Advice for a recorder

Rick R said:
"I've read some good stuff about the Oktava M012. Is there a better bang for buck mic?"
Probably not, but still not a good mic for budget recorders, preamps and inexperienced users IMO. Also search and read about Oktava's (former?) quality control issues, 'counterfeits' handling and 'wind' noise, issues, low output (sensitivity), optional modifications, ect.
Can it sound good? Yes, in the right hands, with a good quality preamp and/or recorder.
Click to expand...

Thanks Rick. So would it be a decent combo with a preamp like the MM-1? Or would you recommend a better mic for that pre?

Let me know. Thanks!
 
There are better mics for much more $$.. depends on your budget.. The MM1 is good, metering could be an issue though.
Many folks including myself purchased Oktavas from the 'The Sound Room' who 'hand picks' and meticulously goes over the mic prior to sale.. of course, one pays for this service. The (third-party) 'Dorcey' type mods also make it quieter (self noise), and help some with the inherent infrasonic issues and overall tonality. The mods however do not address the low output significantly.
The next step up in quality IMO is the Audio Technica 4053 or the Audix SCX hyper, but they are around $600 (USD street), and one still needs to budget $80-$100 for a good shock mount and wind accessories. (Yes, even for indoors)
 
You will also likely need a quiet boom pole, nice suspension mount, and BBG/dead cat for this mic, and will probably also want to engage a low cut filter.
 
I like the Oktava mics a lot, but Ricks points are real. Self noise I have not seen as an issue, and I have a friend who uses a pair as backups for her Schoeps. But lie some other mics (Schoeps come to mind) they are really sensitive to handling noise and wind of any kind.

They would not be my first choice of an inexperienced operator.

The QA issues don't exist anymore for the Russian mics, at least not that I have heard about. THey were an issue fifteen years ago or so when they were first getting imported. The biggest issue now is the Chinese knock offs that are around. They are supposedly not bad mics but not what you though you were getting. The Sound Room has very good prices on the Oktavas and they (used to anyway) offer a discount for DVX members. However the price of the Russian mics has gone up in comparison to what's out now so while they were a fantastic buy when they came out they are not a lot cheaper than other comparable mics now.

The good news is that the bottom of the market $ wise has gone way up in quality.

It really depends on what your aim is and how much $ you are willing to throw at it.

Since you are using an inexperienced sound guy (he wouldn't have suggested doing production with the pre he did if he had done much/ any production work) you might want to look at more forgiving mics.

An ugly duckling that I have a number of is the CAD CM217. These were designed for drum over heads and they are not full spectrum. They are also cardioid. But that could be a plus in your situation. They roll off the bottom a bunch so very little handling noise, cardioid so you have to get closer but they are much more forgiving with off axis placement and they will give you more "room", which if you are not doing a real sound post could also be a plus. They are very small and very light, and they go for about $50 a pair. Sometimes a lot less. I just got a pair for $35.

Are they great production sound mics?, no. But their "flaws" may actually mitigate some of your inexperienced sound guy flaws, and you get a spare or a plant mic for free. I probably wouldn't use them for music recording, except maybe for the overheads they were designed for, but you are trying to record dialog so you don't want the lows, mostly, and many folks will stick a rolloff at 80 anyway. I have done shows with a cardioid and depending on what you are doing they are fine.

The biggest plus is they are not a lot of money and they are decent. The next step up is probably at around $300 a pop and a really good hyper (I would probably put the Oktava's at "pretty good") is going to start in around $600 and quickly get's into the +$1,000 area.
 
So guys, from what I've learn in this thread here's what I'll do:

1 - Buy a Audix SCX1 wich really seems like a great hyper. At least, from what I've read, less handling noise issues with this one...
2 - Buy a MM-1 next week from local Sound Devices dealer in my country. It's a bit expensive, especially considering that my sound guy already has a preamp (blue tube v2), but everybody here agrees it's not suited for film production, right? That's all I need to know :)

3 - I already have a boom pole and a dead cat, but if you have a good recommendation for a nice and quiet suspension pole, please let me know :)

Thank you all for your help!
 
Thanks! How does the Audix SCX 1 compare to the AT 4053? Cause I'm thinking of buying the Audix. I don't mind spending a bit of money (if I had more, I'd spend more) on a good mic and the SCX1 and the 4053 fit my budget.

And what would be a good shock mount for these mics?

Thanks!
 
"And what would be a good shock mount for these mics?"
> the Rycote InVision shockmount is 'affordable' and highly regarded. The new K-Tec Nautilus is worth consideration as well.
I have an InVision-7 which works very well with all of my 19mm mics, expect the rarely used long-shotgun. My pre-InVision Softie works adequately for that.
 
Thanks Rick. I chose to go for the Audix SCX 1 (just ordered it). And I'm getting the MM-1 tomorrow. Does the Audix also performs well outdoors or should I use my AT8035 for outdoor shots? And for something completely different, could any of these two mics perform well in a live concert on a pub (not from the soundboard)?

Thanks!
 
David Evans said:
Does the Audix also performs well outdoors or should I use my AT8035 for outdoor shots? And for something completely different?
Click to expand...
Shotguns are generally preferred for exteriors. That doesn't mean you can't try something else.
"Could any of these two mics perform well in a live concert on a pub (not from the soundboard)"
- A matched stereo pair can be nice in conjunction with a close multi-mic'd board mix. Depends on the music type, room, ect., ect.
 
David Evans said:
Thanks Rick. I chose to go for the Audix SCX 1 (just ordered it). And I'm getting the MM-1 tomorrow. Does the Audix also performs well outdoors or should I use my AT8035 for outdoor shots? And for something completely different, could any of these two mics perform well in a live concert on a pub (not from the soundboard)?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You will like the Audix SCX1. I have one and use it everyday...great mic! I use it with a SD MixPre D.
 
David Evans said:
How does the Audix SCX 1 compare to the AT 4053?
Click to expand...


watchdrama8jm.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top