M-Audio Solaris/Luna comparisons?

[Chris F]

Has anyone tried or used both enough to make a comparison between the sound of these two mics? I absolutely LOVE my Solaris for jazz double bass recording, and if I had $600 to toss around, I'd buy two more for grand piano. However, due to the nature of my music room setup, I pretty much need to use a pair of cardiod mics on the piano to avoid bleed. If the Luna sounds like a cardiod-only version of the Solaris, it would be a no-brainer purchase for the piano. Anybody used both?

No flame wars, please - I'm just looking for informed equipment observations Thanks in advance!

 

[whyseye]

Have you used the Solaris for vocals as well?
I've been curious about the Luna & Solaris both .... and as you said, if the Solaris handles vocals well, and Luna is a cardiod-only version, that's a total no-brainer for me!
I haven't been able to find much in the way of specs on either one, and haven't had the opportunity to get out and try to audition them yet.
Very curious, though.....

 

[Massive Master]

Used both, have a pair of Solarises (Solari?).

The Luna is just a whisker darker... I understand the diaphragm is considerably thicker, which may contribute to this (the Solaris is 3 microns - I *think* the Luna's is 5).

I thought the Luna sounded great, but just a bit less "airy" sounding than the Luna on cardioid.

 

[whyseye]

Excellent!

 

[Chris F]

Used both, have a pair of Solarises (Solari?).

The Luna is just a whisker darker... I understand the diaphragm is considerably thicker, which may contribute to this (the Solaris is 3 microns - I *think* the Luna's is 5).

I thought the Luna sounded great, but just a bit less "airy" sounding than the Luna on cardioid.

Thanks, MM - that's just the kind of reply I'm looking for. I don't suppose you've also used an SP B1 enough to compare it the Luna, have you? That's what I'm using for piano now, and while the recording quality is excellent, there's just a smidge of brightness in the upper mids that I'd like to try to get away from if I can afford it...the piano itself (1937 Baldwin 6'3" grand) is a tad bright itself even after about $3K in rebuilding, and I think the B1 is accentuating that a bit. When I try to EQ it out, it always seems to take the "air" out of the sound. So close, and yet so far!

 

[ljmaxx]

Has anyone tried or used both enough to make a comparison between the sound of these two mics? I absolutely LOVE my Solaris for jazz double bass recording, and if I had $600 to toss around, I'd buy two more for grand piano. However, due to the nature of my music room setup, I pretty much need to use a pair of cardiod mics on the piano to avoid bleed. If the Luna sounds like a cardiod-only version of the Solaris, it would be a no-brainer purchase for the piano. Anybody used both?

No flame wars, please - I'm just looking for informed equipment observations Thanks in advance!

Maybe this review on both mics will help you out. Good luck.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FGL/is_5_20/ai_114730656

 

[Chris F]

Maybe this review on both mics will help you out. Good luck.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FGL/is_5_20/ai_114730656

Thank you, that does help. I'm kind of in a quandary with the Solaris/Luna question and the SP B1/B3 question. I already own a Solaris and a B1. Both work well for stereo piano mic applications, but the Solaris sounds slightly better. But three times better? I dunno...kind of a diminishing returns thing going, as expected.

So I guess I'll need to choose between:

$100 - add a B1
$340 - B3 (x2)
$400 - Luna (x2)
$600 - Solaris (x2)

Probably the smart thing to do is to buy another B1 and see how I like it in x/y with the one I have, then move up when I can. There's also a store near here that I've bought a lot of stuff from lately that might let me try two Lunas out on a "return possible" basis.

Anyway, thanks for the help...if I get the Luna, I'll do a short review.

 

[sile2001]

Why would you need to buy 2 more Solaris mics? Couldn't you just buy 1 more and then have a stereo pair?

On a side note, the Solari D) rock as drum overheads! You would probably never guess from my sig that I really like my pair of them...

 

[notCardio]

Hey Chris

what's your signal chain & mic technique for jazz double bass?

 

[Chris F]

Why would you need to buy 2 more Solaris mics? Couldn't you just buy 1 more and then have a stereo pair?

On a side note, the Solari D) rock as drum overheads! You would probably never guess from my sig that I really like my pair of them...

No, I never would have guessed.

I would need two because I'm NOT giving up my Solaris for the double bass since it's quickly become my favorite DB mic, and the piano/guitar needs to be recorded simultaneously with the bass, and in stereo for imaging so the bass can sit in the middle. I gotta say, I've got more than a few M-Audio products by now, and have a hard time finding much fault with any of them, especially at their price point.

what's your signal chain & mic technique for jazz double bass?

Do you mean at home, or in the studio on the trio/quartet clips on my site? At home, I just place the Solaris in omni mode about 18" from the bass, slightly above the bridge and angled slightly toward my hands, then into the Tampa pre with no compression (I just like the pre for DB), then through the direct out of a Soundcraft M12 into a MOTU 1224, and from there into DP4.

If you mean the studio clips on my site, let me know which on you meant, and I think I can tell you the chain...it's WAY more expensive, though.

 

[Chris F]

Here's a clip of the Solaris and Luna mics. The bass is going through the Solaris into an M-Audio Tampa , and the two Lunas are x/y on the piano going through a DMP3. Everything is going through a MOTU 1224 into DP4.

N.B. - the piano sound is kind of whacked because I was messing with the EQ, and I darkened it a bit too much, I think. The bass is pretty much straight up how it sounds with a bit of hi-pass thrown in to save the speakers...I'm still pretty much a newbie at mixing.