At897?

Oktava WAVE file... kinda' big, but accurate sound CLICK HERE

Oktava WMA comparison file... low-level buzzy distortion but still a fair assessment of each mic because conditions were identical CLICK HERE Anytime you hear the same audio twice the Oktava plays first.

Yankee's advice to ONLY get the hyper is dead-on. If you can afford the extra $125 for the other caps then please get the Rycote BBG instead. You'll need the 19mm/20mm size and it used to be $125, but it may be around $130 now. Then if you want to make that hyper work outdoors in close ranges add the WindJammer for $60 or so. I know it's a bitter pill to swallow when you pay more for windprotection then for the mic, but it's a great sounding mic and the windprotection makes THAT much difference.

My favorite shockmount for this mic is the K-Tek K-SSM with SOFT bands (specify soft). It's $109 but if you want the option of cam-mounting you need the shoe-mount adapter for another $10-$14.

As an alternate shockmount that I recently tried out, you can get the Sabra-Som SSM-1 from Sound-Room. It's only $49 and they will throw in the 3/8" adapter (NOT the shoe-mount) free for the asking. You can get the shoe-mount adapter from them for $14, but make sure you ALSO ask for the 5/8" to 3/8" adapter because you need it if you want to use this mount on a pole. I don't like this mount as much as the K-Tek, but it's less then half the price, it's modular to fit virtually ANY mic (the K-Tek is not), and it does work well... my verdict is that it's a bargain for the price.

When you order something from sound-room be sure to enter coupon code "DV" at checkout because it's a 5% discount that Paul gave the forum members as a thanks for patronizing his shop. I also like the fact that he was so receptive to the suggestion of offering the Oktava as a hyper-kit instead of the cardioid kit, which is normally the only choice for a one cap kit. I don't know that the 5% cuts your total order, but it does make your Oktavas only $165 each... and that is cheap for such a great sounding little mic.

I think Yankee is already saying this, but I don't know of one person who isn't really surprised at how good the Oktava sounds when they first hear it.
 
Matt is dead on. I first played with an Oktava several months ago and liked the sound, but wanted to personally go in another direction for my personal set up. Then, as always happens, I ran into some issues with my set up, and ended up getting the Oktava.

When you first try this mic out you initial response is: ok, well that's a microphone. Then when you start recording audio with it, A/B compare with other mics, and get into the nitty gritty of the mic you understand that this thing is a tank, absolute performer that outclasses everything within $500 of it's price range.

I am honestly confused as to what I prefer, my AKG modular set up or this Oktava. Every microphone will adds something to your sound, unless you get to the $1000+ range where you are paying for identical reproduction. Normally when you see people discussing the pros and cons of different mics you will see comments like: it is too hot in the highs, or rumbles in the lows.

With the Oktava you are not getting 100% sound replication, but what you are getting is a microphone that sounds sweet. That is the only way I can describe the sound. What this microphone adds is pure and simple: a sweet polish of professional sound replication.

Describe the color blue without using other colors. Impossible, right? Describe a microphone that gives you professional sound, great price, and a sweet sound that screams quality, Oktava. I have become completely sold on this mic. It is bar none the best value, best performer, and best sounding microphone in its price range. I really have become a convert, I love this little mic.
 
MattinSTL said:
I think Yankee is already saying this, but I don't know of one person who isn't really surprised at how good the Oktava sounds when they first hear it.
Click to expand...

I can tell you that I was suprized. That's really impressive. :shocked:
 
okay, so I'd probably get the $50 windscreen from sound-room. Should I get the $7 windscreen for indoor shooting, or is it not needed?
 
Wait until you hear your own voice through it. I have one of the worst voices out there.:thumbsup:

Use the good screen all the time. It will work okay for light-breeze exteriors, but will not be up to an "extreme conditions" challenge as is implied. You can get the cheapy $7 screen if you like, but the $49 one will be fine for all uses. You'll find that it doesn't lock onto the mic like a BBG or Softie-type windscreen does... it just slips on and it can slip off if you catch it on something or a strong wind grabs it... so use some gaffer tape or some other temporary way to secure it so you don't have a problem during a crucial shoot. That's about all the negative input I have for that screen... it's much better then a normal foam screen, but it's still no substitute for a BBG/Jammer combo... which is capable in extreme conditions. (Full blimp systems are better still, but the price doubles yet again.)
 
I think Matt lives by the expression: Once you go blimp you never go back... or limp, or something like that.

I have yet to get into the blimp situations, and am trying very hard to avoid them. That's a whole other set of purchases...
 
A few more questions.
I can't afford the $100 shockmount, I'd have to go with the $50 one on sound-room. :/ Does that shockmount come with everything you need to attach it to a (5/8")boom pole?

