Oktava MK012

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newbones

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I was told to come here for there are some fans of these mics. I am interested in purchasing a matched pair and I hear that also can be tricky and that someone here knows what route to take. Are these good mics to any of you out there as drum overheads/multiple uses?
 
I Suppose That'd Be Me?

Yes, a matched-pair of Oktava MC-012s from The Sound Room only for $660US is what you're looking for.

The quality/versitility/cost ratios don't get any better than this IMHO. They sure will assist you as good drum overheads and a lot other multiple uses.

If you have any more specific questions, you can go ahead and ask here, but there is also a search engine here you can use to search this Microphone Forum and find a lot of info and opinions on these mics.

The Sound Room: http://www.oktava.com

I also suggest you call and/or e-mail Taylor Johnson (the owner of The Sound Room) for even more info, if you wish.
 
RE,don't you have issues with quality control?

The inherent instability of the Russian manufacturing sector today is worrisome.So is the Chinese market (qc on mike elements like the new Nady wired condenser for $99)If an average hobbiest was walking into Guitar Satan or Mars,how would you recommend he AB the Oktavias to get a nice matched pair?
Tom
 
Yes, Indeedy

That would be why you invest that "more money" and buy the Oktavas from The Sound Room. It's because not only do you get 2 more polar pattern capsules, by they also test each of them to make sure they're up to "par". And if you get a matched-pair from there, tests are conducted numerous times.

Now if you were to buy Oktavas from GC or the likes, not only do you only get the cardioid cap, but you're lucky if you get 2 which remotely sound the same. And even if you buy one, who's to say it's up to "par"?

Really, I suppose the best you can do is to listen to your voice by ear (live) (requency response and overall gain with the same preamp gain). Of course, in a place such as GC, good luck hearing anything; given they actually let you listen to a few of the same model.
 
There is a difference

I bought a pair of matched Octava MC012's from the sound room, and was looking at picking up one more GC one as a hi-hat mic.

I noticed something interesting - my Sound Room mics are MC-012's, but the GC one was a MC-012-A (at least that's what was printed on the side of the mic) I said screw it and went with a Shure SM81 anyway.

Go with the Sound room. Better quality, effort, and rejects are screened before you have to do it. That's all the more important when you have places that won't accept returned mics either for health or whatever reasons after 3 days or so
 
I'm a Sound Room convert too.
Listen to the above wisdom.
 
So regular MC012's are $200 a pair, but sound room MC012's are $660 a pair? Damn if there's so much variation that it warrants $460 worth of QC by the sound room, then they ought to get their own model number!

Slackmaster 2000
 
Whoa, slack,

Let's make sure we're not comparing apples and oranges here.

$200 for the single capsule unmatched mc012s from GC, and the $660 Sound Room mics sounds like you're saying that you're paying $460 for a little more quality control. Is that what you're saying?

What about the fact that you're actually getting 4 more capsules, 2 -10dB pads, and the wood box, and double the warranty period?

You're getting six capsules and two bodies - and every capsule hand matched for lowest noise and matched frequency response.

But it sounds like you're saying that you'd be paying $460 for a little more quality control, and that just ain't true.
 
Or you could get a pair of Marshall MXL1000s for $150....without the ball end, Im told, it sounds pretty damn close to the MC012......
 
Seriously folks...

The MC (MK) 012 was touted as a great mike FOR THE MONEY. But if you are getting into the $650 per pair range you can get some real microphones from a real company that does real QC by real professionals right at the factory.
Earthworks, AKG, AT, all come to mind.

;) I am entitled to my opinion also !

Rick
 
And which mic company can you buy 2 matched cardioid mics and a pair of matched omni capsules, and a pair of matched hypercardioid capsules - all for $650? And get factory hand-run curves with it on each or the capsules? Lemme see. Small capsule mics for around $660 for a pair? Do you mean the small capsule AT4033? Are they matched? Do you get omni and hypercardioid capsules as well. Curves for your specific mics?
 
Harvey, I posted that because I didn't understand. When hix posted that an MC012 could be had for $99, it kind of threw me for a loop! Thanks for clearing up what I guess I would have seen had I paid more attention to the first few posts in the thread.

Slackmaster 2000
 
It is not worth arguing about. The guy asked for A PAIR of mikes. Most reputable mikes are manufactured to sufficiently close tolerances that MATCHED pairs is unnecessary (these days).

If you want to compare real specs for real mikes, newbones, go to www.earthwks.com Even their cheapest mike is much more tightly controlled than any oktava. They have special on the company store page

www.akg-acoustics.com street price for a pair of C391s is less than $650. Compare specs.

Audio-Technica also has some good choices: AT4041 matched pairs are $400 at 8th Street music.

many other choices also. These are just some alternatives. Anyone may have differing opinions on how much they like or dislike these mikes, but the main thing is that they are a consistently built quality product with no reputation for poor quality regardless of which store you buy them from.

