Guitar Center Oktava MC-012... no -10dB Pad anymore?

[pwshih]

I received GC's promotional email a few days ago, and noticed that they have the MC-012 on sale for $99 now. I went and picked up one, but found that there is no -10dB pad included. According to the rep, he said Oktava does not include the pad for GC any more. I am wondering if this has been the case for some time or just a new trend? When I read the postings here I got the impression that the -10 dB pad was included with every MC-012.

Does the pad get used that much in real application? I plan to use MC-012 to record some choir vocal from distance, or guitar/piano/flute/violin in close micing, but no drum or amp. Will I be able to get by without the pad?

BTW, is there a place to pick up those pads as an add-on accessory? I checked out sound-room.com but saw only capsules sold separately.

Thanks for your help!

Paul
----

[bigtoe]

i would bet you could buy em from guitar center even though they aren't stocked...have you asked? sometimes they aren't on the books but the guy or gal can get em.

i used the 012's a few times in the last couple months. people rave about em for toms so we tried em - i needed a pad - and yeah they are rad there... overheads, acoustic, and guitar case with brushes - no pad. you should be fine with the applications yer talking about.

oh once for snare - pad if i remember correctly - this was a few years ago. we did pad the input of the pre as well.

peace and chicken grease,

Mike

pS- i need this guy as a tattoo.

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by pwshih

I plan to use MC-012 to record some choir vocal from distance, or guitar/piano/flute/violin in close micing, but no drum or amp. Will I be able to get by without the pad?

For sure .

[pcs2000]

I purchased several MC012 mics and got the same answer when I noticed the -10dB pads were missing. That sucks since the ad clearly states the MC012 with the -10dB pad.

I visited the Sound-room website and looked at their pricelist to see if they stock the -10dB pad capsule. They have the -10dB pads for the MC012 listed under Accessories for $35.

http://sound-room.com/prices.txt

[crazydoc]

My guess is that this is the "new Chinese" 012, which from the ads I've seen, doesn't seem to be supplied with the pad.

[bongolation]

Chinese Oktava?

Anyway, I was in GC yesterday and specifically looked, and there wasn't an Oktava of any description in the store.

[Robert D]

Originally Posted by pwshih

Does the pad get used that much in real application? I plan to use MC-012 to record some choir vocal from distance, or guitar/piano/flute/violin in close micing, but no drum or amp. Will I be able to get by without the pad?
----

For those applications you wouldn't want the pad in there. I've never used the pads on my 012's, but it's nice that they're there in case (or in their case, as the case may be). Oh, by the way, I wouldn't suggest close micing violin in most cases. In close you'll get a lot of bow scratch, and very little of the character of the instrument. For a fiddle sound this is good, but for most violin work you'll get a much better sound in a large room with the mics up high and a good 10 or 12 feet away. A second 012 in a spaced pair will sound awesome, and if you've got a good sounding room, an omni capsule on your single 012 will also sound great.

Exceeding my 2 1/2 cents worth, RD

[crazydoc]

Originally Posted by bongolation

Chinese Oktava?

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/sho...d.php?t=154507
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/sho...d.php?t=154079

[pwshih]

Thanks for all the replies... and especially for the "2+ cents" suggestion from RD on the violin micing.

I will try to see if I can pick up a few more MC-012 from GC and see if I can match them up closely for stereo pair micing.

Paul
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[Bob Keelan]

If you scroll down on this you'll see the pad is both pictured and mentioned

http://www.guitarcenter.com/newslett...m?sel=6&eid=16

[crazydoc]

Originally Posted by Bob Keelan

If you scroll down on this you'll see the pad is both pictured and mentioned

http://www.guitarcenter.com/newslett...m?sel=6&eid=16

Looks like pwshih needs to go back to GC to get his pad they forgot to include, or a $35 refund off the price he paid.

[pwshih]

I think they are just using the "stock" picture from before. Also, the MC 012 I got comes with a plastic mic clip, similar to the one shown on the "Mk II" from one of the previous thread, unlike the metal one shown on the picture. It is also marked as "MC 012", not "MC 012-01".

BTW, the GC rep did mention to me that these new MC 012 do not come with the -10dB pad, so I kind of knew that on the spot when I purchased it. I was just not sure how much I will miss the -10dB pad...

