Oktava MK-012 Film Edition Review 

Hey thanks, Jeff! I appreciate the comment! Cheers!

Oh hahaha. Thanks so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to say that! I’m just a little channel but I hope to grow big someday! Cheers!

Hahaha. Thanks, man! Yes indeed Studio Economik! I’ve bought plenty of gear from there! My MixPre recorders were from there too! But yeah, it was weird about the whole Russian mic thing at the time, but it’s a mic, and not a gun or something. Haha. Thanks for always watching!

Hey thanks so much! I really appreciate it!

Thanks for the mic! Cheers!

You’re very welcome! Cheers!

Hey thanks so much!

Hey thanks so much! Cheers!

Haha. Thanks so much! If you like a warm sound, it’s a killer mic. Thanks for watching!

That’s why I did that. That’s wonderful! Glad I could help! Cheers!

Haha. You’re very welcome! Cheers!

Hey thanks so much! And thanks for watching!

I agree. Amazing eh? Nice warm mic with great reach!

I paused the video to write too early. Now the guitar part. I was amazed by how well you played, and how well the mike sounded.. and then came the lyrics 😂

Hahaha. Well thank you so much! I really appreciate you leaving these wonderful comments! You made my day!

Thanks so much!

Thanks so much!

Wow thanks so much! That’s an honor! It’s funny, I get many comments saying the exact same thing as you did. Thanks again!

Woo hoo! That’s fantastic!

Hey thanks for the sub! I have wanted to get my hands on an Oktava MK-012 for a long time. It’s the secret production mic that so many pros use indoors. I’m so glad I posted just in time for you! The older Oktavas needed a mod done to them to make them sound as good as they do in my video. But the newer ones have altered it to include the mod people were getting done. So make sure to purchase one that’s not the old style. I’m not sure of the year they made the change, though. Also, in the early 2000s there were Chinese knockoffs and everyone was worried about getting a fake one. Just make sure you’re not getting swindled. Reverb has them for a decent price sometimes and they come directly from the German official store. Thanks for watching!

@@TheRecordist - Reverb is our friend. ;) Thanks for the info. I too came across that in my research on these mics. They are a great deal...performance wise, even when money is not on hand for one. I bought a few new lights, upgrading my lighting game, and was able to convince my wife what a great deal they are (performance vs. price) and even one of them for a discount. However....it all adds up and the 3 lights combined are about my allotment for a while. Yeah, been drooling for an MK-012 for a year now.

@@northcoaststudios indeed. The lights are a must-have. What did you go with? I’ve got some Godox video lights but am interested in the new SmallRig ones. It’s one piece at a time, man! You’ll get there!

@@TheRecordist - My first light was an Amaran 100d. It has been invaluable on a couple might time scenes as well as some indoor scenes. The second light I got was the Amaran P60C. This has turned out to be the light I grab first on many shoots for narrative film. I can get any color at insane levels of saturation for horror scenes, and also match any color white light. The included softbox makes it seem less like a panel light. Output is awesome, and being able to us, and charge, batteries on this light has been a life saver sometimes. The third light is an Amaran 60d. For the times I don't need the output of the 100d the 60d is fantastic, and is easily battery powered as well when needed. I will likely buy at least one more of these as well as a 60x. I have a nice set of gels to use on the COB lights, so getting lights that are bi-color was not a high priority for me. The 60x will be merely a convenience. I also got an Anker 300 watt power station to power the 100d when I don't have household power available. Anker sells them on ebay listed as "refurbished" when in actuality they are merely "open box" items that were returned because they can no longer be sold as "new." New they are $460 USD, but on ebay you can get them for $250 - $275, open box. I saw a reviewer pull out a 10 year old Anker power station that still worked like the day he bought it, so I had no hesitation buying one that just sat on the shelf on display for a few months. The power station enables me to power more than the one light when not using them at 100% output. As long as I don't hit 300 watts. The magic of LED lights. I have a number of old 350 - 500 watt tungsten lights, but the LED lights take their place in output.

@@northcoaststudios that’s some nice gear, man! I’m interested in the P60C now. Haha.

Oh hahaha thanks!

