Neumann KM 184 for dialogue? Basic kit question

[Mike Brent]

I own this mic, it is a $850 Cardioid which I use for music recordings.

I'm now building an audio kit for Scarlet and I wanted to know your thoughts about this - should I use it for interiors and buy a shotgun for exteriors or should I get the Oktava mk 012 instead and use it for both interiors and exteriors?

Is the Neumann suitable for dialogue?

Thanks

[Tom Visser]

That mic should work fine for dialogue in any situation that a cardioId is appropriate. You may find yourself grabbing the shotgun sometimes though, or wishing you had a hyper-cardioid. Great mic for music, quite usable for production work too.

[Rob Castiglione]

You will definitely generally be wanting to use a hypercardioid indoors rather than a cardioid. The Oktava you mentioned comes with three interchangeable capsules including a hyper which will probably prove most useful indoors. One thing you should try is getting the Oktava modded by Michael Jolly if you have not already done so. He does a fabulous job improving the electronics in the mic for a modest price. After it is modded it is a very good mic though not in the same league as the Schoeps MK41 which is the best hypercardioid available.

For outdoors you really do need a decent shotgun mic. That is there very reason for existence.