I have a pair of Oktava MK-012s that I typically use as OHs. A few weeks ago, out of the blue, one of them just quit working so while in my quest to find a reputable repair person I remembered the Joly upgrades for Oktava mics. Long story short, I sent my pair off to him for the repair of one and upgrade of both.
Now, while I can't say that I've ever had any experience with the KM84s that the mod for these Oktavas is likened unto, I can say that after listening to before and after clips of my drums (again, in as OHs), the sound difference/quality is immensely better. They are much smoother and more defined IMO.

The entire experience with Michael and his wife (she manages accounts/shipping, etc.) was top notch and I would certainly recommend their services to anyone looking to upgrade their mics.

Just my $.02...best of luck.

sshack, post: 357275 wrote: I have a pair of Oktava MK-012s that I typically use as OHs. A few weeks ago, out of the blue, one of them just quit working so while in my quest to find a reputable repair person I remembered the Joly upgrades for Oktava mics. Long story short, I sent my pair off to him for the repair of one and upgrade of both.
Now, while I can't say that I've ever had any experience with the KM84s that the mod for these Oktavas is likened unto, I can say that after listening to before and after clips of my drums (again, in as OHs), the sound difference/quality is immensely better. They are much smoother and more defined IMO.

The entire experience with Michael and his wife (she manages accounts/shipping, etc.) was top notch and I would certainly recommend their services to anyone looking to upgrade their mics.

Just my $.02...best of luck.

thanks sshack for the input, I heard nothing but great things about his work. Can't wait to mod the pair. Happy Holidays bud.

What does it cost?

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.oktavamo…"]Award-winning microphone engineering from Michael Joly[/]="http://www.oktavamo…"]Award-winning microphone engineering from Michael Joly[/]

I've been considering doing these mods to some of the MXL mic's I started with back in the day. This year I bought Royers instead so I guess we'll wait and see about next year.

This is interesting. Could a person buy example and RODE NT1a and send it out and end up with a pretty sweet sounding mic comparable to a U87?

I'm always leary of claims to turn a low or mid level mic into a U87 or a C12 etc. I believe you will have a high quality mic when Joly is done possibly with similar characteristics to some other mic. Heck not all U87s sound like a U87 do they?

No, there can be differences, for sure!
Some time ago I got the impression my first U87 went a bit dull compared to the Brauner and ..rightoo...
Now, it is currently at Neumann's in Berlin for maintenance. Over the years some "patina" has soiled the membrane a bit and, I guess, some of the components might have gone off their specs.
It costs me about 500 $ and it is back in old glory for the next 20 years...

Big K, post: 357380 wrote: No, there can be differences, for sure!
Some time ago I got the impression my first U87 went a bit dull compared to the Brauner and ..rightoo...
Now, it is currently at Neumann's in Berlin for maintenance. Over the years some "patina" has soiled the membrane a bit and, I guess, some of the components might have gone off their specs.
It costs me about 500 $ and it is back in old glory for the next 20 years...

I'm a noob but still have I decent ears, but I can't truly hear the difference in these clips, but I bet being a seasoned pro I could probably feel the difference.
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.gearslut…"]OktavaMod RODE NT1a vs. '70's U87 - Page 11 - Gearslutz.com[/]="http://www.gearslut…"]OktavaMod RODE NT1a vs. '70's U87 - Page 11 - Gearslutz.com[/]

LOL...
have you been doing some heavy roadwork, lately?
;-)

Big K, post: 357444 wrote: LOL...
have you been doing some heavy roadwork, lately?
;-)

Let me rephrase, I'm a noob, and all you cats are the season pros that can feel the difference, or hear the difference (LOL)

Yeees, ...some of us can not only hear the grass grow, but also recognize the how many haulms there are.
I cannot do that, ..I am just able to detect if it is morning or afternoon when I hear them sprout..
;-)

Or it is just our freakin' good monitors that make the difference between those file perceptible...

Rainer, I'm sure you share the same as I, since we both hear cable already .. How is it possible that we can and others can't. Don't answer :tongue:

Good room allows you to be able to hear how good cable and monitors translate the audio. If you are missing anyone of these, you are simply not able to hear what others say they can. This post is a great example of how different things can sound in different environments . The difference between these two mics are not significant on my laptop in a poor acoustic environment using low end monitors.

And we read so much misinformation on uncontrolled forums. Manufacturers must be pulling their hair out.