Hahaha. GAS is a real killer! I’m interested in the CK1. I’ll look into testing it out. Thanks for the suggestion! NT5 is an alright mic. Not amazing but not terrible. I’ve had a chance to try it out once. I’m more fond of the Line Audio CM3 or CM4 if we’re going regular cardioid SDC (if we’re talking budget mics). Alternatively, there’s the Neumann KM184’s and the like, but that’s some serious coin. Oh the GAS!

Hey thanks so much! That’s a cool story. Which mic was it?

@@TheRecordist Same mic as yours. Oktava MK-012 hyper cardioid.

@@paracite really awesome “old style” mic eh? Has incredible warmth in the low end. I really like the Oktavas.

​@@TheRecordist Same here. Some people like using it on acoustic guitar. I'm not much of a musician though, but it does sound good with it. I thought about modding it, but I heard it's a bit hit or miss and only nominal change. I would be able to hear the difference, but probably not worth the trouble for me at the moment.

@@paracite well the new Oktavas come with the mod already done, or so I’m told. They changed that about 10 years ago or so. That’s what I hear.

Hey. Yes indeed. Warm is the best word to describe this mic. Very very warm. I really love it and it sure has its place in my kit. Thanks for watching!

Hey thanks, Jack! The hypercardioid is nice. It’s got a tighter beam and really reaches the voice nicely. The cardioid is perfectly fine for many applications too. You made the right call. Thanks for watching!

@@TheRecordist You're welcome. One thing I wanted to ask: what camera did you use to film that scene beginning 11:27 if you don't mind me asking: it looks very cinematic and picks up colours and light very well.

@@jackspring7709 yes. That’s just a Canon M50 camera with a sigma 30mm lens. I just managed the light as best as I could. I also used a layer of film grain over top.

@@TheRecordist I see. Thank you. It looks very professional.

@@jackspring7709 well thank you, sir!

Hey thanks! Yes the Oktava is very popular for many recordists just starting out and pros alike. It’s definitely a warmer sound. If you do get one, let me know how you like it! And if you purchase through OktavaUSA then tell them I sent you! Haha.

@@TheRecordist Maybe that's what I'm more going for with more warth. While the 416 did sound super nice and clear especially at close proximity, it was a bit thinner than I was expecting (not that it couldn't be adjusted in post). And if I get it, I'll be sure to pass that along 😉

@@chrissgardiner haha. Wicked! Cheers!

@@TheRecordist Speaking of WICKED...I see the Boston logo...are you ALSO a New Englander? 👀 If so.. *waves from Rhode Island*

@@chrissgardiner haha. No sir! I just try to switch up the hockey logos based on company headquarters of the review I’m doing. For British products I use Manchester United. Haha. Sorry about that! I’m a Canadian, eh?

Thanks very much!

Hi there. Yes it’s a great little mic! Just be sure there’s a return policy. Just in case you get a dud. There have been known duds out of the factory. But if you get a good one, you’re good to go. Cheers!

@@TheRecordist Thank you, I didn't know that!

I don’t think you can hear a difference with silver solder. I just think it lasts longer-less patina with age. I do make my own guitar cables but I have yet to make my own XLR cables. So far in my life I have been buying them. I plan to make my own quad cables. Way cheaper.

Oh yes! The MK-012 is fantastic on so many things!

Hi Alice. Well, it’s all about carving out the sound you want with EQ. Some mics can take it well, and some can’t. The Oktava is great with EQ. A lot of people new to sound prefer the brighter mics because it seems to sound crisper. But as one’s ears get trained, one tends to appreciate flatter or even darker mics. But yes, the 416 is a crisp mic!

​@@TheRecordist Still, when I saw test from Curtis Judd where Oktava was remarkably noisy even when compared with RØDE NT5. I just believe it is always easier to "throw a pillow on speaker" rather than raise trebles. Add Octava's bad noise and then... rather start alchemy with expanders/gates/AI magic.

@@AliceVixie well, noise is less of an issue these days. I sometimes have noisy mics and I don’t use expanders or gates. I use plugins like Waves Clarity. I never use AI. I just carve the sound with my ears and a parametric EQ. The Oktava is a great blank canvas. I stress all this because a lot of people can’t afford the $1000 416. The Røde NT5 is entry level. The Røde NTG3 is much better but is $700. Both the 416 and the NTG3 are shotgun mics, which when indoors can have some issues due to room reverb and the interference tube. Small diaphragm condenser mics are the first choice for indoor shoots. Another great mic that is somewhat better than the Oktava is the Line Audio CM4. Hand made. Cheap. Wonderful.

