I haven't heard either, but Shure is a long time and well respected microphone manufacturer and M-Audio just entered the marked like a year ago, so that may give you some idea. Just my opinion.

I think M Audio is an offshoot of MIDIMAN ... ???? I vote for the SHURE ... tried and true.. industry standard ... no brainer IMO..

Yeah Kurt, they used to be Midiman. They changed their name to M-Audio about 4 years ago. FWIW, i think M-Audio is a great comany that makes some soundcards of incredible value, I just don't know about their speakers or mics.

The Luna claims to be 'vintage' sounding. While I'm sure the Shure is more detailed and of better quality, the lo-fi sound of the Luna may be something I'd be more interested in. A quirky little mic may stick around longer then a mic that is easily replaced by something that just does a better job at a particular sound.

I heard some pretty good opinions on M-Audio Solaris mics..don't think they're too expensive either.

the luna is $200- the solaris $300- they've gotten some decent reviews in the magazines but so far no one "real" person in this forum has made any real world comment on them- I guess they haven't sold that many... or are our luna and solaris owners just silent?

This guy seems to have had a hands/ears on experience with solaris
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=117972

I think it would be interesting to hear from someone who has actually used both microphones.

-Duardo

Duardo, post: 98941 wrote: I think it would be interesting to hear from someone who has actually used both microphones.

-Duardo

Better late than never. i own both, and think that the Lunas sound just like the cardiod setting on the Solaris. Here's a soundfile of a stereo pair where the instruments are set up about 4 feet from the mics. It's an mp3 file, but still...

chrisfitzgeraldmusic.com/mp3/youdon'tknow.mp3

In short, I like them a lot. Since I'm more of a player than a recording guy, I feel that any advantage I might get from more expensive mics would be nullified by my lack of experience/technique at recording.

Thanks for that review. I think in the seven years since those posts were made the quality of the M-Audio mics has been established. They are good selections at decent prices. They are NOT, however , found at those introductory prices of seven years hence.

By "both" microphones the previous poster was referring to the comparison mic, the Shure KSM 27 and not two of the M-Audio mics.

Oops - sorry about that. I've used the Shure in the studio but I don't own one.