**NOTE** The audio for the polar pattern samples has been removed because the developer of the free app I used to play back white noise from my phone made a copyright claim. On all of my newer videos, I play back white noise of my own making so that this doesn't happen again. Apologies for that and lesson learned.
Hilarious! The definition of white noise is randomness (mathematically proved with auto-correlation). I guess there's no point asking for money back LOL.
This was EXCELLENT...and thank you for having a female voice to compare! I don't see any other channels offering that comparison, and find it incredibly helpful.
Thank you very much for this comparison. It's very cool that you normalized the loudness accordingly to EBU-R128! For me the Oktava sounded best on the male voice but the NT5 on the female. The Oktava also sounds great on the female voice while the NT5 doesn't sound so well on the male. The AT sounds pretty good with both voices, but if I had to pick one of the three, it would definitely be the Oktava!
I enjoy the full sound that the AT4053b offers and I was able to hear a bump in the treble response on the Oktava but to my ears the sound of the Oktava lost quite a bit of detail when compared to the AT4053b. Thanks Curtis always helpful!
Just listened to the mics, here's my run down of them. Listening on a laptop with Audio Technica MKH-50X headpohes: Female: No difference between the Audio Technica and NT5. The Oktava has more "presence", sounded more powerful. Male: Audio Technica has more low end, compared to the NT5 which seems to have everything at equal levels. Oktava again has a little more power. Honestly they sound very similar, I think I'd pick the NT5 out of the 3 because of price but also because of how the Oktava doesn't do well when on a boom (according to other sources). EDIT: Oh, you addressed the handling noise issue of the Oktava. Cool!
Yes, I heard that a lot too, but I suspect some of those people were trying to boom with a mic clip rather than a shock mount. It is still somewhat sensitive as I still see some very low frequency waveforms when the mic moves, but it still seems usable.
@@curtisjudd I suspect that keeping a 120 or 160 hz cutoff on the recorder would eliminate that entirely. I'm not that good of a boom operator yet (still learning), and need to rely on the cutoff on my Mixpre-3 II to eliminate the boom handling noise, even with a shock mount and higher end microphones. (My boom pole is not the best to begin with...) I just ordered an Oktava MK-012 with 3 capsule kit for improving my indoor dialog game... will back out the noisy Samson CO2's that I currently have been using for indoor dialog.
@@The-Logician 👍 120 or 160Hz can be a bit high for men's voices, removing a bit of the low end. I've come to believe that a good shock mount is an invaluable investment.
@@The-Logician little advise: never use a cutoff above 120 hz! (even 120 for a male voice can be too much probably) later on dialogue editor and re-recording mixer in post will hate you! It's more likely that you use a shock mount or expect the handling noises to be removed later in post (it's actually easy) than rolling off that much of the low end in the dialogues.
I was looking to upgrade for my AT2035 to one of these. I'm a UA-camr and I also do streaming. I want the mic off cam which is why don't want a dynamic mic. The room is not treated, echoey and there are PLENTY of keyboard and mouse clicks as you would expect. Give these variables, could you recommend something? I'm leaning towards the nt5.
The AT405B handled sibilance much better than the others. However, I like the idea of getting a matched pair of Oktavas to also record instruments. Great review! Thanks!
Well this is just great, well done! Directly decided to buy the Oktava + Rode SM4-R Shockmount! BTW: Copyright claim on white noise? Really? UA-cam....what have you become...
Hey Curtis - great video as always. Were I not on as tight a budget, doubtless I'd have bought the AT4053b but ended up buying the Oktava MK-012-02 set (including the cardioid, hyper-cardioid & omni capsules) last year. Given the price, it's pleasing to see how well it stacks up against the competition!
I found it pretty easy to spot the difference between these mics when listening to the male voice. On the female voice, I could not really pick a "best" one. I really like the Oktava but I heard on another video of yours (or was it this one) that it's not going so well with handling noise.
I have the Oktava mic with both the hyper and cardiod capsules and have been using it for 5 years now and for the price you can't beat it. I usually let my sound guy run the sound with their equipment now of days, but when I'm run and gunning this is my first that I go too.
Did you find much difference in the sound between the cardioid and hyper capsules? I have the Oktava with the hyper and I find it has too much bass response.
I'm usually always on the hyper unless I'm doing a two shot indoors. I haven't noticed a big difference except the exclusion of sound that I don't want, but I would think you'd probably hear a little more bass since the direction is not spread out as much and extends farther. My only negative with the mic is when I use my rode blimp for it, the short round one, it barely fits on my shock mount but not a game changer and if I have somebody booming and moving around, I usually revert to AT875R. Most of the time however I leave it to my sound guy and his equipment.
There is a guy in Moscow who re-developed the intestines of Oktava. Came in very handy because with that re-designed circuitry (complete with a new PCB) it became less self-noisy and there is quite noticeable gain increase, which is good. I use it with FetHead Phantom. Still not quite a match for Sennheiser ME64 in terms of sensitivity itself, and I find it more suitable for higher voices because of that signature “warmth” and “bassy-ness”, but as an indoor option it is better than any shotgun.
Do all the Oktava mics you can buy today have this new re-designed circuitry? I'm considering buying a matched pair of Oktava mics in black but have heard they have a higher self-noise than other similar mics. How would one know? I'm going to be buying it from Thomann in Germany because I can't find it here in Canada.
Two other quick footnotes to my previous comment: I do not find your voice to be unusually sibilant at all. You have a very nice resonant voice with a good mix. Perhaps not an AM radio announcer's booming voice, but very pleasant and natural sounding to my ears (having watched most of your videos now). Second, just as a general rule, do not be too quick to misjudge a microphone for having too much top end. Those highs are the easiest thing in the world to knock down with an equalizer if they don't suit a particular recording purpose, but you'll never create accurate, tight, high definition harmonics with an equalizer, if you start with something muddy.
I don't find his voice to be too sibilant, either; however, his notes about the performance of each mic are just thrown out there as a description of the microphone's barebones sound profile. If he didn't comment on the tonality of each mic in this way, he would practically be saying that each mic can sound the exact same through equalization. Just my two cents about all of this.
I have an Oktava with a Hyper capsule, it performs great! Also it comes with a -10db capsule and you can get the omni and cardioid capsules and you can get a hi pass filter capsule as well
Thanks Carlos, yes, I think the hi-pass is a good idea since I notice that the capsule tends to produce some very low frequency waves. Seems like it is very sensitive to movement. bus sounds quite good!
Curtis Judd I really like how it sounds and you are right about that extra warmth on the signal, the next mic I intend to get for indoor dialogue will be the Schoeps... once I have enough $ for it
wonderful video as you always do Judd! Just a couple of notes: (for dialogue mostly) rejection is desirable but it is as important how the off-axis sounds, especially the low freqs, which are the most difficult to reproduce off-axis with a pleasant sound. Also, reproducing white noise from a tiny speaker will not work well for mid, mid-low and low freqs for obv. reasons (of course moving an 8'' speaker as you do with your phone wouldn't be practical or healthy : ) but the recorded response will be sort of erratic for the mid and low end response of the mics...
It seems to me that many of these types of mics tend to be a bit shrill (bright). It helps to record with the wind filter on rather than off. Of course you can always bump up the bass a bit in post by using eq, as well.
First of all, thanks for the comparison. It was very helpful. I have a question relating to much distance and gain. I'm using the Oktava MK-012 and find I need to have it located less than a foot away from my mouth to get a decent signal strength (-18 to -12 dB). I noticed in your video it's more like 1.5 feet away or more, which makes sense to keep it out of the shot. My audio interface is a MOTU-M4 and the gain knob is around the 90%mark.
Copyright claim from the maker of the app I used so the audio white noise was removed. I had no idea an app developer could copyright white noise generated by their app.
@@curtisjudd LOOOOOL, that's so idiotic from them. You can copyright note patterns that make up a melody as an intellectual property, but a general randomized frequency that's relatively equal all across the high end area of the spectrum? It's like someone would use " black " in an app then copyright it as their unique color, LOL.
