Oktava MK319 Mic....

[tcdave]

Has anyone used the OKTAVA MK319 condeser mic? I bought one at Guitar Center and I got a good deal.

It's a russian mic. List: 599.99, I got it for $149.00

Any feedback is welcomed!

tcdave

 

[Track Rat]

I'll start off by saying this is one of my all time favorite vocal mics. The next is (if you already know this part, just gloss over) their quality controll is piss poor. I bought mine through Taylor Johnson at The Sound Room where they go through a rigorous inspection to weed out the turds. The ones sold at Guitar Center do not get the extra scrutiny so as a result you either get a gem or a piece of shit. If you didn't go through their stock and audition them to pick out a dandy and just took what they handed you, it's a coin toss if yours is OK or not.
With that being said, if yours is a good one you're gonna love it. It's a dark, round sounding mic. Very big, warm sound without the extra hyped high end sound charecteristic of so many budget large diaphram mics on the market today. As I said, I REALLY love this mic as well as all the Octavas.

 

[KingstonRock]

hey i have two mc012s, matched pair, i really like them, so thats props for oktava, but is the quality control and issue there too?

 

[flatrockrecordin]

My mk319 is usually the first mic I go for when recording vocals. Gives a very smooooth sound.

 

[Richard Monroe]

What trackrat said about Taylor Johnson. I would not buy Oktava's from GC, either. The extra money you will pay the Sound Room is worth every penny, unless, of course, you like playing the lottery. Remember, every mic that didn't meet Taylor's specs is sitting on a shelf at GC.- Richie
P.S., I use the MC012's and love them for instrments, overheads, and group vocals, as well as remote location mics used as a coincedent pair.

 

[philboyd studge]

Play the lottery at GC, but test everything or return till you're happy. (I've got a 219 and two 012's)

 

[Robert D]

Hi, it's great to hear people praising the 319. I've heard lots of praise for the 012's, but nothing on the 319 before. I own both, and think they are great mics. I did get mine at GC, but I auditioned a dozen of each to pick out my mics. I did'nt hear any that I thought were real dogs, but there were differences, and it was well worth it to spend the time picking out the pick of the litter. Just don't try this at lunch time or on the weekend, they'll be too busy to cater to your needs. Of course the easier way is to buy from the soundroom.
Yes, the 319 is blissfully free of that hyped sound that the U87/TLM 103 wannabe's all have. Very smooth.......I thought I was just convincing myself that it sounds better than it does, but I really think this mic is a winner.
Regards, RD

 

[Henri Devill]

Anyone know what 319 is sonicly similar too..For reference .It doesn't sound like a MXL V67 for example does it?..I have a ML19 that I like very much..Im interested ...Thanks for your replies


Don

 

[crawdad]

Robert D gives good description, I think. I have a 219, which is the same capsule and electronics in a different housing. It doesn't seem to have those hyped highs. Its darker sounding, but I like it on my voice for that reason. Its darker than my other three LD condensers--V67, V93 and AT 4033, yet warm sounding. As for specific mics it sounds like--I can't say because I am unfamiliar with ones I don't own.

 

[Track Rat]

I lot (most) of the budget large diaphram mics have a hyped up, overly crispy high end response that the 319 does not have. Don't misunderstand, it has high end, it's just not a sizzling sound like a lot of the mics in this price range. It's a darker, more rounded sound. Fatter. I LOVE this mic.

 

[Henri Devill]

Thanks guys, Anyone ever use it on female vox?Ever use it on a Kik drum? Im gonna check this out {319},I could always use more colors.Thanks again.


Don

 

[Robert D]

Yes, I've used it on Female vocs with good results.
RD

 

[octoruss]

This may be slightly off topic for those discussing the 319, but I'll paste in a comment I recently made about the Elation KM201, also made in Russia. Elation is not made by Oktava, but they are carried by Sound Room which is where I first heard about them. I have compared the KM201 to both the 012 and the 319 and think the KM201 is in the same class, but much better than both:

----------------------------------------------------------
Guardian,

I have a matched stereo pair of the Elation KM201s (cardioid, not omni...), and bought them after A-B ing them with the Neumanns. It was about a year ago, so I can't recall the particular differences between the two, but I remember loving the Elations and finding them a much better deal then the Neumanns. Don't get me wrong, I love Neumann just as much as the next guy and own a TLM103 and a U87. But I find myself reaching for the Elations on just about everything except for vocals.

I have gotten much better sound out of the Elations on acoustic guitar, classical guitar and particularly as a stereo pair on piano and as drum overheads. They are quite simply very warm and smooth, particularly through a tube mic pre, whereas the Neumanns tend to be a touch more brittle for my taste. Additionally I find I rarely use much EQ on any acoustic instrument recorded with the 201s (provided my mic placement is ok).

If you search the posts you'll find I'm one of the few people who commented on the 201s, but oh I do love these mics and would reccommned them, despite the fact that few people (I think) own them. Many people love the Oktavas MC012s, but think of these as Oktavas that go up to 11.

--octo