Reliable source for consistent Oktava MK-012s?

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:43 am

Everything I've read about Oktava's consistency scares me. Over and over I read that they're great mics when you're lucky enough to get good ones, and that you need to be picky about where you buy from to ensure that they're matched well and not duds. Apparently some retailers hand select each mic to ensure they only sell the good ones? Maybe I'm misinformed.

So, IF I can find a reliable source for a pair of 012s, I think I'll take the plunge. Can anyone list retailers I can trust? Specifically, how is OktavaMod? I'd prefer to get a modded pair if possible.

Thanks!

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:03 pm

Hi Danbronson -

Oktavas are a finicky bunch of mics, however, as you stated, finding a good one can certainly reward you. The questions I have to ask you are:

1 - are you really willing or needing to go through this process?
2 - What aspect about the modified ones appeals to you?
3 - In reference to question 2, are there any other mics which would fit this bill that would perhaps be more reliable?
4 - Ultimately, what's your intended use? Acoustic Guitar, hand percussion, overheads, orchestra, etc??

The reason I ask these things are there are plenty of mics out there which fall in a similar price range to the Oktavas that do not have such problems with pickiness. In addition, I think buying something modified or buying something with the intent of modifying it is on the silly side. IMHO, people should really only modify gear when they use it, know it and understand it and then come to terms with its limitations. Then, modification can be done with the specific intent of removing or minimizing those limitations. However, bear in mind, by removing or changing a products limitations, you're likely to introduce new ones as well.

All of that being said, have you considered Josephson, AT 4041/4051, AKG Blueline, Rode NT5/NT55?

Of course, here are the answers to your original questions.

The Sound Room and Oktava Mods are two of the only places I know of to get truly matched pairs of Oktavas. I've had only minor dealings with Oktava Mods but they seemed to be a good group of people and their stuff doesn't appear to be over priced (or at least not insanely priced).

I do have a single MK012 which I got from Guitar Center before they started selling the Chinese versions and I picked it out of about 10 others in total. It rarely gets used on anything simply because I have plenty of other mics, but when it gets used, I never think to myself "Gosh, I wish I didn't use it..." The great thing was, I got it for $29. (and yes, it's definitely the Russian one, not the chinese one.)

Cheers-
Jeremy

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:15 pm

US
http://www.oktava.com/
Europe
http://www.oktava-online.de/

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:38 am

Cucco wrote:

Hi Danbronson -

Oktavas are a finicky bunch of mics, however, as you stated, finding a good one can certainly reward you. The questions I have to ask you are:

1 - are you really willing or needing to go through this process?
2 - What aspect about the modified ones appeals to you?
3 - In reference to question 2, are there any other mics which would fit this bill that would perhaps be more reliable?
4 - Ultimately, what's your intended use? Acoustic Guitar, hand percussion, overheads, orchestra, etc??

The reason I ask these things are there are plenty of mics out there which fall in a similar price range to the Oktavas that do not have such problems with pickiness. In addition, I think buying something modified or buying something with the intent of modifying it is on the silly side. IMHO, people should really only modify gear when they use it, know it and understand it and then come to terms with its limitations. Then, modification can be done with the specific intent of removing or minimizing those limitations. However, bear in mind, by removing or changing a products limitations, you're likely to introduce new ones as well.

All of that being said, have you considered Josephson, AT 4041/4051, AKG Blueline, Rode NT5/NT55?

Of course, here are the answers to your original questions.

The Sound Room and Oktava Mods are two of the only places I know of to get truly matched pairs of Oktavas. I've had only minor dealings with Oktava Mods but they seemed to be a good group of people and their stuff doesn't appear to be over priced (or at least not insanely priced).

I do have a single MK012 which I got from Guitar Center before they started selling the Chinese versions and I picked it out of about 10 others in total. It rarely gets used on anything simply because I have plenty of other mics, but when it gets used, I never think to myself "Gosh, I wish I didn't use it..." The great thing was, I got it for $29. (and yes, it's definitely the Russian one, not the chinese one.)

Cheers-
Jeremy

Thanks for the thorough response! At this point, it's very inconvenient or even impossible for me to try all these mics out myself (specifically the Oktavas), so I'm relying heavily on information on the net to make my decisions. It's not ideal, but it's realistic.

So, to answer your questions, the modded ones appeal to me because they seem like an improvement on an already good mic. I'm hoping the mod can also improve the consistency from mic to mic as well. Maybe I'm getting the wrong impression? I have a MK-319 and I find it lacks detail in the high end, transients don't come out and it tends to smear detail while bloating the low end. The OktavaMod site seems to say their mods will help take this away. If the MK-012 is anything like that, I feel a mod would really help it. But of course, I'm just speculating as I've never used a 012. I think I'll send my 319 to OktavaMod to see what they can do with it before I pull the trigger on some SDCs.

