Just got my MK-319 back from OktavaMod!

[danbronson]

<-- Me

I unpacked it, put it in the spider shockmount I bought with the mod (which is very nice and allows the mic to be hung at any angle - it doesn't sag at all when it's on a 90 degree angle) and gave it a quick test on my voice both speaking and singing, as a drum overhead, and on my acoustic guitar.

My first thoughts - CRISP AND WARM. I love it! It lends a beautiful, subtle color to things while maintaining detail and clarity even up into the high end. Before, my main complaint was how choked the high end sounded, as if there were layers of tissue between the mic and the sound source. Now it's like that's all gone and there's nothing but air. The high end is not hyped at all. It's just MUCH more transparent sounding now, but still with a certain flavor that only enhances the sound and caters to darker sounds.

It's great for my voice! Rich, deep and in-your-face. As a drum overhead it's equally killer (and the most noticeable improvement), making my cymbals sound warm/thick but still very crisp. The transient response has gone from seemingly non-existent to great for a LDC. It takes EQ very well, where before it became grainy if I brought up the high end. On acoustic, I'll admit it brought out the 'cheap' sounding low end of my $170 guitar with ancient strings. But I guess it should, eh? The only mic that's going to save this guitar is one that covers up it's flaws, not enhances them.

Dammit, now I want another one so that I can use them as overheads. Or maybe MK-012s would be better. Do the 012s sound this good?

I gotta add (as everyone else seems to!) that the customer service was exceptional. Thanks Michael and Meryl!

In conclusion: this is probably the best value on the microphone market. If you want a warm sounding LDC, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

[msquared]

I'd be interested in an 012 vs 319 on overhead comparison as well. I'm looking to pull the trigger and am leaning toward the SDCs over the LDCs but I dig the sound clips on the site.

[dropblacksky]

I had the opportunity recently to use several of Michael's modded Oktavas....I'll second your experience of the 319... soft, but airy top with a detailed midrange. We just recently obtained a Fet 47 at my work and the comparisons in character are warranted.

I did use the 012's for overheads once, but cannot compare them to the 319 for that purpose...though I did prefer them to the C12vr's my boss uses pretty much exclusively in the studio for OH's. I imagine the 319's to be great on overheads with their soft top end.

[danbronson]

Hmm... I was going to get a couple Blue Bluebirds for overheads and other purposes, since they seem so versatile. But I just might get a pair of OktavaMod 012s now.

[Michael_Joly]

Originally Posted by msquared

I'd be interested in an 012 vs 319 on overhead comparison as well. I'm looking to pull the trigger and am leaning toward the SDCs over the LDCs but I dig the sound clips on the site.

1st - thanks for the encouraging words folks.

There's an overhead comparison here you might be interested in. This compares a modified MK-219 (same capsule and electronics as the 319), a modified MK-011 (midsized capsule actually closer in size and sound to the MK-012 than a large diaphragm mic) and a modifed MK-105 (Oktava's brightest LDC).

So while its not a 319 / 012 comparison, the 219 / 011 comparison is a pretty close approximation because the midsized capsule used in the '011 (and '103) sounds very similar on-axis to the '012. The biggest difference with the '011/'103 capsule is its strong attenuation of side and rear information compared to the '012.

[johnnyjellybean]

Which mods? Is it the fully decked out one?

[danbronson]

Originally Posted by Michael_Joly

1st - thanks for the encouraging words folks.

There's an overhead comparison here you might be interested in. This compares a modified MK-219 (same capsule and electronics as the 319), a modified MK-011 (midsized capsule actually closer in size and sound to the MK-012 than a large diaphragm mic) and a modifed MK-105 (Oktava's brightest LDC).

So while its not a 319 / 012 comparison, the 219 / 011 comparison is a pretty close approximation because the midsized capsule used in the '011 (and '103) sounds very similar on-axis to the '012. The biggest difference with the '011/'103 capsule is its strong attenuation of side and rear information compared to the '012.

Thanks Michael, I hadn't seen that. I'll be sure to give it a listen when I get home from work.

johnnyjellybean, yes, this is the floating dome, premium electronics mod.

I just recorded some electric guitars last night. I was going for a high gain hard rock sound. I put the Oktava and my Sennheiser e906 on their own speakers (Celestion Greenbacks in a Marshall 4X12, the head was a Mesa Dual Rectifier Roadster) and spent a few minutes tweaking the positioning. I gotta say, I really liked the tone I was getting from this combination. The e906 is like a smoother, flatter sounding SM57 that still gets aggressive and 'chain-sawish' and the Oktava is just rich and smooth sounding from top to bottom. Together they sound massive, and quite similar to what I was hearing in the room. The downside is that the Oktava distorts under high volumes, so if I'm going for poweramp overdrive, it's not going to get used. Luckily, this track sounded better with the amp down lower anyway so the Oktava worked fine.

[Ozzy]

Originally Posted by danbronson

I gotta add (as everyone else seems to!) that the customer service was exceptional. Thanks Michael and Meryl!

Really?

Ive emailed twice in the last year about the possibility of shipping to the UK, and never got a reply.

Ive heard great things about these tho.

Oz

[gareth.h.rees]

You can buy "new" modified mics from Oktava studio microphones - genuine Russian made products - works out a little cheaper than direct from America right now too.

Looking into a pair of 319's myself

Gareth

[LeMauce]

The 319 mod is the best buy for me the last year. Damn so nice mic. Love to record my spanish flamingo guitar with it and warm voice's (no offence, from black singers).
I used it with The Brick amp, for me the best combo!

[sahiaman]

I got a PE mod from Michael on the Mk 219 a few months ago. The only regret I had was I waited a long time to get it.(EDIT: this should read, I waited to order the mod, not that he was late modding it) It made the mic sound robust and fixed that boxy sound it use to have on the stock ones. I will post some vocals with it that I did with a singer a few months ago. We ended up picking the Mk 219 over a Gefel M990 for a couple songs.

[Michael_Joly]

Originally Posted by Ozzy

Really?

Ive emailed twice in the last year about the possibility of shipping to the UK, and never got a reply.

Ive heard great things about these tho.

Oz

Hi Oz, did you email me: michael at OktavaMod.com? If so, I apologize for not seeing your email. I do ship to the UK - worldwide actually.

[Ozzy]

Originally Posted by Michael_Joly

Hi Oz, did you email me: michael at OktavaMod.com? If so, I apologize for not seeing your email. I do ship to the UK - worldwide actually.

Hi Michael.

Yeah, I sent a couple to the email address on your website a while ago.

No problems, I know emails can slip through the net.

Ill have another look on your site.

Cheers,

Oz