Everything I know about mics so far.

BillP said:
Can anyone tell me if a Rycote ball gag will fit on the AKG CK93 mic?
If so, which model?
Click to expand...

Check the mic's diameter, that will tell you which BBG to get. If they don't match exactly, get the BBG that is slightly smaller than the mic.
 
The same one that fits the Oktava, 20mm... previously called "19/20mm". On most Oktava pages the physical specs aren't listed... or worse, they say "maximum diameter 23mm"... and that's misleading because that's the diameter of the outter most portion of the "bell"... not the main body. Your ck93 is also 20mm (but the entire length).

Regarding your mount for that mic I'm going to stick with my perennial recommendation, the K-Tek... if you have other longer mics that you often use you can get the K-SM... otherwise I'd go with the K-SSM... and for any small mic I'd specify SOFT bands.
 
So, will the Rycote 20mm ball gag work together with the K-Tek K-SM mount and the AKG CK93?
Any fitment issues?

And, what is the difference between the K-SM and the K-SSM mounts?
On B&H it says the K-SSM is designed to work with the Sanken CS-1 Mic.

Will it work with the CK93 without issues?
I can't see any specs for the K-SSM, they look very identical.

I'd hate to order it and have it not fit.

I really appreciate all of your responses.
I have to order this stuff within the next couple days for my place of work.

Thanks.


-BillP
 
The K-tek GPS (and GPSS) works with mutliple diameter microphones (will fit both the Oktava and a Senn MKH60 @ 25mm). It costs a little more but works the same and even protects the mic from being slammed into the ceiling by a clumsy boomop. It takes a minute longer to attach the mic thru the rubber but it's not a big deal.

Cheers
 
wow.

wow.

What a great thread. Thank you Matt for such an education
i have a tech question, could you briefly comment on what these mean and what situations will they be useful in:


•linear response
•-10 dB preattenuation and
•12-dB-per-octave 75 Hz low-cut filter
•bass cut off

will be shooting a film in APril and looking into AKG

thanks agian for the expet advise...:)

Jay
 
The K-SSM or K-SM will work with the ck93. The 19/20mm BBG... same one for the Oktava will work on the ck93 as well. It's a tight fit but I can use the same BBG and K-SSM on my AKG ULS mics too... which are 21.1mm diameter versus the Oktava's 20.1mm.


1) Linear response means flat response... no peaks or dips in response from bass through high frequency. Usually a good thing, but sometimes a bass cut or treble hump is desireable.

2) -10db pre-attenuation simply means that there is a -10db pad option built into the mic. In some loud recording environments you will get a better result by reducing the mic's sensitivity. Loud room... people yelling... mic keeps blowing inputs... impossible to ride the levels... FLIP A SWITCH FOR -10db... ahhh... back under control.

3) 12db per octave low-cut filter... means there is a switch on the mic to trim off bass signals from 75hz and down. This is a very good thing. Other mics which use a -6db per octave cut are too wimpy. You will find that this switch can be used to improve results 95% of the time. Occasionally you may want ALL the bass information from a recording, but generally speaking you want a mic to get bass down to about 75hz and nothing lower anyway... most of the time anything below that is just thumps, thuds, and other unwanted handling noise.

4) Bass cut off is the same as above.


To sum it up I have very mixed feelings about the ck93... it incorporates some very nice features in addition to it's modularity... but I think the Oktava is as nice (or nicer) sounding mic overall... and I like the 4073a for shotgun better then the ck98... which is the shotgun cap for that line. If you are ONLY getting the AKG for the ck93 and not to get other caps from that line... then I think it's better to consider the other alternatives first.

Now if you have some big bucks to blow and want to get into the AKG ULS line I'll probably change my tune.

I just did some new recordings today (03/05/06) and I'm going to post some of them shortly... (thanks for your help Joe... I'm lucky to have you in STL). Unfortunately I didn't have a 4073a in the mix this time... but pretty soon I'll have updated all the recordings on my site to conveniently small and clean MP3s... with WAV files available upon request.
 
MattinSTL said:
If you are ONLY getting the AKG for the ck93 and not to get other caps from that line... then I think it's better to consider the other alternatives first.
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Here is the thing. There seems to be a gradual escalating level of shotguns (the Shotgun Shoot Out thread really does a great job of showing this) but in the hypers it seems like the degrees of choices are limited in levels of quality and cost.

The Oktava at around $175, then? Is the only real next choice the AKG SE 300B and CK93 at $400.00? Then Sanken at $700-800?
 
There are fewer hypers running in the mix, but there are other options. I would put them in this order:

Oktava mk012a w/ hyper $165 (coupon code DV at sound-room)
AT-4053a $395 (b&h)
SE-300b ck93 $370 (should be around this $ from RVA)
C480b ck63 $500-$600 (I don't remember exactly... but RVA was best $)
Mkh50 $1330 (b&h)
CMC6 Mk41 $1475 (b&h)

It would go something approximately like that. I don't know anything about a Sanken hyper... don't be confused about the CS-1. That's a nice mic... but my one criticism of it is that it is neither one thing, nor the other. A good hyper will outperform it most of the time indoors and a good shotgun will outperform it most of the time outdoors. If you can only get ONE mic and know for a fact that you will always only have one mic then it's a great choice... but for the same cash outlay you can get a 4073a and an Oktava and be better prepared for indoors and outdoors both.
 
MattinSTL said:
SE-300b ck93 $370 (should be around this $ from RVA).
Click to expand...

