Best Vocal mic for conversations

There's only one, Oktava MK012a with a hypercardioid cap.

http://www.sound-room.com

However, to effectively use an Oktava, you NEED to get decent shock mount (KSSM $100) and wind protection (BBG $140). The mic picks up an unbelievable amount of handling noise.

And before you ask if there's any other microphones that don't require this much of an investment, the answer is no.
 
Don't waste your time with that. It's an entry level mic and that foam windscreen isn't going to do much. You want a windscreen that creates a dead space around the microphone (like the BBG). Look at the windscreen and shockmount as an investment since every mic that you'll want to buy from now on will require them. Don't try to skimp on this because you'll just end up buying the real things later and spend even more money.
 
Search this forum a bit. If you had searched in the first place, you'd probably have found that there's really no other choice but the oktava. Killer mic, killer price, end of discussion.
 
as far as shockmount and wind - yes the Oktava picks up a ridiculous amount of it, but in a "studio" type of setting where you can control it, i'ts not bad - i have a cheapo azden shockmount adn only the small foam w/ the oktava and it's ok in most situations. it's perfect if mounted on a stand or if your boom guy is REALLY careful :)
 
Fiddler, I would say that lockdown is okay, but it would be a serious compromise to use it with a boom op without the BBG or at the very least (and I am not reccomending this..) the "extreme condition" windscreen from sound-room.com. Why paralyze your boom op like that?
 
Whatever mic you get, be sure to treat your recordings right by placing mic as close to source as possible. Hopefully within two feet. Placement will have just as great, if not greater, of an effect on quality as model of mic will in most cases.
 
mike, ive used the oktava as primary boom mic on a drama for 3 months - no BBG, just foam. I had a decent boom op, and we never had a problem.

i maintain the BBG is nice to have, but not 100% neccesary if you know you'll be shooting inside. the BBG also adds a lot of size to the mic, and one of the great things about the Oktava is its tiny size. we didnt want to lose that, and it totally paid off.

I sometimes think people are confusing the handling sensitivity of the mix with its wind sensitivity. yes, its sensitive to both, but far more on the handling side.

I like the BBG for Doc and Reality sometimes, but not narrative.
 
I suppose I am shooting different stuff from you. I am using the okatava for nat sound b-roll in a run and gun situation (mostly classrooms) and you need to swing it around as different people talk. I am usually the one shooting during this kind of stuff and I don't feel like trusting someone else (or myself) to hear the wind jittering very faintly on haedphones in a loud enviornment. Better safe than sorry I say. I suppose every one is different.
 
no, from what you're describing id also use the BBG - its that sort of doco/run gun/reality stuff that the BBG is awesome with. I also love it that it make hypers more "all weather" mics - so if you gotta run outside to grab a shot very quickly, theres no worry that the mic is going to crap out in a tiny little breeze.
 
I've worked on different shows...and found that the sound guy only used the oktava with a simple foam and I don't see him ever using a BBG...ever.
 
When people come to this forum to ask about the Oktava, it is probably their first good mic and they most likely don't have tons of experience. Most likely they will hand the boom to their buddy who has little or no experience. They probably will be swinging the boom to follow actors. They may even want to have it as their only mic and may end up using it outside. The BBG makes the mic much more forgiving and versitile. The BBG also fits the next "step up" mics like the akg blueline and the ULS (even a schoeps!). Blimps are really expensive and $140 for the BBG is really cheap.

I stand by my recommendation
 
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