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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: bdasilva on December 01, 2007, 11:02:20 AM

Title: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bdasilva on December 01, 2007, 11:02:20 AM
http://www.vintagemicrophone.com/JShop/product.php?xProd=45&jssCart=fc2a5ef8e36ff6457e090cfb87b071b9

I'm not fluffing these capsules to buy them  but rather just pointing out their coolness.


I still love mine tho I never use them anymore... (my first "real"  mics)  Had to buy a set of these lollypops.
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: rokpunk on December 01, 2007, 11:53:50 AM
well, no.
i don't own a pair of these, but my experience with hearing oktava mics was less than impressive.
not to say that these can't make nice tapes, but i guess i have never heard one that appealed to me.

they are, however, strong like bull. </russian accent off>
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Teen Wolf Blitzer on December 01, 2007, 02:00:52 PM
I'd like to try this Oktava...

Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bhakti on December 02, 2007, 08:23:05 AM
anyone ever try them on acoustic guitars [not in a concert situation, but more home studio scenario?] thinking of buying the Mk-012's... what you guys think? and for pulling tapes just for interest?

thanks guys..  :)
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: fluffme on December 02, 2007, 09:36:57 PM
Got these mics for cheap back in the day.

I think I paid $25/each for the cards and bodies.

I bought the extra capsule set that included the omnis and hypers.

Never used them for live taping.  Mine have seen use as drum overheads/hihat mics for live applications and demo work...not bad...mine weren't matched s/n but were both close sounding and seemed to work good for the "high end" of cymbals.

I've found them to be a little too bright for acoustic mic'ing directly.  I've never really invested too much time in trying to make them work, most of the time never used with an outboard pre, either.

I know buddies who have been pleased with piano and horn sounds recorded with these mics, fwiw....but as always, ymmv.

I keep 'em around cause they were cheap and you never know when they will be perfect for a certain sound I'm trying to get.


Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bhakti on December 03, 2007, 12:34:56 AM
thanks fluffme... when you said "back in the day" for $25, how long ago was that?
there is a whole oktava story with bad imitation chinese mics that floated into the market... supposedly the russians are the only ones to get... just wondering if you got a chinese one for that price... you know pay 13X that price a one MK-012...

not sure, but a possibility... anyone know anything else about these mics?
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: stirinthesauce on December 03, 2007, 12:39:16 AM
plenty of info on this board, and others, about the oktava mc-012.  There is also a simple mod, the dorsey mod, that one can do themselves to improve on the sonic characteristics.  There is also a company, if memory serves me correct, where you can send them to do the mod for you.

a quick search using the advanced search choosing just this board, the microphone board, posts 5 pages of relevant information about this particular mic including plenty of discussion talking about the differences between the russian and the chinese knockoffs and the distinguishing characteristics.

... anyone know anything else about these mics?
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: nickb on December 03, 2007, 08:37:19 AM
Back in the day, well,  meaning 2002-2004....GC had ships of these things on a big buy from Russia.  Their cost was $25/each for the body and card cap.....

They used them as loss leaders for a few years....sometimes reducing their internal cost to a penny (.01) to make a $25 sale worth while on their books.

Not sure if these were indeed Chinese "fakes" or not but they were cheap and I grabbed up a few on different occasions, kept a couple for myself and have given away or traded the others away.

EDIT:  I'm almost certain these were indeed the Russian's...as there were hand drawn mic specs on "newspaper" type paper when I bought them. Russian writing on all documentation, as well.

DBL Edit:  fluffme = nickb  ;D
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bhakti on December 03, 2007, 02:44:31 PM
thanks guys.... will do the oktava search... anyone know the difference between MC-012 and MK-012?
thanks again... reckon I'll just buy them anyways...  ;D
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: nickb on December 03, 2007, 08:51:25 PM
Here's a couple of links....

Seems some folks have ideas as to what the "c" stands for.  I distinctively remember GC selling both the MK & MC series....but never heard of them as being fake and made in China... I'd search out the K's just in case...


http://oktava.tula.net/fake/

The ones on the left ^^ are the ones I have, same case and all.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Microphone/product/Oktava/MC-012/10/1

Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bdasilva on December 11, 2007, 10:55:26 AM
Got the capsules today... pictures included in top post.  coolness.
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Krispy D on December 11, 2007, 11:03:05 AM
there is no difference between the C and the K.  I've had a (real russian) pair for quite some time and while I don't use them as much as I once did, I doubt I will get rid of them any time soon.  This is a solid go to mic for many situations.  I generally use them for drum overheads, but in good situations can make stellar live aud tapes.  I feel they are just as good a value (better?) as a C4 set.  I've been thinking about some of those LD red lolipop caps but have yet to pull the trigger.  post a comp when you can.
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: John Willett on December 11, 2007, 11:45:01 AM
I'd like to try this Oktava...

