Oktava vs 416 Indoors

H

Heartsbane00

Member
I know this has been discussed within these forums before, however, I feel I needed to have a discussion in order to make the correct choice. I have two current options as I see it for my short film (around 20-30 minutes.) Purchase a 4073a for outdoors in addition to an Oktava for indoors. I would outfit the 4073 with the Rycote S300 and would purchase a K-Tek mount for the Oktava. My other choice I have just recently realized is to simply purchase a 416 for all our current locations. The Oktava and 4073a kit costs around $1200, which is about what the MKH-416 would cost.. I could also play it risky and use the 4073a for both indoors and outdoors and save us some cash. We are shooting in locations that are uncontrolled, however, we are not stupid and will not shoot in a busy location. I just don't want to spend $1200 on an audio kit that we may replace in a matter of a year or two. I'm leaning towards getting the MKH-416 with a Rycote softie mounted on a painter's pole. I've found that purchasing a crappy boompole is useless, and I would rather have the equipment and upgrade the non-essentials later.
 
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The 416 is better microphone than the 4073 and the Octava. IMO, way better; but having the Octava and the At in your bag makes a better sound package than just the 416. Go for the two microphones, you will use them longer than just a year..
 
I agree. The 416 is a better mic than the 4073, but the AT is still really good. I would take 2 good mics that do different jobs well, than a great mic that only does one.

Assumng you are looking to build a well rounded kit.

Plus, you could probably get the AT, the Oktava, and either a boom pole or some wind protection for the price of the 416.
 
Um, the oktava. Does it have the hypercardioid capsule?

Just asking. People refer to "the Oktava" like it's one mic. Oktava is a company that makes more than one mic and the MC012 or MK 012 has three different capsules, omni, cardioid and hypercardioid.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
Good point. Make sure you get it with the hyper (some times it comes with all 3). I'm sure you might have a use for the others at some point, but I've never taken the hyper cap off of mine.
 
If the interior is reasonably dead acoustically, the 416 wins for me, otherwise I'm whipping out the Oktava (w/hyper cap).

I did order an omni cap also and have used it for plant mic purposes before.

Next years' budget has an MKH50 planned.
 
Jim Brennan said:
Good point. Make sure you get it with the hyper (some times it comes with all 3). I'm sure you might have a use for the others at some point, but I've never taken the hyper cap off of mine.
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And if you want to take a step up, consider the Audix SCX-1 HC. Almost Schoepsy. Almost.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
Hello Raf,

I have no direct experience with them. I do have a few friends who like the AKG Blue Line, but you just don't see either out there that much.

I wasn't aware that MBHO made any location audio mics. I started noticing them a few years back at AES, but none of the folks I talk with have that much to say about them.

Can there actually be too many mics now?

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
totally right about, too many options. I'm trying to get a medium price modular system for my documentary work and I'm lost with so many options. I want something better than Oktava, but cheaper than Schoeps........ going crazy. probably I would stick with classics and go for MKH80XX series
 
Heartsbane00 said:
I know this has been discussed within these forums before, however, I feel I needed to have a discussion in order to make the correct choice. I have two current options as I see it for my short film (around 20-30 minutes.) Purchase a 4073a for outdoors in addition to an Oktava for indoors. I would outfit the 4073 with the Rycote S300 and would purchase a K-Tek mount for the Oktava. My other choice I have just recently realized is to simply purchase a 416 for all our current locations. The Oktava and 4073a kit costs around $1200, which is about what the MKH-416 would cost.. I could also play it risky and use the 4073a for both indoors and outdoors and save us some cash. We are shooting in locations that are uncontrolled, however, we are not stupid and will not shoot in a busy location. I just don't want to spend $1200 on an audio kit that we may replace in a matter of a year or two. I'm leaning towards getting the MKH-416 with a Rycote softie mounted on a painter's pole. I've found that purchasing a crappy boompole is useless, and I would rather have the equipment and upgrade the non-essentials later.
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I was reading your post again and I though about something. The sennheiser MKh50, goes for around same price of your kit and it's a great all around microphone, you can use for exterior and for interiors. Sometime we abuse the idea of shotgun = exterior, hyper=interior. In my opinion (ears) the MKh50 (hyper) it has a narrower pattern than the KMr81(shotgun) so it works better when you are trying to get ride of some behind the camera noise.
That will be probably my best option.
 
I just picked up a MKH-416T with a Rycote sofite mount, windscreen, and furry windshield for $650. It should have about that same quality of the MKH-416P, and all I need is a $40 adapter to use it on my DVX. It was almost $200 less than the AT 4073 setup, so I can still pick up the Oktava hyper for 241, and the K-Tek mount. If anyone else is interested in picking up a MKH-416T, locationsound.com has two for $600. These do not come with the rycote setup, but it is still a good option.
 
I have the MBHO 603 with the hyper cap. Oleg recommended it to me (where is he BTW?) and I use for 95% of my recordings (416 for outsides, G2s with MKE2s for two person interviews).
MBHO are not that well known, but seem to be somewhat of an insider brand, like the poorman´s Schoeps (well the mic is 440€ here, not that cheap...)
Read about them here http://mbho.de/t1.htm
 
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