Also, how far away from the subject will the mic start to lose valuable signal strength, at least to a level where it becomes a problem? 2 feet? 4 feet?
 
MattinSTL said:
As an alternate shockmount that I recently tried out, you can get the Sabra-Som SSM-1 from Sound-Room. It's only $49 and they will throw in the 3/8" adapter (NOT the shoe-mount) free for the asking. You can get the shoe-mount adapter from them for $14, but make sure you ALSO ask for the 5/8" to 3/8" adapter because you need it if you want to use this mount on a pole. I don't like this mount as much as the K-Tek, but it's less then half the price, it's modular to fit virtually ANY mic (the K-Tek is not), and it does work well... my verdict is that it's a bargain for the price.
Click to expand...

Read that post from Matt from above that explains the shockmount. When you get the pin, yes, just read above. Regarding signal strength, this is going to depend on conditions. What you need to do is play around with it. The first rule of audio is to get as close as possible. At 2' you'll get great sound. At 4' you wont get as good. At 6' even worse. A good sound perrson, a professional sound person, will fight for every inch they can get.
 
Hey it's the Jeremy and Matt Show!

Yeah for $49 that Sabra-Som shockmount is hard to beat and the 5/8" to 3/8" ADAPTER is FREE for the ASKING... so don't forget to ASK because you need it to get the mount on a pole!

I also like the PSC shockmounts which come ready for a hot-shoe, but not ready for a pole.

After you get some time under your belt you'll understand why I like the little K-Tek even though it's high for such a little bit of rubber and metal.

I didn't post to say all that though... I just want to say that Yankee's last sentence above is good enough to be somebody's signature... because you'll realize that's so true. I ride the blimp at the top edge of the frame and tell the boom op to never worry about dipping the mic in the frame. If it happens I'll tell him.

Still the most important thing to remember with all of this... besides the last sentence of the previous post... is that the situation is what it is... there's no magic mics out there that get around these principles. A great mic used well sounds better then a good mic used well. If all things are equal then the closest mic sounds the best. And finally an okay mic used well sounds better then a great mic used poorly.

If you get the Oktava and use it well... which isn't hard to do by the way, you just have to go to a little extra trouble... then it'll never let you down.
 
How come your name comes before mine?

(possible answers: you know more than me, you have more experience than me, I learn half of what I know from you, I turn to you for advice when I buy mics, I am not a sound operator, I know nothing).

Mine should come first: it's alphabetical!
 
MattinSTL said:
Hey it's the Jeremy and Matt Show!
Click to expand...

Hey Jeremy and Matt, I have been in the studio audience following your advice closely and wanted to ask a couple of questions pertaining to the Octava Mk-012 mic....

Let me get this straight, it has various caps that you can put on it to change the pick-up patterns? You see, I have two cameras, one mic (at4073a). I wanted to get another mic for my second camera and was wondering if this Octava could double as a shotgun and/or a great interior mic if I changed caps? And if so, please talk to me like I am on the short bus....which caps would I need to make this happen.

I am very excited about this mic. I have not been in the market to get it until now, (new cam) and have been reading threads on it for months discussing what a great performer it is!

Thanks guys!

Rick
 
Since the original poster of this topic appreciated the Oktava input I guess it's okay that this has been mostly an Oktava thread even though the title is at897... but you want the hyper. For me it doesn't really matter that the Oktava has different caps. The only other caps you might want anyway would be the cardioid. If you got the 3-cap kit you'd probably never touch the omnis. I got the cardioid and hyper for mine, but I use the hyper 90% of the time.

You asked if then it would double as a shotgun and/or a great interior mic. Just to clarify a shotgun is not good for interiors but yes this mic is great for interiors. Please don't make me type everything I've already said in other posts in this very thread. Take this post and read the others. After you get an Oktava you'll be glad you knew what to expect and what else you need.

BTW your sig is pure genius... If you say you came up with that I'm in awe of you.
 
I agree with what Matt said.

At the end of the day you will use a shotgun for exteriors and a hyper for interiors.
 
Thanks guys for all the help. I'm copying this thread to Word for future use.

I ordered the mic. Do they have to order it from Russia or will they have a few in stock(man I sure hope so, I need it soon)?
 
You'll get it in a couple days. I hope you used the coupon code "DV" as is stated throughout this thread. They stock these well now. You won't be sorry you got one. Congratulations.
 
MattinSTL said:
You'll get it in a couple days. I hope you used the coupon code "DV" as is stated throughout this thread. They stock these well now. You won't be sorry you got one. Congratulations.
Click to expand...

Thanks. And yes I did use the "DV" code. Thanks again. :thumbsup:
 
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