Thanks for this series. I have a pair of 012s I picked up back when they first got US distribution. They have a strong presence without sounding harsh or thin. As overheads they make the entire kit sound like its working together giving a unified sound (instead of trying to just pick up cymbals). They even work on bass drums, instead of typical bass drum mics with huge bumps in the bass, they 012s give a flatter sound so the low end can be tailored to the mix. They also sound really cool on high gain metal guitars when paired with an SM57.
I now use MK-102 capsules on the MK-012 pre-amps for overheads on a stereo bar in X-Y config and I can't live without them, even in small bar gigs. I'm actually no longer using the close snare and hats mics at all, just OH's and kick like a jazz kit. I still have toms mics (gated) for the big rock tom sound but the 102's are seriously good overheads. The secret is XY so they're between not over the cymbals
mikes marked MC and MK are identical and were both produced in the same years. MC is Latin letters, MK in the Russian alphabet. They have had a redesign since then, but both editions are good, opinions differ, but they're opinions, I like the newer version.
I always heard that ASM screwed over Oktava when they took their designs to China - but I guess if they were designed by ASM and just commissioned it seems less bad
Honestly the preamp design of the Chinese MK-012 is pretty nice. A current Russian one is way better, but in the 90's and early 2000's it wouldn't have been a bad option, but the Chinese made capsules for if were dog crap.
Thanks for this series. I have a pair of 012s I picked up back when they first got US distribution. They have a strong presence without sounding harsh or thin. As overheads they make the entire kit sound like its working together giving a unified sound (instead of trying to just pick up cymbals). They even work on bass drums, instead of typical bass drum mics with huge bumps in the bass, they 012s give a flatter sound so the low end can be tailored to the mix. They also sound really cool on high gain metal guitars when paired with an SM57.
I now use MK-102 capsules on the MK-012 pre-amps for overheads on a stereo bar in X-Y config and I can't live without them, even in small bar gigs. I'm actually no longer using the close snare and hats mics at all, just OH's and kick like a jazz kit. I still have toms mics (gated) for the big rock tom sound but the 102's are seriously good overheads. The secret is XY so they're between not over the cymbals
The MC012 series must be from the 90's? How would these compare to today's MK series? Thinking of purchasing a couple of the MC's but ?????
mikes marked MC and MK are identical and were both produced in the same years. MC is Latin letters, MK in the Russian alphabet. They have had a redesign since then, but both editions are good, opinions differ, but they're opinions, I like the newer version.
@@microphoneboutique Thank you for the prompt reply. Will pass on these used ones and consider a new pair - in Canada.
Great info! Thanks!
thanks for watching
Very interesting story👍🏻
🔥
I always heard that ASM screwed over Oktava when they took their designs to China - but I guess if they were designed by ASM and just commissioned it seems less bad
A little less bad. Don't forget, they were responsible for delivering the microphones to the sellers, so they' were under pressure.
Honestly the preamp design of the Chinese MK-012 is pretty nice. A current Russian one is way better, but in the 90's and early 2000's it wouldn't have been a bad option, but the Chinese made capsules for if were dog crap.