Hearing them in the mix at the end changed my opinion almost completely. The Oktava 319 had more body & character in the mix than any of the other mics.
The Oktava MK319 is very clear and open sounding. ! Damn I never heard of this brand goes to show you that you can't alwys chase the well known name brands. The Oktave had all the other mics beat in this test !
Oktava is awesome... I have been looking for an affordable vocal mic and was about to order a Rode NT1, then I came across the Oktava MK 319 and its just amazing. Its like a poor man's Neumann
Smart Musicians Club Hi, I did order one since my post and it just arrived gonna pick it up tomorrow :) really looking forward to testing it. Thanks again for the great demo.
Oktava is a company in Russia with a very long history which produces mictrophones, both studio and general purpose, specialized capsules etc. One interesting fact is that famous word which said Gagarin - the first man in space - during rocket launch was recorded to microphone produced by Oktava. ))
@@Galova What I love about Oktavas is the to spec ones sound great, and Oktavas are easy to get a hold of and super affordable. $250 for a new MK-319 or MK-220 will go a lot further than spending that kind of money on most Chinese mics, or mics using Chinese capsules. I recently sold an Audio Technica AT4050 to put money towards a stereo pair of Oktava MK-220s.
I bought my Oktava MK 319 years ago on clearance from Guitar Center. Brought it home and it sounded horrible, weak and completely muddy. My soundman friend came over and he said "you are using the mic backwards, the switches are supposed to be in the back, not facing you!". Turned it around and what do you know, all was well and the mic sounded great and there was no way I was going to return it (which I would have otherwise). I just thought the switches would be towards the singer for access, silly me. These are really nice sounding mics.
Switches arent meant for the singers, they are meant for the Engineers. When's the last time you let your vocalist you were recording play with your knobs? lol
Great shootout, thanks for posting. Amazing how the 58 stacks up against the much more expensive options. For me, the 58 suited his voice the best! Most of the other mics sounded great (the modified 219 sounded very choked), but the 58 worked on his voice best. I think an excellent example of choosing a mic based on the tone of the singer rather than on the mic logo.
I came here to hear the mic shootout and ended up clicking on the link to listen to the full track. If you haven’t done so, please have a listen to this band. Excellent! And the recording is quite nice.
Интересно, что на фоне даже 319-й Октавы (не самой дорогой) Neumann U87 звучит "мыльно", "мутновато". Переслушал несколько раз запись, так и есть. Спасибо за тест. I have the Oktava MK 220. When I bought it, I compared it with Oktava MK 319. And 220 for my low voice was really better than 319. Strange that Neumann U87 sounds so dull (having in a view its price). Oktavas MK-319 costs about 300$, as I remember.
they all do their job but the Neumann has to my ears the most vivid feel and emphasizes the dynamics of the voice. surprisingly the sm 58 did well too considering its different concept and price range
Possibly . They almost all sound the same . The difference is negligible with slight eq moves all could render a more than usable signal for a quality production. I own half the mics he used in this demonstration.
this video is all about c414 vs U87. C414 more versatile mic and good sounding on everything and U87 great creamy transformer sound for vocal. If you have money buy both or if you are in budget just buy C414 and you will be safe.
thanks for comment - Neal said he did further mods to his 219 after this shoot out - I am using 319 on all kinds of instruments at moment really like how it sounds.
I don't think an SM58 sounds fake. It does not sound like a condenser which is the beauty of it. Yes it features some frequencies more than others but sometimes you don't need all those treble frequencies and if you record in a bedroom it doesn't record the dog at the end of the road. With a half decent mic preamp it can be just the ticket. Ask Bono.
Very good!! What I thought was most interesting was at the end, in the context of the full mix, the mics were virtually indistinguishable. Great job guys.