Good topic.

audiokid, post: 357535 wrote: Rainer, I'm sure you share the same as I, since we both hear cable already .. How is it possible that we can and others can't. Don't answer :tongue:

Good room allows you to be able to hear how good cable and monitors translate the audio. If you are missing anyone of these, you are simply not able to hear what others say they can. This post is a great example of how different things can sound in different environments . The difference between these two mics are not significant on my laptop in a poor acoustic environment using low end monitors.

And we read so much misinformation on uncontrolled forums. Manufacturers must be pulling their hair out.

Good topic.

Fully agree, but it surely impressed me what Oren Waters had to say, considering he literally breathes and eats that mics through his career.

We just can't help it... we are aficionados when it comes to air vibs and sound...
;-)

I have listened to the files, once more, on my home PC, using its normal on-board audio output, and still there is a whole abyss between the sound of those mics to be heard.
Only on your LabTop speakers it can be well possible to "overlook" that, as you said.
Maybe, if one compares it to a SM57 it gets away any better... It is a pretty high aim to mod a mic to match and surpass an U87 or Brauner... and it is a steep, but foreseeable fall, as well, ..
I have no Rode mic and I am not biased on this company and I can agree to the fact that there are better sounding mics out there then an U87 ( VM-1, M147, ...) but this modded Rode is not amongst those.

Who ever voted the NT a better mic on GS has either no idea what a mic has to deliver or just not the equipment to hear it. The rest, about 90 % I guess, are just smart-asses, talking about a matter they haven't got the faintest idea about.

When someone says that a mic sounds "just like a U87" I have to roll my eyes. I assume that every engineer involved in making mics has had a U87 in pieces on his bench. There are tons of mics out there that were inspired by the U87 - some direct knockoffs, some just incorporating some of the basic ideas. None of them sounds "just like the U87." A lot of them are good mics. Some you might even like better than the 87. But material, manufacturing techniques, and quality control all matter - even if the differences are small.

OK, so I finally listened to the samples on my studio monitors. Couldn't hear the difference on my laptop speakers and I wanted to hear the "abyss." :wink: (Some say that Germans are given to understatement. Audio engineers tend not to be. [I'm fighting off the American tendency toward hyperbole here.])

There's a clear difference when listening on good speakers, but it helps to know what to listen for. The 87 has greater clarity and definition in the presence range and less hype at the very top. Still, the modded Rode is a pretty nice mic - especially at the price. My guess is that the high end hype is a big thing that drew votes on GS. I'd actually be more interested in hearing how it stacks up to other $600-$800 mics. There are a lot of good condensers in that price range and that would be the relevant comparison.

Ok, Bob
;-)

It was a smaller Abyss then the average guy on the street would define "Abyss".
But the sound has nothing to do with an U87. That was a bad comparison.
The NT and the modded version of t are quite usable mics for certain applications, though.

Yes, occasionally some understatement shines through with me from time to time ,too.
But I am in good hands with my Psycho Professor... He helps a lot to overcome that ..LOL...
Another 1200 sessions and from that aspect I will be the perfect candidate for a green card.
;-)

I never expect any mic I get in to really compare to my U87. If I wanted a 'better' mic I would have to spend a serious amount of cash to attain that. As always, I see a use with ANY mic I encounter but this apples to green apples comparison is futile walk down a slick plank over a creek full of gators...I thought it very Pro of Michael Joly to list the comparison as more votes for mic'A' as opposed to mic 'B' and not attempt to say that a modded mic is a 'better' mic. Theres a reason that those German mics cost more....and a lot of it isnt simply reputation. Those of you with quality listening environments and these mics know exactly what I'm talking about.

I will throw out the Bock mics as equal to the task.

Davedog, post: 357628 wrote: I never expect any mic I get in to really compare to my U87. If I wanted a 'better' mic I would have to spend a serious amount of cash to attain that. As always, I see a use with ANY mic I encounter but this apples to green apples comparison is futile walk down a slick plank over a creek full of gators...I thought it very Pro of Michael Joly to list the comparison as more votes for mic'A' as opposed to mic 'B' and not attempt to say that a modded mic is a 'better' mic. Theres a reason that those German mics cost more....and a lot of it isnt simply reputation. Those of you with quality listening environments and these mics know exactly what I'm talking about.

I will throw out the Bock mics as equal to the task.

Learning a lot, thanks all. I did realize from the beginning that it wasn't a mic he modded to compete with the 87, only a mod he did, and used the 87 as a comparison. For the money I think it would yield great results, at least good enough for the MP3 world we live in anyways.