RVA is $420.00 and B&H is $390.00 for the AKG hyper but I think that the most cost effective move for me after all the advice is the Octava for indoor boom and the Rode NTG 2 for outdoor shotgun.

I just got a little spooked by the "handling noise issue" of the Oktava. I'm hoping that the handling noise is dealt with by the suggested mount and wind protection.
 
akg

akg

Thanks Matt. Now I'm clear on those features.

I was thinking of the akg with the ck98 and the oktava MK012 for interiors.
But since you're preferring the 4073 over the ck98, i'll rethink this.

What's Important to us is having great rejection (off axis)

why is this? does it capture less ambient noise? does the human voice sound more natural?
May than go with the Sanken CS-3E (big maybe, if my budget changes next week). what is your opinion on this one. They say the rear and side rejection is so good that you could have the mic under the actor and it won't record the foot steps



big help
thanks
Jay
 
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Kelly Olsen said:
RVA is $420.00 and B&H is $390.00 for the AKG hyper
Click to expand...

At risk of splitting hairs here, I got a $420.00 quote from RVA a couple of weeks ago, but that was definitely canadian $ (if your quote was US $, then the price has definitely increased in the past couple weeks). The exchange rate that day made the cost $365 in US funds. That said, I went with the Oktava and am really happy with it.
 
Yeah that was around the price I was quoted a couple years back dustino... and they were about $300 cheaper on the 480b/ck63... If it were me I'd still give a quick check with RVA and be sure the price you get is either in Canadian or US funds.

And Jay... with some mics you want side and rear rejection and others you do not. With a shotgun you definitely DO want the side and rear rejection. With the longer reach of a shotgun you will capture natural sounds that you may not want emphasize... it's noisy outside... and the more control you have in seperating your actors from the neighbor's barking dog the better off your location sound will be for it. Regarding mic pickup patterns... it's really about having an easily controlled pattern moreso then outright rejection... but that's a big can of worms to open (and it's already discussed somewhere in here).

Mics are valuable for two reasons: accurately capturing the sound that you do want and effectively ignoring the sounds that you don't want... both of those traits are a function of various specs... but mostly pattern.

If you get the opportunity for a CS3e and can afford it I'd say that's a really good choice.
 
dustino said:
At risk of splitting hairs here, I got a $420.00 quote from RVA a couple of weeks ago, but that was definitely canadian $ (if your quote was US $, then the price has definitely increased in the past couple weeks). The exchange rate that day made the cost $365 in US funds. That said, I went with the Oktava and am really happy with it.
Click to expand...

At the risk of splitting hairs on a dead horse that I have been beating, RVA is asking $420.00 U.S. Dollars for the AKG 300 and CK93. They don't seem to care about any currency exchange. I asked them in an e-mail about the currency issue and told them that they were $30 higher than B&H and the US dollar was stronger so I didn't understand how they could be charging more and I got a nice e-mail back saying "thanks for giving them a call" and that was it. No explanation or counter offer or price match or anything.

So lets give up on the US dollar thing making things cheaper in Canada.
 
Man, this thread has been incredibly helpful, thanks much to all those who have put such effort into it! One question: I like the idea of the AKG's modular system, and also the fact that peple have described it as a little more forgiving when it comes to handling noise, etc.
I'm pretty new to audio and just want a straightforward system that I can learn on, without too much complexity. Also, I will be a one man band for doing documentary interviews, and capturing subjects in their environment (offices, outdoors, etc.), so I'm hoping for something that can be camera-mounted.
As I said, I'm really leaning towards the AKG, but wanted to know if there's any problem mounting these mics on my HVX200, since I will be a one man band most of the time.
Any help appreciated, thanks much!
 
This thread has been extremely helpful. I need some clarification on a couple of things. The term 'modular' is mentioned a few times. Does this mean that the microphone system consists of an output module and then the 'caps' are connected to it? So, you can get different 'caps' (appreviation for capsule?) for the required audio situation?

If this is true, can someone itemize a few of the recently discussed 'modular' systems and the ones that are not?

This forum is like an on-line education. It should be called 'DVXUser University'.
 
RobertE said:
This thread has been extremely helpful. I need some clarification on a couple of things. The term 'modular' is mentioned a few times. Does this mean that the microphone system consists of an output module and then the 'caps' are connected to it? So, you can get different 'caps' (appreviation for capsule?) for the required audio situation?
Click to expand...


Yes. Modular refers to a system that normally includes a power unit or preamplification unit coupled with a variety of capsules that can be added later for different shooting situations.

The most popular modular system is the Sennheiser ME/K6 series, although most sound fans uniformly agree that the quality is garbage. The ME series includes the K6 powering unit, ME66 shot shotgun, ME64 similar to a hyper cardiod cap but closer to a cardiod unit, 67 long barrel shotgun cap.

There are other units like the Blueline from AKG and the ULS from AKG. Shoeps & Sanken also offer modular type set ups.

Whether modular is right for you is a personal preference.

-Jeremy
 
This is my favorite thread on DVXUser. The only thing that could make it better is if Rob Zombie directed it or if we talked about Snakes on a Plane in it (not that Matt didn't do a great job on the thread)

Jeremy
 
The problem is that it's a collection of stories about experiences and I'd like to think that the audio forum is a science class rather then creative writing.

I'd be embarrassed if this thread became a sticky.

I need to rewrite it into a concise composition of ideas... but I haven't had much interest in doing that since you other guys have really stepped up in that department.

I am ego-less... I don't want an un-earned sticky honor. If I felt the need I'd put something really great together... but like I said... you guys are doing great.
 
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