MC012 vs MXL603s

  • Thread starter Thread starter tmix
  • Start date Start date
T

tmix

Well-known member
If you had a choice bettween the MXL 603s and the Oktava MC012s for use on drum overheads and acoustic guitar, which would you choose? I can a get a pair of either for about the same price.Does one have less self noise than the other?

Your input would be appreciated!

tmix
 
I can't speak for Octavia, but I have 1 MXL603s and it is AWESOME for acoustic. I used to have a pricey Audio Technica 4051, and the MXL603s BLOWS IT AWAY. It's also great on my African drum - I think those Octavia's have swappable modules, so you can change it to omni, that sounds interesting. Omni is only as good as the room your in though
 
Thanks TJ,

I am glad to hear you like them. I have been tetering back and forth about the Oktavas because they have a real notoriety for inconsistant quality control. I think it might be easier to get a semi-matched pair of MXL603s from stock rather than going to the Sound Room or equivalent for a bona-fide matched pair of Oktavas.
Does anyone want to step up on behalf of the MC012s?

tmix
 
I'll step in. They're way more versatile. Most come with -10db pads which come in handy for closer micing. For not a whole lot more money, you can pick up some extra capsules for them that will turn them in to either omnidirectionals or hypercardiods. Or you can pick up a lomo head for about $300 that will turn it in to a large diaphragm condenser that holds it's own against much more expensive LDCs.

My opinions on them soundwise: I like the 603's better on mandolin. I like it better than anythig on mandolin, actually. I like them both on accoustic guitar. As drum overheads the 603's pick up and compliment the snare and ride cymals very nicely, but can sound harsh sometimes on crash and particularly on hi-hat. Nothing major that a little eq can't fix, though. The Oktavas, on the other hand, handle the cymbals a little better, but they'll probably emphasise the kick drum a lot more than you would like out of your overheads.
 
Well, I agree the Okatava's are more versatile, if you have the muti-caps – and I often prefer omni on acoustic. Pound for pound I'd get them over the supercardioid-only 603's. BUT, for the same $ as one single-cap 012, you can get both a 603 and the omni Behringer ECM8000.
 
If you're going to use 603's on a loud drummer, you will need to pad the signal. Hopefully your mixer has one, or you have some inline.

I've never tried the Octava products so can't comment. As for self-noise. Well, the 603's are quiet when they are working properly. When they are not you will get some random spiking and hisss out of them.

I've found this to be an annoying trait with the MXL products I've used so far (no more).

I have two 603's. One is prone to go into low level (-39) 'hiss/seashore' 'spike' mode at random. The v67G I have does a similiar thing. No it isn't my mixer or pre's or a phantom power problem.

When they work, they work well. But I don't put a lot of trust in them.

I went through three V67G's before I found one that didn't either have the surf-surge problems, grounding problems or a combination of spiking and ocean sound effects. The third one I kept, it is prone to this. I can work around it, but like I said, I don't put much trust in it.

I've sent back one 603 to MXL in CA for repair. It came back and worked for awhile, and then went into random spike/hisshh mode.

I don't have many other condenser mics. A rode NT-1, three AKG C1000's. None of these cause me problems.

I usually end up using my trusty 12 year old C1000's if recording someone other than myself, just to avoid the intermittent performance, and unavoidable resultant grief.

Maybe I've just had bad luck, whatever the case. Three defective V67's, Two defective 603's doesn't inspire much confidence in me purchasing further MXL products.

QA indeed.

Given the choice, I'd try the Oktava.

If money is not an object, look into AKG's/Neumann/Shure's/AT's offerings.
 
I'm waiting until early next year to see what Alan and Brent come up with at Studio Projects since I have a show in March to run.
My impression is that it will have the edge over the MC012 and the new matched set that Rode is offering, let alone the MXL603.
If you have to get something right way, you may want to take a
listen to Rode's matched set of NT4(?)'s that run around $300.

I somehow managed to scrape up a "good" Oktava at Guitar
Center, but couldn't find a close enough match for a pair.
They tried to sell me a "dead" one for $60, then I exchanged it
for the good one! It only had the cardiod cap BTW.
(hanging unto it to get the LOMO head someday...)

Chris

P.S. I've read to be careful of the MXL603S' sub-cardiod pattern
as it's quite wide and will expose a bad sounding room's
dificiencies.
 
chessparov said:

If you have to get something right way, you may want to take a
listen to Rode's matched set of NT4(?)'s that run around $300.
Click to expand...

The Rode NT4 is a stereo mic... your thinking of a matched pair of Rode NT5's.
 
DOT - I believe the 603 is wide and not super cardoid.

I like the 603. I have used it on many things with super results most of the time.

I have never used the Octava's and I really want a matched pair though.

But remember the 603's are only 80 each. The best price I have seen on the Octavas are $99.

I vote for the 603. Oh yeah and try one about 2 feet back from a guitar amp with a 57 at the grill, you'll love it!

Beezoboy
 
DJL, thanks for the correction, I had forgotten which was which.
That was the reason for the question mark "?" in that post.

Chris
 
The 603s are a bit brighter than the oktavas which can be an issue on drums in a small room with low ceilings and after using them for a few months now on overheads, they sound a bit scooped. The oktavas are a bit more linear. The rise on the 603s sounds like it starts at 6.5 or 7k so they dont particularly accentuate the snare the way a pair of AT3525s or NT2s do which have a presence rise around 2.5k.
The cool thing about the 603s is that the brightness can make it work pretty well as a nice sounding, basically neutral vocal mic. With a pop filter.
 
I gotta' second all of the Pilgrim's remarks.

Except for the vocal mic thing. :D
 
I agree with Pilgrim about the 603 on vocals, with the prequalifier that it is very easy to overload it and distort it. The pop filter is definitely a must.

Taylor
 
go with the 603s. i did and i'm glad that i did. they are GREAT! on overheads and acoustic guitar. but they are real sensitive so you have to be real careful with'um.

zeke
 
chessrock said:
As drum overheads the 603's pick up and compliment the snare and ride cymals very nicely, but can sound harsh sometimes on crash and particularly on hi-hat.
Click to expand...
This is exactly why I sold my 603s and got a pair of GC MC012s. They seemed well-matched out of the box for me.
 
i replaced my mxl603's with matched sound room oktava's. The mics had a little too much shine on the cymbals for my taste, but to each his own.

Just get them and see, you can always ebay them, or I'm sure someone would pick them up from you if you advertise them on here.

Brandon
 
Dot and Beezo, your pricing isn't current. If you talk fast at GC, the MC012's can be had for $70 cardioid only with the Russian owner's manual. I bought a pair a couple of weeks ago for $140 at the Natick, Mass. GC and really lucked out. The output on the two is less then 1 dB apart across the entire spectrum. Woo Hoo!
I actually sold my matched pair to finance a pair of C4's, and bought them just because of the price point. I prefer the C4's on guitar. In fact, I don't like the Oktava's at all on acoustic, where I've simply had better luck with C414B-ULS and the C4's. However, the Oktavas are kickass overheads. For most material, I use them, or a pair of AKG C2000B's. At $140 the pair, it was worth a little risk on quality control, 'cause I missed them for certain things.-Richie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top