Harvey, or whoever, re: The Lomo head and Oktava MK012

[tubedude]

Hey Harvey... now that you have had time with the Lomo, how do you feel? I am thinking of getting a pair of them to try out as overheads, and I want something that is just plain out and out good. Huge sounding, great clarity, and a decently tight pattern. I might just pop for a 2nd c451B and see how the pair does, but something has me interested in this Lomo combo.

How would you describe the charachter? I seem to recall (maybe wrong) that you thought it was very much a U87 sounding setup, but maybe that was someone else.

Also, who else sells the Lomo head besides the Soundroom? Soundroom seems a little high on the pricing and I'd like to find someplace else thats cheaper. Maybe direct?

Are the GC specials on the MC012s... are hte QC problems with the preamps or the capsules, or both? If its just the capsules, I grab the bodies and get the Lomos elsewhere.

Thanks!
Paul

 

[Flatpicker]

You can catch Harvey here:
http://recpit.prosoundweb.com/viewforum.php?f=8

 

[chessparov]

Tube, you could just get the MC012 "body" from The Soundroom,
and order the Lomo head with it.

Not worth taking a chance on the GC stuff IMHO, especially for an top shelf mic set-up like that one. Sure that Harvey will say the same.

If you go to www.oktava.com Harvey has a review of the various MC012 capsules, and the Lomo on that site BTW.

Chris

 

[tubedude]

I got the info I needed, thanks.
Did you guys know that capsule takes 70 instead of 48volt phantom?

 

[chessparov]

IIRC, I read it did take some funky voltage... but 70-yikes.

Chris

 

[Flatpicker]

I got the info I needed, thanks.
Did you guys know that capsule takes 70 instead of 48volt phantom?

No, I didn't know that.

Other capsules *can* run on a higher phantom power voltage. Some of the Chinese mics use this method to squeeze more sound out of their capsules. The MXL 603s uses this method by incorporating a dc voltage converter to raise the voltage above the +48V supply. There’s a lot of circuitry crammed into those little mics! Higher voltages can improve the head room, allowing greater input and output.

 

[cominginsecond]

I got the info I needed, thanks.
Did you guys know that capsule takes 70 instead of 48volt phantom?

How do you power it, then? Everything I know of gives off 48 volt phantom.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

The lower voltage would result in less output, a little more distortion at high levels, and a slightly higher noise level. But, since the diaphragm is so large to begin with (about 1-1/3"), any actual differences would be almost unnoticable, and in fact, might contribute in a positive way to the warmth of the mic's sound for vocals.

It certainly sounded good to me, and the one I purchased from the Sound Room works great.

 

[cominginsecond]

It certainly sounded good to me, and the one I purchased from the Sound Room works great.

Are there any mics you would compare it to, in terms of quality and sound?

 

[Harvey Gerst]

Similar sound to the M147, to my ear, anyway.

 

[cominginsecond]

Kool. For only $400! That seems like a deal to me.

 

[musical5]

Harvey or whoever: How do you power it at 70V? Is there a special phantom unit around?





Thanks,
Justin

 

[dejacky]

I wanna know too.. how can u mod the oktava to charge the capsule with 70v?

 

[Harvey Gerst]

I don't; I run it at 48 Volts, which gives it that sound that I like.

 

[Marik]

<I wanna know too.. how can u mod the oktava to charge the capsule with 70v?>

If you still wanna try, the easiest would be convert it into tube.

 

[dejacky]

External tube right...any diy sites for this or explanations/step-by-step? thanks again.

-dejacky

 

[Marik]

http://www.mojaveaudio.com/pdf/tape_op2.pdf

 

[dejacky]

Marik, THANK YOU!! does any1 know where i can hear some samples of the difference between the tube and unmodded mics?

-dejacky

 

[Marik]

<does any1 know where i can hear some samples of the difference between the tube and unmodded mics?>

Not that I know of. I am still debating with myself whether convert it into tube or not. The 012 runs SD capsules at about 37V, so if you convert it into 60V (which Royer runs at, and should be OK with LOMO capsule), potentially you can run into a problem with interchangable SD's. Because they pop easily, something tells me that if you put more voltage on them, the diaphragm might just get stuck to the backplate and you won't get any sound at all.

 

[dejacky]

Another pro friend didn't recommend the Oktava Mk219..just got off the phone with him actually. He said, save your money and get the MD421aa or 441. so Michael, i guess the 219 just doesn't cut it huh?

-dejacky