Topic: Oktava MC-012 MODs

[bush]

I couldnt find the thread, so I made a new one!!!

There is a DIY  how-to in this months recording magazine about modding the Oktava MC-012s.

It is a VERY interesting read!!!!!

It says that these mods Drastically improve the top and bottom end of these mics with a few simple part swaps

I havent tried this...YMMV

bush:smoking2:

[dklein]

Is there a link or is it just in the magazine?  What are the highlights?

[bush]

I only saw it in the magazine...and i am not the most electrically technical person around...

something about a FET and a transducer  yadda yadda yadda

there were like 5 items to be inspected and or replaced in the article, with pictures and part numbers and manufacturers.

the article also explained some of the oktava production process and why these parts were inferior or just plain bad!!!

[utahtaper]

What magazine is this in?

[greenone]

Recording Magazine - they mention the article here, but for obvious reasons it's not on their web site yet.

http://www.recordingmag.com/current_issue.html

Be interesting to see it - I wonder if my Elations use the same parts?

[Chuck]

I looked for the Sept. edition of Recording and it wasn't out yet.

[Simp-Dawg]

do you know if this is for ALL oktava mc012's or just the unmatched ones from gc?  i mean...does the matching have anything to do with these enhancements or would i still benefit from them?
i'd really like to clean up the low end of mine and boost the high frequencies a bit i think.  but i don't want to ruin the factory matched set i paid a pretty penny for from the sound room.  pretty penny meaning that i paid full price for these with all 3 matched caps, didn't get a cheap setup from gc or buy used.

[bush]

The sound room mics are prolly not gonna need all the mods/upgrades.

 I got that the matched pairs and such from higher end dealers ie. sound room, will not need all of the parts suggested in the article, but you can still replace some of the electronics for drastic improvements.

the article said that somewhere in the production process, if the oktava techs didnt have the correct parts for the microphone on hand they would use whatever they had instead. It also said the mics that go to the sound room do not have these particluar problems ie:substituted parts,  but even these do have inferior parts in them and would benefit from the mods

Good luck

bush:smoking2:

[Chuck]

I'm handy with a soldering iron and intend to get some cheap bodies on eBay to try this modification. That way I can still use my unmodded matched bodies as a comparison pair. I still can't locate a copy of the magazine yet though.

[John Kelly]

Since I know dick about soldering or any of that stuff, would anyone be willing to do the mods for a modest fee?  If so I may have to pick up a pair of the el-cheapo ones at Guitar Center...

[Chuck]

Since I know dick about soldering or any of that stuff, would anyone be willing to do the mods for a modest fee?  If so I may have to pick up a pair of the el-cheapo ones at Guitar Center...

I think we need to test this mod and make recordings for comparisons. I personally will try it on some "cheap" eBay or Guitar Center bodies first.

If indeed it is a great mod, and the procedure isn't too difficult, I would be willing to help you mod your mics.

[bush]

Hell yeah Chuck...thats the best idea I['ve heard all day

A BIG  +T

bush

[Simp-Dawg]

right on chuck...i'm very interested in seeing how this turns out.  we should meet up sometime in denver for a show and do some comps perhaps.

[Chuck]

right on chuck...i'm very interested in seeing how this turns out.  we should meet up sometime in denver for a show and do some comps perhaps.

Sounds good. I'm in Woodland Park, just West of Colorado Springs.
I just mail ordered for The Philmore shows in November.

[John Kelly]

Well I just couldn't pass up on the deal, I picked up a pair tonight.  I'll do some tests tonight and see if they're any close to being similar...