Oktava MK012A when to use the -10db module

kurtmo

kurtmo

Eats with 2 Fists
I'm kinda new to the world of audio. I got an Oktava MK012A last year. I never use the -10 capsule that came with it. When is it appropriate? What's the advantage? Thanks!

BTW, where do people go to get a reasonably priced boom pole?

Kurtmo
 
when the level from your mic is overloading the preamp stage - gun shots , drums and cet , you will not need it for voice recording if it is not scream contest :-)
and it is not capsule , just an attenuator circuit between the capsule and the preamp
 
That's kinda what I thought. Didn't think I needed any signal attenuation. just was curious if it improved SNR in some situations. Sounds like it just helps avoid clipping.

Thanks!
 
You have to remember that this -10dB pad only helps prevent mic preamp clipping if the pre can not take high signal levels. It does not help if the mic capsule itself clips mechanically from too much SPL.
 
kurtmo said:
just was curious if it improved SNR in some situations.
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No, but using it when you shouldn't can definitely make it worse, since it will require more preamp gain to make up for the 10db reduction of the mic's output, which will usually add noise, likely in the form of hiss. Pads reduce gain in a linear way, affecting the entire frequency range equally, so there's no noise reduction benefit, ever.

Many mics also include hi-pass, aka "low-cut" filters though, which are useful for reducing rumble, wind noise, proximity effect "popping" and other excess low frequency situations. Wind and popping are better handled by physical pop filters, wind socks and the like though.

As others have said, you'll only need a pad for situations where you're dealing with VERY hot sources like close miked drums, electric guitar amps, guns, explosions etc. When your mic preamp gain is backed WAY off and it's still distorting, that's when you need a pad. They're often found on the preamps themselves as well.

The fact that the Oktava's pad is inserted between the capsule and the body suggests that it's intended to avoid clipping of the mic's own internal circuitry, which a preamp pad couldn't help. Good idea to keep that baby handy, because it's likely to be your best first defense against excess level when you need it.
 
so that -10db piece is not to be used to record normal dialog audio? I was told that it's a filter nessessary for reducing noise when recording dialog
 
HerzogisGod said:
so that -10db piece is not to be used to record normal dialog audio? I was told that it's a filter nessessary for reducing noise when recording dialog
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You were misinformed. Happens all the time.

Think of a pad as a level control, nothing more. It reduces the mic's output level at an early stage to prevent distortion.

I repeat: pads have *nothing whatsoever* to do with reducing noise. Ever.
 
ah!!! all this time I thought i had the -10db capsule. What i have is the low cut pass module. I bought the "film edition" from Ken Heaton over at Oktava USA. he sells these film edition Oktava's

OK. I feel better now :)
 
HerzogisGod said:
ah!!! all this time I thought i had the -10db capsule. What i have is the low cut pass module. I bought the "film edition" from Ken Heaton over at Oktava USA. he sells these film edition Oktava's

OK. I feel better now :)
Click to expand...


For most dialog (unless it's a deep bass voice like James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman) there is very little energy in the low frequencies in the speech itself. OTOH, handling noise, wind noise, and other nasties often have a lot of energy in the low bass, often a deceptive amount that affects the electronics even though it's not all that perceptable to the ear. So a low-cut filter on the mic output or preamp input can reduce those noises without intruding very much into the timbre of the voice itself.
 
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