Oktava 319

Posted on

Member Since: Feb 20, 2003

Guess there may be a bunch of stuff about this in here already. Here's what i got to say about the mic.
Previously I'd been recording with a shure beta 38a hooked into my computer thru a seasound solo soundcard.
I decided i could probably get a nicer sound (although the shure was nice) with a condenser mic and since the mic was only a hundred bucks and i already had the phantom power for it i figured i might as well give it a shot.. So far, I haven't been able to get 1/2 as good a sound out of the Oktava. I'm trying the different combinations of these cute little switches, etc. -10db and bass rolloff -10db and no bass rolloff, no -10db and bass rolloff, well you get the point...... How are other Vocalists using this mic? what is your preferred "switch" combination? I'm getting a .whole crap load of "essing" and i hate the side effect of de-essers making me sound more drunk than i am.

Help out... for a mic with a list price of 600 bucks, there has to be a way to get a slammin sound out of this piece.

Thanks all!
Milk Man

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Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Feb 20, 2003 10:26 pm

Well hello Milk Man,

I use the 319 flat. No roll off, no pading and get great recordings with it. I am wondering if you are adjusting to the added sensitivity of the mic. It will be a lot less forgiving than a dynamic. Are you using a spit filter? You know panty hose streached in front of the mic? This will help a lot with the essing. Also with a full 1" condenser you don't have to be right on top of it like many use a dynamic. Give it a little breathing room and bring up your levels a touch.

Member
Since: Feb 20, 2003


Feb 20, 2003 10:29 pm

sorry I need to correct my typo my previous mic is a shure beta 58a not 38a.

Member
Since: Feb 20, 2003


Feb 20, 2003 10:33 pm

With my previous mic I ALWAYS used the pop filter and cranked the trim up on my preamp. About how much "breathing room" do you reccomend? I have the pop filter about four inches from the front of the mic..... by the way does this mic pickup from the top as well? ... and my mouth is always right about chewing the pop blocker. Every picture I see of this mic they got the thing hanging upside down... oh and by the way i got the shockmout too.... why is it always upside down???? Does it need to be that way? I guess if i give it a bunch of room and crank it mad high I might get more clarity, but I record in my living room.... LOTS OF NOISE in the background.... I'll give it a shot tho.

Member
Since: Feb 20, 2003


Feb 20, 2003 10:46 pm

Ok, here's this I got this great *** pre amp but I don't pre-compress vocals.. Let me guess, because of the sensitivity of a condenser mic, I ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY HAVE TO pre compress my vocals. If this is the case, what would you recommend for me to get assuming I am way poorer than the poorest person you know.

Thanks for the quick replys you guys are great

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Feb 20, 2003 10:49 pm

Also, make sure you a recording with the EQ on your mixer totally flat. It sounds as though you may have some high EQ boosted.

I prefer a distance of about 6 inche's or so, that seem's to give it a good air. And yes, it is a really warm sounding mic, much differant than the Shures. I use mine upside down, sideways, right side up, whatever it doesn't matter. It will pick up some from the top. You just need to experiment with it a bit. Start with your gain about halfway and go from there. It all depend's on what your using for a Pre-amp.

Member
Since: Feb 20, 2003


Feb 20, 2003 10:57 pm

I use the "awsome sounding" preamps on my SeaSound Solo

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Feb 20, 2003 11:00 pm

Well dude, you don't have any gear listed or software so this will be a blind stab. If you are using a DAW with built in DSP pluggins, pop a compressor into an FX buss and start tweakin. Or apply the compression afterward's. I use my Behringer Composer Pro the most. It can be had for a very reasonable price at Musicians Friend trough the link on the left here.

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Feb 20, 2003 11:06 pm

how are you providing phantom power?

Member
Since: Feb 20, 2003


Feb 20, 2003 11:43 pm

My SeaSound solo proviides phantom power.... will adding compression to a recording afterwards have the same effect as precompressing?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Feb 21, 2003 12:12 am

Not quite, but it is close. You will want to make sure you keep the incoming signal under control while recording it thought, so as not to clip it.

Member
Since: Jan 16, 2003


Feb 21, 2003 04:52 am

you paid a hundred dollars for the mic dude... your not going to get a million dollar sound out of it. i bought 2 319s because of the reviews
i read on here... and i actually returned them.. first time ive ever returned gear to a music store. it is worth the wait for a better mic...

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Feb 21, 2003 08:51 am

I have used mine often without pre-compressing with very good results. I am more concerned about the ambient noise in the living room. Any large diaphram compresser will pick all of that up. I had one song with a wierd hissing that I traced down to tires out on the road running through water puddles in the rain. Didn't hear it when recording, buisy concentrating on the music. Like hearing a quarter drop in a huge crowd, how do we do that? You are the second person to have a problem with the 319. Dozens of others in the past have loved it, including me. I truely hope Oktava hasn't changed their quality. I would like to get another when the cash is available.

Maniacal Genius
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Feb 21, 2003 01:45 pm

Well, I've never used one of these, but I've heard so much praise about it from several respected members of this community that I just ordered one. I'll come by here and give my input once it get's here. I'm sure I'll be happy.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Feb 21, 2003 06:01 pm

They have not, still hand built by little old ladys in Russia. I have an old one and a new one, and they both have a bit of differant flaver for sound, but both are very warm and tasty.

Member
Since: Feb 20, 2003


Mar 05, 2003 08:32 pm

Just as a follow up on this. I bought a compressor, and now i have no complaints about the mic. PRECOMPRESSION IS A MUST. I should have listened when computer music magazine told me to buy a hardware compressor. OUt of all magazines, THEY are telling me to buy hardware. So I did, and now I am happy.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 09:07 pm

See, ya just gotta get that signal cahin goin the right way and its all good.

Maniacal Genius
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Mar 06, 2003 02:41 pm

I just noticed that Musicians Friend has brought the price on the 319 back up to $199. Bummer. I'm glad I got one while they were still $99.

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