I have a matched pair of Oktava MK-012. They sound great for the price, but the handling and wind noise is extremely difficult to manage when holding a boom pole. I now use an Audix SCX-1 HC (hyper cardioid), and like it much more. Slightly better frequency response and lower self-noise.
Good input, thanks! Looking at the waveforms recorded by the Oktava, I do see some very low frequency waves which I didn't see on the AT recorded at the same time. Seems a high pass filter is definitely in order for the Oktava. For me it'll only be used when boomed on a stand. No hand booming.
I have the high pass module for the Oktava and it does help a little with the bass issue I mentioned in another comment. Only a little though. And be aware that it does also add a little more self noise.
I just mentioned it so that anyone who does hand held boom mic work will be aware of it with the Oktava mics. A high pass filter will help to a point, but they also benefit from a proper shock mount system. They are extremely sensitive to wind, so a wind muff/dead cat is a must-have item.
Curtis Judd People who has tried the oktava with a rycote baby Ball gag says it takes away the Wind noise. I've just ordered the rycote super softie 5cm to my oktava to see if it is as good as the BBG.
Hi Ted, yes, I used a free app to play the white noise. The company who makes the app claimed that they own the copyright so the white noise was removed. 😞 Since this review back in 2017, I generated my own white noise and use that in my tests instead.
Thanks Curtis! Have you ever tried the Neumann KM185 ? there are no rewievs on youtube, I hope to see the yours , because it is a very interesting microphone for how it is positioned between the prosumer and hi-end microphones. Thanks again!
I wish the Audio Technica brand of production mics got more mentions with the likes of dedicated production microphone companies like Sanken, Senny, etc. The AT mic's are not in the same class of quality as the low budget music-oriented mics. The AT stuff is built to handle the rigors of production. Would love to see a 4053b vs cs-m1 vs dpa vs schoeps.
For me Oktava sounded really good if not the best of all three. I am biased however as I own a matched stereo pair ;) The only issue I have with one mic is that something rattles inside which makes booming impossible. I have read that I am not the only one who has this problem though. I tried to open it, but apparently instead of a solid, Russian hardened steel the screw is made of some soft metal and I have flattened a head of the screw immediately... Anyway, I record ORTF stereo soundscapes with it, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Hi Karol, here there is a trick: You have to turn the screw clockwise until the the screw head will sink deep enough to slide the body tube off. Actually, Sennheiser MKH 416 and some other mics has the same disassembling method.
Thanks for the test. For the female voice the differences sounded small, but I liked the Røde best - it seemed a little cleaner. For your voice I agree that the Oktava was easily the best, and I liked the Røde least. I think the Audio Technica is only a little "hyper". This time I did notice that the dead angle isn't directly behind the microphone but a little off to the side. So I found the back rejection a tiny bit less pronounced than the others and the side rejection a tiny bit more pronounced, but the difference is still surprisingly small. By the way, I'd like to know: Are the capsules of the Røde and the Oktava interchangeable? (I.e. can you use one mic's capsule on the other mic?)
Thanks Lau. The capsules are not interchangeable between the RODE and Oktava. They are different diameters. If they were the same, I'd be hesitant to try exchanging them as different mics work with different voltages at the capsule and the risk of damaging the capsule is real.
Hello Curtis! Here is my observation. The Audio-Technica sounded very good, but too dark to me. Rode was sounding open, nice and for me the best of 3 examples. Octava compared to other 2 well.... my word for it is strange sounding, again compared to other 2 . For me, Octava is out of my radar. I hope to be close to your thoughts.
Thanks Carburetor. These three microphones are all quite good so to a large extent it comes down to personal preference and the voice they record. Best wishes!
Thanks for the comparison. I thought the Audio Technica was a bit "closed" on female voice but great in male. The Rode was overly bright and sibilant and the Octava had a mid tone I didn't like all that much. Overall I liked the Audio Technica best but then there is price. Rode announced they were working on an updated NT5 early this year, and if they curb the brightness like they've done on the updated NT1, I believe I may be waiting for that.
Lau Bjerno Sure, the new NT1 is very, shall we say, modern and straight on? I haven't tried it but I'm sure it has its purposes. Audio book reading, for example. Røde has more going on, for example an updated Videomic Pro + and a soundfield microphone, plus further forays into valves and transformers for musical use. This longish marketing video becomes rather interesting over time: vimeo.com/199946849
Yeah. Me too. Festivity and much excitement early in the year, then nothing happens in five months. Not a word, nowhere. Just the usual the usual updates. What are they doing?
Thanks for the comparison, I did a similar test a year ago with the same mics ended up keeping the isk cm-20 (35$)for dialog, it is surprisingly transparent and gives me lots of options in post-production. it is very prone to sibilance so if I am working with a production company that I know does not have the capability to master sound very well I usually use a different mic, which would be the audio technica.
Something important to consider for the Oktava MK-012: There are the old "original" russian Oktava mics and the "Made-in-China" new ones. Both of them are genuine. Oktava moved the production from Russia to China in the early 2000s and the new Oktava MK-012 from China tends to have tinny highs. I'm not sure what else changed, but I like the russian-made ones quite a bit more.
Good history to know, thanks! I assume the one I have here would be one of the Chinese manufactured copies. If this one sounds this good, I'd be very interested in hearing a Russian manufactured copy.
It would truly be interesting and relevant to me to hear these three "dialog" small diaphragm mics compared to an industry standard VO mic like those large diaphragm mics coveted for audiobook production like the CAD e100s or the tlm-103 or u87 and even the rode nt1a....... there are folks who find it impossible for the mics you present to have any possibility of competing with the types of mics I mentioned, although as far as I am concerned the jury is still out until I "Hear" the proof!
w2aiq it's two different uses. The large diaphragm is definitely better for voiceover stuff but the downside is you need to be close to the mic. Mics like these work better for video cause you can boom them out of the shot. Not sure if their are hypercardiod large diaphragm mics. I'm gonna have to dig into that
well maybe on a typical basis, but the MHK 416 is the only small capsule mic I know of that is widely desired and used in the audiobook and voice over industry and that has a small capsule like the other three judd displayed, so I was wondering how they would match up against a large D Mic, because even though I have never seen a comparison, the MHK 416 apparently must compare quite well
I was curious about the same thing and so I did this some time back: ua-cam.com/video/p1WOtGJk4YE/v-deo.html Comparted a RODE NT1A and the Audio Technica Hyper.
Very good review! I’m currently in the process of getting an indoor microphone; have you ever used the RØDE M5? It’s mainly advertised as ideal for recording music but I imagine it would be similar to something like the NT5 in terms of recording Dialogue?
Hi Jack, thanks! I haven’t personally had a chance to use the M5 yet. There are a few UA-cam videos with dialogue samples out there and it sounded pretty decent to my ears. It could definitely work. Good luck!
Wondering what the name of the white noise app is that you used...? (shows in silhouette around 3:33, with an 'equalizer' type display) I have been going through various apps on my iPhone and haven't been able to identify yet... Found one (Sleep Mask) that provides different types of white noise (White, Pink, Brown, Brown [soft] and White [wave]) which might be useful at times. White noise - different frequencies at equal intensity; Pink - a variation that places emphasis on base/lower frequencies; and Brown - even more emphasis on base. Anyway, might be useful sometimes when playing with multiple microphones on my Zoom F6, adjusting levels before the interviewees arrive (before the final sound check[s])... Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews/comparisons...much appreciated.
My preference is for the Rode - I like the brighter sibilance as a matter of choice. I find the "warmth" of the Octava a bit buzzy for my liking. I have a matching pair of NT5s and also 2 NT55s. It would have been good to hear NT55s as well as I find them superb indoors for interviews.
Thanks for the comments re: the RODE. I was under the impression the NT55s had the same capsule as the NT5s with a preamp that has a high pass filter? Or is it actually a different capsule and different sound?
