OktavaMod / Michael Joly Engineering

Quick Answers -

Hello from Michael Joly! Here are some quick answers to popular questions.

Shipping: Help us communicate with you - please include all of your email addresses, stage name, real name, phone number and address when you ship a mic to us. You must identify mics being sent us with the info above.

Communication - The best way to reach me is by email: Michael@oktavamod.com. In the past I was often able to respond to email within three hours. But due to the wonderful support of folks like you I often experience an "email avalanche" so there is a possibility your question might get buried for a business day or so, but I will respond as soon as practically possible. I try to prioritize bench work in order to ship client mics on the day they are scheduled - so email responses generally get made after a day at the bench.

Ordering - You can place a secure order for modifications to existing mics or order new modified microphones on this site. When you place an order you will receive an immediate automated confirmation email. By the close of the next business day you will receive a personal email specifying your mod and ship dates.

Lead and Delivery Time - Turn-around is quick - three days to mod, burn-in and ship. But due to high (and growing demand) we do have a lead time for modifications to customer-supplied mics and some new, modified mics. This ranges from just 1 week to three weeks as of Aprl 26, 2012. Please check with me if you have important sessions coming up and need an exact date. Your order will be modified on the date specified, burned-in for three days, retested then return shipped to you.

Payment - OktavaMod accepts major credit and debit cards via PayPal for secure order processing.

Shipping - We use US Postal Service Priority (US)or International Express Mail, signature required. These services are very secure and the least expensive. US domestic delivery takes 2-3 business days while international shipments take 5-6 business days.

Warrantee - All modified mics are warranted for five years. Ribbon mics include one no-charge re-ribbon service to the original owner only. In the unlikely event a problem should develop please contact michael@oktavamod.com to arrange shipping and repair.

Standard, Floating Dome, and Flat Top mods for the MK-319 - The big jump in quality from a stock MK-319 to a Standard mod is followed by a more subtle progression in clarity from the Flat Top to the Floating Dome. If you are on a budget or unsure if a 319 mod is right for you, the Standard is a good place to start. If you are relentlessly obsessive about small details like I am you will want to consider the Floating Dome or Flat Top.

The Floating Dome and Flap Top have a more open headbasket than the Standard mod. In a stock 319 there are four parallel reflective surfaces (the upright bars on the sides of the headbasket and the sides of the capsules). When the bars are removed, standing waves are reduced - sound can exit the headbasket more freely. This is particularly important in mic'ing applications where a high proportion of off-axis sound reaches the microphone - drum OH and room mics. There will be less coloration of off-axis sound with the Floating Dome or Flat Top.

Second, removing these bars eliminates a source of mechanical resonance - these bars are somewhat like tangs on a tuning fork. So the Floating Dome and Flat Top offer an incremental improvement in clarity and freedom from mechanical resonance over the Standard mod. The MK-319 Flat Top and MK-319 Floating Dome are the worlds first microphones to feature single-layer, 360 degree low-reflection headbaskets. The AKG C12 had a very open, single-layer headbasket but still had side bars.

The difference between the Floating Dome and the Flat Top is largely aesthetic, though in theory a rounded top grille will reduce standing wave accumulation between the grille and capsule base. However, since my mods included a conical diffusive absorber at the capsule base, a rounded top grille is not a significant advantage. So you are free to make your choice between Floating Dome and Flat Top based on which look you prefer.

MK-219 vs. MK-319 - Both the 219 and 319 use the same capsule and electronic circuit but have different headbaskets. The MK-219 has more lower midrange presence while the MK-319 is a bit more open sounding.

Mod'd Apex 460 vs. Mod'd TCM-1050 - Once modified, these mics use the same capsule and circuit though the headbaskets are different. This gives the TCM-1050 more of the lower midrange "Neumann-esque" push than the 460 which is a bit leaner.

