? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

T

Todd_Mattson

Member
How does this mike really compare with say the K6/ME66, or the Scheops, with which it's always compared? Did you get the Guitar Center version or the Sound Room version? Does the -10 db pad come with it? I find this to be an interesting option, especially considered it's mulitple polar patterns, along with it's ability to accept a large diaphram capsule (!) - never mind the price. Please detail your field experiences with the mike, is this mike the unsung hero of DV filmmaking, or is it a situation of "don't believe the hype".
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

At Guitar Center the model they carried is an Mk012... and you could ONLY get it as CARDIOID. It is/was $125 but they've been discontinued. You can maybe still get one, but it might be better to get one from Sound-Room. The reason why is because you'll want the HYPER CARDIOID cap over the standard CARDIOID... it's the BEST solution for interiors at a reasonable cost.

The Sound-Room tests all the Oktavas and only sells the cream of the crop. The Russian factory is notorious for variable consistency on the assembly line. They are also THE ONLY PLACE TO GET THE HYPER CARDIOID CAP... so even if you buy a cardioid from Guitar Center and then call Sound-Room for the hyper cap you'll spend about the same anyway.

That said... I went to Guitar Center with my camera and 7506 headphones... I plugged a bunch of Mk012s into my camera and picked two of 'em. I've been very happy with them. They were dirt cheap... and I just bought the hyper cardioid caps seperately from the Sound-Room. The 10db cap comes with the Mk012/Mc012 no matter where you buy it.

BELIEVE THE HYPE... this mic IS the well-sung hero (where is it UNsung?) of DV filmmaking and deservedly so. I've had so many instances where the Oktava proved to be a better solution then far more expensive mics that it's been disgusting to me. No single mic works for everything, but the Oktava hyper has been REALLY impressive with the DVX. Keep in mind that I use the K-Tek KSSM with soft rubber (trewaudio.com) and a Rycote BBG/Jammer which is well worth it at $185... it is THE SOLUTION for the Oktava... set up like I have it you can use the Oktava almost ANYWHERE. It works for interior/exterior booming and even in pretty strong wind... and this mic is OTHERWISE super sensitive to handling/wind noise.

Spend the extra cash for the KSSM $109 and the BBG/Jammer $185... and you WON'T be dissappointed.

This mic trounces the me66 so completely that it's a joke... the me66 is the bully up the street and the Oktava is Mike Tyson (recent fight notwithstanding)... if you pit these mics against each other on a DVX it will be a massacre. :'(


Regarding the comparison of the Oktava to the Schoeps... it's akin to the 4073a and 416... some people will say the Schoeps sounds way better and others will be surprised at how similar they sound. I'm a little funny in this regard because I fall into BOTH categories... I've got a Schoeps/Oktava comparison that I could post, but it would cause a conversation that would offend some Schoeps owners... and since I still WANT a Schoeps and I still think the Schoeps IS worth the cost, I figured why stir **** up.

I'm the kind of person who doesn't mind spending 2-5 times as much to get the last 10-20% in performance... I think the Schoeps is significantly better then the Oktava (20-25%) but it IS 6 times the price! While the fact doesn't change that I find the Schoeps to be very desireable... this also doesn't change the fact that the Oktava is perhaps the best mic bargain available.
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

the price of schoeps includes good product , name, developing , german quality control and the good life of the investers and the social benifits of the workers .the price of octava includes everege + product and all the opposit to what written about the fritz
:-)
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

Yep... that's true. The Schoeps is a beautiful mic in EVERY sense of the word... that's why I want one. ;)
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

The swivel is nice and the cut1 filter included is nice... but isn't that silver finish say these are a little old?

The mk41 I played with recently had a flat "nextel" gray finish much like the Beyerdynamic m58 I had.

How old do you think these are?
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

befor 97 for sure (myn starting 27xxx), probably around early 90
i think even now you can get the mikes in sylver , its no popular becouse the reflections when you shoot contserts(reflrction), but if glenn sas it in exellent condition so it in exelent condition , usially you have to clean the capsuls every few years (thats done in the factory ) but thats all ,
they look very clean ,without screatches (the gray finish alwais have more after hard field use) ,
the new set like that is around 2k in US so this is very nice deal
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

Oleg... we talked about getting an Mkh416 directly from Germany... what about the Schoeps? How much is that one in Deutchland?