A few thoughts .. The sound of the preamps in the Mackie are definitely influencing the outcome of what we're hearing in this line-up of clips. Having said that, you can still hear a higher level of articulation from the Neumann (An 87ai ??) .. The Oktava's had an interesting sound as well .. The 219 had a VERY pronounced Bump in the mids .. And which 414 model was used? A 414 XLS?? Cheers and Thanks for doing this ..
thanks for feedback - would be very interested in modded 319 - but no one doing in uk at moment as far as I know - cant spare mic to send to the states at the moment
Nice and very helpful video. Would love to hear the 414 with the box'ines rolled off... For future reference though, please upload in higher resolution than 480p please! maybe link to *.wav's? Cheers
Октава 319 приятно удивила даже на фоне Neumann U87 - я бы сказал звучит даже как-то *теплее* и *живее* при аккуратных *верхах* - истинно *ламповый* окрас!.....
👏 bravo. Supposedly the MK219 has the same Diaphram as the MK319. I currently own 2 of the MK319 Okatava microphones . I live in the USA 🇺🇸. Used I get them for about $125 US dollars . The oktava sounds good on drums , acoustic guitar , piano , vocals. Great budget microphone price with a huge payback on your small investment. Thank you 🙏 Mother Russia 🇷🇺!
Hey, well I know that the Rauschenbergstudio in Germany is modding those mics - the interesting thing is that they left the capsule where it is... they are just upgrading the electronics.... but I don't know how good this works... Greetz
The Mackie preamp really takes a lot of character out of the mics... A preamp will make all the difference in the way a mic sounds. In fact, in terms of quality, a good preamp, I'd say at least, is more critical than a good mic! That's why everyone here is pleasantly surprised by the SM58. The SM58 is being presented how it really is. In terms of quality though, the Neumann U87 is lightyears ahead of the design in an SM58, but since the preamp they're using (and the fact that TH-cam will compress the audio even in high definition) doesn't allow each careful nuance of the 414 or the U87 to be fully heard.
After this test the MXL 2001 (Royer circuit) got a new Peluso 47 capsule which got rid of the sibilance. The Oktava 219 also improved as I swapped out a couple more parts.
I have to go with the Neumann U87 for one simple reason. It's a classic. Old reliable. At this price range, most mics quality will be about the same. But one thing is for sure: they all get professional quality. So where sound quality really comes into play is the way you plug it in, with the interface, the way you EQ it, compress it, etc. So basically, with these mics it's on you to make them sound good, not the mic itself. And for that exact reason I go with the Neumann. It's classic, trusted and reliable.
What preamp and computer interface were used for the recording? I bought m-audio m-track for Shure SM-58 but it looks loke it doens't give enough gain for the mic. Or may be I don't undestand something. What is the output level the preamp produced -10db or less? Your Shure SM-58 sounds pretty well. Could you please describe whole chain of devices that were used for the recording?
SM58 has less detail but beautiful smooth familiar eq curve without those scratchy tinny sounds coming from the cheaper LDC. all LDC try to sound like U87 and fall flat. (ymmv) thanks for this video. really great singer, the best I've seen on one of these shootouts
The shure can go down to around 55 hz and is dynamic which can handle plosives and Sibilance much better than a condenser. Dynamics also can warm the voice and have a 3-5khz dip down to combat that harsh shrill normally found in vocals. Hence why the shure unidyne ii capsule in 58 chassis is the most popular vocal microphone for stage performance in the world. 🎈
Shows how the mediocre Mackie pre's flatten the signal and taking a lot of clarity and character (the good and the bad) out of the mics -which usually makes them sound way more different to each other when recorded with a mic pre with a good resolution
The mackie pres really do mess these mics up hard, and they all sound lifeless in this comparison. The U87 sounds like it only has presence in a few tones in this comparison. With a nice preamp, it opens up.
That u87 just sounds so warm and inviting same for the c414. The 319 is pretty good for it's price point but it's not gonna take eq and compression like some of these higher priced mics. As you can see in the end. It doesn't cut as good as the u87 but for the price of the 319 or 58 you can't go wrong
Do you know if there are any videos of how you modified the Marshall MXL? I'm thinking about buying one but the instructions on how to modify it look really confusing.
Here's the link to that other tune with the Oktava MK219 fully modded on the lead vocal Half The Universe (is missing) - Utøya 22.07.11 an artist's reaction.
The Oktava 219 has a very endearing 'grainy' quality to it which suits this guys voice. Amazing how little difference there is between them considering the vast discrepancy in the prices!