Russian vs. Chinese origin of Oktava mics - There is a very rare, but extremely poor copy of an MK-319. This copy is bluish/grey in color instead of matte black, has a chrome XLR connector without serial number instead of a matte pewter color with serial number, different switches and poor LDC capsule that is easily identified by the absence of the characteristic perforated resonance disc in front of the diaphragm. Avoid this type of knock-off MK-319. There are no MK-219 fakes. On MK-012s just look for the three silver, slotted screws around the circumfrence of the mic body near the XLR end. Forget everything else - just go by the screws.

Mics Not Accepted for Modification - I do not accept mics that have been previously worked on. I stand behind my mods 100% and can only do this if I am the only person who has worked on your mic. If a mic has seen multiple modifications it is impossible to determine responsibility should a problem develop in the future. Also, I have seen a number of DIY mod jobs that have been quite poor in concept and execution - often omitting important steps.

NT1 vs NT1a - The original NT1 uses discrete, through-hole components that are a tiny bit smoother sounding than the NT1a surface mount parts - though the NT1a has a lower self noise floor by a few dB.

Stereo Ribbon Mics - I've upgraded quite a few Cascade X-15 and Stellar stereo ribbon mics - I replace the 6 micron ribbons with lighter and more response 1.8 micron ribbons and tension properly so they wont develop ribbon sag over time. Then install two new Lundahl transformers. My mod for the similar mono mic is described here. However, to maintain the structural integrity of the X-15 I do not mod the headbaskets and leave the stock horizontal bands in place - $499 to do the work described above.

MK-012 set differences - In short - MSP2 is two "matched stereo pair" cardioid capsules, MSP6 is two each of cardioid, omni and hypercardioid capsules, the '01 is a single body / single cardioid and the '03 is a single body with three capsules. No differences between black or silver sets.

VO mic recommendation - Quite a few VO talents have been getting my modified Rode NT1a - Exceptionally low self-noise and sounds like a U 87 for 1/5 the price: http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=145

You can hear it on read at that link.

219 / 319 differences - I always describe them this way: "...same capsules and circuits but different headbaskets. This gives the 219 more lower midrange presence while the 319 is more open sounding" - a great example of headbasket effect!

MJE-K47H- Out of stock sets until the 1Q 2012 - I didn't properly anticipate the demand for them. Thanks for your continued interest.

Ribbon Mics - Please see my deep backgraound article "Chinese Ribbon Microphone Buyer's Guide".

http://recordinghacks.com/2008/11/01/chinese-ribbon-microphone-designs/

NT1a vs. 319 vs Apex 460 - The mod'd NT1 / 1a is a fine compliment to the 319. Has a tiny bit more air up top at 12-16kHz and a lower self noise figure. So whereas the 319 with its transformer-coupled output can be pushed hard for some saturation coloration, the NT1a with its clear and clean transformer-less output and low self noise is a fine mic for more delicate or quiet sources. And of course the mulitpatern 460 or a Nady TCM-1050 tube mic is versatile and has the added "dimensionality" of a good tube circuit.

Sound samples not working - I've changed ISPs and some of the sound files didn't make it over. I've got to locate the originals and re-host.

Studio Projects LSD2 stereo mic - I've mod'd quite a few SP LSD2 mics - the build quality is excellent. One it is re-voiced with my MJE-K47 capsule suite it becomes a very versatile and great sounding stereo mic. I don't have a dedicated page for the LSD2, but I could send you a PayPal invoice (payable by credit or debit account as well) for the mods. The work is quite extensive and involves completely disassembling the mic in order to install two new capsules and upgrade the electronics.The results would be similar to what is heard with my Rode NT1a mod:http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=145 But in one of the stereo modes available of course. The price would be $549 for parts and labor.

Multi pattern FET mic recommendation - The CAD GXL3000 is an excellent value for a three pattern, FET / transformer-coupled mic. It self noise figure is not as low as the Rode mics so I think of it as a moderate-to-high level source mic that can also be pushed hard for some transformer saturation color. The Rode mics excel on quiet sources or where a lot of compression will be used.

AKG C12 type mics - Very simple answer. I don't offer them. I really prefer the mid-range focused "Neumann-esque" sound that I tweak to be sibilance-free on top. If you're looking for a C12 type mic please talk to my colleague Dave Thomas at Advanced Audio microphones.