Oktava MK-012 best mic to pair with the AF100?

Jon Furtado

Jon Furtado

Well-known member
I need to get a shotgun mic for my AF100. And i'd like keep the cost below $1000. Ideally, far below that since all the rest of the gear I have to purchase is quickly racking up. I've looked around and it seems like the Oktava MK-012 is pretty versatile. Would this be a good buy to pair up with the AF100?

What are some benefits? What are some drawbacks? What accessories will I definately need if I buy the Oktava MK-012?

Ideally, I'd like the ability to use it on a boom too. Is there a shotgun that would be better for this dual use?

I can't afford anything over $1K unfortunately :( I already own a set of 2 Sennheiser G2 wireless mics.
 
Ignoring any questions about whether or not a given mic matches up well with the AF100's inputs...

The Octava is a boom-only prospect. You'll get far too much mechanical noise if you mount it on the camera (but then again, unless your subject is less than 3 feet from the lens, you shouldn't be using an on-camera mic anyway). Low-pass filtering it on-mic might help (Oktava makes a capsule for that), but it still seems sensitive to vibration. Also, the Octova doesn't have a true shotgun capsule available for it (AFAIK), so the greatest reach is going to be with the hypercap module. That's best for indoors, on a boom, with an appropriate shock mount.

I haven't found anything that makes me truly happy both indoors & out, but for outdoor/shotgun use, the Rode NTG-3 and their blimp system is pretty solid in that price range. I use that on the end of a K-Tek boom. However, much of the question comes down to what you're trying to accomplish. In a week or two, I'll be able to tell you how the Oktava & the Rode work with the AF100. - Tim
 
As Tim mentions, the MK-012 would be more than a pain mounted to a camera. And more to the point, any mic, even the most expensive will be effectively dumbed down when taken from their optimal operating position and mounted to a camera.

All the Best!

Dave
 
Look into the Rode NTG-3. It has gotten a lot of excellent reviews and it compares well to the old Sennheiser 416. It can be found for around $600-700 and there are a number of accessories available for it as well. One of the sponsors of DVX, DVEstore, carries it.
 
I love the NTG-2 (NTG-1 is supposed to be the same, never used one) for the price. (approx $250, which you cant beat it for the price) My favorite mic is the sennheiser 416 though, which am borrowing from my sound guy, which I usually have on my camera. I cannot say enough good things about the 416, except that when it is on a boom, you need a decent boom op (not a mic to hand to the PA when you need a boom op, lol). I have used the NTG-3 and like it too, and would be between that and the 416 if I was going to get a new mic.
 
I did a lot of research on the Oktava MK-012 a while back. It's a fine microphone, but it is very very sensitive to wind noise (even indoor "wind" when the air conditioner is turned off, e.g. slight movement). The cost savings with the Oktava will be eaten up because you'll probably have to buy a top of the line shock mount and zeppelin to go with it. Also, the quality control with the Oktava mics is supposed to be kind of hit and miss, so you might get a great one, or you might get one with problems.

I ended up going with the Audix SCX1-HC hypercardioid mic, which costs about twice as much as the Oktava. However, it is MUCH less susceptible to wind and handling noise, and in my opinion the sound is a little bit better too.

I also agree with the other posters that you don't want the mic to be on top of the camera for any serious work. You wouldn't stick a camera on a boom pole next to a mic, point the mic carefully, and then hope you got a good picture that was in focus, would you? :) An on-camera mic is kind of the same idea, but in reverse.
 
There are some books and DVD s that will help you better understand audio. This would be my first purchase.

The Oktava is best used inside. It does very poorly in an environment where the air moves (outside) and this includes inside situations as well. I own 3 of these MK-012s and love them for the quality/cost but they are limited in their application. Also, do not use on the camera as others have suggested and explained. Mics must be near ( appx. 1-2 feet) from the audio source otherwise you will record more reflected sound from walls, floors and ceilings than you want. In other words, mics mounted on cameras usually do not sound too good because they are simply too far away from the source.

IMO: Get a MK-012 and a Rode NTG2 (250) shotgun mic, and a RODE Blimp for outside. The furry covers are OK, but they don't work too well in a wind. A blimp is much much better. The Rode Blimp is the best cost & quality pkg.

You need a pole xlr cable and good headphones.

Total pkg. will come in around $1,000.
 
I have an old Sennheiser mkh416-t. It is not the 48 v phantom power that's the standard these days but sound wise it's great. They built these things pretty well and you can still pick up older ones on occasion for a few hundred on Ebay. You then pick up an adapter at BH-photo to convert from 10v t power to 48v phantom. If your using a mixer (which I would recommend) some, like the sound devices 302, can switch between 10v and 48v. Just an idea.

I usually use it on a boom pole with the rode blimp that was recommended previously. Works great and sounds very transparent. On occasion I've wrapped gaffers tape to thicken up a little section so that it squeezes into my camera's shotgun mic mount. Works well if you're close enough to get a good signal to noise ration. This has worked with DVX, HPX and HMC cameras for me. I imagine it would work on the AF-100. If you can't find a deal on a used 416 I hear the rode ntg-3 is quite good as well.

I will mention one last caveat. I have been contemplating picking up an Oktava for myself even though I have the 416. Indoors on a boom pole I think it would do better than my sennheiser. Outdoors the Sennheiser is pretty hard to beat. -Richard
 
Richard J said:
I have an old Sennheiser mkh416-t. It is not the 48 v phantom power that's the standard these days but sound wise it's great. They built these things pretty well and you can still pick up older ones on occasion for a few hundred on Ebay. You then pick up an adapter at BH-photo to convert from 10v t power to 48v phantom. If your using a mixer (which I would recommend) some, like the sound devices 302, can switch between 10v and 48v. Just an idea.

I usually use it on a boom pole with the rode blimp that was recommended previously. Works great and sounds very transparent. On occasion I've wrapped gaffers tape to thicken up a little section so that it squeezes into my camera's shotgun mic mount. Works well if you're close enough to get a good signal to noise ration. This has worked with DVX, HPX and HMC cameras for me. I imagine it would work on the AF-100. If you can't find a deal on a used 416 I hear the rode ntg-3 is quite good as well.

I will mention one last caveat. I have been contemplating picking up an Oktava for myself even though I have the 416. Indoors on a boom pole I think it would do better than my sennheiser. Outdoors the Sennheiser is pretty hard to beat. -Richard
Click to expand...

My 416 it T powered as well :-) Says something about the quality that T powered 416s are still valued in active use... I also second the use of black gaffer tape around it to make it fit well too. I can't put into words how much I love that mic. Also, as a bonus, if you have any lose nails around, the 416 can help you hammer them in, lol.

That said, if you just want a decent mic for the camera, get an NTG-2 for $250 to keep on the camera and hire a sound guy on the bigger shoots and work that into your budget. Really, it is just easier to focus on the camera and hire someone whose job it is to focus on getting the best location sound, and your client will appreciate it when presented with the final project. Good sound is priceless, get a sound guy for the important stuff.
 
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