That’s a great tip about Germany. Thanks! As far as the mod, this Oktava is a newer one and as I’m told, doesn’t require the mod because Oktava started making them with the mods from the factory. I remember seeing a video from the Microphone Boutique or something. I would just use the low cuts on my recorder or in post so I’m not too worried about the preamp (mic body) having that. But none the less, this is fascinating info. Thanks for letting me know!

@@TheRecordist Yes you’re right the newer ones are with the mod!

Hey. That’s a common issue. Here’s how that’s dealt with: 1. It’s always best to reduce room reflections (reverb) in any booming situation first - just to be sure you’re getting a cleaner signal. Using moving blankets on the floor out of site really helps. 2. A noise reduction plugin used in post. From Waves Clarity to UAD C-Suite C-Vox to Izotope RX. Even Davinci Resolve has a dialogue Isolate plugin that’s built in. This will reduce the room noise and reverb and all kinds of unwanted noise and will focus on voice. Then, you want to put back controlled room noise on a separate track. This hides any digital manipulation artifacts and makes it feel natural. Room tone is something that many location recordists try to capture when on set - if everyone will be quiet long enough to get it. Hope this helps! Cheers!

Hey there. Thanks for the compliments! I have not yet tried the MK-012 on a real set as I only months ago received it. But I have done some extensive tests with it that included booming my own self on my own little set (as seen in the video) Yes, the handling noise is a problem, but with a good shock mount and good technique, its possible to mitigate some of the handling noise. I also do not use the physical HP filter as I prefer to do that in post--unless for some reason I am dependant on the limiter and don't want to keep tripping it. The self noise is higher than some but lower than others. Officially its 18dBA. I find it easy to remove in post with just the Waves Clarity plugin (the $29 cheap one). The noise isn't really a problem for me. However, these mics have poor quality control so be sure to test it fully and a few different days/times before keeping it. I have gone through 3 of them so far. Yes, the MK-012 does get thinner from afar--as many mics do. It's not an MKH-50, but it can sound close to one sometimes. Generally, the Oktava is better than all other low-cost mics for on-set booming, IMO. The next level would be a lot more money. It has a warmth that is hard to get at that price point. It's worth having in your kit, as long as you don't get a dud. I hope this helps!

@@TheRecordist Yes, it does. Thanks for the detailed reply and your time!

@@charlesdanx8807 cheers!

The low cut filter module is not a necessity. I never use it. The same exact things can be done on your recorder or in post. The only reason you’d want that is if somehow what you’re recording has a deep rumble that’s tripping the limiter in your recorder. Otherwise, it can easily be done in post.

Hahaha. Thanks so much! Cheers!

I fully agree! And yes, my parents nailed it! Thanks for watching!

Two of them? I fully support that! But make sure they’re not defective. I’ve had some issues. Thanks for watching!

@@TheRecordist thank you very much for the answer, how does the defect manifest? I hope is ok,i buy new 😀but is made in RUSIA😆defectiv control is posible too not see all

@@mariusdocea438 well just make sure they have a return policy. It’s all static after the first couple of uses if it’s a bad one. Other than that, it works for years. Good luck!

Boy you nailed it! This is now my third Oktava Mk-012. The first two died-including the one in the video you just watched. The very next time I plugged it in, it was doing that noise. I sent it back to Oktava USA and he was kind enough to exchange it again for me. At this point I can’t recommend anyone buy these that don’t have a guarantee and the time to exchange them. There must be some fix when these mics get noisy. Is it a loose connection? Can they be repaired by hand? Otherwise, they’re fantastic sounding mics. Thanks for chiming in!

The Oktava MK-012 is a great mic! The tentacle track E is also a great product. You can’t go wrong at all. Just remember that the Oktava is an XLR mic and needs phantom power (48v) to operate. Other than that, there’s no question the Oktava kicks the snot out of the VideoMic. Thanks for watching!

