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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: tchoub on February 14, 2004, 09:12:42 AM

Title: Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: tchoub on February 14, 2004, 09:12:42 AM
Hi,
I'm going to make a recording of an instrumental rock band called "Explosions in the sky" in a few days. The show will take place on a small barge (approximatively 200 persons max.).

From what I have been told, the band I am going to record plays "loud".

My current setup is : Oktava mk012 (card) > Denecke ps2 > MD or D8.
(the mics will be used without the -10dB pads)

I was quite convinced that the recording would be working quite well until I read this post :
http://www.oade.com/Tapers_Section/Forum/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=100&topic_id=108&mesg_id=108&listing_type=search (http://www.oade.com/Tapers_Section/Forum/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=100&topic_id=108&mesg_id=108&listing_type=search)
 
I'm totally confused about this situation...

Furthermore, I have a recording made with this setup :
Oktava MC 012 (hyper-cardioid) > Denecke PS-2 > Marantz PMD670 that sounds really really good...
so, I do not know what to think and I need your help !

If anyone of you has already used a similar setup as mine without line transformers or a preamp, could you please let me know what were your recordings like ?

Thanks !
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: jpschust on February 14, 2004, 09:30:24 AM
whoah- i didnt know anyone else liked explosions in the sky :-)
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: tchoub on February 15, 2004, 04:05:37 AM
Anyone ?
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: Ed. on February 16, 2004, 05:04:22 AM
EITS = great band, my friends were supposed to open for them when they came to michigan, but shit happened and they were unable to.

does the ps-2 supply phantom power?  that person said they went mic-in.  which might have caused problems if the mic in was also supplying plug in power.  I dunno, thats my guess, but i didn't read everything all the way on the oade site.  If i were you, i'd just crank your house speakers and do some testing in your living room.

ed
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: hhf32 on February 16, 2004, 08:29:09 AM
I just recently ran a similar setup.
 MC012's>ps-2>hosa line transformers>MD. I would recommend the line transformers as a cheap way to boost your levels and go line in instead of mic in.
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: tchoub on February 16, 2004, 01:33:26 PM
yes the ps2 supplies 48V phantom power.
In my opinion, running the mics "mic in" with the ps2 is not really good...

I was thinking going "line in" but I'm not sure if it will work properly...

I think that I will just test and see what happens.
I will let you know ...
thanks for your answers !
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: bush on February 16, 2004, 02:22:35 PM
yes the ps2 supplies 48V phantom power.
In my opinion, running the mics "mic in" with the ps2 is not really good...

I was thinking going "line in" but I'm not sure if it will work properly...

I think that I will just test and see what happens.
I will let you know ...
thanks for your answers !

 i dont think you're gonna get levels going line in without the transformers or a pre amp
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: super-phat-al on February 16, 2004, 02:32:15 PM
id like to hear the tape.  Explosions is pretty cool
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: tchoub on February 16, 2004, 02:42:05 PM
yes the ps2 supplies 48V phantom power.
In my opinion, running the mics "mic in" with the ps2 is not really good...

I was thinking going "line in" but I'm not sure if it will work properly...

I think that I will just test and see what happens.
I will let you know ...
thanks for your answers !

 i dont think you're gonna get levels going line in without the transformers or a pre amp
but isn't going "mic in", when you have your mics powered by an external source, a problem ?
 
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: bush on February 16, 2004, 06:32:05 PM
[
Quote
but isn't going "mic in", when you have your mics powered by an external source, a problem ?
 
Quote

I dont think so...you have to apply gain to your signal coming from the mics, and the ps2 does ot apply gain, it just powers the mics.
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: hhf32 on February 16, 2004, 09:23:29 PM
The only problem would be if you can't get the levels you need, then you'd need the transformers or preamp.
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: Ed. on February 17, 2004, 02:11:52 AM
yeah, i'd like to hear the tape too, eits on a barge sounds like one hell of a cool show.
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: tchoub on February 20, 2004, 01:54:47 PM
ok so I'm back from the Explosions in the sky show.
They were really amazing !

About the recording:
I'm now sure that a preamp or line transformers are needed with those Oktavas !

Run a pseudo ortf (110°,19cms) with one mic pointing to the left stack and the other one to the stage. The mics were 2 meters high and placed 1 meter from the stage and the stack. The band played "loud".
I was getting low levels despite the position of the mics and the fact that I used the mic in of my MD (recording at 27 out of 30).
A strong background noise is all over the recording...

Anyway, this was my very first open recording using a mic stand and my oktavas. I now have a Zefiro Inbox.
I'm just really excited about making another recording next week !

Thanks to all for your help.  :)
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: Cooker on February 23, 2004, 10:24:25 AM
yes a preamp or LTs are needed with the oktavas - i tried to run
MK012 > PS-2 > M1 and the levels were far to low.

You could get line transformers for it or you can get a preamp - i liked the sound of the mv-100 better than ps-2 > Line Transformers so that's what i got. they can be had for aroud $200 - and when you factor in $50 for LTs plus the $100-$120 you can get for the PS-2, it's really not that big a jump in price.
Title: Re:Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: tchoub on February 23, 2004, 01:50:18 PM
yes a preamp or LTs are needed with the oktavas - i tried to run
MK012 > PS-2 > M1 and the levels were far to low.

You could get line transformers for it or you can get a preamp - i liked the sound of the mv-100 better than ps-2 > Line Transformers so that's what i got. they can be had for aroud $200 - and when you factor in $50 for LTs plus the $100-$120 you can get for the PS-2, it's really not that big a jump in price.
I now have a Zefiro Inbox... I hope this will solve my problem !
Title: Re: Oktava mk012 (again)
Post by: distance on August 08, 2004, 11:55:29 AM
i'd really like to get a copy of this show (or at least get the setlist info)
i run a site and am trying to keep track of all such info
http://www.tourhistory.org/eits  (i haven't updated the site this year because i've been working on changing the db structure and just haven't been motivated to work on it.. didn't want to add in too much and just have more stuff to re-enter later)