M-AUDIO LUNA II
January 2009—Building on the feature set of the original Luna mic, the Luna II ($399.99) from M-Audio (www.m-audio.com) features solid-state, Class-A electronics and a 1.1-inch, 3-micron, gold-evaporated diaphragm with brass capsule assembly. Additional features include a -10dB pad and LF roll-off filter switch. The fixed-pattern cardioid condenser handles 130dB SPLs (140dB with pad) and weighs 1.4 pounds. Luna II ships in a wooden case and includes a heavy-duty shock-mount.
M-AUDIO PULSAR II
September 2007—The Pulsar II ($199) small-capsule condenser microphone from M-Audio replaces the company’s original Pulsar and features a ¾-inch-diameter, 6-micron Mylar evaporated-gold diaphragm that promises to deliver 2dB SPL over the model’s predecessor. It also features a -10dB switchable pad and 12dB/octave highpass filter. It offers max SPL of 144 dB at 0.5% THD (with pad engaged) and equivalent noise of 16 dBA. It is available individually or in matched sets, and ships with a wooden box, windscreen, mic clip and manual.
M-AUDIO NOVA
March 2005—M-Audio’s Nova cardioid condenser has a 1.1-inch evaporated-gold diaphragm mounted in a solid brass capsule, along with Class-A solid-state electronics for low noise/low distortion. Response is 20 to 18k Hz. M-Audio’s Pulsar is a medium-diameter capsule microphone optimized for recording acoustic instruments such as guitars, piano, strings, brass and woodwinds. Its 6-micron evaporated-gold diaphragm is mounted in a solid brass capsule and body. Class-A electronics round out the design.
M-AUDIO OCTANE
May 2004—The 8-channel Octane mic preamp from M-Audio is designed as a front end for any Lightpipe-compatible hard disk recorder. The $749.95 unit features an M-S matrix encoder, analog direct outs for each channel, word clock and 44.1/48kHz operation at 24-bit. I/O is balanced XLR and TRS; phantom power is switchable in groups of eight channels.
M-AUDIO LUNA
September 2003—Shown at Summer NAMM, M-Audio’s Luna mic is a
striking design, featuring a large lollipop-style top with a cardioid
1.1-inch condenser capsule. Peeking under the “stem,” we
were impressed to note its all-discrete, Class-A FET electronics.
Luna’s now shipping at $249/retail.
GROOVE TUBES STUDIO MICS
July 2002—Midiman is distributing a new line of Groove Tubes
studio condenser mics. The six different models include medium- and
large-diaphragm models (tube or FET). All have ultrathin,
evaporated-gold diaphragms and measure within ±1 dB of a standard
reference mic, so matched pairs are available at no additional cost.
Top of the new line is the GT66, a cardioid side-address design with
Class-A tube electronics, -10dB attenuation pad and a 75Hz
low-frequency roll-off switch. The GT67 adds multiple polar patterns,
while the GT55 Studio FET replaces the GT66’s tube with FET circuitry.
Other models include the GT57 Studio FET multipattern condenser, the
GT44 Studio Tube and the GT33 Studio FET. The cardioid GT44 and GT33
feature interchangeable capsules (omni or supercardioid).
