LISTEN..Modded Oktava 319 vs. standard ShureKSM 32

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cmaconsulting

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Alright guys,
I spent $99 and got my Oktava 319 modded by Michael Joly. I've included a true A/B of that Oktava mic vs. my Shure KSM 32. They were both used on vocals, at exactly the same time. I can't help but think that the Oktava serves a tonal purpose, and may be an interesting choice as a second, but not a primary mic. I'd be very curious the Oktava out on a woman's voice, and see if it would more forgiving than the Shure would be. My guess is that on sources which would be too shrill, the Oktava would serve a purpose. What do you guys think of the tones? I don't have very good facilities or capabilities to adequately check mic placement for tone, though I think the differences you'll hear are more inherent than placement.

Alright, here they are:

Oktava 319
Oktava MK-319

Shure KSM 32
Shure KSM 32


What do you think of the sound of the Oktava? is that tone usable in a mix, or just muddy?
 
Oh Yeah, For this test, I used the following equipment:

Mics:
Shure KSM 32
Oktava MK319

Cables:
Monster 500 XLR

Preamp:
FMR RNP

Compressor:
FMR RNC

Interface:
MOTU 896 with Preamps bypassed, receiving Line-Level signal
Recorded at 24bit-44.1

I think the problem, is that listening to the sounds A/B, the Shure mic sounds "better" because it's more clear, but not necessarily the best choice for a particular song or voice. I wonder if mic distance will change the "nasal" quality of the Oktava I've been perceiving.

Does this mic remind anybody of a particular mic tone they've heard before? I hear comparisons to older Nuemans and stuff, though I'm not familiar with those tones.
 
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Honestly I think the Oktava sounds more like a ribbon then a condenser. (atleast that is kind'a what my stock shiny box sounds like) Although the cccccccccc in "frequency" is really bitting on the KSM 32 I would think a DeEssser would be needed for anyone with a hint of problems with sssss's ccccccc's and tttttttt's. Where with the Oktava you might get away without a DeEssser, but then the KSM 32 has a clarity to it that the Oktava doesn't have. Just MHO.
 
Sorry I haven't listened to your postings - .wav files are just too daunting for my slow dial-up connection.

BUT

If I were trying to compare microphones I wouldn't have a compressor involved. A before and after 319 mod would have been interesting!
 
Interesting post. First off: nice voice, mate! I had the two running at the same time and it sounded like a 'round' - kind of London's Burning thing. I imagine your voice would 'stack up' very well.

As for the mics, the Oktavia does sound a bit dull in comparison to the Shure, although the Shure does exhibit a bit of sibilance. I almost prefer the Okt. because of that...

...but then again, I'm not shure (ahem).

Cheers for the post!
 
Thanks for the responses.. I'd love to hear more trained opinions! :)

I wish the voice was mine, but it's the voice of a band I'm recording, Last American Buffalo. You can check out their myspace to hear some of their actual sound at www.myspace.com/lastamericanbuffaloband

It would have been a GREAT idea to do an A/B of it before and after, but I didn't think to do that until my mic was already shipped and being worked on... oh well... lessons learned.

With the compression... it was compressed on the way in, and I simply took the tracks from the song (I double tracked with both mics each time).

As far as the tone's concerned, I'm going to have the singer back off the mic next time (especially the oktava), so that there isn't as much proximity effect. it's not too bad, but it may be making it a bit overly mellow.
 
Interesting. I have a piar of MK319's, I was thinking of getting them both modded, but I have not really had a need.

To my ears, the KSM seemed scooped and sibilant, and the 319 seemed to over-emphasize the lower mids and lack just a little air.

I tried some UAD Pultec Pro EQ on the files and got both to sound good to my ears. They both seemed to take EQ well. I could see where someone could prefer either of them. To my ears, I prefered the Okatava. In my own experiences, it's less damaging to the original sound to aid a little air than cut out sibilance, and that was the case here too.
 
The feedback has been great... Thanks guys!

