Acoustic Guitar Recording Stereo ... Oktava mk012's or Marshall MXL 603's?

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foreverdown

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So lets have your opinions... which should I get. Also, I have heard that the 603s could be used for overheads on a drum set if you're on a low budget. How would the Oktavas fair as overheads on drums?

Thanks!
=--Casey
 
The Oktava's are great as drum overheads. I use mine as overheads constantly.

I don't have a set of 603's, but from what I understand, they tend to be a bit brighter than the 012's. On overheads, that may be a bit more sizzle than you want.

Both work well as acoustic guitar sets. I've used my 012's along with an LDC for a killer 3-mic combination.
 
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foreverdown said:
So lets have your opinions... which should I get. Also, I have heard that the 603s could be used for overheads on a drum set if you're on a low budget. How would the Oktavas fair as overheads on drums?

Thanks!
=--Casey
Click to expand...
I prefer the MC-012 over the MXL603S's for drum overheads because IMO they handle the cymbals better... on the other hand, I prefer the MXL603S's over the MC-012's for acoustic guitar because the 603S's are brighter sounding and I like that. However, both the MXL603S's and MC-012's will work for acoustic guitar and drums overheads... so it really comes down to what YOU prefer... both are nice, and that's why you really should hear both so you know which ones YOU like the best. Anyway... that's my opinion.
 
well I am working on setting up my home studio and right now I have a few things. My first mic for now looks like its going to be a Studio Projects C1. I already have an SM58 and I will be grabbing an SM57 too. Then as soon as I recoup from that spending I will be grabbing either the 603's or the MK012's. I guess I will go with the Oktavas since the Studio Projects' C1 is supposed to have a pretty bright sound. That way I will have a brighter mic and then the Oktavas. How's that sound? Good, bad, comments and suggestions?
 
foreverdown said:
well I am working on setting up my home studio and right now I have a few things. My first mic for now looks like its going to be a Studio Projects C1. I already have an SM58 and I will be grabbing an SM57 too. Then as soon as I recoup from that spending I will be grabbing either the 603's or the MK012's. I guess I will go with the Oktavas since the Studio Projects' C1 is supposed to have a pretty bright sound. That way I will have a brighter mic and then the Oktavas. How's that sound? Good, bad, comments and suggestions?
Click to expand...
IMO, the C1 is a good mic and so is the SM57 so your off to a good start... and yes the C1 is a bright sounding mic (IMO) but remember the the C1 is a LDC, and the MC-012 is SDC... so at some point in time you may want some bright and darker LDC mics and the same goes for the SDC mics... but your off to a good start IMO. What kind of instruments will you be recording?
 
Good choice.

I own all of those mics but the 58, and you'll have quite a few of your bases covered with that group.

You may want to consider adding a more neutral LDC to the mix down the road-something like an Oktava MK319, an MXL V57, or an ADK A-51 might be a good choice for under $100. That will give you a couple of colors of LDC for different types of voices, if you start doing more vocal work.

Additionally, the Studio Projects B1 gets rave reviews on acoustic guitar (but not so much on vocals) for $99. I've used the A-51 on acoustics, and it sounds pretty good to great, depending on the guitar. I've used the C1 on a couple of acoustic pieces-you've got to have the right kind of guitar for the C1 to work well, but when it does, it works REALLY well. The A-51 and the C1 are the 2 LDC's I've teamed up with the 012's...

You'll be off to a good start with the mics you mentioned. Good luck!
 
thanks everyone for your help. I have pretty much based my choices off of reading here and then checking out reviews... Thanks for the input on the extra mics. As for what I am recording, I am a male tenor and that is what I will be recording to start with. I am very loud and hmm I don't know. So yea, and my acoustic guitar is a Yamaha Compass series. The whole reason I am setting up this home studio is so I won't have to spend loads of money on studio time since its just solo acoustic stuff. I spent lots of money on my most recent CD and I got awesome quality, but since I had to spend so much money for the studio time I wasn't able to spend as much time getting things exactly how I want them. You can hear all of my new CD at http://purevolume.com/foreverdown/ if you would like an idea of my sound. So yea, I guess that's it for now... keep the input coming everyone! Thanks so much. You guys are awesome.
 
one thing to think about the oktava's is that they very ALOT in quality between mics. a site on the internet (thesoundroom or somthing) finds good ones....but for a good amount of money. alot more than the 603's.
 
foreverdown, there is a good bunch of people on this bbs who like helping people (when we're not bickering) so you've come to the right place for help. One other thing I'd like to add is most of the time I prefer LDC and dynamic mics over SDC for voice... with that said, have fun and I wish you the best. :)
 
I have both the Oktavas and the MXLs. In general, I prefer the MXLs on acoustic guitar but I will use the Oktavas for certain applications. From what I hear it seems that the Oktavas might be kind of hard to get ahold of these days. Bottom line though, neither one is the wrong choice.
 
