Topic: Newbie here...please help me out

[Nick in Edinboro]

Oktava's QC is less then optimal and if you do not get a matched pair then the two mic's might be off in their response, meaning one might be hotter (louder) then the other, sound different or even contain completely different electronics inside their body.

A company called Sound Pro (www.soundpro.com, I think) hand matches them for a price, and I also believe a seller on eBay who claims to sell matched pairs does a decent job at atleast ensuring the caps are close (can't say for sure but someone here might know).

It can make a world of difference from remarks I've heard.  Check out the archives or do a search on Oktava's for tons of info regarding this..

[pfife]

How much are they asking for the mics on ebay?

[learning_towalk]

150-200 a pair

[jpschust]

it all depends on the gc near you, yah there's been some questioning but if you hand match you can be sure your caps and mics work.  

[pfife]

All thats been said, I would go the your local GC, cause even if they aren;t on sale, you are still getting them for the same price...

And, you can take them back within 30 days if you don't dig them...

And, you can match them.  

I am assuming that this can be done by finding two with consecutive SN#, right?

[jpschust]

chances are you arent gonna find consec serials but close maybe.  and i dont think gc allows returns on mics unless they are basically doa

[learning_towalk]

so are they good sounding mics??? I mean I know that they won't sound like Neumanns or Schoeps but how would they sound compared to AKG blueline series?

also the UA5...how cheap could I get one? and what exactly would it do?

[greenone]

A company called Sound Pro (www.soundpro.com, I think) hand matches them for a price

That's The Sound Room (www.sound-room.com, also oktava.com) and they're unfortunately not taking online orders at the moment due to them moving offices and the passing of their sales manager... Taylor's a good guy to deal with but a matched pair with one set of capsules is $400+ which pretty much blows your budget...

[pfife]

chances are you arent gonna find consec serials but close maybe.  and i dont think gc allows returns on mics unless they are basically doa

Hmm... I don't know for sure, but I thought they would basically take back almost anything (except prolly software...) - but, if you go there, just check first if this could be a possibility...

I did return a used Marshall power amp to my local GC... I would be suprised if they take returns on used items, but not new mics, but like I said, I don't know fo sho...

Peace.
~Pfife

[Nick in Edinboro]

learning_towalk....

I think this might help explain some things about taping in general.

http://www.moelinks.com/random/source/

To record shows you need:
mics > pre-amp w/phantom power > A/D converter > recording device

The UA-5 is a Pre-amp and A/D converter in one box.

[learning_towalk]

so from what I gather...I should go

Oktava Mics(matched if possible)>
Edirol UA5>
Nomad Jukebox 3

does it have to be a JB3 or would a Zen work???

also what all cables would I need to go from

Mics>
preamp/ad converter>
jb3>
computer

thanks!

[Nick in Edinboro]

[pfife]

JB3 only.  

And, you need two xlr cables (for each mic) into the UA5; then, a cable that is a regular optical plug on one end, and an optical 1/8" miniplug on the other end.

You also need to make a power cable and purchase a battery pack.  They were discussing this just yesterday in one of the other forums.

[BCostigan]

Is the m-audio USB pre powered via the USB connection or  AC like everything else they make?  If it's powered by the USB you will HAVE to record with the laptop.  If it's only powered via AC then I'd scrap that idea all together.  There are lots of options (IMHO) in the $600 range...just depends on what you want to spend your $$ on.  If you have a laptop already then you, of course, have more to spend on mics/pre.

Do you already have a laptop???

[Kevin]

so are they good sounding mics??? I mean I know that they won't sound like Neumanns or Schoeps but how would they sound compared to AKG blueline series?

also the UA5...how cheap could I get one? and what exactly would it do?

cant compare them to the 480's , they sound better than Neumanns and Schoeps