Does this Oktava mic sound anything in character like other mics you guys work with??
 
Interesting thread. I have a 319 that I intend to send off for some mods. Just haven't done it yet.

I personally like the Oktava for my own vocals, and one of the reasons is that I hate sibilance. The Oktava also has a forward, more substantial, "voice of authority" sound that my other mics don't have.

As for the two posted samples: The KSM did have more "air", but the Oktava had more substance. However, I have heard the KSM32 on many recordings by friends, and I like this mic also.

cmaconsulting, I would like to hear YOUR personal impressions of the differences before and after modding.
 
The fact is, that this is the first application of this mic after modding. I was foolish and forgot to get a good recording from the Oktava before I sent it off.

My impression of the mic is that there is a considerable improvement after modding. There was more "air", less boxy sounding, and certainly less dark. I haven't got a large collection of LD condensers, in fact these are the 2 that I own. I think the singer being further away from the mic will make it sound less nasally and less "low-midsy".

It was surprising to hear the Oktava's smoother and more wooly tone when I'm used to hearing the KSM 32. It made me wonder if it was a bad tone, though it seems like it was just a departure from the "precise" sound of the KSM 32.
 
Is your Oktava mic a Standard mod or a Premium Electronics mod?
I found that after upgrading my Standard modded MK219 to a Premium Electronics modded Mk219 the improvement was significant. Clarity and air were much better. I thought that the Standard mod was good but the PE mod takes the mic to another level.
 
cmaconsulting said:
Alright guys,


What do you think of the sound of the Oktava? is that tone usable in a mix, or just muddy?
Click to expand...

Sounds a bit muddy to me. It might work good in a sparse acoustic based song, but I'm not sure it would work in a dense mix with loud instruments. Then again you never really know until you try.
 
Monsterz, the mod is the standard mod. It seemed like I personally couldn't justify the premium mod, as I didn't know whether I'd use it much after modding it to begin with.
 
the compressor should not be in the chain for a comp.

just source>>Mics>>>preamp>>>>ADC/recorder
 
BigRay said:
the compressor should not be in the chain for a comp.

just source>>Mics>>>preamp>>>>ADC/recorder
Click to expand...

What do you mean for a comp??
Also, why should you not compress on the way in? I mix in the box, and don't necessarily think the compressors sound that good as plugins.

What's the reason to not compress?
 
he probably means

comparison...


And compression would turn down various peaks in various places. The different locations of the peaks would give the mics their character, and that's what we want to hear.
 
sibilance

I like the sharpness of the Shure's sibilance. I think that it does stand out, but the peak of the sound seems to be shorter, if you get what I mean. Since the 'tava de emphaisizes them, the s sound seems to last longer to my ear.

And if that makes no sense to anyone, I think that the Shure's sibilance might clarify the voice in the mix. I sing in a few choirs where lots of "s" is bad. One voice, though, maybe not so bad?

just my $.02, from a newbie who was listening thru my laptop speakers. That does tell me that there is quite a difference in the mics, though.
 
cmaconsulting said:
Monsterz, the mod is the standard mod. It seemed like I personally couldn't justify the premium mod, as I didn't know whether I'd use it much after modding it to begin with.
Click to expand...

Check out this acoustic guitar audio clip, Standard 219 vs Premium Mod 219, pretty big improvement I think. (I believe the 219 is identical to the 319 apart from the body of the mic)

http://www.oktavamod.com/audio.html

Michael will upgraded my 219 Standard mod to a PE mod for a very reasonable fee.
 
Well the guys gotta learn how to tune his guitar first. The mod may sound better to some, to me the difference may possibly be an improvment, but accounting for mic placement levels and the performance I'm not totally convinced the orginal can't be made to sound as good.
 
Solo comparisons are interesting to get a general idea of mics relative tones, but it comes down to what it does in the specific mix right?

The Oktava has the nice warm thing going (SRR's ribbony' :D but I'll go with the 32 as I suspect it has the clarity needed.
Lets hear it in the mix.

Wayne
 
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