From what I know, the NT55 has the same capsule but more options, as you say. But these mikes have been sold so much there's an aftermarket for capsules, by other brands. So I guess that's the case. (The M5, on the other end, is a budget option with electret condenser and no interchangable capsules. An instrument mike with slight self noise, so nothing for video.)
Yep snap - I bought the Roadster on your recommendation - they fit on the 55's as well. There are a couple of services in the States I send off for because they do not have them in the UK i.e. leads etc
IS the whie noise test what was removed due to the app's copyright claim? ..'cuz I'm hearing like 1/10th of a second of white noise at the beginning, then the Oktava has white noise during the entirety, and about 1/10th of a second of white noise toward the end. I'm considering a pair of either the MK-012-20's vs. some Neumann KM184's vs. Micparts SDC-84. I like that the Oktava's and Micparts have the option of hypercardioid capsules available for them, and really the only thing drawing me toward the Neumann's is the fact that they're Neumann's - industry accepted widely and name recognition, and I probably go for either the Oktava's or Micparts.
Yes, the options I had after the copyright claim was to just cut the audio they were claiming, take the video down altogether, or go through the long process of appealing. I figured it was probably best to go with option 1 and get back to work on more important things. 😕 Strangely, they didn't claim all of the white noise. Beware that a lot of people have complained of reliability issues with the Oktavas. Other than that, I had a good experience with my mk-012 while I had it. Haven't used the Neumann or Micparts so not sure on those.
@@curtisjudd hi I would love to know your thoughts on the hypercardioid version of the oktava for outdoors on a budget: i have the preamp and consider to buy the hypercardioid capsule. how would this compare against real shotgun mics? thanks
@@alainhalimi3821 just a guess since I do not have the hyper-cardioid capsule, but I would expect most quality shotgun microphones to have a narrower polar pattern, but that varies quiet a bit from shotgun mic to shotgun mic. I've used a hyper outdoors before. In my case, it picked up a bit more ambient sound/noise than a focused shotgun mic.
Sure, though I'd probably recommend the Oktava or RODE as they have slightly wider polar patterns which will work better to get both your voice and the amp.
The AT4035b sounded a bit softer, perhaps a little bit more dynamic? But its really hard to tell the Rode and Oktavia apart. I own a pair of the NT5s myself and i'm quite happy with them. Works great for binaural recordings and i use them for sound design stuff.
Hello Curtis, and thanks for your videos, always helpfull to watch. I'd like to know how does this oktava mk-012 perform with echo/reverb against the samson c02 in case of sit-down interviews indoors. The mic would be set at about 60-80 cm of the source, maybe a bit less. Thanks again!
@@curtisjudd I noticed in a couple other videos that you say you liked the the 4053b, but you liked the NT5 better for overall value. Is that still the case? Have you tried the Oktava with the other capsules yet? I will ONLY be using the this mic for INDOOR dialogue. Thoughts? I don't WANT to spend $600 for a mic, but if it's that much better I will. I will be using the Zoom F4 as the recorder / preamps into a Sony A9
@@RyanGproductions1 If I were to buy today, knowing what I know now, I'd go with the Oktava. It comes in a kit with a hyper capsule along with a cardioid capsule: amzn.to/2D9EUuc
The preamp and interface used also affect the sound. I use the Babyface Pro Pre/ DAC. I connect the MIC using the best high-end Digital Mogami Mic cables. I also use a lot of power conditioning and IFI USB devices to isolate computer ground noise from the interface. I have other tweaks to eliminate vibration interference using Sorbothane feet weighting precisely using maximum allowed weight calculations to achieve maximum vibration isolation (here if the weight is too much or too little, the result could turn out worse). That is why when I listen to mic tests around youtube they all sound different. Simply there are many other factors that affect sound quality.
Thanks Aaron, I agree that the preamp/DAC makes a difference as do other factors. But I still find that the mic imparts the biggest overall effect on sound quality, once you get into preamps in the mid to upper level.
From this real-world test, I can hear little to very little difference between any of these. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. In your other videos, I can hear a significant difference in your tests between different mics. Probably the most obvious thing to me was that I could discern different speech variations when you were reading the same written passage three separate times. Maybe it would be better to simultaneously record all three mics to remove this variable? I picked up an NT5 last night for a bargain price and looking forward to seeing how it performs. I was set to buy the AT4053B but if they are going to be this close in terms of recording performance to my ear I couldn't justify the price difference.
Hey Chris. Thanks for this great video! I'd be interested to see you do a review of the Audio-Technica AT875R as an indoor boom mic, and to get your thoughts regarding this mic.
Hi Curtis, have you ever tried the AKG p170? its a pencil mic and cost around 80-100 USD, people use it for drums and guitars but sounds really nice in voice too. I got a ntg-2 and for some uses the akg just destroys the ntg-2, the off-axis pickup its great for interviews with the subject moving alot (cardiod).
Oktava was the best sounding to my ears. The handling noise issue isn't surprising since Oktavas are known to have issues with things like body resonance.
Great vid! I´m a bit confused and don´t know what mic to choose: Samson CO2, Oktava MK-012, Rode NT5 (I´m gonna use it on a boom pole) What do you recommend me??
Hi Curtis, when you talk about the programs you offer, there're no program names and other information about them on the black screen as well as description section of the video. In my book, they're called mistakes.
Thanks for the feedback. I learned the hard way here that UA-cam doesn't allow the end-screen graphics for more than the last 20 seconds of the video. So I'll need to go back and film a video piece to insert. Thanks for the heads-up.
Thank you Curtis for the video! I would love to know your advice on this: Would a pair of oktavas mk-012 be good to record a grand piano? And, for a small group of classical musicians, such as violin and horn? Would you recommend using all oktavas to record all the instruments, or changing with other mics, or mixing? Thanks a lot!
Thanks Luis! Yes, a stereo matched pair would be a good choice for recording instruments and small ensembles. I would generally advise to go with a matched pair if possible to avoid any stereo imbalance issues. Best of luck!
@@curtisjudd My matched pair of Oktava MK012 is on the way thanks to , amongst other sources, this video Curtis... and it's intended to be used both for recording the acoustic guitars and other string instruments, but also during my streamed teaching lessons where one of the mics would be for my voice. The idea is to set the mics in the right angle for the matched pair, only vertically in this case. One pointed to my mouth and the other to the guitar. I'm hoping to be able to have the mics above me and in front so that they aren't in the way for the three camera setup + ATEM Mini Pro with Picture in Picture settings.... Thank you for the great video!
Thank you for your video. I would use the pair of them to record my classical guitar, mainly at my home. Would you go for the oktava mk or for the rode? Thank you
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis, can you say what kind of reliability issues you heard about the Oktava mics? I'm considering getting a matched pair. I'm also concerned that the self noise appears to be a tad higher than a few others because I will be recording fairly quiet sounds a lot of the time. Thanks for this helpful video!
@@TomWhoASMR I gave mine away a few months ago but it was still working great. I haven't had any issues myself, but have heard quite a few people indicate that they have had issues with theirs. I suspect that part of this is that there are a good number of fakes out there. Be sure to buy a genuine Oktava from a reputable retailers like Thomann.
Oktava seems lacking clarity and 3 dimension but it does sound smooth. The Rode is good but the low and high mid are all pushed forward, Rodes upper mid and treble always sounds popping to me with a break in transient, this is their signature unfortunately. The AT is a clear winner to me with a bright, clear mostly even natural sound with good transient and a treble response that suits female voice very well. The downside is a lack of warmth (natural sounding low end)
Interesting - it would appear that UA-cam cut the audio out of that part of the video after it's been online for several years. It was there originally. 😕 Thanks for letting me know.
Yes, it was an intentional tradeoff and I might add the hyper capsule later. I already have a hyper mic (the AT) and I wanted a more open sound for when recording in rooms that don't need the more extreme hyper pattern - rooms that don't have a lot of slap/reverb.
Ah, I see. I think the hypercardioid capsule is the one that stands out on the Oktava. The omni seemed to pick up certain frequencies in the far distance, and the cardioid sounded very neutral. The hypercardioid seemed to be great at picking up a very full range of vocal frequencies at around 18 inches. It might be worth a look if you ever get the chance.
