I recently got to try out M-Audio's new large- diaphragm condenser mics. The two are well constructed and moderately priced (though not as dirt cheap as the many bargain-basement Chinese condensers out there). The Luna mic is the simplest of the two. It has a fixed cardioid pattern and lacks the roll-off and pad switches available on the variable-pattern Solaris. Both of these mics have a definitive, rather elegant, lollipop look to them, which makes them easy to spot compared to their look-a-like competition. I used them as drum overheads at home, and though they may not have the warmth and character of your high-priced tube condensers, they certainly will stack up to and surpass many other $300- $500 condensers out there. I also used the Luna to do a last-minute vocal track for an album on which the rest of the vocals were recorded with a Soundelux U99 and a Neumann U 67. The Luna compared favorably, though it had a slight lack of midrange richness evident in the U's. (But imagine the price difference!) The M-Audio mics have a pretty natural high-end compared to the hyped highs of some of their peers. M-Audio has a knack for making good-sounding gear and keeping it in the price range of the project-studio owner. If you are looking for a solid, large-diaphragm condenser, give these mics a serious listen. (Luna $250 MSRP, Solaris $350; www.m-audio.com)
Microphones | No. 27
C-1, C-3
by Ed Pettersen
You've probably heard something already about all the inexpensive mics being manufactured in China, with the idea being that they capture the magic and essence of the classic German mics at a fraction...