Oktava mic group buy

[Yannick Hagman]

Hello

Everyone who is interested in buying the already great priced hypercardioid-set "MK-012-01 Movie Set" (MK-012 mic with an hypercardioid capsule and windshild) with a discount please leave an entry here. Let's see how many people we get.

Oktavas Discount rate:
10 mics 10% off
20 mics 20% off (25% off on accessoires)

List price: 164 EUR (~ $250)

Shipping usually according to Octava
17,50 euro (Europe)
32,50 euro (USA)

Link to the set:
http://www.oktava-shop.com/view_prod.php?id=110

Cheers,
Yannick

http://www.oktava-shop.com/img/012-01b-m.jpg
http://www.oktava-shop.com/img/012-01b-m-plastic.jpg

In:
Joe_Gill

[Johan Pabon]

Great microphone for the money. I allready have it.

[Mark B.]

I'd be up for an Oktava. I'm wondering though, what other super-cardioid mic options would compete with the Oktava? Is there something better for a little bit more money?

[Joe Gill]

In for buy...

[Yannick Hagman]

There are such from sennheiser or neumann, but not for a little bit more. It will tripple or quadruple the price.

[Marc Berger]

Did somebody tested it already with Red audio?
I would be very interested too.
Marc

[jimhare]

Until the new audio board comes out, probably not much point in testing it!

All the rules will change and I have a feeling almost any mic will work well.

[jbeale]

I got an Oktava MK-012 some time ago, it is silver rather than the black model shown in your photo. It does seem to be a good quality mic. My only comment is that you definitely want that wind shield, it is much more sensitive to even slight wind (picked up as low frequency rumble) than other mics I've used. Though all my mics are under $300 each, I haven't used the premium brand small condensers that the Oktava MK012 is supposedly modeled after.

[Matt Gottshalk]

I have two. They are great mics.

More handling noise on a boom pole than most other mics, but great for sit down interviews in a boom pole cradle.

[Mark B.]

I have two. They are great mics.

More handling noise on a boom pole than most other mics, but great for sit down interviews in a boom pole cradle.
I'm going to be in solo run and gun situations very often, with the mic attached to the camera body. Would something like this shock mount (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/429633-REG/Rode_SM4_Shotgun_Microphone_Shock_Mount.html) negate the handling noise problem, or is the Oktava so sensitive that it's beyond correction? If you had to get a more expensive microphone, and handling noise was something significant in the purchasing decision, what would be your next choice of microphone?

[Chris Gearhart]

I might be interested. Someone left mine on the set of my last shoot, and now it's gone.

[Steve Sherrick]

Keep in mind that the Okatavas, while a very good microphone (I have one), range in quality. Not that I want to re-direct anyone to a particular site, but there is a place where they actually go through the ones they get in, test them, create a frequency graph, and if they make the cut, they sell them. Contact me via PM if you want the info. I don't want to detract from the first post at all, but I've followed the Okatava's history for a little while now. If you get a good one, they can hold their own against some very good microphones.

As to the shock mount, yes, you need a good one. They are susceptible to handling noise. I would look at the K-Tek with the rigid rubber holders. Also, I think the Rycote Baby Ball Gag Windshield is a necessity, even indoors. Occasionally if there is enough air passing by the mic, you can get low freq issues there too, and the windshield will protect against it.

Overall, a great value microphone. Not going to replace the higher end brands, but it can at least be considered respectable when comparing.

[Steve Sherrick]

Also, if you see these appear on ebay or elsewhere, beware the Chinese knockoff versions. They were junk. Guitar Center sold them for a while. Not the same mics. You need an authentic Russian made one, and you need one of the good ones.

[Shawn Nelson]

Sorry to rain on the parade...but if you are going to get an Oktava, I'd get one from Soundroom, they go through and do Quality Control to make sure you get a good one.

Second, I wouldnt actually get an Oktava. Mind you, I own one. Reason is that they are so damned sensitive to wind noise that you really need to have a Baby Ball Gag attached to one. Those are $139, and they pick up a lot of handling noise.

Personally, I'd recommend springing for the AKG Blueline se300b+CK93. You can get it from B&H for under $400 and the default foam windscreen works fine. I've done side-by-side with this mic (I own it too) and the Oktava and clearly prefer it.

Though if you have the means, I'd recommend either the MKH50 (which I own and use as my primary, CK93 as secondary and Oktava as stunt mic) or the Schoeps cmc641.

[Yannick Hagman]

I spoke with Natasha from Oktava itself, not a knock-of-manufacturer or anything. And using an hypercardioid outside (you talk about wind) isn't the purpose of this mic, that's where you use a shotgun mic.

[imported_Cedric_Akins]

Muroshi is only wanting to know if you guys that don't have an Oktava mic would be interested in making a group buy. I would only guess that all of the particulars would be worked out before any purchases would take place. There would only be a benefit to all those involved in the purchase, buy in bulk. Try not to knock the effort.