If I buy a Schoeps in the USA you can bet it will be new or really cheap... and the latter is highly unlikely. ;)

For those interested in where my microphone adventures are heading next... I'm eager to check out the AKG c300b/ck93 and it looks to be a reasonable contender with the Schoeps... but with a significantly higher self-noise and increased off-axis coloration. It, like the Oktava, is bargain-priced however.

I also find the At4053a intriguing... it's similar to the 4073a but it's a HYPER... At this point I expect the AKG will make the cut... :D... there's some allure with the AKG mics... I think both AKG and Audio Technica are trying REALLY hard to offer the best product they can come up with, at the lowest possible price.

The Schoeps is a NO-compromises mic... so it comes down to what you can afford... but well-thought-out compromises are sometimes acceptable, and it'll be my job to quantify just what those compromises are in the AKG. It looks like it's inferior off-axis and higher self-noise... but the off-axis should be quite manageable and the self-noise shouldn't matter in all but the quietest recordings. 17dba is on par with the 416 and I've been really happy with that mic. So we'll see...

Look out for an AKG c300b/ck93 test from me in the not too distant future.

First I've gotta' get another Rycote BBG/Jammer and K-Tek KSSM for my extra Oktava... stereo recording has been getting really good to me lately. ;)
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

Ok, now I know I need some help! I was set to buy the k6/me66 and me64, but now i'm not so sure. I do a lot of weddings and would like to use a shotgun for ambient/backup audio. I also plan on doing more documentary work both indoors and out. So what would you suggest, keeping the prices down to about $500 or so?
Thanks in advance for your help!,
Vince
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

Assuming you own a DVX... I can tell you that I've been very happy with the Oktava Hyper-Cardioid Mk012 (or Mc012)... the thing to NOT forget though... is that this is a small diaphragm STUDIO mic which works great in other situations when you properly support it.

What that means is:

1) Oktava Mk012 with Hyper Cardioid cap. $195
2) Rycote BBG for 19/20mm. $125
3) Rycote WindJammer for BBG. $65
4) K-Tek KSSM with SOFT rubber. $109
5) AT shoe-mount adapter or else specify need shoe mount when ordering from Trew Audio. $10

Total? $499... just made it. Does $500 seem high to make use of a $200 mic? Sure it does... but if you don't take these steps then don't ask me why I recommended this mic.

Proper support makes ALL the difference in the WORLD with mics... some don't need much and some need a lot to work at their best. The Oktavas are touchy with handling noise and wind noise. For best results keep it in the KSSM and BBG 100% of the time and add the Jammer ANYTIME you go outside... even if it SEEMS calm.

You'd need a shockmount and softie for the me66 anyway... so it still leaves the Oktava as a total bargain.

I tell everybody this, but sooner or later you're going to find that you really need at least 3-4 mics to cover all use... LAV, ENG mic, HYPER/very short shotgun, Medium to Long shotgun.
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

Thanks Matt in STL!,
I really appreciate the adivce, and I think you've made up my mind. I definatly think spending the extra money and getting the extras is worth it. I've learned the hard way in the past, and I'm ready to do it the right way! I realize I'll have to buy more mics, (Right tool for the right job) I just have to buy a little at a time.
Thanks again,
Vince
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

Vince... if you want to leave yourself open for a clear upgrade path with a modular system... much like the Sennheiser K6 series, then take a look at the c300b/ck93 from AKG that I mentioned above.

That way you can still use other caps which are purchased at a later date. (Such as ck98 short shotgun cap).

Believe it or not... this series of AKG mics is actually used in some major Hollywood productions... Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys II, etc.

I just want you to have more then one option...

At $195 I consider the Oktava to be peanuts for it's great performance, but the AKG is still pretty good at around $350 or so.

Either way you'll still want the exact same support gear mentioned above... the beauty is that they're both 19mm and short mics... so if you later change your mind you can sell either mic for most of it's original cost and all the support gear will still fit the new mic.
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

I second the AKG Blue Line as an excellent choice. My AKG Hyper seems to have more reach than the Octava and no handling noise as opposed to the serious handling issues with the Octava.
 
Re: ? For Matt in STL - RTT/Oktava MC012?

What's weird is that I haven't experienced any significant handling noise with my Oktava so long as I use the 10dB attenuator. I also just use a $20 Sherwin Williams contractor grade paint pole as a boom. I screw a handle from a paint roller on the end of it and bolt the Oktava to that roller handle. Ghetto? Yes, but it works like a charm:

PaintPole.jpg


closeup.jpg
 
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