My mic cable on the Manley Ref Limited Edition went haywire so I pulled out a backup. A Brand New 414 XLII that I've owned for several years and never used. The Manley is still on the desk. The 414 is seeing daily use. Awesome sound.I do voice vs singing.
The difference between SM58 and Октава 319 is so damn huge while the price is kind of close... I also didn't like the U87 sound, I even tend to skip its demonstration. Октава 219 sounds quite less clear than 319. And Marshall MXL sounds very nice! What is your favourite?
Thanks for this video. I am surprised about the mixes with the different mics. I am not sure if the U 87 beats the AGK 414. What do you think about. Albeit, my favorite mic for solo voices is the TLM 49.
We've been looking into purchasing some Oktava's for the studio seeing as how they are low budget and seem to be more bang for your buck than most Chinese made microphones in the same price range. Any suggestions or insight? Like most Russian made instruments, especially Tube Pre's they seem to have a little bit of dirt to them which could come in handy on overheads. Any feedback on matched pairs or how well they're matched? We're looking for a versatile microphone for vocals, room and possible instrument applications. The matched pair would be mostly for overheads and acoustic string instruments. I've modded MXL's before and still only used them on overheads due to that little bit of dirt but it wasn't worth keeping them around. Obviously the 414's would be about $2k for a pair and I'm already there with the U87. Much love to Neumann. Aside the U87 the SM7b is our other go to vocal microphone. If anyone can give us a little heads up on Oktava and what matched pair to go with for overheads that would be awesome. Thank you and sorry for the super long comment, Justin AL
I was pleasantly surprised that my favorite mics on the shootout were the same ones you selected. LOL! I was already biased towards the MXL-2001 though. I have much more expensive mics but even without the modifications it is a gorgeous sounding microphone. Among all the budget mics I've found the MXL series of mics to be exceptionally smooth and sweet sounding. However I'd LOVE to see you do a mic shootout of budget and high end ribbon mics. I'm LOVING my Nady RSM-2 that I modified.
I personally like the Oktavas on my voice. The MK219 wasn't at its best yet, as I had only half done it at the time. It sounds great now! You can hear it on Half The Universe (is missing).
The shure couldn't have been included because it's an underdog that everyone likes. It's a 'Live' mic, that some favor in the studio because it's the best mic vs. cost, for a low budget studio. However, the Marshall MXL series is the next best thing when it comes to cost vs. quality.
I have used great pres over the years (I have had access to some lovely top end pres at other studios where I have worked ) but also suprislingly happy with going straight through Mackie desk - at the end of the day ts a bout a ood mic and a good musician
Anybody know what it's like to record a 414 XLS and a 414 XLII side by side as a stereo pair? I'm looking to pick up two mics, and thought it would be cool to have both for different sounds, but wondering how they would work together in that situation, as a stereo pair
Bollox to the mics! Im loving that track. Neal Hoffman just proved one thing only.... a great song will impress despite what you sing through! That's bias confirmation in spectacular action. I'm a fan of Neal Hoffman. That's the only thing I'm ever going to remember from this he he!
shure 58 is the most naked sound but most singers like a little help from the sound, also only dynamic one.modified marshall mxl, modified octava 219, akg 414 were to my liking.
Oktava 319 is so awesome!
Hearing them in the mix at the end changed my opinion almost completely. The Oktava 319 had more body & character in the mix than any of the other mics.
Oktava 319 is an absolute winner. It sounds with some "reality" feel
Oktava 319 and Neumann U87 for me please.
Kulturalny Wilk Sweet I have the 319!
Grace Holmes Now I have Neumann BCM 104 ;]
Kulturalny Wilk Well Neumann is probably the best. My friend swears by the Shure 58, he says it's the industry standard.
Grace Holmes Yes, for live performance.
He claims for both. He says it's the industry standard and he said why do you think everything gets tested against it, like this video.
I can see why you extended the mk319 vocal/track clip at the end. It sounds fantastic.
hey thanks !
Infatti..
Neumann U87 and the Oktava 319 take it ....
The Oktava MK319 is very clear and open sounding. ! Damn I never heard of this brand goes to show you that you can't alwys chase the well known name brands. The Oktave had all the other mics beat in this test !