Well ain't this almost a first............virtually total agreement.

MXL 603's........As has been said, potentially too "bright" for a lot of cymbals. They can work well but take some careful positioning. On acoustic they are generally easy to work with, particularly if the guitar is a full sounding dreadnaught as they tend to tame the "boominess" and leave you with a good balance of tones. Overall, a good and useful mic, especially considering the price.

MC-012's.........I haven't even tried them on acoustic as I have other mics that are doing the job well. Since I received a pair from the US, courtesy of Flatpicker, (the prices here are frightening.....recommended list >$700Aust, street price >$450Aust per mic)........I have only had the opportunity to "throw" them up over a kit a couple of times. My opinion is that they are easy to position for a good sound.......possibly this coming weekend will see the first serious use of them.....I used this drummer and his kit to try the Oktavas out a few weeks ago. A three mic setup with no more than five minutes on positioning..........I heard later that the guy was raving to people about the great drum sound...........I give credit to the mics.

In regard to a LD mic, try out as many as you can.


:cool:
 
btr31 said:
one thing to think about the oktava's is that they very ALOT in quality between mics. a site on the internet (thesoundroom or somthing) finds good ones....but for a good amount of money. alot more than the 603's.
Click to expand...
I’m surprised no one challenged your statement… for example in the http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=116610&perpage=25&pagenumber=2 thread I posted “I've been reading on some of the other web sites that all the 797 Audio/Studio Projects B1 mics don't sound the same. I think the two 797 Audio/Studio Projects B1's that I had and sold were pretty close... but, I wonder if there is a quality control issue with Studio Projects like Harvey said about Oktava?” and I got the following replies.

Posted by Han
<snip>
I've had two AKG C3000's that didn't sound the same and had a different output level.
I still have two AKG D12's that don't sound the same either.
I have six Sennheiser MD421's that all sound slightly different.
I have two Sennheiser MD441's that also sound different.
I have seen nobody complain about this phenomenon so far.
<snip>

Posted by VTgreen81
I may not know what I'm talking about, but isn't this true of most mics? I thought that's why you pay more per mic when buying matched pairs of just about anything?

And then of course I got hell from the others for stating what I’ve read… lol.
 
No DJ, you got hell because you again singled out Studio Projects and ignored the fact that finding slight variations between mics of the same model is with a few exceptions, a well known phenomena regardless of which brand of mic is involved.

:cool:
 
ausrock said:
No DJ, you got hell because you again singled out Studio Projects and ignored the fact that finding slight variations between mics of the same model is with a few exceptions, a well known phenomena regardless of which brand of mic is involved.

:cool:
Click to expand...
Oh, I see... it's ok to single out Oktava but not Studio Projects.
 
Two major differences................btr31 doesn't make a habit of repeatedly "sniping" the same manufacturer and Oktava's unenviable QC record is already well documented on most recording forums.

BTW, note it was you who diverted the direction of this thread when you referred to the B1's.

:cool:
 
ausrock said:
Two major differences................btr31 doesn't make a habit of repeatedly "sniping" the same manufacturer and Oktava's unenviable QC record is already well documented on most recording forums.

BTW, note it was you who diverted the direction of this thread when you referred to the B1's.

:cool:
Click to expand...
So I was right about it being ok to single out Oktava and not Studio Projects on this bbs... thanks for confirming that... and for doing it without calling me names this time.

I have two Oktava MC-012's and IMO they are as close to being the same as any other cheap mic manufacture makes their mics the same.

BTW: note the thread direction is on track.
 
If you've got the $$ get both. They seem to cover different slightly ground. If one set doesn't sound quite right, the other usually does.

The setup I've been digging on lately is the Oktava's XY at the 12th fret, and a 414 about 2 feet out, aimed at the soundhole and set to omni.
 
I think this Oktava QC issue is important seeing how foreverdown is about to buy a pair of Oktava MC-012's... so with that said, I know there are a lot of people here who own Oktava MC-012's... so lets help foreverdown out and tell him how you like or dislike and etc your Oktava MC-012's. In behalf of foreverdown... thanks.
 
I like mine. Bought 'em separately. Sound close enough to these ears. Hope this helps.
 
haha, yay, thanks DJ! and thanks to everyone that has contributed in anyway!
 
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