.

X/Y provides a focused and stable stereo image rather than an exaggerated sense of width, though adjusting the angle between the microphones allows some control over the stereo spread.

A/B Stereo Microphone Technique

Also known as the spaced pair, the A/B technique uses two microphones pointing towards the sound source, positioned some distance apart—typically between 1 and 3 metres, depending on the source and the desired stereo width.

Cardioid microphones offer a more focused stereo image, while omnidirectional microphones capture more room ambience. A/B can deliver a pleasing sense of space, but increasing the distance between microphones also increases the likelihood of phase and level discrepancies. Careful placement and mono compatibility checks are particularly important with this technique.

Mid/Side Stereo Microphone Technique

The Mid/Side (M/S) technique offers a unique advantage: full control over stereo width after recording. It also avoids significant phase issues, as the microphone capsules are positioned in very close proximity.

This method requires:

One cardioid microphone (the “Mid”), facing the sound source
One figure-of-eight microphone (the “Side”), positioned perpendicular to the source, capturing sound from the left and right

While the microphones can be different models, using two identical multi-pattern microphones—such as the Aston Spirit—ensures consistent tonal character and simplifies level matching.

To decode the M/S recording in your DAW:

Pan the cardioid (Mid) microphone to the centre.
Duplicate the figure-of-eight (Side) track.
Pan one Side track hard left and the other hard right.
Phase-reverse one of the Side tracks.
Group or bus the two Side tracks so their levels can be adjusted together.

The resulting stereo image is created by combining centre + left and centre + right. By adjusting the level of the Side channels relative to the Mid, you can precisely control the width of the stereo field—from narrow and focused to wide and immersive.

Pretty cool, right?

Blog article for Motoring Solicitors website

Use of Mobile Devices While Driving – What You Need to Know

Tougher penalties for a dangerous offence

Using a mobile phone while driving is one of the most dangerous distractions on the road. Government research shows that drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a collision when using a mobile phone, and reaction times while texting are twice as slow as those of a drink driver.

Despite these risks, the problem is getting worse. According to the RAC, the percentage of drivers who admit to using a handheld phone while driving rose dramatically from 8% in 2014 to 31% by September 2016. During the same period, the number of drivers admitting to texting or posting on social media while driving increased from 7% to 19%.

The law and the penalties

The use of handheld mobile devices while driving has been illegal since 2003. However, in response to rising offences and increased road safety concerns, the government has introduced harsher penalties.

Drivers caught using a handheld phone now face:

A £200 fine
6 penalty points on their licence

For drivers who passed their test within the last two years, this will result in an automatic loss of licence. In addition, a conviction can lead to significantly increased insurance premiums.

When the law applies

The law applies even if:

You are stopped at traffic lights
You are stationary in traffic or a queue
The engine is running

The purpose of use is irrelevant. Making or receiving calls, texting, checking social media, or using a map or navigation app on a handheld device can all result in prosecution.

When handheld use is permitted

You may only use a handheld phone if:

The vehicle is safely parked with the engine off, or
You need to call 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency, and it is unsafe or impractical to stop

It is also important to note that passengers supervising learner drivers can be prosecuted for using a mobile phone while the vehicle is being driven.

Hands-free devices

Hands-free use, such as voice-controlled calls or navigation systems, remains legal. However, drivers can still be prosecuted if it can be shown that using a hands-free device caused distraction and affected their ability to drive safely.

Need legal advice?

If you are facing prosecution for using a mobile phone while driving, or for any other motoring offence, contact XXX for friendly, expert legal advice.