M-AUDIO LUNA
Feb 1, 2004 12:00 PM, BY ROBERT HANSON
M-Audio is looking to rule the world of music production. In just a few short years, the company's product line has expanded from a couple of MIDI interfaces to everything from studio monitors and A/D interfaces to sound libraries and microphones. One of its latest additions, the Luna condenser mic, is designed to become the plug-and-play microphone for the home-studio crowd.
The Luna sports a unique design that falls somewhere between a classic condenser and something left over from the space race of the 1960s. It features a flattened mesh grille that protects a 1.1-inch evaporated-gold diaphragm and a brass capsule. The chassis is made of thick aluminum and features a smooth matte finish. Overall, the mic feels extremely sturdy, and a quick glimpse inside reveals a hefty frame that is designed to keep the internal components securely in place. The Luna also ships with a shockmount and a road case, making it a complete package for a mic in this price range.
PLUGGING IN
Sporting a flat response between 20 Hz and 20 kHz and designed to handle SPLs as high as 130 dB, the Luna is intended for use in any application in which a large-diaphragm condenser is required. Although it almost goes without saying, the mic requires a 48V phantom-powered preamp. The recommended uses for the Luna include everything from vocals and acoustic guitars to guitar cabinets and drum overheads. The mic is also available in matched pairs, making it a perfect choice for drum applications and stereo miking.
I first tested the Luna on male vocals. Using a dbx 376 channel strip with the EQ set completely flat, I tracked a number of passes into my Emagic Logic rig. The Luna produced a clear and uncolored sound with no noticeable bump in any of the mid or high-mid frequencies. I detected slightly more low-end presence than I normally like, but a little highpass filtering kept things in check. On electric guitar, the Luna was excellent at capturing the sound of an overdriven Marshall 2×10, maintaining the punchiness of the sound without adding any unnecessary harshness.
On drums, I was again quite pleased with the Luna. Using a matched pair as overheads, I engaged in some John Bonham — style minimalist drum tracking. Setting the Lunas up on either side of an acoustic drum kit, I aimed them both toward the snare and left about 18 inches of air between the mics and the tops of the cymbals. Adding a Groove Tubes GT55 in front of the kit, I tracked some passes to ADAT through the stock preamps on a small Behringer mixer. Although that wasn't the most ideal signal path, the results of those sessions were totally usable, and the Lunas really shined. The cymbals were clear and present while not overly bright; the snare came through with a punchy and commanding character; and the toms had the appropriate low-end thump.
The only application for which I wasn't totally sold on the Luna was acoustic guitar; there, the mic sounded just a little flat for my taste. I didn't feel that the high-end crispness that I expect from a steel-stringed acoustic was quite there. But if you're looking for a throatier, more bottom-heavy sound out of an acoustic, the Luna would work fine.
STELLAR SPECIMEN
All in all, the Luna is an excellent package. Compared with other mics in its price range, such as the Rode NT-1 or the AKG C 2000 B, the Luna eschews the brighter, vocal-oriented sound of other entry-level condensers in favor of a flat, uncolored character that makes it suitable for a wider variety of applications. If you're shopping for your first condenser or looking to add a matched pair of quality mics to your collection, the Luna should be high on your list.
Product Summary
M-AUDIO
LUNA > $249.95
Pros: Extremely versatile recording mic. Sturdy chassis. Sleek design.
Cons: None.
Contact: tel. (626) 445-2842; e-mail info@m-audio.com; Web www.m-audio.com
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