(http://taperssection.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=95015.0;attach=73958;image)



If it's what I think it is - it's in breach of Soundfield's patents.

I did hear that there was a microphone that breached Soundfield's patents and had to be taken off the market.
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bdasilva on December 11, 2007, 11:45:38 AM
90$ each while they last thru the end of the month
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Krispy D on December 11, 2007, 11:57:45 AM
what body does that behemoth fit on? or is it a complete mic in of itself?  I would hate to see the cable!
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Tim on December 11, 2007, 12:23:05 PM
I'd like to try this Oktava...

(http://taperssection.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=95015.0;attach=73958;image)



If it's what I think it is - it's in breach of Soundfield's patents.

I did hear that there was a microphone that breached Soundfield's patents and had to be taken off the market.


hmmm I know Core-Sound is making a tetra mic

what do Soundfield's patents cover exactly?
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: modmike on December 11, 2007, 12:46:13 PM
Got the capsules today... pictures included in top post.  coolness.


How do they sound?
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: John Willett on December 11, 2007, 02:13:19 PM
I'd like to try this Oktava...

(http://taperssection.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=95015.0;attach=73958;image)



If it's what I think it is - it's in breach of Soundfield's patents.

I did hear that there was a microphone that breached Soundfield's patents and had to be taken off the market.


hmmm I know Core-Sound is making a tetra mic

what do Soundfield's patents cover exactly?


I think almost anything referring to tetrahedal using wide cardioids and the conversion - they are very wide ranging.

Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bdasilva on December 11, 2007, 02:27:11 PM
Just got and not had time to play yet... Favorable reviews at gearslutz in the low end thorey forum... I'll try to run them for what "we" do. :o
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Nick's Picks on December 11, 2007, 02:38:34 PM
http://www.frontendaudio.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=9999-01430&HistoryRemove=0&historysingle=YES

i want one.
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Krispy D on December 11, 2007, 02:47:21 PM
Hmm, think that price is with or without caps?  the description says it can be used with any of the oktava "heads" I assume they mean capsules.  that thing would be fun to play with!  think, that mic>R4.  that is a pretty low pro 4 channel recording!
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Nick's Picks on December 11, 2007, 03:33:38 PM
4 chan input....but 2 chan output.
I WANT IT !!!!
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Krispy D on December 11, 2007, 03:39:38 PM
4 chan input....but 2 chan output.
I WANT IT !!!!

you sure about that?

from the front end site:

Quote
Oktava MK-012AM Details
4-D preamp with four individual outputs for ambient recording, can be used with MK-012, MK-102 and MK-103 heads.
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: illconditioned on December 11, 2007, 03:43:29 PM
90$ each while they last thru the end of the month

What is $90?  The MK012 mics?  If so, where is the dealer.

Thanks,
  Richard

Like I need any more mics, lol.  Just "asking" for now...
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Krispy D on December 11, 2007, 03:44:17 PM
90$ each while they last thru the end of the month

What is $90?  The MK012 mics?  If so, where is the dealer.

Thanks,
  Richard

Like I need any more mics, lol.  Just "asking" for now...

seriously!  I can only find it for 1200.00
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: illconditioned on December 11, 2007, 03:45:21 PM
90$ each while they last thru the end of the month

What is $90?  The MK012 mics?  If so, where is the dealer.

Thanks,
  Richard

Like I need any more mics, lol.  Just "asking" for now...

seriously!  I can only find it for 1200.00

He might have been talking about MK012 mics or capsules.  I'm not expecting the four-headed beast to be that cheap!

  Richard
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Nick's Picks on December 11, 2007, 03:53:33 PM
yea...it outputs 4 channels.  but its nothing you could listen to.  you'd need to mix it to 2 or 5.1 or 7.1/10.1
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Krispy D on December 11, 2007, 03:55:24 PM
I know the site says it is compatable with MK series caps but doesn't that mean it would work with the Red LD caps as well!
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bdasilva on December 11, 2007, 04:21:36 PM
Stay up with the post not the hijack... You can buy the Red lollypop L/D Capsules that fit the MC-012 bodies (link on top post) for 90$ each... the surrround mic costs .. ahem.. more.
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: Krispy D on December 11, 2007, 04:37:05 PM
Stay up with the post not the hijack... You can buy the Red lollypop L/D Capsules that fit the MC-012 bodies (link on top post) for 90$ each... the surrround mic costs .. ahem.. more.

are your bodies Dorsey modded?  I would love to hear a four way comp of the red card vs mk card both with and without the dorsey mod!
Title: Re: Do you love your Oktava m?-012???
Post by: bdasilva on December 11, 2007, 06:10:18 PM
What as a source?? I have two sets that are well modded.. two gig ohm on each side... decent caps... bypass caps on the electrolitics. I dont have a non modded set.