OK, today is Saturday. I FINALLY have a chance to say a few things before this thread is completely dead. I am sorry to bring things up again while you guys are enjoying the rest. I'll try to keep this as low-key as possible. I promise no name calling or pissing or anything of that nature. I'm posting this, though, as I feel I have a right to say something about ALL this. The following may be a bit scatter-brained as most will be in response as we go along the thread, but I'll try and keep things together as possible.
-To quote The Axis:
"ONE: Everyone has a right to express their opinions about various mikes, dealers, etc. Some people will establish credibility, and convince us of their knowledge, others will establish the opposite."
"FACT: Everyone should be extremely skeptical of rumors, and recommendations given over the Internet, **especially** on discussion forums."
Agreed! THIS is the ONLY reason WHY I mentioned my reputation here and tell new comers to ask around about me. After THAT, come-up with your own conclusions of my credibility AND what I've said; whether it's what I've said to be known as fact or simply my opinion.
-The LAST thing I'm worried about is my reputation. I've SIMPLY asked people to use my reputation and credibility from the past on THIS. THAT'S the ONLY reason why I bought-up my reputation.
-To quote dobro:
"One more: Axis, your comments are valid as a rule-of-thumb approach, and it's sensible to be skeptical about what you hear on the net, especially where people are selling things. But Harvey's points go beyond go beyond generalizations to specifics - if the Sound Room does the screening work that Oktavas need, and they provide documentation for it, then that's valuable information."
I have provided the same such or similar in the past.
-To quote dobro again:
"First shot - I don't think an appeal to one's reputation is anywhere near as convincing as an appeal to the facts. In this thread, what Harvey said about Sound Room Oktavas was much more convincing than what you've said so far - not because he's Harvey Gerst, but because he referred to important facts."
I HAVE many times in the past and people have bitched. AND I HAVEN'T THIS time as Harvey already has! I said I'd be back Saturday to go over it all JUST as I have in the past, but Harvey got to it FIRST! I've a few things to add, but for the most part, Harvey has covered it. And quite well if I might say so myself!
-tdukex, FINALLY, SOMEONE who's seen the EXACT reason WHY I said ANYTHING about my reputation. I COULDN'T have said it better! Thank You for EVERYTHING!
-It was I who The Axis quoted from the archives:
Warning:
Never buy an OKTAVA from the Guitar Center. Since OKTAVA's quality control is not too good. Or I should say it's so good that they claim they reject a large amount of their mics. But yet, they still sell them and places like the Guitar Center (who don't buy on bulk) buy those rejects that those dealers who buy in bulk and don't want.
The first sentence was obviously my opinion. The rest is what Taylor told me if I understood correctly. And since he said that to me, I believe that was the case at least at THAT time. What's going-on now, I haven't any idea.
-To quote CMiller:
"Look, the bottom line is...I don't give a shit about any of your resumes. I really don't. But if one of you gives me a recommendation, I'll look into it as a possibility if I'm in the market. I'm sure as hell not going to buy a mic because some bozo I've never met from the Internet told me to. I'll check it out myself."
I agree, 100%! But some people are just NOT taking it as that. Hence MOST of THIS thread AS WELL as others in the past.
-To quote The Axis again:
"All the recommendations and defense of the SR comes through third party sources. This tends to lend much greater credibility to the AF McKay version of the story."
Actually, to me, it tends to lend much greater credibility to The Sound Room. That's just the way I see it.
-Taylor told me that you'll notice some of the pictures on the Oktava website are from his site, The Sound Room. Seems legit because everyone knows you don't get that those cedar cases from Guitar Center and DO from The Sound Room. McKays'? I don't know. Taylor told me the cedar boxes he buys elsewhere. In fact, too bad
the VM100 pic wasn't still up on the Oktava site as that picture was from The Sound Room too.
Speaking of which, Taylor is still, and has been for awhile, taking orders for the VM100 again. He FINALLY convinced SOMEONE from Oktava to produce a VERY limited run specifically for him. He's encouraging more people to put in their order so they'll make more. THIS REALLY may seem like a salesman talking, but it's SIMPLY FACT! Take it as you see it.
-To quote Wide Awake:
"Why does the Sound Room refer to the mics as RTT ? I don't remember any of the magazines reviews I've read using that name."
Harvey responded with:
"Because the McKays legitimately own the rights to the Oktava brand name world-wide as the distributor of Oktava mics."
Yes, this is what I understand as well. Actually, THIS ties into that magazine article.
-About the 8 microphone magazine "shoot-out/comparison, yes, it WAS in Electronic Musician, and YES, the March 2000 issue. As I sit here and read it's entirety for the 7th time, it's a VERY informative article. You owe it to yourself to read it. Anyhow, in the article, it does NOT mention The Sound Room's extra quality control in it. It DOES, however, mention the Elation 201s from RTT/The Sound Room being importers of them and repackaging with cedar boxes with "sloppily cut" foam (probably the way the foam in my RTT VM100 box is) and planned new laser-cut foam by the time the article printed.