Oktava is awesome... I have been looking for an affordable vocal mic and was about to order a Rode NT1, then I came across the Oktava MK 319 and its just amazing. Its like a poor man's Neumann
Voice of Truth
-it is a really nice mic I hope you can track one down
Smart Musicians Club Hi, I did order one since my post and it just arrived gonna pick it up tomorrow :) really looking forward to testing it. Thanks again for the great demo.
Oktava is a company in Russia with a very long history which produces mictrophones, both studio and general purpose, specialized capsules etc. One interesting fact is that famous word which said Gagarin - the first man in space - during rocket launch was recorded to microphone produced by Oktava. ))
@@Galova What I love about Oktavas is the to spec ones sound great, and Oktavas are easy to get a hold of and super affordable. $250 for a new MK-319 or MK-220 will go a lot further than spending that kind of money on most Chinese mics, or mics using Chinese capsules.
I recently sold an Audio Technica AT4050 to put money towards a stereo pair of Oktava MK-220s.
I bought my Oktava MK 319 years ago on clearance from Guitar Center. Brought it home and it sounded horrible, weak and completely muddy. My soundman friend came over and he said "you are using the mic backwards, the switches are supposed to be in the back, not facing you!". Turned it around and what do you know, all was well and the mic sounded great and there was no way I was going to return it (which I would have otherwise). I just thought the switches would be towards the singer for access, silly me. These are really nice sounding mics.
Switches arent meant for the singers, they are meant for the Engineers. When's the last time you let your vocalist you were recording play with your knobs? lol
ha ! brilliant - well done for sorting xx
Oktava MK 319 definite winner, nice amount of detail, especially in the mids, very natural and real sounding
Great shootout, thanks for posting. Amazing how the 58 stacks up against the much more expensive options. For me, the 58 suited his voice the best! Most of the other mics sounded great (the modified 219 sounded very choked), but the 58 worked on his voice best. I think an excellent example of choosing a mic based on the tone of the singer rather than on the mic logo.
I'd say the Oktava was easily the best.
I came here to hear the mic shootout and ended up clicking on the link to listen to the full track. If you haven’t done so, please have a listen to this band. Excellent! And the recording is quite nice.
0:05 AKG 3000 , 0:26 Oktava MK-319 , 0:51 marshall MXL , 1:12 Neumann U87 , 1:33.5 AKG 414 , 1:55 Oktava MK-219 modified , 2:20 Shure SM58
I watched this video along time ago before I got my mk319.. never looked back great mic. Sold off many expensive mics and kept the Oktava.
nice one
first time ive heard it. picked it too. just ordered 460 mod from MJ hope its up to par with this mic.
Интересно, что на фоне даже 319-й Октавы (не самой дорогой) Neumann U87 звучит "мыльно", "мутновато".
Переслушал несколько раз запись, так и есть.
Спасибо за тест.
I have the Oktava MK 220. When I bought it, I compared it with Oktava MK 319.
And 220 for my low voice was really better than 319.
Strange that Neumann U87 sounds so dull (having in a view its price).
Oktavas MK-319 costs about 300$, as I remember.
87 вытянет и баритон и виолончель. Там его место.
MK-319 is a Great Mic!!!!
I got the 319 now!
they all do their job but the Neumann has to my ears the most vivid feel and emphasizes the dynamics of the voice. surprisingly the sm 58 did well too considering its different concept and price range
Possibly . They almost all sound the same . The difference is negligible with slight eq moves all could render a more than usable signal for a quality production. I own half the mics he used in this demonstration.
this video is all about c414 vs U87. C414 more versatile mic and good sounding on everything and U87 great creamy transformer sound for vocal. If you have money buy both or if you are in budget just buy C414 and you will be safe.
thanks for comment - Neal said he did further mods to his 219 after this shoot out -
I am using 319 on all kinds of instruments at moment really like how it sounds.
I don't think an SM58 sounds fake. It does not sound like a condenser which is the beauty of it. Yes it features some frequencies more than others but sometimes you don't need all those treble frequencies and if you record in a bedroom it doesn't record the dog at the end of the road. With a half decent mic preamp it can be just the ticket. Ask Bono.
the oktava sounded the nicest, a bit warm and full. Interesting how the 58 sounded great after all these years. MXL also great.