@@curtisjudd I had compared Samson c02 vs Behringer c-2 with white noise. They are the same, no differences. This means Behringer is better for the price!
@@curtisjudd nope, just me, two pink noise tracks, recorded with these two mics(1m distance btwn mic and speaker) and monitors KRK rokit. Spectrum analyzer shows the same
@@curtisjudd , this is a comparison of that two guys -- Samson c02 and Behringer c2. I hope this url is available to you sun9-34.userapi.com/c850416/v850416726/1c0938/ruO_ut4Axd8.jpg
Hello Curtis. Great test, like always. I need to film a short in a kitchen with bad acoustic. Do you think the Oktava can help me to avoid the reverberation in the dialog recordings?
@Curtis Judd, thanks for another great, informative video. What do you think of the Oktava 012 as a voice over microphone (I assume with a good pop-filter)? It's obviously not designed for that, but can it do double duty as a decent V.O mic?
I do NOT have super audio and speakers, but fair. I can NOT hear much difference, but I do hear that the AT4053B is a bit cleaner and neutral, that is 'better'. If we are talking youtube videos, only 0,0000001% of billions of internet users can hear the diff. BUT thanks again for a super video.
I just got a hypercardiod mic called the little gem by ISK. I think it sounds pretty good for $60 bucks. I'm about to record a film in a garage unit turned film set. I also have a Rode NTG-3 which is a much nicer mic. Would you use one of your cheaper hypercardiod mics or a much nicer shotgun?
Thanks for another amazing video! I am thinking of taking the Rode NT5 for zoom calls instead of a dynamic microphone. I don"t have an audio treated room and I also sit in front of a big monitor. Do you think there is a chance the NT5 might still sound good enough without picking up too much room noise ? I don't want the mic to be in the frame. For that reason I am considering the NT5 instead. I just purchased the Rode Video Mic GO II and that does pick up too much room noise unfortunately (but it was mainly bought for outdoor use anyways).
I expect that the NT5 does NOT have more "reach" or directionality than the VideoMic GO II. What I do for Zoom calls is place the microphone just at the bottom of the video frame so it isn't too imposing but it is close enough to sound good.
I would be interested in a comparison test (against these or other mics) involving a Michael Joly upgraded Oktava 012, as it is one of his least expensive upgrades, resulting in less total cost than purchasing an inexpensive MX, then having him upgrade it, or even purchasing an unmodified Rode NT5.
I'm in the process of purchasing a "stock" version with all three capsules. If and when I have an excuse to do so (I'll probably use it only for UA-cam videos, assuming that project gets off the ground), I'll send it to MJE for the upgrade, and, if you haven't tested one yet, loan it to you for testing.
In the words ("word," I guess) of Charlie Brown, "Arrrrgggghhhh!" My new hypercardiod Oktava 012 was delivered an hour prior to lunch, and then, about an hour after lunch, Michael Joly announced he plans to shutdown Oktavamod/MJE, and will only be accepting modification orders for a few more days. I'm not sure whether their would be much utility in sending to you an example of a modified mic that would, by then, no longer be available, except, once in a while, on e-bay. I may still send the mic to Mr. Joly, but (also today) I came across the name of someone else who upgrades Oktave 012s, i.e. Bill Sitler, and, though he is not as well known as Michael Joly, the comments I have read all have been positive. It has been and interesting three hours!
Wow Ed. That sounds like a rollercoaster of a day. I find even the stock version to sound very nice so I'm betting you can't lose whichever route you decide to take. Good luck.
Nice comparison. The girl has a difficult frequency range. Which mic are you using on your narrative? It's picking up extrem 'S' noise at various points. It would take a lot of manual editing to balance or a perfect deesser. Maybe there's a mic more suited to your voice. BTW, the sound cuts out from 3:44 and appears again at the end of the white noise test.
Thanks Armsby, yes, I used a free app on my phone to produce the white noise and the company which produced the app claimed copyright so I had to remove that. Sorry about that inconvenience. I used the Oktava for the narrative portion of the video and I agree, not a great fit. I didn't process it too much here because I wanted viewers to be able to hear the mic without too much processing. Best wishes.
I promise this is the last dumb question. I forgot to mention that I've got the Rodecaster Pro and 4 Podmics for podcasting with guests. It didn't occur to ask if those mics are any good for vocals/guitar. Perhaps that could be one of my first videos. What do you think?
Hi Alan, usually engineers will use condenser microphones to record guitars, though I would suggest you give it a try - it'd be a good topic for a video. Vocals can go either way - dynamic or condenser. Best wishes!
Have you had a chance to try the Aputure Deity super cardioid condenser microphone yet? Again, so many mics, so little time? I imagine that the cost of these mics adds up.
Good news, I've actually reviewed it: ua-cam.com/video/kom1nMM0DrQ/v-deo.html and compared it to 4 other shotgun microphones: ua-cam.com/video/veD8BVXV3Ls/v-deo.html
Hallo Curtis, first of alla thanks for your reviews, they are a pleasure to watch. I wanted to ask you if you think is a good combination to have an Oktava MK-012 connected to XLR1 adapter by Panasonic, if you think is an acceptable combination for documetnary work (of course in-door recording with the hyper). I own the Oktava which is a mike I really like (must be a design thing), and I'm interested currently in the Panasonic adapter for my GH5 for a documentary I'll start in October, thanks a bunch, you're a truly talented host!
Thank you Curtis, I think I'm going to opt for a zoom h5 or h6 and a gh5, somehow clumsy and bulky but I think for a doc and location sound would be just better and futureproof. Hey keep up the good work and thanks again!
In the 5 indoor mics test you had the AKG Blue Line Hypercardioid as well. I really liked the sound of that in that test, and I'm curious if you didn't include it here because you simply don't own it or for other reasons? I'm strongly considering it to get a proper indoor mic for my setup leading up to a shoot in June and am curious if there were any other reasons that led to you omitting that from this test if you can recall. Great video as always, and thank you for the excellent comparisons!
Hi, correct, I do not own the AKG, it was on loan for that previous comparison video. It produces a little more self noise than some of the others but with a good preamp behind it, it sounds quite good.
@@curtisjudd ..Thanks for prompt response. Eager to watch a new comparison video of these 3 mics( audio technica at2021, at4021, at4041) including samson c02, rode nt5 & rode m5. Lets see whats ur take on above mentioned mics for indoor dialogue. Especially budget mics like audio technica at2021 vs samson c02, as these 2 falls in similar price range.
Hi Curtis. I think I need one more mic to begin my UA-cam journey. I'm quite taken by the Oktava. I am curious to know if you think the cardioid or hyper cardioid would be best for indoor mic stand deployment (so no handling noise to worry about) I need an inexpensive all rounder that will be good for spoken voice, musical vocals and acoustic guitar. I only have enough to get one mic and don't want to pay for extra capsules I probably won't use. So is it hyper or regular cardioid? Also how bad would it be to just add another one as a stereo pair down the road. Would it make that much difference compared to a balanced pair? Love your work sir, and I've made several critical kit decisions based on your input so thank you again.
For an all-rounder, I'd go with the cardioid. I'm not sure how much variation there is from copy to copy but you are likely to find differences on a mic at this price point (that's a guess).
Hey Curtis, this was super helpful, thank you! I'm currently setting up a tricky scenario - a radio play format with 4 talents at the table with ideally minimal mic in frame due to set and costume. These super/hyper cardiod boom mics seem like a pretty good start, but wondering if you have any additional tips on what I should be considering?
Hi Diego, the Samson C01 doesn't sound nearly as nice as the Oktava MK012 in my tests. The Samson is good *for its price* but not amazing. The Oktava is amazing for its price, if you get a good copy and use a really good shock mount.
Do you think the nt55 is better for indoor dialogue than the nt5? Not worrying about the price differences or anything like that, just as a microphone?
