Recording - October 2020 - 59

The swappable capsules make this microphone extremely versatile.
The frequency response (cardioid capsule) is 20Hz-20kHz, with a maximum
SPL of 130dB, self noise of 18dBA, and
a sensitivity rating of 10 mV/Pa. The frequency response is flat (+/- 2dB) from
100Hz to 15kHz, with a gentle rolloff
above 15kHz. As previously mentioned,
acoustic guitar and drum overheads
are among the most common applications. However, its transparent and fast
response makes it suitable for a wide
range of material, especially when the
additional capsules come into play.

In Use

I tried the MK-012 with the cardioid
capsule on a variety of material. Surprisingly, I like it best on percussion
instruments. It has a very tight and fast
response and doesn't sound nearly as
bright as many other pencil condensers that I've used. Used as overheads,
they provide fullness without sounding too bright or harsh. Thanks to its
affordable price tag, it won't induce any
heart attacks when used as a close mic
on snare or toms. I like pairing it with an
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SM57 on snare tops and blending the
two sounds. I found myself carving out
some midrange when using it as a tom
mic-my own personal taste. Just make
sure to keep that -10dB pad screwed on
when close miking drums!
I typically record my Yamaha FG-423S
with ribbon mics, as it's pretty bright for
an acoustic guitar, but the MK-012 paired
nicely with it. It provided a smooth and
detailed midrange, with a slightly rounded
top end. Using the cardioid capsules in an
X/Y pair, I had to play with the distance a bit
before finding the right balance without too
much proximity. That's partially why I preferred using the omni capsule for acoustic
guitar-the MK-012 with the omni capsule
sounds beautifully natural, and a touch
more open than the cardioid capsule.
As with all omni mics, there's no proximity
effect, so I could mic it slightly closer while
maintaining a balanced sound. The chart
for the omni capsule shows a flat line from
30Hz - 5kHz, with a 4dB bump in the top
octaves, which helps it sound a bit airier
than its cardioid sibling.

The hypercardioid capsule is mostly marketed for the production audio
world, but it has uses in the studio as
well. In addition to tighter directionality,
it also has a slightly more sculpted frequency response-a flat line (+/- 2dB)
from roughly 200Hz - 8kHz, and then
a transparent 3dB/per octave rolloff
beyond those points. Depending on
the genre, this can help soften cymbals
when used as drum overheads, but you'll
be sacrificing some room sound (if you
don't like the way your room sounds,
this should play in your favor).

Final Thoughts

Given its price, there's a lot to love
here. The versatility of swappable capsules dramatically expands on its possible
uses, while providing natural and detailed
sound. Oktava now sells direct and has
a US website for shipping overseas. The
Oktava MK-012 would be a great addition to any mic locker, and even with its
increase in price over the years, it still performs well above its pay grade.

Price: $190 MK-012-01 standard package; deluxe, multi-capsule and stereo
pairs are also available.
More
From: en.oktavatula.ru and microphoneboutique.com (official USA distributor)
5:52 PM
http://en.oktavatula.ru http://www.microphoneboutique.com http://www.11dmedia.com/epic5
Recording - October 2020

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