@@TheRecordist ahh I’d need to find a recorder that has phantom power. I have WaveXLR… but I don’t want to run it through PC to record. (Use it for live streams)

@@AJCoReTV a cheap recorder that has XLR inputs and phantom power is a Zoom H5 and similar. Here’s a review I did on the H5: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-G54JMmfHD80.html Alternatively, you could go for a Zoom F3. Much better preamps in that guy. I generally stay away from Tascam as they tend to have RF interference issues. Both can be used to interface with your computer if you need it. Hope this helps!

Hey thanks for the tip! I do know about the Chinese fakes. I bought through Oktava USA. But this is good information for others!

Haha. That would be fun!

Oh thank you! Where in the world are you? Maybe I could direct you to find one. I’ll have a look.

@@TheRecordist thank you sir.. i'm from Malaysia 😁😁

@@KotakNyaman hi Kotak. Ok, I’ve reached out to my Oktava contact and when he responds I’ll let you know. Fingers crossed!

@@TheRecordist really appreciate that.. thanks a lot 🤩🤩

Cheers!

Thank you very much! It’s a great little mic!

@@TheRecordist, It’s a paradox that even here not everyone knows this microphone or buys microphones of worse quality, of German or other origin. You are great! I left a comment above in Russian, for which this Tula microphone was originally created! In general, Tula is famous more for gingerbread, samovars and weapons!) The left-hander who was able to shoe a flea - a Tula story! Thanks again for the great microphone reviews!

@@UriRa interesting!

@@TheRecordist , Thanks to your efforts, I ordered myself a factory stereo pair MK-012-01 in a wooden box. I hope you like it! It's surprising that this happened not without your Canadian help) I started listening to how they write and realized that I don’t need Chinese or German microphones) Delivery on the 16th. There is a two-year warranty and there is post-warranty coverage; they even repair microphones from the 70s... A pair of microphones cost approximately US$290. Therefore - thank you very much!

@@UriRa that’s fantastic! And you’re very welcome! Enjoy!

Yes. This mic would serve you for that purpose. As long as the background noise (cars, dogs, etc) isn’t too loud.

@@TheRecordist Oh crap. I have my dogs outside of the house that are barking all day long. Do you think cardioid oktava set, faced away from those sounds would be bad/not optimal, decent/managable or great? Thanks for responding btw. You're awesome.

@@nikolawesthemkg hey no worries! I think the Hypercardioid polar pattern of the Oktava is much better for that than, say, a regular cardioid condenser, but not optimal. If I were you, I would look at a dynamic mic. I highly recommend the Shure SM57 with a pop filter like the Shure AW2S or even the Shure A81WS large pop filter. You would need to have the SM57 much closer to your mouth for optimal performance. And of course an interface. But it doesn’t require phantom power and it’s only $100. If you have more money to spend, then I recommend the Shure SM7dB. Hope this helps!

​@@TheRecordist Thank you so much. One last question. If I wanted to have a mic outside of the shot since I"m teaching and it's not optimal to have my mic close to my mouth - what would you recommend taking into consideration the noise that the dogs make outside of the room.

@@nikolawesthemkg in that case, a Hypercardioid like the Oktava Mk-012 might be the best option - or a shotgun mic like a Sennheiser 416, a Røde NTG3 or a Deity S-Mic 2 or S-Mic 2s. The last shotgun I listen might be the cheapest. Shotgun mics are great for filtering out sounds around them, but they also create a warble-like effect if the reflections in the room bounce off the walls and into the sides. But not really anything terrible.

They aren’t? Is that Oktava USA?

Of course! Some people dislike Neumann U87 mics and others love it. It’s a matter of taste and preference. Cheers!

Hahahaha. Likely so!

Yes. I was unaware of the Russia thing when I made the video. My apologies. Another reviewer told me about that a couple of months ago. State owned. Better to find one on the used market if you want one badly. Thanks for watching!

@@TheRecordist Unfortunately, Ukrainian propaganda hides the true causes of the war. They don’t tell you that since 2014 they have been shooting the civilian population of Donbass (a part of Ukraine that separated due to the coup d’etat). They certainly won’t tell you about the 14,000 civilians of Donbass who died. Taken Carlson's unbiased interview with Iladimir Putin about the causes and consequences will be released soon.