0:05 - AKG3000
0:26 - OKTAVA 319
0:50 - Marshall MXL
1:12 - Neumann U87
1:33 - AKG 414
1:56 - OKTAVA 219
2:20 - Shure SM58
0:05 - AKG3000
0:26 - OKTAVA 319
0:50 - Marshall MXL
1:12 - Neumann U87
1:33 - AKG 414
1:56 - OKTAVA 219
2:20 - Shure SM58
@@Billkwando thanks
Very good!! What I thought was most interesting was at the end, in the context of the full mix, the mics were virtually indistinguishable. Great job guys.
I like the Oktava MK319
A few thoughts .. The sound of the preamps in the Mackie are definitely influencing the outcome of what we're hearing in this line-up of clips. Having said that, you can still hear a higher level of articulation from the Neumann (An 87ai ??) .. The Oktava's had an interesting sound as well .. The 219 had a VERY pronounced Bump in the mids .. And which 414 model was used? A 414 XLS?? Cheers and Thanks for doing this ..
thanks for feedback - would be very interested in modded 319 - but no one doing in uk at moment as far as I know - cant spare mic to send to the states at the moment
Nice and very helpful video. Would love to hear the 414 with the box'ines rolled off... For future reference though, please upload in higher resolution than 480p please! maybe link to *.wav's? Cheers
I have been walking around all day with this song in my head
The Royer, tube circuit in the MXL2001 now has a Peluso capsule and is fab on stuff like strings!!!
Октава 319 приятно удивила даже на фоне Neumann U87 - я бы сказал звучит даже как-то *теплее* и *живее* при аккуратных *верхах* - истинно *ламповый* окрас!.....
👏 bravo. Supposedly the MK219 has the same Diaphram as the MK319. I currently own 2 of the MK319 Okatava microphones . I live in the USA 🇺🇸. Used I get them for about $125 US dollars . The oktava sounds good on drums , acoustic guitar , piano , vocals. Great budget microphone price with a huge payback on your small investment. Thank you 🙏 Mother Russia 🇷🇺!
Amazing how close the 319 and U87 are in this test.......!!!!!!!
U87 presence natural compression and mids are perfect. the SM58 did surprisingly well with these high end mics i had no idea
I got my MK219 new for $70... Wish I had grabbed 4 or 5...
Hey, well I know that the Rauschenbergstudio in Germany is modding those mics - the interesting thing is that they left the capsule where it is... they are just upgrading the electronics.... but I don't know how good this works...
Greetz
The Mackie preamp really takes a lot of character out of the mics... A preamp will make all the difference in the way a mic sounds. In fact, in terms of quality, a good preamp, I'd say at least, is more critical than a good mic! That's why everyone here is pleasantly surprised by the SM58. The SM58 is being presented how it really is. In terms of quality though, the Neumann U87 is lightyears ahead of the design in an SM58, but since the preamp they're using (and the fact that TH-cam will compress the audio even in high definition) doesn't allow each careful nuance of the 414 or the U87 to be fully heard.
After this test the MXL 2001 (Royer circuit) got a new Peluso 47 capsule which got rid of the sibilance. The Oktava 219 also improved as I swapped out a couple more parts.
glad that you found one was it on ebay ?
Neal had recorded the backing track in his home studio - we only recorded a test vocal that day
Ah, just saw that we need to rectify this in the header, the MXL 2001 has a Royer tube circuit in it!!!!! so sounds quite a bit better than stock!
I think he wants to know the brand of the headphones
I have to go with the Neumann U87 for one simple reason. It's a classic. Old reliable. At this price range, most mics quality will be about the same. But one thing is for sure: they all get professional quality. So where sound quality really comes into play is the way you plug it in, with the interface, the way you EQ it, compress it, etc. So basically, with these mics it's on you to make them sound good, not the mic itself. And for that exact reason I go with the Neumann. It's classic, trusted and reliable.
What preamp and computer interface were used for the recording? I bought m-audio m-track for Shure SM-58 but it looks loke it doens't give enough gain for the mic. Or may be I don't undestand something. What is the output level the preamp produced -10db or less? Your Shure SM-58 sounds pretty well. Could you please describe whole chain of devices that were used for the recording?
