Frequency Response Chart

[ez_willis]

Need some tips on how to read a freq response chart. The one pictured below is for an Oktava MK-012, with the cardioid capsule.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

What I'm seeing is a cartrige that has a fairly even and balanced cardioid response pattern across frequencies, has a bit of a midrannge sensitivity scoop to it, and has a bit of a presence peak around 7kHz (perhaps somewhat subject to sibilance?). There is no legend for the color coding on the upper frequency chart, so I'm not sure of the signifigance of the different colored lines on that one. That red line is rather disturbing-looking, but frankly I don't know what that line represents.

G.

 

[mixsit]

... There is no legend for the color coding on the upper frequency chart, so I'm not sure of the signifigance of the different colored lines on that one. That red line is rather disturbing-looking, but frankly I don't know what that line represents.

G.

You will as soon as you here it- those generally are the 90 and 180 response curves.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

You will as soon as you here it- those generally are the 90 and 180 response curves.

So I assume that would be

Blue - 0°
Yellow - 90°
Red - 180°

Frankly, I rarely bother to look at, and almost never remember, such microphone charts. The polar patterns can be kinda nice to look at to see just what kind of rejection characteristics I might expect, but - for me anyway, YMMV - the response charts say next to nothing about what the mic will actually sound like.

G.

 

[MadAudio]

YMMV - the response charts say next to nothing about what the mic will actually sound like.

Exactly! That's the main difference between theory and application.

 

[bennychico11]

I just like the pretty colors they use.

 

[ez_willis]

Okay, I phrased the question poorly.

If I'm using the Oktava MK-012's with the cardioid capsules on for overheads on a kit, how will the direction they're pointed in affect the overall sound of the tracks?

I'm getting too much kit and not enough cymbals.

 

[ez_willis]

Okay, I phrased the question poorly.

If I'm using the Oktava MK-012's with the cardioid capsules on for overheads on a kit, how will the direction they're pointed in affect the overall sound of the tracks?

I'm getting too much kit and not enough cymbals.

And more specifically, what's the difference sonically between using the cardioid, omni, and hyper-cardioid capsules.

 

[bigwillz24]

And more specifically, what's the difference sonically between using the cardioid, omni, and hyper-cardioid capsules.

Cardiod is more directional, omni picks up from all around the casule, Huper Cadiod is just like cardiod except there is less rejection from behind the capsule.

 

[Farview]

Okay, I phrased the question poorly.

If I'm using the Oktava MK-012's with the cardioid capsules on for overheads on a kit, how will the direction they're pointed in affect the overall sound of the tracks?

I'm getting too much kit and not enough cymbals.

The thing that the respose graphs tell you is: if you point the mics away from the kit, you lose all the midrange.

If you aren't getting enough cymbals you can try:
1. try a low cut at 300hz
2. point the mics at the cymbals a little more
3. put the mics in front of the kit instead of over it