Need MK219 info

[Adam P]

I've got a pair of 219s. I know they get shit on here a fair amount, but I figure that for $30 a pop they have to be useful on something. I've tried it a bit as a bottom "LDC close to the floor" snare drum mic and liked the results. I didn't like it much compared to my 57 on a crunchy guitar cab, but I only gave it a quick test, and not in the greatest room either. I'm selling some stuff off to buy a e609 Silver anyways, so I'm not too concerned about the 219 on guitar. I am anxious to try it on vocals on a band I'm recording this weekend. I'm going to try the 219, a v67G, 012, and a SM57 and see what gets the most usable results, so we'll see.

I did notice the resonant ringing when I used it with its stand adapter to mic a guitar cab, but when I used it with a shockmount on the bottom of the snare the ring seemd to be gone, so hopefully the shockmount works to help curb the body resonation.

I hope to mod one (or maybe both) in the future, but I'm happy with them as they are for the time being, and since I got them dirt cheap, I'm not too concerned about it.

 

[Robert D]

Neither the 219 or the 319 should ever be without a shockmount. Pretty true for all LDC's, but absolutely non-negotiable with the Oktava's.

RD

 

[Richard Monroe]

I use the 319, and I don't think if GC gets out of it Oktava will go away. Somebody will sell them. What they say about them being inconsistent is true. Many of them suck. However, they still receive attention because many of them *don't* suck, and a few of them are great mics. The difference is- the best 219's are only mediocre, but the best 319's are actually very good mics. Feeling lucky, punk? Spin the wheel and lay down your money.-Richie

 

[cominginsecond]

I've bought lots of Oktavas over the years, and the only serious differences between mics, in my experience, was in output level. Sonically, they were all nearly identical. I think their reputation for inconsistency is really undeserved.