Plus those of us who have them know that these are the best mic in its price range any where on the planet. I paid full price for mine and would not trade it for another hypercardioid I can think of, well other than a schopes which is $1100-1500. :)

[Rob Castiglione]

I have a number of okatavas which I have used successfully with proper protection from the wind.

But they have all been modded in the USA by Michael Jolly who works miracles with them.

See http://www.oktavamod.com/

If you are going to go this direction get them modded, you wont regret it. Sorts out the quality issues.

Rob

[Shawn Nelson]

I spoke with Natasha from Oktava itself, not a knock-of-manufacturer or anything. And using an hypercardioid outside (you talk about wind) isn't the purpose of this mic, that's where you use a shotgun mic.

I'm not talking about outdoors, I'm saying the oktava is so sensitive to air movement that using them in a perfectly still room requires the Baby Ball Bag if you are going to boom it (that is, to move it around during a take).e

[Steve Sherrick]

Well, since Shawn mentioned the site I was talking about, that's the one I was referring to. The others may be fine too. The bottom line is that you need to know there are some good ones on the market and some bad ones, as the quality control can vary quite a lot.

And the mic is absolutely susceptible to air movement, both indoors and outdoors. But the Baby Ball takes care of that and the small amount of high freq loss is a good tradeoff.

This is a great budget mic. If you guys can get a good group deal on them and the mics you are receiving have passed some strict quality control, then I say go for it. Fortunately, even without the group buy discount, it's still a very affordable microphone.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

How will this group buy work for USA customers? The Oktava-shop site does not ship to the USA that I'm aware of and Oktava has a US distributor already.

[Eddie]

i think I would consider the ntg-2, instead of the oktava. (its in the same price range). I own the a set of oktavas and although I like the sound of them, I always found it hard to get close enough to get the good sound. Especially in noisy enviroments. In other words, they are very different from shotgun mikes and doesn´t really isolate the sound-source that well.

[Steve Sherrick]

i think I would consider the ntg-2, instead of the oktava. (its in the same price range). I own the a set of oktavas and although I like the sound of them, I always found it hard to get close enough to get the good sound. Especially in noisy enviroments. In other words, they are very different from shotgun mikes and doesn´t really isolate the sound-source that well.

And that is why you can't have only 1 mic in your kit. The NTG-2 is okay. I have one of those too. In fact, I've used it with Red as a run and gun mic. But for situations where you are indoors and can get the mic within a couple of feet, more often than not, the Hypercardiod is going to win out, and I would take the Okatava over the NTG.

The two mics you can have in your kit and really be prepared for just about anything:

Schoeps CMC641 and Schoeps CMIT 5U. It's a $4000 investment, but solves almost all of your dialog problems, indoors and outdoors. That's of course, not taking into account that most of the time, you'll also want to run some lavs, so you need those too.

Wait, this audio thing gets expensive. :greedy:

Getting back to Okatava, it's a great mic for the money. As long as you put it in the right situation, you'll be okay.

[Yannick Hagman]

How will this group buy work for USA customers? The Oktava-shop site does not ship to the USA that I'm aware of and Oktava has a US distributor already.

"Hello,

yes, the group buy is possible.

Best regards,
Natalia Kuzmenko
www.oktava-online.com
www.oktava-shop.com"

And the mics will be shipped to individuals from the manufacturer.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

OK, thanks for the clarification on that.

What if we're also interested in additional capsules like the omni-directional or cardioid? Do the capsules fall into the 25% accessory discount?

[Joe Gill]

Should we also see about getting a group discount with the mod fellow? If he's good, this is something I'll do anyway...

[Adam C Lubkin]

Should we also see about getting a group discount with the mod fellow? If he's good, this is something I'll do anyway...

I'd be into that. I'd like to get a nice stereo set.

[Yannick Hagman]

Yes sure, somebody may check this option.

[Mark B.]

Perhaps we should temporarily stall this group buy until the updated audio boards are released and more people have a chance to sample the options?

[Chris Gearhart]

So how does one actually get the group buy? What process is involved?

[Yannick Hagman]

I may make a list with names of everyone interested in my first post. Below 20 it doesn't make much sense. Interest seems not so big so far.

[Chris Gearhart]

Thanks muroshi.

By the way, someone just found my Oktava! When does THAT ever happen? This morning I went and picked it up from where we filmed a few months ago.

[Yannick Hagman]

Hehe, how sweet and kind in this cruel world. I take you from the list then. We probably can close this thread.

[Sindre Saebo]

I'd be up for an Oktava. I'm wondering though, what other super-cardioid mic options would compete with the Oktava? Is there something better for a little bit more money?

I have a pair of Røde NT-6 myself. They have the advantage that the capsule is detached from the body, so they can be positioned in places that are otherwise hard to reach with other microphones. And they have optional replacable capsules with different characteristics. They come with cardioid as default, I have also bought omni capsules. I think they have the option of super-cardioid as well.

Sindre Saebo
Oslo, Norway


(EDIT) Sorry, just checked their website. Cardioid and omni capsules only so far. But in my opinion, very nice sounding, and without the exaggarated top end which many other small diaphragm microphones exhibit.