Oktava makes some great microphone designs but the components are pretty random at times, particularly in the used market. My two sounded pretty different, one in particular rather harsh, so I did a component upgrade.

These are three before/after snippets (recorded under identical conditions other than the internal microphone electronics) of Oktava mk-012/mc-012 nr. 1 in my studio.

(Song snippets: "Supervillain For I Love You" (mine), "Road to Lisdoonvarna" (traditional), "Cascadia (How I Have Missed You)" (mine).)

Oktava mk-012/mc-012 component upgrades

Oktava makes some great microphone designs but the components are pretty random at times, particularly in the used market. My two sounded pretty different, one in particular rather harsh, so I did a component upgrade.

These are three snippets recorded simultaneously of Oktava mk-012/mc-012 nr. 2, still factory, and Oktava mk-012/mc-012 nr. 1 (new components), alternating between the better of my factory units (nr. 2) and the worse, post-component upgrade (nr. 1).

(Song snippets: "Supervillain For I Love You" (mine), "Cascadia (How I Have Missed You)" (mine), "Road to Lisdoonvarna" (traditional).)

Oktava mk-012/mc-012 nr. 2 (factory) vs. nr. 1 (component-upgraded)

White noise from two microphones. Left channel, micparts RK-47-capsuled kit microphone in an MXL-990 shell (no original MXL electronics inside); right channel, stock M-Audio NOVA.

The mic preamps used were identical and set to appropriate and equal final gain for instrument recording with each microphone. Room was then quieted and recording made.  Recording was then then boosted 32db for audibility.

White noise from large-can capacitor microphones (silent room)

Alternating recording of some chords from the Irish traditional song "Lukey" performed by me on Irish Bouzouki, recorded with new factory stock MXL-900 microphone, then an RK-47 capsule and micparts upgraded circuit board, built from kit parts, installed in the same case. Monophonic recording, levels-matched. Order is alternating, starting with factory stock MXL-900, then RK-47, then back and forth. Final chords are RK-47.

RK-47 and MXL replacement circuit kit vs. stock MXL-900 (zouk chords)

Short melody on Irizh Bouzouki, comparing a new factory stock MXL-900 and a kit microphone in an MXL-900 case, using the micparts RK-47 and replacement circuit board. No MXL electronics remain. Starts with MXL-900, alternates with RK-47 until end. Ending is repeated because I wanted both chord glissandos. Ends on RK-47.

Short melody on Irizh Bouzouki, comparing MXL-900 and RK-47

Oktava 012 with improved components (upgraded caps, transistors) compared to Micparts RK-47 kit microphone (RK-47 diaphragm and 900B circuit both kitbuilt new) built in an MXL-900 case. Song is intro to "King of Elfland's Daughter" performed on irish bouzouki. Both renditions miked at 15cm from soundhole, two performances. Additional gain at preamp on Oktava 012 due to the higher intrinsic gain of the MK-47 circuit. Repeating phrases are always Oktava 012 first, then Micparts MK-47/900B.

Oktava012 vs. RK-47, alternating, Oktava first, zouk miked at soundhole

This is a test of two microphone configurations, as well as two microphones, with the Micparts RK-47/990B kit mic being used as the "mid" in a mid-side configuration (with another kit mic, the Austin OTA-1 ribbon microphone, as the side), compared to a pair of M-Audio Novas in a spread X-Y configuration, with both mixed directly to _mono_, rather than spread-stereo.  The recording starts with the RK47/990B, then switches back and forth between that pair and the Novas.

(This may be called "T" rather than "mid-side" since mid-side includes subtractive mixing not used here. But this mono signal would allow maximum placement control in a dense mix, and I've wanted to try it for a while anyway.)

Mid-side (RK-47/990B & OTA-1 ribbon) vs. XY M-Audio Novas (monophonic mix)

Electric test nr. 1 "Kohaku" (Irish bouzouki), test harness and humbucker. Literally the first output from the test harness hookup build.

"kohaku" - electric test #1

Built a insertable/removable magnetic pickup and driver circuit for my Irish bouzouki that also allows the acoustic pickup input to be blended in, and finally provides level and tone control in a way similar to 1950s-60s Les Paul electric guitars.

Playlist contains three playthroughs: first with the pickup in single-coil mode, second with the pickup in humbucker mode, third with a mix that I liked. All three have the tone control bypassed and final levelling stage at maximum (zero resistance), so this is really a demonstration of about half the circuit.

C - 2017 - 04 - 02 - Hybrid/mixed pickups

A - 2017 - 04 - 02 - Single Coil

B - 2017 - 04 - 02 - Humbucker

Solarbird, of Crime and the Forces of Evil, a band of supervillains turned musicians. This is where she puts experiments, often very technical ones.

solarbird

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