Ridiculous cheap hack to eliminate handling noise from the Oktava

[Marc André Bolduc]

So I didn't listen to people saying that the oktava was VERY susceptible to handling noise and I purchased it anyway. I was kinda freaked out by how noisy it really is when I tried one last thing. I took my cheap 15$ LDC shockmount I purchased on ebay and I put elastic bands on it to suspend the Oktava inside. BINGO, it works like crazy. There is almost no handling noise anymore.

BTW, I'm having an issue with this microphone. Sometimes it picks up radio stations signals. It's super annoying. My AKG LDC never does that when plugged in the same hardware with the same cables. Did that happen to someone else?

 

[Richard Crowley]

Your two-stage shock-mount idea is brilliant! :thumbsup:

Time to do a thorough test of all your mics and cables and narrow down exactly what may be contributing to the RFI problem.

 

[Marc André Bolduc]

Thanks! For my RFI problem, I really think it's the mic unfortunately. Because I've never have that problem with my other microphone and I use exactly the same materials. I would really be glad if it was just a cable though.

 

[Richard Crowley]

Do you have just one mic body and one capsule? Have you checked the connection between the capsule and the body? No corrosion? No debris, etc?

 

[Marc André Bolduc]

Yes it's just one body and the hyper capsule. they're both very clean.

 

[GaryNattrass]

You can go one step better and use hair bands in your shock mount: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=17616&picture=colorful-hair-bands

 

[David W. Jones]

The Rycote Invision INV-6 works well with the Oktava MK-012.

I have also found that adding a high pass filter helps out as well. Oktava makes what they call a MK-012 Low Cut Filter which can be added to the Mic.

I also never use this mic without a BBG & dead cat.

 

[Rick R]

I concur with David, the Invision shock mount works very well as does the BBG.
"Oktava makes what they call a MK-012 Low Cut Filter which can be added to the Mic"
- This allegedly adds noise artifacts, though I have not used one personally. When I'm forced to use a Oktava, I employ a HPF in the preamp of mixer... however most cheap preamps/recorders have the filters at the tail end of the input chain, letting potential LF distortion reach the preamp.