About the pair of Oktava MC012s used and mentioned in the article, NO WHERE does it say The Sound Room or McKays' (which is NOT mentioned AT ALL in the article) when talking about the Oktava. It ONLY mention twice that they can be purchased from your local Guitar Center. I thought this was VERY interesting. So, I talked to Taylor and from what I understood, he's not to allowed to advertise the Oktava name in actual print (Internet is fine I guess) or something of that nature.; I'm sure the EXACT "deal". Know I don't remember Taylor himself specifically asked Brain NOT to mention The Sound Room in association with the MC012s, but he didn't. Anyhow, Taylor also told me the Oktava MC012s were from him even though the article didn't say. He DID encourage me to contact Brain himself on this too. But putting trust into his word, I didn't. I took it as is. So, I MYSELF encourage you to contact Brian if you don't want to take my word for taking Taylor's word.
By the way, in the same issue of EM, there is a GREAT article on miking piano by Elizabeth Papapetrou, a former employee or something of The Sound Room. Doesn't have anything to do with what we're talking about here. I just found that interesting.
-The Axis, I guess I'm not seeing the line where you see "FACT". From what I understand, you seem to see AF McKay's e-mail response to your question as "FACT", however, you don't see ALL that Harvey has said here or I in the past as "FACT". Maybe I'm misinterpreting you on this?
-Another thing I don't understand in general is why it's SO HARD for some people to believe that Taylor Johnson buys his mics legit. Why don't people question Guitar Center JUST as much? Hell, they're the ones selling Oktavas for SOO much cheaper anyway. IS it just a marketing view-point? I mean, from what I understand, it is VERY much an "Eastern World way of thinking". Quantity is what it's all about. Or maybe NOT even THAT. Maybe simply business from who ever you can get.
Take 797 Audio for example. They're OEMing SO many mics that when they tried releasing their own line, things weren't too successful from what I understand. Was it because they cut their own throat with OEMing so many mics SO easily available in the US? Did they not think of or realize the "Western World way of thinking" enough? Last I heard about their own line was that they were to stop production and maybe try again in a few years. we'll see.
Of course, does any of that "way of thinking" stuff REALLY exist? I haven't a clue, but at least it's a possibility. Sorry, no facts here.
-Emeric, I respect yours and dobro's opinion on this moderator thing. BUT the FACT IS that it takes a LONG time for me to write up a response or post of most nature of significance. To make sure it is helpful and as accurate as possible, I MUST do LOTS of research AND double-checking AND editing. Not to mention I STILL suck at typing. Plus, reading these LONG threads such as this one over and over again takes A LOT of time. I mean, I've put in 3 hours in this response thus far and it's not nearly done! Posts have taken me up to 5 or 6 hours before! I'm sorry, I SIMPLY don't have that kind of time right-now! But as I've said to dobro, please contact Dragon to express your disapproval of me as the moderator of this forum. Maybe he'll do something about it, maybe he won't. I don't know.
-judeholland, yes, I forgive you; quite easily.
-Lastly, bongolation, you sure don't seem to like me, but show that I'm not such a bad guy, how 'bout a beer sometime? OK, I'm not much of a beer drinker, but since it seems you're 'round Sac... I'll you at that...
-So there you have it. That wasn't too bad was it? Other than being a bit scatter-brained. Any questions? Comments?
-So to get back to the lighter-side of things:
-James HE & pglewis,
THANK YOU for the support. It's nice to have you guys around. Plus, you guys lighten things up when it's getting a bit dark 'round these parts. Yeah, working hard on the 2nd Hand Merchant CD, though NOT as much as I'd like. Hoping by the end of summer. Can't give a sample of the "real" recording, but the last two songs on our new MP3.com site (just search for the band name there) will be on the coming album. The recording quality isn't too great, but you'll be able to hear the type of stuff that'll be on the next CD.
About the 2", well, I'm JUST starting on it FINALLY. I've been saying I was about to start it for awhile, BUT I FINALLY ACTUALLY HAVE now. I don't expect it up ANY time even THIS year, but I'm slowly putting money into it when I have a little extra.
Speaking of DaviSound, I've been using the TB-3 A LOT and JUST got the TB-1 here. Having fun playing with those. You'll here them on the CD.
Oh and here's something others might find interesting too. Since money is rather low right-now due to a new console purchase, I sold my Oktava MC-012s from The Sound Room to buy a pair of DaviSound DS-1950s. I haven't put in my order yet, but I'm hoping in a month or two. I've just been drooling over them for so long now that I couldn't take it anymore so I finally gave in to get that much closer.
And if you REALLY want to know, I never bought my MC-012s from The Sound Room myself. I bought them off a friend who bought them from The Sound Room and was selling them, ironically, to upgrade his console. Funny how things work-out like that. So the ONLY thing of I've bought from The Sound Room myself is my RTT VM100 and a shock-mount. I'd really like some Ramtech cable though; not to mention a nice stand or two.
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