Curtis, i wish you did a test with a tv and air conditioner going in the background while you spoke, so that I could get good sense of if I could use this in my noisy environment. Is there perhaps a setup and mic type that maaaybe I can use to get a good signal to noise ratio while still not blocking my view or keyboard? and that's cheap? I don't make money off of my vids.
I try Layarion. I do this on the side as tim allows. As noted in response to your other comment. A dynamic mic that doesn’t obscure your face is your best bet with TV and other noise in the background. The laws of physics make eliminating noise tough work, but that’s the best, most natural way I’ve found.
Hello! I find your video truly informative about these microphones! For me the Oktava sounds the best for the price I can afford. However I'm hesitating, because I would like to use for talking from a further distance, around 2,5 meters (~8 feet) and I don't know if these mics are adequate for that. Should I use another type of microphones? Or these also can do that distance? My room is around 20 squaremeters (~215 squarefeet) and I wouln't say its resounding/echoing, because it has several carpet surfaces in it and I'm also planning to buy some foams onto the wall. What would be your suggestion? Thank you for your answer!
Hi Zoltan, no microphone works well at a distance of 8 feet. Would you be willing to explain why you want to position the so far away. Would there be any way to position it closer?
@@curtisjudd Hi! Thank you for your quick answer! The reason why I would put the microphone further is because I planned the background and my position, and I would like to use an "american plan/shoot", so my body would be visible from my legs (thighs). To achive that I have to move the camera a bit further than the usual (~8 feet), however with some trick the mic can be closer. What is the furthest distance these microphones can handle?
@@zoltanlunk1654 I always suggest booming your microphone much closer to the person speaking - within 40 cm or less. Here's an affordable way to do that: ua-cam.com/video/TUEmQBZKoBs/v-deo.html
Hey Curtis, knowing what you do now, would you still purchase the 4053B? I already have a pair of NT5's so am deliberating going straght for a Senn 8050. Appreciate your thoughts!@ Thanks
Hey Curtis, I came across a super affordable mic, and wanted your opinion on it, or have you ever tested it. It's the Senal SCI-3212 Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone with Interchangeable Capsules. B&H sells it for $59.99.
Hi Johnny, I’ve heard of the Senal brand but haven’t tested it, unfortunately. I would expect reasonable quality but likely a mid-range focus which is quite common in the more affordable small diaphragm condensers like this. Best wishes!
Hi Curtis, I have a question: I'm starting make movies, I have a canon Eos 600D, and I want to buy microphones (with a low budget), to start with professional audio. I found some informations on internet, and finally I would buy a zoom h4n (or h5 but I don't know if I absolutely need it), with a shotgun that could be a sennheiser ME-66 (with k6), an Audio-Technica AT897, or a AZDEN SGM-2X. For the price the best is the Audio- Technica, but I'm not a pro, so I need help. I want a good audio to make any sort of audio for a film... which one is the best for start with a low budget? Thank you very much (and sorry for my english).
Hi MrAliceguardaigatti, Any of the microphones you listed can make great recordings. More important will be learning how to place them to get the best sound. E.g., mounting the microphone on top of the camera is usually results in rather poor sound while booming the mic above the person speaking sounds many times better. As for recorders, I would suggest the H5 over the H4n. The H4n was good for its time several years ago, but its preamps don't have quite as much gain and tend to produce a bit more noise than the H5. Good luck!
Curtis I have a set of the Oktavas and love them I was considering buying th Oktava Mk-101 Large Diaphragm capsule and adding it in to my voiceover mics which are the Lweitt LCT 440 Pure and Rode NTG5 both which have very low self noise as you know. But I just read the specs for the Oktava and learned that Self Noise is dBa
Remember that classic microphones like the Neumann U87ai have self noice specs in the 23dB range. And yet, they're still in wide use. I just apply a mild high pass filter and that's about it. I find that the room tone is almost always more than the self-noise of the microphone.
So I think I might by this with the different capsules, and would this work well for movie dialogue from a distance? It seems youtuber's use this up close so it sounds good, but would the boxy sound appear more if further away?
No, this is true of almost all microphones. If you need a lot of "reach" you could look at long shotgun mics, but they must be aimed precisely and they're a bit unwieldy, sort of a specialty tool. This is why camera mounted microphones never sounds as good as microphones boomed up close. They are fine mics, just too far away from the sound source. This is one of the basic rules for getting good sound - get the microphone close.
One other thought, if the talent will be moving and far from the camera, wireless lavalaier mics are generally the best option in terms of getting good sound quality.
@@curtisjudd yes I understand, I just bought the Oktava mk 012 and I think the furthest we would be away would be 4ft tops, so should be ok? I think we are talking proximity effect so ya makes sense.
**NOTE** The audio for the polar pattern samples has been removed because the developer of the free app I used to play back white noise from my phone made a copyright claim. On all of my newer videos, I play back white noise of my own making so that this doesn't happen again. Apologies for that and lesson learned.
I expect the locksmith will lodge a copyright claim against the key jangling.
Haha! They can go pound sand. ;-)
I guess he must have claimed to be the composer too, maybe tell him that his noise was a bit too flat for Bb major.
@@vincentoliver Ugh, I'm pretty sure they'd say it was just the app that was the issue. "Sorry for promoting your free app," is my thinking.
Hilarious! The definition of white noise is randomness (mathematically proved with auto-correlation). I guess there's no point asking for money back LOL.
This was EXCELLENT...and thank you for having a female voice to compare! I don't see any other channels offering that comparison, and find it incredibly helpful.
Thanks Jill!
Thank you 3 years later this video was right on time for me
Brilliant!
Thank you very much for this comparison. It's very cool that you normalized the loudness accordingly to EBU-R128!
For me the Oktava sounded best on the male voice but the NT5 on the female. The Oktava also sounds great on the female voice while the NT5 doesn't sound so well on the male. The AT sounds pretty good with both voices, but if I had to pick one of the three, it would definitely be the Oktava!
+Flying Squirrel thanks for the feedback!
I enjoy the full sound that the AT4053b offers and I was able to hear a bump in the treble response on the Oktava but to my ears the sound of the Oktava lost quite a bit of detail when compared to the AT4053b. Thanks Curtis always helpful!
Thanks Carlos! Appreciate the perspective on the AT vs Oktava!
Just listened to the mics, here's my run down of them. Listening on a laptop with Audio Technica MKH-50X headpohes:
Female: No difference between the Audio Technica and NT5. The Oktava has more "presence", sounded more powerful.
Male: Audio Technica has more low end, compared to the NT5 which seems to have everything at equal levels. Oktava again has a little more power.
Honestly they sound very similar, I think I'd pick the NT5 out of the 3 because of price but also because of how the Oktava doesn't do well when on a boom (according to other sources).
EDIT: Oh, you addressed the handling noise issue of the Oktava. Cool!
Yes, I heard that a lot too, but I suspect some of those people were trying to boom with a mic clip rather than a shock mount. It is still somewhat sensitive as I still see some very low frequency waveforms when the mic moves, but it still seems usable.
@@curtisjudd I suspect that keeping a 120 or 160 hz cutoff on the recorder would eliminate that entirely. I'm not that good of a boom operator yet (still learning), and need to rely on the cutoff on my Mixpre-3 II to eliminate the boom handling noise, even with a shock mount and higher end microphones. (My boom pole is not the best to begin with...) I just ordered an Oktava MK-012 with 3 capsule kit for improving my indoor dialog game... will back out the noisy Samson CO2's that I currently have been using for indoor dialog.
@@The-Logician 👍 120 or 160Hz can be a bit high for men's voices, removing a bit of the low end. I've come to believe that a good shock mount is an invaluable investment.
@@The-Logician little advise: never use a cutoff above 120 hz! (even 120 for a male voice can be too much probably) later on dialogue editor and re-recording mixer in post will hate you! It's more likely that you use a shock mount or expect the handling noises to be removed later in post (it's actually easy) than rolling off that much of the low end in the dialogues.
Thanks!
Welcome!
I was looking to upgrade for my AT2035 to one of these.