SM58 has less detail but beautiful smooth familiar eq curve without those scratchy tinny sounds coming from the cheaper LDC. all LDC try to sound like U87 and fall flat. (ymmv)
thanks for this video. really great singer, the best I've seen on one of these shootouts
It´s interesting that the Shure is not as far away from all those condensers as one might think. It sounds really okay to me.
The shure can go down to around 55 hz and is dynamic which can handle plosives and Sibilance much better than a condenser. Dynamics also can warm the voice and have a 3-5khz dip down to combat that harsh shrill normally found in vocals.
Hence why the shure unidyne ii capsule in 58 chassis is the most popular vocal microphone for stage performance in the world. 🎈
I'll have to check out this mod. It would be wonderful to make one of my favorite mics even better sounding.
not sure you should ask neal the link for amphibic is in the description
i like those mics u picked as well, to me they sound clear and a little louder.
Shows how the mediocre Mackie pre's flatten the signal and taking a lot of clarity and character (the good and the bad) out of the mics -which usually makes them sound way more different to each other when recorded with a mic pre with a good resolution
The mackie pres really do mess these mics up hard, and they all sound lifeless in this comparison. The U87 sounds like it only has presence in a few tones in this comparison. With a nice preamp, it opens up.
That u87 just sounds so warm and inviting same for the c414. The 319 is pretty good for it's price point but it's not gonna take eq and compression like some of these higher priced mics. As you can see in the end. It doesn't cut as good as the u87 but for the price of the 319 or 58 you can't go wrong
But octava does sound great even in mix so it means it will take Eq in flying colours man and how you compare octava 319 or 219 with rode nt1
Чего они все тут бормочат?не понимаю.а Октава реально крутая,я в трансе.
да я определился с выбором однозначно!)
Do you know if there are any videos of how you modified the Marshall MXL? I'm thinking about buying one but the instructions on how to modify it look really confusing.
The Oktava, the MXL and the u87 were my favs
12 000 октава и 200 000 Neumann U87 это как вообще ?
Here's the link to that other tune with the Oktava MK219 fully modded on the lead vocal Half The Universe (is missing) - Utøya 22.07.11 an artist's reaction.
just saw the link to Mr Royer's article is in the description!! cheers Neal
The Oktava 219 has a very endearing 'grainy' quality to it which suits this guys voice.
Amazing how little difference there is between them considering the vast discrepancy in the prices!
Артур Юрченко i am going to post original wav files as know ard to tell via you tube
Shure does not compare to the others. That's easy to agree with?
if you mean the mackie desk - yes i think its mic ins are really good but not using an out board expensive pre cheers felix
Bought a MK319, was a pain finding one here in the UK though!
I agree in an ideal world you would have both to choose from depending on session - thanks for comment
My mic cable on the Manley Ref Limited Edition went haywire so I pulled out a backup. A Brand New 414 XLII that I've owned for several years and never used. The Manley is still on the desk. The 414 is seeing daily use. Awesome sound.I do voice vs singing.
The difference between SM58 and Октава 319 is so damn huge while the price is kind of close...
I also didn't like the U87 sound, I even tend to skip its demonstration.
Октава 219 sounds quite less clear than 319.
And Marshall MXL sounds very nice!
What is your favourite?
I think I used a Beyerdynamic M201 which is a pencil shaped dynamic mic. It's fab, good on snare and IMO also vocals.
Shepard was written on Neumann U87 :)
tune is called Boy meets Girl -Amphibic bandcamp page is here amphibic.bandcamp.com/
Thanks for this video. I am surprised about the mixes with the different mics. I am not sure if the U 87 beats the AGK 414. What do you think about. Albeit, my favorite mic for solo voices is the TLM 49.
cheers - and thanks for comment
thanks for comment
-very cool that you have a pair of 319 and a modded one...
