AT4073a & Oktava MC012 hyper vs. AKG

EA_Cru_2002

EA_Cru_2002

Active member
From what I've been reading, it seems that I'm gonna need at the very least two mics. One for indoors, one for out. So I am wondering if people with experience with these mics can tell me what's a better deal?

Should I pick up an AT4073a for outdoors and a Oktava MC012 with hypercardiroid cap for indoors?

or

Should I buy something like that AKG which is a modular system? I'm not too familair with the AKG since i get 90% of all my audio information from here and the AKG isn't talked about as much. Is there an AKG line and caps you would recommend that will be a better value than those two mics mentioned above?

P.S. the reason why I'm debating on not going with the AT4073a and the Oktava, even though I hear rave reviews about them, is because I believe for both systems, I'm gonna have to buy a seperate mount and windscreen. With the AKG I could just have one right?
 
Oh yeah, and for the AKG line, I was thinking of the Blue Line series with the AKG SE300B with the CK 93 (hyper card for indoors) and CK 98 (short shotgun for outdoors). I also read there's a way to make it a long shotgun or was I just imaging things? Also where is the best place/price to get the AKG mics?
 
You can use one shockmount for everything listed above... but you'll need different windsreens.

Something like the Rycote BBG/Jammer is the best possible value for the performance for the smaller mics... The 19/20mm BBG will fit the Oktava and the AKG ck93... but you'll need a specific softie or blimp for the 4073a and ck98.

In either case you have two different mics, even if one of 'em is modular... in the end you'll have the option of a little mic or one that's twice as long... so different windscreens will be needed.

I wonder if AKG would loan me a Blue ck93 and ck98? I'd love to do a showdown of this combo... I'm confident that the ck93 would beat the Oktava fairly easily... but I don't know about the ck98 over the 4073a.

This is being discussed in another thread and we need somebody that has experience with the ck98... but I can tell you that it's just a single length.

The higher-end 480b/ck69 is the modular PS and cap combo that can be two different length shotguns. In the specs it seems like the ck69 is actually two DIFFERENT shotgun caps, but it's NOT... it's a short gun with an optional length of interference tube which turns it into a long shotgun... for something so simple it works GREAT.

If you're really drawn to a modular setup then I doubt you'll ever regret getting the ULS mic system... email cavell at rvacanada dot com for current pricing They rock for AKG high-end stuff... You just need to check the currency exchange 'cause my bank adds a couple bucks per hundred... and shipping is usually about $30 whether you get something for a grand or twenty bucks.

If anybody asks me about another combo of mics and puts the ULS system into the mix then I have no problem saying to go the ULS route... That's an EASY choice. The ULS has been SO versatile for me that they've easily been my favorite mics of all the mics I've owned so far... For me that's saying something. I've gone through a ton of mics and I usually get bored with the sound or performance of a mic and sell it so I can try something else... with the ULS I've only been more and more happy with it and I just buy more stuff to expand my ULS options. I've been on several shoots where I get home and I can't believe the quality of the audio I have.:thumbsup:

It took me a couple months to get used to the ULS 'cause my previous gun... the Sennheiser 416... was physically inert... you could touch the mic with your fingers and barely hear anything... so handling noise was never an issue. Then I got the ULS and I had to be careful again. At first that bugged me 'cuase the 416 is luxurious in that regard... but every hyper I've played with ALSO has high handling noise (exept perhaps the ck93, ironically enough)... so being careful with a mic is no big deal to me... but now I'm at a point where I really like bringing the AKG with me everywhere 'cause it hears so much so well.

This would lead me to believe that the Blue line of AKG may also be really good... and I know that the ck93 is for sure... but I just don't know about the ck98.

I also think it's dangerous to assume that a lower-end mic from a given company will sound anything like the higher-end offerings. An me66 is NOTHING like a 416... so somebody's got to verify if the ck98 is anthing like the ck69.
 
Damn dude! You're a good man... I basically tried to talk you out of doing that... but I didn't want to be too assertive about it 'cause I was secretly hoping you'd order the AKG anyway.:happy:

If you just flat-out don't like it then I guess you could always return it.

Do you have any other mic to put into the mix... as a "control group"?

The reason we all posted samples of our voices on various mics and included the me66 is 'cause we all knew what the me66 sounded like for ourselves and it was easy to quantify the improvements in another mic based on what the same voice sounded like through the me66.

Either way I can't wait to hear your samples.
 
I should have the blue line in about a week. I am going to borrow a friends ME66 for my comparison, but we'll see how it comes out.

Matt, you were actually a huge factor in which mic to choose. I really was leaning towards the 4073a & Oktava, but ultimately I figured I really wanted a modular set up. Even from my days in music I love anything modular (anyone remember the old Moog Mod synths... drool).

I figured for the price if I am ever in a situation that I would need to have two mics running, which I am sure I will, I will just buy another preamp for the AKG.

I like the fact that the Blue Line isn't as widely used and I really like the fact that it does what I want the ME66 to do, but sounds how I want it to sound also.

Honestly, when you break down the price, the AKG is really cheap, under $800 for the power unit, hyper cap, & shot gun cap. You can't get an Oktava and AT4073a for that price.

I'm super excited.
 
Dude... yes you can. 4073a is $549 with xlr and junk shockmount from B&H and Oktava is $165 from sound-room. Add about $20 shipping total and you're at $734.

Honestly I think the ck93 will smoke the Oktava... but I'm curious what the ck98 will do.

I expect that you'll be very happy with the set. The 93 (as I previously said) is actually used in unlimited budget productions... I just don't have experience with the 98.

