indoor dialogs : octava or at875r or other hypercardioid

D

deleuze3

Well-known member
Hi,
for indoor dialogs, i would like to look on a hypercardioid. My choice would be AT875r.
Is oktava a better option or another hypercardioid ?
Thanks in advance,
 
The AT875 is an 'interference tube' type shotgun mic, which are generally not recommended for interiors.
Hyper and other cardioids are the preferred mic for inside and other reflective environments.
"Is oktava a better option or another hypercardioid?"
> Lets see.... the Oktava costs around $100, the hyper Scheops around $2000. Decisions, decisions.
I'm sure you've already researched and know the pros and cons of the Oktava 012, including optional modifications and ID'ing the infamous 'counterfeits'
 
deleuze3 said:
Hi,
for indoor dialogs, i would like to look on a hypercardioid. My choice would be AT875r.
Is oktava a better option or another hypercardioid ?
Thanks in advance,
Click to expand...

As others have said, hypercardiod is preferred for indoor dialogue. If you're not down with the Schoeps microphones, check out the Audix SCX1-HC or the AKG Blue Line microphones. These are good "low cost" alternatives to the Schoeps that can replicate that Schoeps sound pretty well from what I've read.
 
If you get the Oktava 012, you will want the hypercardioid capsule, or the kit with all 3 capsules for a versatile setup, the low cut/HPF module if your mixer does not have that function, a Rycote BBG & dead cat, Rycote INV-6 suspension mount, and let's not forget a nice boom pole. Just something to budget for when planning.
 
I have a couple of the Audix SCX1 mics and like them a lot for dialog indoors. The capsules can be switched out on them, too. They also have a super and an omni capsule offering. Very responsive company. I just had one mic in for service and they were very quick to get it back to me.
 
"Where do you find a genuine, new Oktava 012 for $100? The Sound Room starts them at $293"
- Naturally one pays more for a new handpicked Sound Room Oktava.
I've see pre-owned 012s on eBay from time to time for around $100. There origin and age is usually not specified. Do you feel lucky? New 'off the shelf' 012s from other vendors only go for around $150 cheap.
The Audix SCX1 is a good option, but costs a bit more than an Oktava.
 
Rick R said:
"Where do you find a genuine, new Oktava 012 for $100? The Sound Room starts them at $293"
- Naturally one pays more for a new handpicked Sound Room Oktava.
I've see pre-owned 012s on eBay from time to time for around $100. There origin and age is usually not specified. Do you feel lucky? New 'off the shelf' 012s from other vendors only go for around $150 cheap.
The Audix SCX1 is a good option, but costs a bit more than an Oktava.
Click to expand...

I paid about $150 for mine, and as far as I can tell from the pictures of the fakes, mine is 'real'. The one item that did escape my notice was that the mic had the omni capsule. So I had to pay more for the hyper. That was 'buyer error'...

I've used it a number of times, and had good results. It is very sensitive to handling, and a 'steady hand' on the boom pole is required...

I've not needed to date much in the way of wind protection, since I've shot exclusively indoors with it, but have noted that I can hear 'wind' when I whip the mic around, so I now avoid that sort of action as well. (The same is true for my camera relative to 'ugly artifacts' doing whip pans... so it is not too different in avoiding such.).

As a side note, what really bothered me about ebay auctions for cameras and sound equipment, is that many people would start upping the bid at about day 2 of a 7 day listing... pushing the end price up to beyond what I wanted to pay by day 3-4... I don't do auto-sniping'... but do put in my bid at the last moment. That is the 'best' strategy for getting the 'best' price for the buyer... bidding early definitely helps the seller...

The other 'strategy' is to avoid if possible paying more than 1/2 'new' price for an item. Sometimes that doesn't work out... but it is a goal...
 
Last edited:
David W. Jones said:
If you get the Oktava 012, you will want the hypercardioid capsule, or the kit with all 3 capsules for a versatile setup, the low cut/HPF module if your mixer does not have that function, a Rycote BBG & dead cat, Rycote INV-6 suspension mount, and let's not forget a nice boom pole. Just something to budget for when planning.
Click to expand...

Is Rycote the go-to brand for microphone accessories or do you just prefer them?
 
"Is Rycote the go-to brand for microphone accessories or do you just prefer them?"
Rycote makes very good gear.. I woun't say absolutely 'go to'. There's other very good mounts and screens available. (Not to be confused with the cheap crap on eBay though.)
For Zeppelins, Softies and shock mounts I have and like Rycote.
For foam windscreens, my Olsen/Windtech work fine. I also have a Windtech US2 ultra series foam windscreen for my Oktavas when the small (teardrop) foamy is inadequate, Additionally, I have a BG foam sceen and Windmuff over-cover that works decent for my rarely used long shotgun.
FWIW, Some of RODE's newer mics and windscreen systems incorporate the Rycote Lyre parts.
 
hard to choose between Audix and Oktava. Is audix that more expensive ?
For recording a person talking alone in front of a cam indoor, both mics will do the job?
 
deleuze3 said:
hard to choose between Audix and Oktava. Is audix that more expensive ?
For recording a person talking alone in front of a cam indoor, both mics will do the job?
Click to expand...

From what I've read, they should both do the job. You should listen to recordings of both of them to determine which you like better/think is worth the money.
 
"For recording a person talking alone in front of a cam indoor, both mics will do the job?"
- Either mic should work, providing the mic is placed/positioned properly.. i.e., typically on a boom or stand, above and slightly in front of the 'talent' pointing at the upper chest area.. within 18" (at the most).
No mic will sound much good mounted on a camera, except for ambient/nat sound.
 
im heading more for a oktava or superlux s41 instead of lavaliers (since i think lavaliers sound to thin). It makes a big difference
 
RE: Oktava. I like them and have four. But they are very sensitive to handling noise and wind so you really need decent suspension and good wind protection and a boom operator who knows what they are doing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top