We've been looking into purchasing some Oktava's for the studio seeing as how they are low budget and seem to be more bang for your buck than most Chinese made microphones in the same price range. Any suggestions or insight? Like most Russian made instruments, especially Tube Pre's they seem to have a little bit of dirt to them which could come in handy on overheads. Any feedback on matched pairs or how well they're matched? We're looking for a versatile microphone for vocals, room and possible instrument applications. The matched pair would be mostly for overheads and acoustic string instruments. I've modded MXL's before and still only used them on overheads due to that little bit of dirt but it wasn't worth keeping them around. Obviously the 414's would be about $2k for a pair and I'm already there with the U87. Much love to Neumann. Aside the U87 the SM7b is our other go to vocal microphone. If anyone can give us a little heads up on Oktava and what matched pair to go with for overheads that would be awesome. Thank you and sorry for the super long comment,
Justin AL
i use a pair of akg 451 for overheads - love them and super useful for so many other jobs
no outboard mic pre just through mackie desk
Wow, the 319 is really holding its own! Sounds good in the track too.
To me the Oktavas sound just like the U87, except the 219 is slightly quieter/softer.
I was pleasantly surprised that my favorite mics on the shootout were the same ones you selected. LOL! I was already biased towards the MXL-2001 though. I have much more expensive mics but even without the modifications it is a gorgeous sounding microphone. Among all the budget mics I've found the MXL series of mics to be exceptionally smooth and sweet sounding. However I'd LOVE to see you do a mic shootout of budget and high end ribbon mics. I'm LOVING my Nady RSM-2 that I modified.
LIke i said in description no otboard mic pre - just using inputs on mackie desk - cheers
just my opinion think its a great all round mic - don't use it too much in the studio but you could is the point ...
I personally like the Oktavas on my voice. The MK219 wasn't at its best yet, as I had only half done it at the time. It sounds great now! You can hear it on Half The Universe (is missing).
the marshall mic is mxl 2003a? like it the best
I did this blind. I think that the modded Marshall MXL and SM58 really suit this voice well. U87 was nice too. No surprise there.
The shure couldn't have been included because it's an underdog that everyone likes. It's a 'Live' mic, that some favor in the studio because it's the best mic vs. cost, for a low budget studio. However, the Marshall MXL series is the next best thing when it comes to cost vs. quality.
I have used great pres over the years (I have had access to some lovely top end pres at other studios where I have worked ) but also suprislingly happy with going straight through Mackie desk - at the end of the day ts a bout a ood mic and a good musician
What headphones are those? I keep seeing great musicians wearing them
Google the David Royer tube mic mod, you'll find plenty of info!
Anybody know what it's like to record a 414 XLS and a 414 XLII side by side as a stereo pair? I'm looking to pick up two mics, and thought it would be cool to have both for different sounds, but wondering how they would work together in that situation, as a stereo pair
is that OKTAVA 319 MODIFIED or out of the BOX>??????...sounds great
True-Hype-Media 319 not modified and thanks
thanks - did you buy some mics??
they all sound the same to me... i think the pres color all of them nicley.. when u start eqing and comping then c wich mic will do better...
well at 441 16 bit the they sound about the same, though the u87 sounds a bit more open.
To me the shure didnt sound naked at all the most naked sounding was the MXL. The shure, 414, 219 mod, and 87 seem to lift his vocals in a zone
Good point Kenna. To me the 87 sounds extremely 'solid' especially in the mids.
The shoot out Includes 2 mics modified by Neal Hoffman
Oktava 219 modified via Scott Dorsey instructions link in video description
AKG 3000 sounds great. Clear and open.
cheap and cool
also is there any roll off being applied here?
Bollox to the mics! Im loving that track. Neal Hoffman just proved one thing only.... a great song will impress despite what you sing through! That's bias confirmation in spectacular action. I'm a fan of Neal Hoffman. That's the only thing I'm ever going to remember from this he he!
agree thanks for your
comment felix x
Great test and performance and gorgeous song!!
What about the preamp? Each take sounds a bit with "the nose". (voice apart)
shure 58 is the most naked sound but most singers like a little help from the sound, also only dynamic one.modified marshall mxl, modified octava 219, akg 414 were to my liking.
sadly dont have a ribbon might try and borrow one though
cheers felix
Very good video! And thanks to Sstrikerful for the awesome comment. Super helpful.
I am using the Oktava 319 most for vocals - like the akg for voice overs
Been using a 319 for years. Great mic.