Anyone Use AKG300+CK98 (Blue Line) Shotgun with DVX?

[Tainted]

BACKGROUND: I already own a stereo pair (2x) of AKG300 bodies with omni, card, and hyper caps (Blue Line) that I use to audience tape music in stereo. I was contemplateing purchasing a CK98 Shotgun Cap for use with the DVX instead of going out and buying something more expensive like the 4073a. My thought is that I could get a decent shotty for a reasonable price because I already own a body I can use with it.

QUESTIONS: Has anyone out there in DVX land ever used the CK98 cap before? How did it perform compare to other alternatives? How is the physical size of the mic for use as an on-cam shotgun? Does this seem like a viable alternative for a hobbiest like myself, or should I just blow some more money and get the 4073a?

Thanks!

 

[Jeremy Ordan]

QUESTIONS: Has anyone out there in DVX land ever used the CK98 cap before?

Yes, I used to own the CK98 & CK93

How did it perform compare to other alternatives?

Depends on what the other alternatives you are comparing it with are. Remember you're talking about a $400 shotgun (just the cap). If you compare it with a Rode NTG1 or NTG2 then the CK98 is an excellent choice giving a more realistic sound replication throughout the range. If you compare it with a Sennheiser ME66 then you get better sound quality coupled with good rear rejection, levels that don't kill the DVX, and good office axis rejection. If you compare it with a 4073a from Audio Technica than the Audio Technica sounds much more professional in the low ranges whereas the AKG is going to sound a little thinner (but still warmer than the ME66). The 4073a will offer more significan't off axis rejection, better rear rejection, and a significantly tighter pick up pattern. Now if you compare it with a Sennheiser MKH416 you are going to see the AKG lacking the sound characteristics, the off axis rejection, and most importantly the tight pick up pattern.

I liked the AKG but it was a little sloppy with pick up and once I A/B'd it with the 4073a that was the right shotgun for my tastes.

How is the physical size of the mic for use as an on-cam shotgun?

From memory, a little longer than the 4073a and a lot shorter than the Audio Technica 815b. It will work fine for camera mounted.

Does this seem like a viable alternative for a hobbiest like myself, or should I just blow some more money and get the 4073a?

That is a personal preference question I cannot answer for you. For me, seeing as how I do not get paid for my sound work but consider myself an enthusiast and someone who really enjoys the journey to getting good sound, the AKG had a lot of things I liked, none more so than the modular design. Once I compared it to the price and sound difference of the AT4073a then it was pointless not to spend the extra $100 for that much of a difference in price/performance. Since you already have the SE300b unit the CK98 is a great choice, but in my opinion, you will want something that will give you better sound relatively shortly.

The one question that you didn't ask is the build quality on the CK98. From the pictures you can see that it is made of metal and looks pretty rugged. From my experience with it, and remember, I'm a huge advocate of this mic, the build quality wasn't as strong as it looked. I much more prefered the 4073a or my 416. The Blueline series served me well, and I really think that for a good amount of people seeking adequate sound it will serve. That being said, I believe that an Oktava / AT4073a combination sounds better, performs better, and costs less. I sold my Blueline for more than $200 more than I paid to someone who really wanted it and didn't want to wait on a special order, so it financed a lot of gear for me. I think it's a great microphone set up, but there are just other setups I prefer now.


I hope this helps you somewhat.

-Jeremy

 

[Tainted]

Very, very helpful info. Thanks for taking the time to write that up!

I might summarize a few things to see if I have (your opinion) right. First, it's no match for a $1,000 shotgun, but it performs an par with or better than the Rode 1/2 and the ME66 (which seems like the mic everyone uses in the field). It also sounds like it puts out reasonable levels that the DVX can handle fine and it'll camera mount without causing any issues. All what I was hoping/expecting.

However, considering that I already own a 300 body (sunk cost) and can buy the ck98 cap for only $380, it sounds like you feel that paying an extra $170 for the 4073a (using B&H prices as a reference) is worth it -- even though if I had to buy the body too, these two mics are a little more similar in price.
You put the 4073a ahead of the CK98, which is good to know (I know this is just one man's opinion, so no worries, trust me I'll form my own opinion).

Your take on 4073a/Oktava is interesting, but for me, I already own two 300s with a load of caps, so that is sunk at this point. It's more about getting a shotty. Buying the 4073a also gives me the added advantage that if I am using the 39x's to record a band, I can still have my shotty handy (although I own other mics too, so this isn't a big deal either), but something to consider.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts, they were definately helpful...

 

[Jeremy Ordan]

OK, this is just my opinion, but a while back I was looking to upgrade my sound set up and originally went with the CK98 & CK93 combination. I was very happy with it for a while and thought it performed well for a while. Then I got my hands on an Oktava when my SE300b went dead and I sent it in for repair. The Oktava impressed me like no other mic I have used. From that point I was able to borrow a 4073a from a friend. The 4073a really does live up to the hyper that some members here on the board have claimed. It is a true professional quality microphone that delivers exactly where it needs to and sounds great.

Ultimately the only way to talk about microphones is to compare them with a counterpart. I've already compared a bunch of models, but I would hardly call the ME66 or the NTG professional standard field microphones. If you want to compare with a professional standard field microphone then compare it with the only professional standard microphone I listed above, the MKH416. Now, true, we're comparing a $350 cap with a $1000 shotgun microphone, but in any category, you will find that the 416 out performs the CK98. Here is the best way I can break this down. If we're talking about a long line of microphones there is about three inches of difference between the MKH416 and the 4073a. On the same line there is about 10 feet worth of difference between the CK98 at the ME66. There is 9 feet of difference between the CK98 and the 4073a. Hope that sort of explains in a weird way the difference and where you're money is really going with these mics.

If it was my money and I already had what you had, then I would get the 4073a or search Ebay and get a 416t used. Once you hear the difference between the 4073a and the CK98 there is no way that you cannot want the 4073a. It is really just that good of a microphone (and by nature I'm not a fan of Audio Technica as a brand).

I hope this somewhat helps, but if I was unclear please let me know.

-Jeremy

EDIT:

Go through Location Sound and you can get the 4073a for $500. You're looking at a cost difference of $120 and that is the best spent $120 you can invest if sound is a priority for you.

Once again, just my opinion.

-Jeremy (again)