oktava mk319 assistance
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Posted on Dec 26, 2003 11:53 pm
lllatomlll
Member Since: Nov 16, 2003
Guitar Center had MK319's on sale 50% off for only 50 dollars and it just so happened I needed a vocal mic so that's a damn good deal. I should go buy another one (as should you for the cost). Anyway, my problem is that when I tried to use it, it is not picking up a whole lot. In fact, it only picks up sound when I almost yell into it. I am plugging into a Behringer mixer (phantom power on of course) then into my BR-8. My other oktava mics sound "in your face" but this one is WAY weak even though all the settings are the same for the 2 mics. Did I just get a lemon? I know it can be difficult sometimes to pick up a solid working Oktava...Or am I missing something altogether? Thanks guys
Adam
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 27, 2003 12:06 am They do have both a low cut and a 10 dB pad. Make sure niether one is turned on, both switches should be to the left I believe. And you may also need to turn up your input gain.
All mics are not built the same, so each mic will use a bit more or less input gain. So make sure you try turning up the gain before you call it a dud. And I have heard rumor that there may be some knock offs, or shall we say not real Oktavas for sale out there, as well as a few other imports. The case is identical in every way, but the guts tell the whole story.
So in the end you may want to head back to GC and make them plug it in as well, then grab all they have and try every one of them.
Dec 27, 2003 12:18 am Alright. I'll give it a second shot. I know I tried turning my gain all the way up but nothing. I played w/ those switches on the mic and no improvement. I don't see why GC would sell a knock off though. So far I've had good experience with guitar center and oktavas. It's kind of funny..before I left the store I asked if I should be concerned if it works or not cause I dealt with the same guy who gave me a speech about how Oktavas are shipped from Russia so poorly and he insisted it would be fine. Just my luck...
EDIT: I just double checked and the same results. This is only when I'm recording dry with my BR-8. If I turn on some COSM effects I get the sound I want to hear. I don't want to use any effects. Is the mic suppose to sound loud even when someone is just talking or even whispering into it? I would assume so...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 27, 2003 10:26 am Do you have the option of running the mic cirect somewhere. It sounds as though it may be in the BR-8 if it works fine with the effects on but doesnt work with them off. And yes it should, the mic should maintain the same level as your voice, depending of coarse on the distance you are from it.
And yes indeed, I dont think GC would knowingly sell a knock off. The word I heard is that there may be some imposters out there cased in Oktava cases. I have owned many Oktavas and not had any trouble with them over the years. They are a handbuilt mic and that in turn makes them each sort of indavidual in the way they sound. Now this is not a bad thing for the most part, but for the purist who is looking a for a mic tha each one sounds identical to the other, it is not a good choice. I prefer that my mics do not sound identical, that is the point of having several differant mic choices.
I guess my suggestion would be to head back to GC and give it a check with the salesman. Try a few of teh other 319s he may have in stock and see waht the results are. It seems odd that it appears to work with the COSM effects on but not when they are off.