I'm a UA-camr and I also do streaming. I want the mic off cam which is why don't want a dynamic mic.
The room is not treated, echoey and there are PLENTY of keyboard and mouse clicks as you would expect.
Give these variables, could you recommend something?
I'm leaning towards the nt5.
Sure, NT5 is worth considering for your situation. Snazzy Labs uses that mic.
@@curtisjudd Thank You
The AT405B handled sibilance much better than the others. However, I like the idea of getting a matched pair of Oktavas to also record instruments. Great review! Thanks!
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Well this is just great, well done! Directly decided to buy the Oktava + Rode SM4-R Shockmount!
BTW: Copyright claim on white noise? Really? UA-cam....what have you become...
Thanks and happy recording!
I absolutely LOVE my AT 4053b. It's wonderful. I do production sound for independent films.
Me too! I now have a Schoeps CMC641 but I refuse to get rid of my AT4053b. Such a great mic for the money.
Great comparison, Curtis! (side note: would love to see something like this with maybe something like sound effects / foley in mind)
Hey Curtis - great video as always. Were I not on as tight a budget, doubtless I'd have bought the AT4053b but ended up buying the Oktava MK-012-02 set (including the cardioid, hyper-cardioid & omni capsules) last year. Given the price, it's pleasing to see how well it stacks up against the competition!
Yes, I was surprised!
Czy uzyles kiedys tlumik -10db do glosu czytanego ksiazke?, czy byl kiedys potrzebny wykorzystany tlumik 10db ?
I found it pretty easy to spot the difference between these mics when listening to the male voice. On the female voice, I could not really pick a "best" one. I really like the Oktava but I heard on another video of yours (or was it this one) that it's not going so well with handling noise.
Agreed - the Oktava is not the best on a hand-held boom pole unless you use a good shock mount and operate with care.
@@curtisjudd Thank you Curtis. Your videos are always useful to me
Oktava MK-012 sounds amazing. Male voice sounds really clear and open
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I have the Oktava mic with both the hyper and cardiod capsules and have been using it for 5 years now and for the price you can't beat it. I usually let my sound guy run the sound with their equipment now of days, but when I'm run and gunning this is my first that I go too.
Did you find much difference in the sound between the cardioid and hyper capsules? I have the Oktava with the hyper and I find it has too much bass response.
I'm usually always on the hyper unless I'm doing a two shot indoors. I haven't noticed a big difference except the exclusion of sound that I don't want, but I would think you'd probably hear a little more bass since the direction is not spread out as much and extends farther. My only negative with the mic is when I use my rode blimp for it, the short round one, it barely fits on my shock mount but not a game changer and if I have somebody booming and moving around, I usually revert to AT875R. Most of the time however I leave it to my sound guy and his equipment.
Good info, thanks Joseph!
Thank you, Curtis! I've been watching your other indoor dialogue mic videos, and didn't see anything about the Oktava.
Awesome vid!
Thanks Zachary!
There is a guy in Moscow who re-developed the intestines of Oktava. Came in very handy because with that re-designed circuitry (complete with a new PCB) it became less self-noisy and there is quite noticeable gain increase, which is good. I use it with FetHead Phantom. Still not quite a match for Sennheiser ME64 in terms of sensitivity itself, and I find it more suitable for higher voices because of that signature “warmth” and “bassy-ness”, but as an indoor option it is better than any shotgun.
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Do all the Oktava mics you can buy today have this new re-designed circuitry? I'm considering buying a matched pair of Oktava mics in black but have heard they have a higher self-noise than other similar mics. How would one know? I'm going to be buying it from Thomann in Germany because I can't find it here in Canada.
Two other quick footnotes to my previous comment:
I do not find your voice to be unusually sibilant at all. You have a very nice resonant voice with a good mix. Perhaps not an AM radio announcer's booming voice, but very pleasant and natural sounding to my ears (having watched most of your videos now).
Second, just as a general rule, do not be too quick to misjudge a microphone for having too much top end. Those highs are the easiest thing in the world to knock down with an equalizer if they don't suit a particular recording purpose, but you'll never create accurate, tight, high definition harmonics with an equalizer, if you start with something muddy.
Another good point, thank you!
I don't find his voice to be too sibilant, either; however, his notes about the performance of each mic are just thrown out there as a description of the microphone's barebones sound profile. If he didn't comment on the tonality of each mic in this way, he would practically be saying that each mic can sound the exact same through equalization. Just my two cents about all of this.
The Oktava sounds beautiful
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I have an Oktava with a Hyper capsule, it performs great! Also it comes with a -10db capsule and you can get the omni and cardioid capsules and you can get a hi pass filter capsule as well
Thanks Carlos, yes, I think the hi-pass is a good idea since I notice that the capsule tends to produce some very low frequency waves. Seems like it is very sensitive to movement. bus sounds quite good!
Curtis Judd I really like how it sounds and you are right about that extra warmth on the signal, the next mic I intend to get for indoor dialogue will be the Schoeps... once I have enough $ for it
Loved the blue side light!!!
Thanks!
Oktava also have two different bidirectionnal capsule for Mid side. Would be nice if you could review it (or make a video about mid side) !
Thanks. Will add it to the list.
wonderful video as you always do Judd! Just a couple of notes: (for dialogue mostly) rejection is desirable but it is as important how the off-axis sounds, especially the low freqs, which are the most difficult to reproduce off-axis with a pleasant sound. Also, reproducing white noise from a tiny speaker will not work well for mid, mid-low and low freqs for obv. reasons (of course moving an 8'' speaker as you do with your phone wouldn't be practical or healthy : ) but the recorded response will be sort of erratic for the mid and low end response of the mics...
Very good point and I appreciate the input - thank you!
Hi Curtis. I got a good deal on a matched pair of Oktavas. Thank you for your advice! My kit is basically complete now. Cheers!
Hi Alan, excellent! Happy recording!
It seems to me that many of these types of mics tend to be a bit shrill (bright). It helps to record with the wind filter on rather than off. Of course you can always bump up the bass a bit in post by using eq, as well.
Thanks Dennis, I agree.
First of all, thanks for the comparison. It was very helpful. I have a question relating to much distance and gain. I'm using the Oktava MK-012 and find I need to have it located less than a foot away from my mouth to get a decent signal strength (-18 to -12 dB). I noticed in your video it's more like 1.5 feet away or more, which makes sense to keep it out of the shot. My audio interface is a MOTU-M4 and the gain knob is around the 90%mark.
Hmm, yes, you might need to push the gain even more on the M4.
3:43 i have no idea what's going on, but after 1 second the white-noise stopped playing. completely, for all but the Oktava.
Copyright claim from the maker of the app I used so the audio white noise was removed. I had no idea an app developer could copyright white noise generated by their app.
@@curtisjudd LOOOOOL, that's so idiotic from them. You can copyright note patterns that make up a melody as an intellectual property, but a general randomized frequency that's relatively equal all across the high end area of the spectrum? It's like someone would use " black " in an app then copyright it as their unique color, LOL.
@vancian1970 Hahaha! Best roast of the day!
might have m sold on that oktava!
It is surprisingly good.
Again a great video .
Nice review Curtis
Thanks rk
I have a matched pair of Oktava MK-012. They sound great for the price, but the handling and wind noise is extremely difficult to manage when holding a boom pole. I now use an Audix SCX-1 HC (hyper cardioid), and like it much more. Slightly better frequency response and lower self-noise.
Dave Patterson that's been my go to mic as well. Haven't found anything better for the price. I think it's a bit warmer than the at4053b which I like
Good input, thanks! Looking at the waveforms recorded by the Oktava, I do see some very low frequency waves which I didn't see on the AT recorded at the same time. Seems a high pass filter is definitely in order for the Oktava. For me it'll only be used when boomed on a stand. No hand booming.
I have the high pass module for the Oktava and it does help a little with the bass issue I mentioned in another comment. Only a little though. And be aware that it does also add a little more self noise.
