Oktava Mods in Germany/ Europe

[JanusRecording]

Hey guys,
I recentcently modded an Oktava Mk319 based on Scott Dorsey's article. But I even managed to fit a film cap in the signal path where he proposes a tantalum because of the size.
Don't have to tell you about the amazing sound - there enough threads about that around here.

I will probably mod anotherone for a friend around here in Berlin soon. So IF ANY OF YOU GUYS in BERLIN or GERMANY is INTERESTED in HAVING your OKTAVA Mk319 MODDOD. I can do it for you; got loads of experience in building mic preamps and stuff.
Would be really cool, cause I hava plenty of Toshiba FETs left...

The mod will include mechanical modifications to get rid of resonances:
Removal of the inner grille
Reinforcing the supports of the grille with hot glue
Removal of the resonator discs
Applying felt beneath the capsule post
Appling RTV to the inside of the mic body

Electronic modifications:
Replacement of the 1G resistors
Replacement of the FET with Toshiba 2SK170BL (also biacing Rs if needed)
Shortening of the capsule leads to improve linearity
Replacing C8 with film cap
Replacing C3, C7, C9 with tantalums
Replacing in C2 with COG ceramic

If any of you guys is interested in testing my modded Mk319 in Berlin you're welcome.

Cheers, Sebastian

[mdemesmin1]

Originally Posted by JanusRecording

Hey guys,
I recentcently modded an Oktava Mk319 based on Scott Dorsey's article. But I even managed to fit a film cap in the signal path where he proposes a tantalum because of the size.
Don't have to tell you about the amazing sound - there enough threads about that around here.

I will probably mod anotherone for a friend around here in Berlin soon. So IF ANY OF YOU GUYS in BERLIN or GERMANY is INTERESTED in HAVING your OKTAVA Mk319 MODDOD. I can do it for you; got loads of experience in building mic preamps and stuff.
Would be really cool, cause I hava plenty of Toshiba FETs left...

The mod will include mechanical modifications to get rid of resonances:
Removal of the inner grille
Reinforcing the supports of the grille with hot glue
Removal of the resonator discs
Applying felt beneath the capsule post
Appling RTV to the inside of the mic body

Electronic modifications:
Replacement of the 1G resistors
Replacement of the FET with Toshiba 2SK170BL (also biacing Rs if needed)
Shortening of the capsule leads to improve linearity
Replacing C8 with film cap
Replacing C3, C7, C9 with tantalums
Replacing in C2 with COG ceramic

If any of you guys is interested in testing my modded Mk319 in Berlin you're welcome.

Cheers, Sebastian

Wow!!!!! Great work. Please upload some sound clips.
Will you be extending the offer to the USA?

Beware of (Billy boy) he is always recomanding his partners mic on GS. You will notice possitive feed back from all except (Billy boy). I'm sure the mic will sound amazing! Keep up the great work.

[ivansc]

Seb - preis fur alles?

Euro oder GBP, bitte

[JanusRecording]

Originally Posted by mdemesmin1

Wow!!!!! Great work. Please upload some sound clips.
Will you be extending the offer to the USA?

Beware of (Billy boy) he is always recomanding his partners mic on GS. You will notice possitive feed back from all except (Billy boy). I'm sure the mic will sound amazing! Keep up the great work.

Hey, thanks.

At the moment I only have a modded Oktava at my studio. But as soon I have have another umodded one, I will record something with both at the same time for direct comparison.

US offer: You have guys offering mods over there I think. And shipping + customs from Europe to the US are expensive. So better have your mics modded there.

[mdemesmin1]

Originally Posted by JanusRecording

Hey, thanks.

At the moment I only have a modded Oktava at my studio. But as soon I have have another umodded one, I will record something with both at the same time for direct comparison.

US offer: You have guys offering mods over there I think. And shipping + customs from Europe to the US are expensive. So better have your mics modded there.

That would be great! BTW (billy boy) is AKA DRbill.

[Haz-Mat-Strat]

Hi Sebastian

Nice work.