You got me feeling the pressure so I hope it's fantastic...:thumbsup:
 
I really wish I could get the ULS line but unfortunately that seems out of my price range so I'll probably have to stick with the Blue Line. For my purporses, I will probably use it more indoors than outdoors, so I guess the quality of the hyper card is more important than the shotgun (although of course, both are important). If the AKG's hyper is better than the Oktava, I might just go down that route instead. Also I keep hearing about how sensitive the Oktava is to handling noise and chances are I'll have just my friends doing boom and not experienced boom operators, so they need all the help they need.

Mattin, as far as the Oktava price, where did you find it for $165? I tried looking at the website and I could only find this:

http://sound-room.com/customer/product.php?productid=103&cat=2&page=1

for $174. By the way, I'm a bit confused but could I buy it and choose to have a hyper card capsule? Is that how it works?
 
Matt... It's this simple. If this set up sucks I'm coming to St Louis and I'm going to take my $800 outta your collection of mics!

I'm feeling really good about the purchase so far. I doubt that the 98 will really be an incredible mic, but the way I look at it is sooner or later your going to talk me into getting a 416 anyways so big deal. I'm excited to get the new toys though.
 
Thanks Yankee... hey if you come to collect on that $800 worth of mics I just want you to know that I don't keep 'em in that blue softside pilot bag in the closet... look anywhere but there.

EA... just enter the coupon code "DV" at check out and the Oktava will be $165.30


If it was spring instead of nearly fall... I'd just buy the Blue line myself so I could give it a fair evaluation. Unfortunately I've spent enough trying out gear from mid-summer on... and my "play-budget" is about popped. After selling a brand-new Lectro 100 at a hundred dollar loss and getting a G2 system a month later... and now the SD mixer, 2nd 7506 to monitor my sound guy who's wearing a pair also, MicroTrack, and 4 GB card... I'm about done for a little while... and that's saying nothing about my ever-growing mass of lighting parts and other side projects.

So I'll probably get a Blue line hyper and gun later... just so I can say I know what I'm talking about... but the financial squeeze is limiting the number of directions I can throw my lunch money.

"Hey you look great! How'd you lose all that weight?"

"It's easy... I just spend my grocery money on microphones!"

Ya' know... it really hits you that you have an obsession when you're sitting there with a glass of tap water, eating an oregano sandwich on a two week old hamburger bun... and the only thing going through your mind is, "boy I love this new shotgun!":cheesy:
 
MattinSTL said:
you're sitting there with a glass of tap water, eating an oregano sandwich on a two week old hamburger bun... and the only thing going through your mind is, "boy I love this new shotgun!":cheesy:
Click to expand...

That is funny...

Matt, you are an inspiration to some many struggling audio enthusiasts
 
I think I am gonna go with the AT4073a and the Oktava just because those two seem to be regarded as the best combo of mics you can get on these forums. I have a few questions though about the combo.

I know for the Oktava I need the K-tek SSM with soft bands. Will this mount also fit the AT 4073a or do I need to get another one for that?

I'm also thinking of getting a Gitzo boompole. This one to be specific:

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=G557C

Will the K-tek shockmount be compatible with it?

Lastly, I know what type of wind protection everyone here recommends for the Oktava (Rycote BBG/windjammer) but what about the AT 4073a? I'm pretty sure that same wind protection gear won't fit on the AT. What about this one?

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=033032

Does that provide good wind protection? Also is the length and diameter for the one the one I would need for the AT?

Lastly, what is everyone's opinion on when to put wind protection on or not? I heard that you should leave it off if you can and only use it if you need to. But what about the Oktava? I heard it's really sensitive. Should I leave the BBG on at all times when I use it and use the windjammer when I need that extra protection? Or should I try to use it with everything off when I can?
 
As a small addendum, has anyone had any experience with the AT 4053a? It's a hyper card like the Oktava so it's more suitable for indoors. Is this supposed to by like the hyper card version of the 4073a? If that's the case, would the sound on this mic be a lot better than the Oktava? Or is the Oktava the better deal? (if the 4053a is better, but only by 10%, I rather save the 50%+ savings and get the Oktava).
 
Any boom pole will work with the K-Tek shockmount... it's a standard 3/8" thread.

Yeah that's the same Softie that I used on my 4073a... and a good price from EVS too.

I don't think that particular pole is that great of a deal though... but that's up to you.

I leave my Oktavas in BBG's 24/7... and then just add fur as needed.

As for the 4053a I haven't heard anybody ravin' about it... and I don't have experience with that one.
 
A great price is on a lightwave, but if you are budget focused, I have two painters poles that I have used in the past...

They are identical to boompoles, just weight more... Doesn't matter to me, I don't hold the things.
 
Hah, that sounds cool Yankee.

Also, just to muddle things up even further, what is everyone's opinion on the Sanken CS-1 being perhaps a good all around mic. It's a shotgun but a lot of people say it acts more like a hyper. Would this mic be good for both indoors and outdoors? Or is the Oktava and 4073a so much better it's worth just paying the extra hundred or two for both of them (something I am willing to do, but again, if the Sanken CS-1 is really close, then why not save money, esp. since I could cut costs on the wind protection gear too).
 
And as far as the lightwave boom poles, are these the ones I should be looking at?

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GT10

or

http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/...Code=GT10W&Category_Code=3C3&Product_Count=39

I know I've been asking a bunch of questions, especially about audio, but I've become a bit of an audio nut lately. Before I was always thinking about when I was gonna get my camera. Now I only think about when and which mics I'm gonna get, which booms, etc.
 
Oh and if it wasn't implicit in my last post, I am wondering what's the difference between those two lightwaves.
 
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