At $200-$300 a pair, it might be worth the risk to try some oktavas. $650 for Oktavas is way too high, regardless of how many of their "many times inspected until they finally found two that worked" capsules are included.

That's my opinion.

Peace,
Rick
 
actually, Slackmaster

Actually, Slackmaster, I've also seen the different serial number on the Oktava's from Guitar Center (MC 012-A) - so for whatever reason, you are getting a different model number. Not sure WHY, but they are different from the Sound Room's Mics.

And you'll use omnidirectional heads most likely if you record acoustics in a good room, so that makes them a good investment. I've used my matching pair for Drum Overheads and double micing an Acoustic guitar, and I've had no issues.
 
No offense guys, but...

I've heard this "buy from Taylor at the Soundroom" argument enough to know that I won't be buying from Taylor at the Soundroom. Seriously, unless Taylor is a very attractive woman and throws in some wicked sexual favors with every purchase then I can't see this being worth it. Unfortunately, as I understand it Taylor is a man so I don't want to even know about sexual favors and I definitely don't want to pay him $460 to do a little QC and throw in a couple of capsules. It just doesn't seem to add up. If I owned a studio this might be different, but I do not. For the same $660 you could pick the 2 best Oktavas from GC and still have enough left to buy separate mics for each pattern you get with the soundroom package. You have to wonder how much of that $460 goes to pad Mr. Johnson's wallet. Given that the mic with one capsule retails for $100, the capsules themselves can't be more than $50 and probably cost Mr. Johnson even less. That leaves at least $260 to account for.

Harvey, I seem to remember you saying that the Marshall MXL-603S is a close enough match with the Oktava MC012 to use one of each in a pair. I guess I'm confused as to how, in the light of this discovery, you still find the Soundroom package to be a good deal. I mean, sure the extra service is nice, but $660 buys you 10 MXL-603S.

Anyway, this is just my uneducated and unenlightened opinion. As always YMMV....I just like to get better mileage out of my $660. ;)
 
Well, I guess I've got to put my two cents in here. First, the Guitar Center MC-012 mics come in two versions. One version comes with one capsule (cardioid), AND the -10db pad. They also sell the version with 3 capsules and the pad. I paid $150 each for the base model, loved them, but decided to trade them for the multiple capsule version. They were $200 each, I paid the $50 per mic extra, traded, and off I went. They did not give me a hard time about trading them in and did not mention anything about not accepting microphone returns. I have only used the new ones one time, they sound great to me, but I admit I have not done a detailed, "scientific" test to make sure they sound the same. If they don't, I will return one or both and try one or two more until I get what I want. I personally would not pay the Soundroom $660 for what I can buy from GC for $400. Assuming you can return mics that you are not happy with, I would not pay the extra. The difference is too great. I prefer to do my own QC and save $260. Fifty or $100 bucks, maybe, but not $260. Also, the GC versions I have do not say MC-012a, just MC-012. I promise this weekend, I will do as good a test as I know how to do and I will post by observations. Also, I am getting ready to order 2 Marshall 603s from Abe's, so I'll be comparing these as well. Isn't this fun??
 
:eek:

Man, I did not know you could get the 3 capsule version at GC for $200. To me, that makes the Soundroom sound even more like a ripoff.
 
The Axis

I bought my matched pair of QTC1s as Blems from the company store for $1500. BUT, I don't think it was NECESSARY that they be matched. At the time I bought them, I (like many) thought it was an advantage. Since then, I have bought other individual mikes and found them to be well enough matched for all practical purposes.

When Earthworks "matches" a pair of mikes it means ±0.5 dB in sensitivity at all frequencies 20-20 kHz. That is NICE, but not necessary. My data shows that my pair is actually within 0.2 dB (not that I care, but I am citing the data)

Even UNMATCHED E-WKS mikes are ±0.5 dB to flat, so the worst you could do is ±1.0 dB an any given frequency. As another note, even E-wks cheapest mikes ($235 to $250 ea.) are ±1.0 dB across the spectrum. I use E-wks as an example because they are the best at documenting and publishing this info.

There is no industry-wide standard for "matched pairs". For some mfr's ±2.0 to 3.0 dB is standard manufacturing tolerance (check the tech pages of their websites). For those mikes, matching may be valuable....it probably is valuable for OKTAVAs, but is not generally rerquired for brands that hold tighter manufacturing tolerances. Hence, the addition "value" of a "matched" pair of OKTAVAs, may be a mere phantom, because many mike brands don't have the wild variation in quality that the OKTAVAs do to begin with. I heard that Neumann does not bother to "match" pairs anymore, because they are so consistent...they just give consecutive serial numbers.

As I have often stated, if you are happy with the OKTAVAs, and want to spend the cash at the Sound Room...that is your choice. The guy wanted information, and I wanted to see that he got some facts. THe Sound Room may be providing a valuable service. It is just very difficult for me to see its value, and that is my opinion.

Peace,
Rick
 
I hate to add to the fire but Musicians Friend just advertised the three cap version for only $150 bucks. I was interested in the Mc319 myself.
 
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