I'm certainly open to other options, and I thank you for the suggestions. I'll have a look at them. Of the mics you mentioned, I've heard both unbelievable praise and strong discontent for the NT-5, so I'm not sure what to think about it. At some point, maybe I'll get a chance to do a shoot out. I'll be using these mics primarily for drum overheads and acoustic guitar in rock band and folk style settings. I'll give them a try on vocals, bass and everything else too. I'm just starting up, so they'll find a lot of use as I don't have very many mics to choose from yet.

Ultimately, I'm looking for a pair of mics that provide excellent detail in the high end, expose transients well, and take well to an EQ. An extended low end and warmth would be nice as well, but is not my main concern. I'm thinking about the $1000ish range for the pair. These mics will be a tool for me to learn with as well, since I'm not the most experienced recordist (but hey, we all start somewhere right?).

$29 for a MK-012 seems like an insane deal! At that price it would be a no-brainer. Thanks again for the response (GentleG as well)!

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:08 pm

danbronson wrote:

.... I've heard both unbelievable praise and strong discontent for the NT-5, so I'm not sure what to think about it....

I don't think that these results are that inconsistent when you understand where they are coming from. The NT-5s cost $220. Other typical price points for SDCs are $350, $500, $800, $1500. If Rode can build a mic for $220 that is competitive with the lower end of the scale (and a lot of people would argue that) you would expect rave reviews. But you would expect people who want the quality of the upper end of the range to be "discontented" with the Rode - they weren't content with the mics in the $350-500 range. I have a pair of NT-5s and a pair of NT-55s and use them in the same applications as you. I really encourage you to try the NT-5s. When I look at the possible upgrades in my studio and rank the costs and benefits, replacing these with better mics is way down the list.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:36 pm

Good point. I will look into the Rodes. Thanks for the response.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:57 pm

+1 for The Sound Room, and Oktava-Mod - The Sound Room for picking good mics, and Oktava-Mod for their modifications and/or improvements.

I recently purchased a pair of Russian made MK012s which were modified by Oktava-Mod. I haven't had the opportunity to try them yet. But this mic was once the rave of the recording world. However, the popularity of this mic seems to have greatly diminished in recent years... Not sure why. That may hurt resale if you decide to move on to another mic...

There are also optional heads you can attach that alter and expand its use even more. In addition to the usual -10dB pad, and differing pick-up patterns, there is a large diaphram Lomo head, which effectively turns the SDC into a LDC. All of which makes the MK012 more versatile than most SDC mics.

A great SDC which works well in many applications is the EV RE200. I especially like mine for acoustic guitar, and on guitar cabs (usually with a dynamic or LDC). It passes the jingling car keys and triangle tests, works on anything you'd expect a SDC mic to be used on. It is also quite consistent mic to mic.

Another seldom talked about but very versatile mic is the Crown CM700. I had a pair several years ago, and a friend talked me out of them for the right price (okay, I needed the cash... dammit!). They worked everywhere the EV RE200s do, with a slight difference in sound.

For the money, both are probably the best SDCs you could get (RE200 and CM700s). Listen first, however, is the lesson I can vouch for from personal experience - Rode SDC specifically...

I have a Rode NT4 twin head mic that I both love and hate (same capsule is on the NT5). It is a decent OH mic, and works well in a variety of applications. But for me, though detailed, it sounds kind of "dry."

Not sure how to articulate a microphone's "sound" very well (sound is kind of subjective anyway), but as an example, as a guitarist I prefer tube amps over solid state amps because the tubes/transformers give the amp's sound "life" that the SS just can't match (same is also mostly true of mic pre-amps). That is the difference for me with the Rode mics versus the Crown or EV mics. The EV is cleaner, clearer, more detailed, less smear-y, less "daunted" by sound pressure, though not as strong in the lows and low-mids. The Crown is not quite as clear, but has slightly stronger low-mids (and a switch to modify or roll off lows).

Ultimately, you have to please your ears (and accountant - your wife perhaps?). I'm just offering a couple decent alternatives. And, just my perspective, ears and opinions. YMMV.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:00 pm

Did I mention that I use dynamics more for OH than condensers? Sometimes just one!

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:49 pm

Thanks for another helpful response! Your comparison of the NT-5 to the other two (which I'll try to find) makes sense to me. And while "dry" doesn't necessarily sound all that bad to me, the comparison to a solid state amp to a tube amp does. Especially if I choose to go with a Sytek preamp, which is very clean/solid state sounding itself.

So many options...the more I research this stuff, the more I agree, I'm going to have to let my ears decide. Which kind of rules out the Oktavas since nowhere in my city carries them to my knowledge. Confused

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