| Contact / About | |
| Contact me with your questions regarding order processing, prices, shipping, etc. : michael@oktavamod.com | |
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Who - Michael Joly, OktavaMod Founder What - The most well-known and trusted microphone mod and engineering service worldwide Where - Cape Cod, Massachusetts (shipping world-wide) Why - Affordable alternatives to the U47, U67, U87, KM84 and Coles 4038 | Prompt personal service When - Over 17 years of professional microphone engineering When you contact OktavaMod you'll reach me, Michael Joly - an analog engineer with 35 years of professional audio equipment design experience (or if you're really lucky you'll reach my beautiful wife - Meryl Lefkovich, painter , jeweler and OktavaMod VP of Supreme Happy Customer Experience ; ) Boutique microphones are all I do. I don't play out, build houses, work in a studio, duplicate CDs, do concert photography, record live shows, no mastering, no teaching, no presentation graphics or have any other sort of "day job". I design, engineer and upgrade studio microphones. Only. For 17 years. Clients say their customer service experience is just about the best they've ever had. It you ask a concise question, you'll get a quick and concise answer. If you ask nuanced questions and provide some details of your recording life you'll get a similarly appropriate response. Meryl and I will stay in touch with you throughout the entire process (see below). Once in a while a wicked-intense email avalanche hits me - it might take a day or two to dig out. Generally you'll get a same-day response. But just know I'm here whether you want a quick pricing answer or an in-depth dialog. Why - Affordable U47, U67, U87 and KM 84 Alternatives My goal is to make your mic buying decision easier. There are over 900 large and small diaphragm mics on the market. With all the conflicting, anonymous and questionable "advice" found on gear forums how do you know what's right for you and your clients? Answer - let your own ears be your guide. Just listen to the award-winning OktavaMod / Michael Joly Engineering sound vs classics at Mic Mods and Buy New Mics. My busy clients tell me they're interested in results - not resistors. You don't have to parse your way through data catalogs, parts lists or a menu of confusing electronic parts options. Over 3700 clients have trusted me to do that heavy-lifting for them. I hope you will too. If you decide to go forward, you will be consulting with an experienced microphone design engineer - I worked for my mentor David Blackmer (dBx Inc. and Earthworks Microphones founder) for nearly 15 years and have been a pro audio product design engineer (guitar electronics, compressors, expanders, surround sound processors, transducers) since 1976 - exclusively an analog audio design engineer by training and practice. Bio -
My love of microphones started in 1968 when I got my first open reel tape recorder (a 3" reel Craig) and a couple of Shure 545 mics (SM-57 precursor).
Along the way, I've done audio product and sound design work for Stars Guitars and Haight-Ashbury Community Radio in San Francisco, the Lucasfilm THX commercial cinema program, Kintek Inc., the Swedish Film Institute, the Beijing Arts Centre, the Guangzhou Friendship Theatre, Media Systems - Boston, NBC Television, Transom.org and the Public Radio Exchange.
Clients, Awards and Press -
Since 1994 my microphones have found their way to chart-topping engineers such as Damian Taylor (Björk), Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliot Smith), KRAMER (The Fugs, Half Japanese, Bongwater, Shockabilly, Ween, Butthole Surfers, Pulp Fiction soundtrack...) and Adam Lasus (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah). Over 3700 indie and major label artists, engineers and producers have joined the OktavaMod family.
OktavaMod microphone modifications were profiled in Tape Op Magazine issue #59, at Wired.com (1/12/2011), SonicScoop.com (1/14/2011) and a high-performance ribbon mic — the Michael Joly Edition Cascade Gomez, won the 2009 Editor’s Choice Award from Electronic Musician Magazine.
The OktavaMod Microphone Modification Process -
If you decide to go ahead and have your mic modified just order from my online shop - you'll get an immediate acknowledgement with my shipping address. (Or for special orders, write to me and ask for a PayPal invoice - payable by credit or debit card as well).
By the close of the next business day after you order you'll get a personal email from Meryl with your actual mic mod and ship dates. Once scheduled just have your package reach me before your mic modification date. Meryl will write to you to confirm receipt of your mic. Mics are modified on the day scheduled, burned-in for three days and shipped via US Postal Service Priority Mail (2-3 days) or International Priority (about 6 days).
Meryl will write to you when she ships your mic on the date promised - and then she'll check in with you after a while to make sure its treating you right.
Note: You will receive an appointment date for your mic modifications. Please inquire about our current lead time if you have important sessions booked soon.
About Oktava Mics in Particular -
When the Oktava MK-219 appeared in the West in 1994, a high quality large diaphragm condenser microphone was within the reach of the average project studio recordist. It sold for around $550 at that time (almost $800 in today's dollars) and was considered a great value at that price!
Now, with so many excessively bright, sound-alike, look-alike and flawed low-cost copies of German designs, Oktava microphones are new classics. They're not copies of anything. They're proudly different - researched, developed and manufactured in a factory in Tula, Russia that has been making high quality microphones continually for 80+ years.
I used to drive a 1957 Renault 4cv - a 747cc, three-speed, water cooled, 4 door car designed by Ferdinand Porsche. That might tell you something about my affection for endearingly simple technology and elegant engineering. Oktava microphones embody these ideals. My modding work is a labor of love. I love these little tanks of tone. To hold an Oktava microphone is to hold hands with lovers of metal and sound shaped by the resonance of time near and distant.
Other Microphones Too -
While I started my business by upgrading Oktava mics and called my company OktavaMod for that reason, I'm now widely diversified and upgrade many different condenser (SDC and LDC), ribbon and dynamic mics from ADK, AKG, Apex, Avant, BLUE, CAD, Cascade, Gauge, MXL, Nady, RODE, Stellar et al.
You get the benefit of working with a guy who's spent his entire career as a pro audio design engineer. "OktavaMod / Michael Joly Engineering" means you will enjoy the best client experience and best results.
If you'd like to own a limited edition, hand made recording tool created by a craftsman with an irrational love of microphones, please drop me a line. best,
Michael Joly - Cape Cod, Massachusetts
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