The Red Wima capacitor needs to be moved "up" to replace the 1UF Tantalum capacitor. That is the Transformer coupling capacitor. I use a very large (physically) Axon / Mundorf, Polypropylene capacitor, 1uf to 1.5uf in that position.

Also put the screws back in the capsule that you removed with the resonator disk. Cut them with some side cutters when they are back in place.

Good job!

.

[JanusRecording]

Originally Posted by Haz-Mat-Strat

Hi Sebastian

Nice work.

The Red Wima capacitor needs to be moved "up" to replace the 1UF Tantalum capacitor. That is the Transformer coupling capacitor. I use a very large (physically) Axon / Mundorf, Polypropylene capacitor, 1uf to 1.5uf in that position.

Also put the screws back in the capsule that you removed with the resonator disk. Cut them with some side cutters when they are back in place.

Good job!

.

Hey, thanks for your reply and the screw hint! - but why is it nessesary, stability is not a issue here, I guess.

For the decoupling cap I used an 1uF polyester cap (but you're right 1.5uF wouldn't hurt), which is phisically very small and fits in nicely.
How did you manage to fit an polypropylene cap (soudwise even better in my opinion) in there? It didn't find any that were small enough.

[JanusRecording]

Originally Posted by Haz-Mat-Strat

Hi Sebastian

Nice work.

The Red Wima capacitor needs to be moved "up" to replace the 1UF Tantalum capacitor. That is the Transformer coupling capacitor. I use a very large (physically) Axon / Mundorf, Polypropylene capacitor, 1uf to 1.5uf in that position.

Also put the screws back in the capsule that you removed with the resonator disk. Cut them with some side cutters when they are back in place.

Good job!

.

Just had a look at your page - so you know what you're doing - nice work! And you keep the switches functional?
I thought about reducing the polarization power of the capsule to get the pad working again after shortening the wires to from the capsule... but I don't really need the pad, so I didn't do it.

[Haz-Mat-Strat]

This mic has a 1.5uf Axon capacitor. All of the other film capacitors that replace the ceramics are polystyrene. The electrolytic are audio grade components. The lead holes for the Axon need to be drilled.

Mundorf capacitors will fit also

Big difference.

Jim Jacobsen
JJ Audio

[JanusRecording]

Originally Posted by ivansc

Seb - preis fur alles?

Euro oder GBP, bitte

If you are interested in testing my Oktava in Berlin or having yours modified, please PM me.

[JanusRecording]

Originally Posted by Haz-Mat-Strat

This mic has a 1.5uf Axon capacitor. All of the other film capacitors that replace the ceramics are polystyrene. The electrolytic are audio grade components. The lead holes for the Axon need to be drilled.

Mundorf capacitors will fit also

Big difference.


Jim Jacobsen
JJ Audio

Just ordered a Mundorf MCap Zn and guess what: It does not fit in!!
So I guess I have to go for Axon as well.
And I think replacing C2 (between capsule and FET) with a polyprop is also an option. Going to try that soon.


And I recorded some samples 319Mod and Neumann TLM 103. Will post them later.

[Haz-Mat-Strat]

Originally Posted by JanusRecording

Just ordered a Mundorf MCap Zn and guess what: It does not fit in!!
So I guess I have to go for Axon as well.
And I think replacing C2 (between capsule and FET) with a polyprop is also an option. Going to try that soon.


And I recorded some samples 319Mod and Neumann TLM 103. Will post them later.

Use the Mundorf MKP, they sound great. Poly prop will work also on the capsule to fet capacitor, it is a matter of taste.

If you want a brighter sound use Silver Mica.

Jim Jacobsen
JJ Audio



.

[JanusRecording]

Hi everybody,

unfortunately I somehow lost the files of the TLM, as we didn't use it in the end. So no direct comparison.
But here is a sample of the modded Oktavea Mk319 - closed miked vocals.
No processing except for normalization.
The acoustic guitar is just bleeding into the vocal mic as well, as the singer played while singing.

Cheers, Sebastian