Best applications for Oktava Mk-319?

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jonmatthews

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Hey gang,

I've been lurking on the board, reading and researching, for months now, but this is my first post.

I just picked up the MK-319 from ebay, as a complement to my SP-C1. For those of you with a mid-size to large mic closet, what applications usually have you reaching for your MK-319? I'd just like to get a feel for what people are using this mic on, to help me in doing the same!

Thanks,
Jon M.
 
One of my very favorite vocal mic. Darker sounding than many of the budget LDCs on the market now which all seem to have a hyped high end. Great for male vocals, not bad on some acoustic guitar, can be very cool as a drum overhead, I like this mic. Recently I had a guy come in to do a quik demo of just acoustic guitar and vocal. I put the 319 on his voice and a KM-184 on the acoustic (an Ovation!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: ). I ended up keeping just the 319 track with the guitar leaking into the mic. It sounds fantastic to me and the client was very pleased. YMMV.
 
I don't know. Maybe it's just me. But, I hate Ovations.

I've got (4) 319s. They're a great all around mic. Nice for overheads, nice on acoustic. Love to mic the bridge with a 319 and a brighter mic on the fretboard. Great on male vocals, and great on cabs..
 
BlindCowboy said:
I don't know. Maybe it's just me. But, I hate Ovations.
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No, it's not just you. I hate 'em too.
 
Mk319

All of the above and I have always had great luck with them capturing the wood and skin tones in drums and percussion, especially to the drummer/percussionists ears. Maybe it's something you listen for when you're actually playing a kit . . .

It really is a versatile unit.

Paj
8^)
 
It's interesting that several people have said it's good for male vocals. In this studio, it's a workhorse for female vox, especially piercing high vocals where I want to scrub off some highs and boost bass. Also not bad on toms.-Richie
 
jonmatthews said:
Hey gang,

I've been lurking on the board, reading and researching, for months now, but this is my first post.

I just picked up the MK-319 from ebay, as a complement to my SP-C1. For those of you with a mid-size to large mic closet, what applications usually have you reaching for your MK-319? I'd just like to get a feel for what people are using this mic on, to help me in doing the same!

Thanks,
Jon M.
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I find that the Octavia MK319 is best suited for african jungledrums and australian wood instruments. The large diaphram is not suited much to large voices as they don't fit inside the housing too well. I advise that if you want to modify the mic to be best at everything (and be a true workhorse) you should cut the diaphram to 1/2' and carefully duct-tape it back on around the edges only. This should give you more high-end without sacrificing any more phantom power than necessary. It is all relative, I can assure you. These kind of pro modifications can be done at home (as far as you know) because of the low$$ that you can spend to get many of them for practice. Hell, you might be even successful on the fifth one, like me!!!

Good luck (you're gonna need it)
 
Micsales said:
...The large diaphram is not suited much to large voices as they don't fit inside the housing too well. I advise that if you want to modify the mic to be best at everything (and be a true workhorse) you should cut the diaphram to 1/2' and carefully duct-tape it back on around the edges only...
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I accomplished the same result by switching out the capsule with a MXL 990 (20mm.) The 990 housing accomodates the large voices, and now has the large 319 capsule to go with it. The 319 now has the smaller capsule and is particularly well suited for recording crying premature babies and loons.

I would advise against the duct tape method described above, as audio frequency vibrations cause a resonance in the diaphragm that heats the tape, causing it to melt and contaminate the pc board. I just wish I had a nickel for every time this has happened to me.
 
Warning: Stupid question alert.

I keep hearing that this mic is great on toms, among other things. For this purpose, where do you place it? As an overhead? In front of the kit right next to the toms?
 
jonmatthews said:
Hey gang,

I've been lurking on the board, reading and researching, for months now, but this is my first post.

I just picked up the MK-319 from ebay, as a complement to my SP-C1. For those of you with a mid-size to large mic closet, what applications usually have you reaching for your MK-319? I'd just like to get a feel for what people are using this mic on, to help me in doing the same!