Paul
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[Bob Keelan]

Includes a 10dB pad for high SPL recording

yeah, they must be using 'stock' text too!

[crazydoc]

It would be interesting (to some of us dweebs) to compare pics of the innards of both versions, to see if board and component brands are significantly different.

Here is a link to pics of the old ones - scroll down.
http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/t/5054/0

Anybody feel like taking apart their new one?

[cominginsecond]

Don't plan on using your Oktavas for drums if they don't have the pad (or you don't have a pad on your pre). I always have to use them on OH and close mic'd drums.

[Bob's Mods]

Originally Posted by crazydoc

My guess is that this is the "new Chinese" 012, which from the ads I've seen, doesn't seem to be supplied with the pad.

I question a "Chinese" manufacture of these. It could be...but it doesn't make sense. Russian labor is dirt cheap too.

Pad issue aside, the bigger question is, does this new stock of mics sound as good or even better than the previous stock of mics?

Bob

[paddyponchero]

Originally Posted by Bob's Mods

I question a "Chinese" manufacture of these. It could be...but it doesn't make sense. Russian labor is dirt cheap too.

Pad issue aside, the bigger question is, does this new stock of mics sound as good or even better than the previous stock of mics?

Bob

Russian labour costs are not even in the same century as chinese. A friend here who works for a prominent power supply manufacturer, he just got a bill for an entire months overtime at their chinese manufacturing plant - €200 - at that rate the employees are being payed a few cents an hour.

Another friend works for a telecoms company, the staff at their chinese assembly sleep in dormitorys attached to the plant, when one worker starts their shift another worker sleeps in their bed.

That is the kind of stuff you read about in history books.

[Bob's Mods]

The Russian work ethic is no where the Chinese. That I am sure. I kinda feel bad for all those Chinese dudes. They work like dogs for the company and all they get is a paycheck that pays their living expenses...if that. One step up from slavery.

It strikes me as odd that a Russian company would out source to China. The average Russian worker is not as productive, but nor are they expensive either.

Bob

[paddyponchero]

Originally Posted by Bob's Mods

The Russian work ethic is no where the Chinese. That I am sure. I kinda feel bad for all those Chinese dudes. They work like dogs for the company and all they get is a paycheck that pays their living expenses...if that. One step up from slavery.

It strikes me as odd that a Russian company would out source to China. The average Russian worker is not as productive, but nor are they expensive either.

Bob

Hi Bob,

I contacted Natalia Kuzmenko who is now their official representative / dealer she referred me to this post:

http://debris.com/journal/1274

Paddy

[Bob's Mods]

Paddy,

Interesting article. The newer MC012s a possible counterfit? That would explain a Chinese link. The rumours are flying about it seems.

Bob

[paddyponchero]

Originally Posted by Bob's Mods

Paddy,

Interesting article. The newer MC012s a possible counterfit? That would explain a Chinese link. The rumours are flying about it seems.

Bob

The most interesting part is this:
http://oktava.tula.net/fake/

Definitely look nothing like my oktavas and seem to use the same kind of metal that 797 puts into the B1 vs the brass construction of oktava.

[giraffe]

Originally Posted by paddyponchero

The most interesting part is this:
http://oktava.tula.net/fake/

Definitely look nothing like my oktavas and seem to use the same kind of metal that 797 puts into the B1 vs the brass construction of oktava.

no crap.........

thought i knew what was going on.......
i know a guy in russia, who sells oktava who dosn't know about this
but i guess thare's probably no counterfits in russia

[crazydoc]

Off topic (sorry) but from that same site a review (thanks for the great link, paddy):

The Oktava MK-319 was perhaps our favorite microphone of the bunch. The MK-319, even when compared to the Neumann U87 (which costs many times more) shared a very similar sound character that I found inviting in vocals. Clear, detailed and warm. Although the Neumann mic did rival the MK-319 in the absolute last bit of detail, you should bear in mind that the Neumann mic costs about 8 to 10 times more than the MK-319!

Now we need a SPC1 and Oktava 319 comparison thread, to see which one sounds most like the U87 (which "rivals" the 319.)

[nuemes]

Has anyone here who owns one of the original Russian manufactured MC012's bought one of the Chinese made MC012's and compared them? Would be interesting to hear what they have to say.

[paddyponchero]

For anyone who got suckered by the 'revised' oktavas heres another link

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_artikel-180077.html