Thanks,
Jon M.
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Mostly vox... sometimes it's perfect, but not always.
 
Purge said:
Warning: Stupid question alert.

I keep hearing that this mic is great on toms, among other things. For this purpose, where do you place it? As an overhead? In front of the kit right next to the toms?
Click to expand...

In keeping with the spirit of the thread.....

I've found it's best used on toms as the actual drumstick itself, particularly after the duct tape mod has been performed. It capures every nuance of metal grille meeting drum head perfectly. DO NOT, under any circumstances, try to spin the mic like you would a stick-the cord can wrap around your neck and cause serious injury or death! (I've seen it happen-a drummer tried this, the cord got wrapped around his neck, he couldn't breathe for almost 10 minutes! The doctors said that it caused some brain damage, but we really didn't notice any difference...)

My suggestion is to only try this with an experienced drummer, though. A rim shot is a little hard on the AE's ears, particularly when wearing headphones.

:D
 
Thanks to those who have offered genuine suggestions! To the others, thanks for your zany brand of wackiness. ;)

I've been having great success with the 319 on the bridge of an acoustic guitar, as someone suggested, with another mic on the 12th fret, capturing a good fingerpicked sound on a not-so-good-for-fingerpicking guitar.

I'm sure it'll be much better after the suggested mods... :cool:

- Jon M.
 
H2oskiphil said:
In keeping with the spirit of the thread.....

I've found it's best used on toms as the actual drumstick itself, particularly after the duct tape mod has been performed. It capures every nuance of metal grille meeting drum head perfectly. DO NOT, under any circumstances, try to spin the mic like you would a stick-the cord can wrap around your neck and cause serious injury or death! (I've seen it happen-a drummer tried this, the cord got wrapped around his neck, he couldn't breathe for almost 10 minutes! The doctors said that it caused some brain damage, but we really didn't notice any difference...)

My suggestion is to only try this with an experienced drummer, though. A rim shot is a little hard on the AE's ears, particularly when wearing headphones.

:D
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Yes, they are quickly becoming the sticks of choice for many pros. You will notice that many have done away with their live and recording mic setups, as a pair of 319s can easily pick up the entire kit, when you are using one in each hand.

They work well on toms, but being condensers, they also kick ass on cymbals, which makes them all around great as your only pair of sticks. You have to hit the cymbals pretty hard, but the sound it makes and picks up is beautiful.

Also, when used as sticks, be sure to get a 100% matched pair. It can make for difficult playing and terrible drum sound if there is any difference.

The only problem here is that you do not have one to pick up the bass drum, but this has been solved by Oktava's new bass drum pedal, which features a 319 mounted on the shaft, in place of a beater. The diaphragm faces forward, so that you get a powerful "wack" out of it.

They have also released a double pedal version, and it is one of the fastest, most energy efficient double bass pedal setups available. This is due to the ideal response and bounce from the 319's diaphragm against the drum head.
 
Heh...that's what I get for being a smartass all the time! Touche...!!

Uhhh...but seriously...(and I can only imagine how retarded this must sound)I've actually ran a billion searches on this mic regarding placement. Since there are umpteen different "proper" ways involving condensers and acoustic guitars, can somebody hook me up? All you people that are joyously erect regarding the sound of these things on toms, where do ya put it?

And does anybody have any good recipes for instant water?
 
If you are using them on toms, that would likely mean they AREN'T being used as overheads, but as direct mics, on, yes, the toms hehe. For 319s, I would say putting them a few inches up and back from the toms would be a good place to start. You probably don't want to shove them right into the face of the drum head.
 
Hey thanks!

I'm currently working on a "hi-hat" mod for the Oktava by sawing it in half and jamming it onto a pole with a chain attached to the diaphragm. It's a bit clunky, but I bet that the Neil Peart open-close "disco" beat is really going to kick ass!
 
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