I just mentioned it so that anyone who does hand held boom mic work will be aware of it with the Oktava mics. A high pass filter will help to a point, but they also benefit from a proper shock mount system. They are extremely sensitive to wind, so a wind muff/dead cat is a must-have item.
Curtis Judd People who has tried the oktava with a rycote baby Ball gag says it takes away the Wind noise. I've just ordered the rycote super softie 5cm to my oktava to see if it is as good as the BBG.
Thanks for the video @Curtis Judd. The audio goes silent for me at about 3:45 when you're doing the white noise test. It comes back at about 4:26.
Hi Ted, yes, I used a free app to play the white noise. The company who makes the app claimed that they own the copyright so the white noise was removed. 😞 Since this review back in 2017, I generated my own white noise and use that in my tests instead.
Found it, once again thank you very much Curtis :)
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Thanks Curtis! Have you ever tried the Neumann KM185 ? there are no rewievs on youtube, I hope to see the yours , because it is a very interesting microphone for how it is positioned between the prosumer and hi-end microphones. Thanks again!
Hi ALVA music, unfortunately, not yet! But it is a legendary mic and is on my list of mics to try. Thanks!
I wish the Audio Technica brand of production mics got more mentions with the likes of dedicated production microphone companies like Sanken, Senny, etc.
The AT mic's are not in the same class of quality as the low budget music-oriented mics. The AT stuff is built to handle the rigors of production.
Would love to see a 4053b vs cs-m1 vs dpa vs schoeps.
Good news, we compared the AT to a Sennheiser and Schoeps here: ua-cam.com/video/RYWD5wI6B9k/v-deo.html
For me Oktava sounded really good if not the best of all three. I am biased however as I own a matched stereo pair ;) The only issue I have with one mic is that something rattles inside which makes booming impossible. I have read that I am not the only one who has this problem though. I tried to open it, but apparently instead of a solid, Russian hardened steel the screw is made of some soft metal and I have flattened a head of the screw immediately... Anyway, I record ORTF stereo soundscapes with it, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Thanks Karol, good to hear your experience with the Oktava as well.
Hi Karol, here there is a trick: You have to turn the screw clockwise until the the screw head will sink deep enough to slide the body tube off. Actually, Sennheiser MKH 416 and some other mics has the same disassembling method.
Thanks for the test. For the female voice the differences sounded small, but I liked the Røde best - it seemed a little cleaner. For your voice I agree that the Oktava was easily the best, and I liked the Røde least. I think the Audio Technica is only a little "hyper". This time I did notice that the dead angle isn't directly behind the microphone but a little off to the side. So I found the back rejection a tiny bit less pronounced than the others and the side rejection a tiny bit more pronounced, but the difference is still surprisingly small. By the way, I'd like to know: Are the capsules of the Røde and the Oktava interchangeable? (I.e. can you use one mic's capsule on the other mic?)
Thanks Lau. The capsules are not interchangeable between the RODE and Oktava. They are different diameters. If they were the same, I'd be hesitant to try exchanging them as different mics work with different voltages at the capsule and the risk of damaging the capsule is real.
Thanks, Curtis. I thought that would most likely be the answer. But I always look for ways to get more for less.
Hello Curtis! Here is my observation. The Audio-Technica sounded very good, but too dark to me. Rode was sounding open, nice and for me the best of 3 examples. Octava compared to other 2 well.... my word for it is strange sounding, again compared to other 2 . For me, Octava is out of my radar. I hope to be close to your thoughts.
Thanks Carburetor. These three microphones are all quite good so to a large extent it comes down to personal preference and the voice they record. Best wishes!
For the Røde NT5 there is also an additional capsule available: The omnidirectional Røde NT45.
Cool. Perhaps a good option for recording music or ambience.
Cool. Perhaps a good option for recording music or ambience.
Yes. Omnidirectional microphones often sound better than cardioids on an acoustic guitar, I think.
Thanks for the comparison. I thought the Audio Technica was a bit "closed" on female voice but great in male. The Rode was overly bright and sibilant and the Octava had a mid tone I didn't like all that much.
Overall I liked the Audio Technica best but then there is price.
Rode announced they were working on an updated NT5 early this year, and if they curb the brightness like they've done on the updated NT1, I believe I may be waiting for that.
Harald Thingelstad Exciting news! Although I prefer the old NT1a over the new NT1.
Lau Bjerno Sure, the new NT1 is very, shall we say, modern and straight on? I haven't tried it but I'm sure it has its purposes. Audio book reading, for example.
Røde has more going on, for example an updated Videomic Pro + and a soundfield microphone, plus further forays into valves and transformers for musical use.
This longish marketing video becomes rather interesting over time: vimeo.com/199946849
I'll be interested to learn more about the update NT5.
Yeah. Me too. Festivity and much excitement early in the year, then nothing happens in five months. Not a word, nowhere. Just the usual the usual updates. What are they doing?
Thanks for the comparison, I did a similar test a year ago with the same mics ended up keeping the isk cm-20 (35$)for dialog, it is surprisingly transparent and gives me lots of options in post-production. it is very prone to sibilance so if I am working with a production company that I know does not have the capability to master sound very well I usually use a different mic, which would be the audio technica.
Thanks for that Jared. I hadn't heard of the ISK and only $35. Wow!
Something important to consider for the Oktava MK-012:
There are the old "original" russian Oktava mics and the "Made-in-China" new ones.
Both of them are genuine. Oktava moved the production from Russia to China in the early 2000s and the new Oktava MK-012 from China tends to have tinny highs.
I'm not sure what else changed, but I like the russian-made ones quite a bit more.
Good history to know, thanks! I assume the one I have here would be one of the Chinese manufactured copies. If this one sounds this good, I'd be very interested in hearing a Russian manufactured copy.
FYI, The version tested here is presumably the Chinese version.
Black versions are made only in Russia. There were some China-made MK-012 mics, but only in silver house.
Sorry for late answer
Oktava never moved factory to China. Its fakes Oktava’s clones.
Top class. Thank you, Curtis.
Thanks for the feedback.
It would truly be interesting and relevant to me to hear these three "dialog" small diaphragm mics compared to an industry standard VO mic like those large diaphragm mics coveted for audiobook production like the CAD e100s or the tlm-103 or u87 and even the rode nt1a....... there are folks who find it impossible for the mics you present to have any possibility of competing with the types of mics I mentioned, although as far as I am concerned the jury is still out until I "Hear" the proof!
w2aiq it's two different uses. The large diaphragm is definitely better for voiceover stuff but the downside is you need to be close to the mic. Mics like these work better for video cause you can boom them out of the shot. Not sure if their are hypercardiod large diaphragm mics. I'm gonna have to dig into that
well maybe on a typical basis, but the MHK 416 is the only small capsule mic I know of that is widely desired and used in the audiobook and voice over industry and that has a small capsule like the other three judd displayed, so I was wondering how they would match up against a large D Mic, because even though I have never seen a comparison, the MHK 416 apparently must compare quite well
w2aiq ahh I gotcha
I was curious about the same thing and so I did this some time back: ua-cam.com/video/p1WOtGJk4YE/v-deo.html Comparted a RODE NT1A and the Audio Technica Hyper.
Very good review! I’m currently in the process of getting an indoor microphone; have you ever used the RØDE M5? It’s mainly advertised as ideal for recording music but I imagine it would be similar to something like the NT5 in terms of recording Dialogue?
Hi Jack, thanks! I haven’t personally had a chance to use the M5 yet. There are a few UA-cam videos with dialogue samples out there and it sounded pretty decent to my ears. It could definitely work. Good luck!
Wondering what the name of the white noise app is that you used...? (shows in silhouette around 3:33, with an 'equalizer' type display) I have been going through various apps on my iPhone and haven't been able to identify yet...
Found one (Sleep Mask) that provides different types of white noise (White, Pink, Brown, Brown [soft] and White [wave]) which might be useful at times. White noise - different frequencies at equal intensity; Pink - a variation that places emphasis on base/lower frequencies; and Brown - even more emphasis on base. Anyway, might be useful sometimes when playing with multiple microphones on my Zoom F6, adjusting levels before the interviewees arrive (before the final sound check[s])...
Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews/comparisons...much appreciated.
Hi Michael, the app is called White Noise. It is riddled with ads unless you pay but seems to do fine playing back white, pink, and brown noise.
I shouldn't say "riddled with ads" as the app developer needs to eat just like me. :) It is a fine app.
My preference is for the Rode - I like the brighter sibilance as a matter of choice. I find the "warmth" of the Octava a bit buzzy for my liking. I have a matching pair of NT5s and also 2 NT55s. It would have been good to hear NT55s as well as I find them superb indoors for interviews.
Thanks for the comments re: the RODE. I was under the impression the NT55s had the same capsule as the NT5s with a preamp that has a high pass filter? Or is it actually a different capsule and different sound?
I have different capsules on the NT55 - custom made ones.
From what I know, the NT55 has the same capsule but more options, as you say. But these mikes have been sold so much there's an aftermarket for capsules, by other brands. So I guess that's the case.
(The M5, on the other end, is a budget option with electret condenser and no interchangable capsules. An instrument mike with slight self noise, so nothing for video.)
I see. I have the Michael Joley "Roadster" capsule which sounds quite nice though it does add a bit more self-noise. Decent trade-off.
Yep snap - I bought the Roadster on your recommendation - they fit on the 55's as well. There are a couple of services in the States I send off for because they do not have them in the UK i.e. leads etc
Hello Curtis
awesome review as usual
can you please take a look at the SE 8 small diaphragm mic if its possible
the specs are so interesting
thank you
Thanks Dory. I'll have a look.
IS the whie noise test what was removed due to the app's copyright claim? ..'cuz I'm hearing like 1/10th of a second of white noise at the beginning, then the Oktava has white noise during the entirety, and about 1/10th of a second of white noise toward the end.
I'm considering a pair of either the MK-012-20's vs. some Neumann KM184's vs. Micparts SDC-84. I like that the Oktava's and Micparts have the option of hypercardioid capsules available for them, and really the only thing drawing me toward the Neumann's is the fact that they're Neumann's - industry accepted widely and name recognition, and I probably go for either the Oktava's or Micparts.
Yes, the options I had after the copyright claim was to just cut the audio they were claiming, take the video down altogether, or go through the long process of appealing. I figured it was probably best to go with option 1 and get back to work on more important things. 😕 Strangely, they didn't claim all of the white noise.
Beware that a lot of people have complained of reliability issues with the Oktavas. Other than that, I had a good experience with my mk-012 while I had it. Haven't used the Neumann or Micparts so not sure on those.
Oktava MK-012 (hyper-cardioid capsule “Movie Set” 219 EUR): Price is 189 Euro now in march 2019.
Thanks.
@@curtisjudd hi I would love to know your thoughts on the hypercardioid version of the oktava for outdoors on a budget: i have the preamp and consider to buy the hypercardioid capsule. how would this compare against real shotgun mics? thanks
@@alainhalimi3821 just a guess since I do not have the hyper-cardioid capsule, but I would expect most quality shotgun microphones to have a narrower polar pattern, but that varies quiet a bit from shotgun mic to shotgun mic. I've used a hyper outdoors before. In my case, it picked up a bit more ambient sound/noise than a focused shotgun mic.
I have a guitar channel. Can i use one of these to capture my voice and the amp behind me?
Sure, though I'd probably recommend the Oktava or RODE as they have slightly wider polar patterns which will work better to get both your voice and the amp.
The AT4035b sounded a bit softer, perhaps a little bit more dynamic? But its really hard to tell the Rode and Oktavia apart. I own a pair of the NT5s myself and i'm quite happy with them. Works great for binaural recordings and i use them for sound design stuff.
👍 thanks for your insights!
Hello Curtis, and thanks for your videos, always helpfull to watch.
I'd like to know how does this oktava mk-012 perform with echo/reverb against the samson c02 in case of sit-down interviews indoors.
The mic would be set at about 60-80 cm of the source, maybe a bit less.
Thanks again!
Hi kor9582, about the same, not a huge difference to my ear. I prefer the overall sound of the Oktava.
@@curtisjudd Thank you!
@@curtisjudd I noticed in a couple other videos that you say you liked the the 4053b, but you liked the NT5 better for overall value. Is that still the case? Have you tried the Oktava with the other capsules yet? I will ONLY be using the this mic for INDOOR dialogue. Thoughts? I don't WANT to spend $600 for a mic, but if it's that much better I will. I will be using the Zoom F4 as the recorder / preamps into a Sony A9
@@RyanGproductions1 If I were to buy today, knowing what I know now, I'd go with the Oktava. It comes in a kit with a hyper capsule along with a cardioid capsule: amzn.to/2D9EUuc
@@curtisjudd same use (ONLY INDOOR dialogue), would you sell an Audio Technica AT875R to buy the Octavia kit?
The preamp and interface used also affect the sound. I use the Babyface Pro Pre/ DAC. I connect the MIC using the best high-end Digital Mogami Mic cables. I also use a lot of power conditioning and IFI USB devices to isolate computer ground noise from the interface. I have other tweaks to eliminate vibration interference using Sorbothane feet weighting precisely using maximum allowed weight calculations to achieve maximum vibration isolation (here if the weight is too much or too little, the result could turn out worse). That is why when I listen to mic tests around youtube they all sound different. Simply there are many other factors that affect sound quality.
Thanks Aaron, I agree that the preamp/DAC makes a difference as do other factors. But I still find that the mic imparts the biggest overall effect on sound quality, once you get into preamps in the mid to upper level.
Thanks for this. Was looking for a budget Cardoid, think the NT5 might fit the bill.
Its a solid mic.
From this real-world test, I can hear little to very little difference between any of these. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. In your other videos, I can hear a significant difference in your tests between different mics. Probably the most obvious thing to me was that I could discern different speech variations when you were reading the same written passage three separate times. Maybe it would be better to simultaneously record all three mics to remove this variable? I picked up an NT5 last night for a bargain price and looking forward to seeing how it performs. I was set to buy the AT4053B but if they are going to be this close in terms of recording performance to my ear I couldn't justify the price difference.
Congrats on the new mic, I hope it works really well for you!
Hey Chris. Thanks for this great video! I'd be interested to see you do a review of the Audio-Technica AT875R as an indoor boom mic, and to get your thoughts regarding this mic.
Me too! I've had the AT875R on my list for a long time. Just haven't had the budget but will get to it, hopefully soon!
Hi Curtis, have you ever tried the AKG p170? its a pencil mic and cost around 80-100 USD, people use it for drums and guitars but sounds really nice in voice too. I got a ntg-2 and for some uses the akg just destroys the ntg-2, the off-axis pickup its great for interviews with the subject moving alot (cardiod).
Hi alutzift, I haven't. I'd like to try it.
Oktava was the best sounding to my ears. The handling noise issue isn't surprising since Oktavas are known to have issues with things like body resonance.
Thanks John, yes, I generally prefer the sound of the Oktava as well, at least when statically boomed for an interview.
Curtis Judd It's actually pretty interesting that you used the regular cardioid capsule on the Oktava. Still sounded like it had good rejection.
Great vid! I´m a bit confused and don´t know what mic to choose: Samson CO2, Oktava MK-012, Rode NT5 (I´m gonna use it on a boom pole)
What do you recommend me??
I'd choose the NT5
@@curtisjudd Perfect! Just bought it :)
@@4ki543 Are you happy with it? :)
@@airtime23 Yep, it is superb. Although it produces a bit of noise, the general feeling is pretty good, though
@@4ki543 Thank you. :)
Hi Curtis, when you talk about the programs you offer, there're no program names and other information about them on the black screen as well as description section of the video. In my book, they're called mistakes.
Thanks for the feedback. I learned the hard way here that UA-cam doesn't allow the end-screen graphics for more than the last 20 seconds of the video. So I'll need to go back and film a video piece to insert. Thanks for the heads-up.
Thank you Curtis for the video!
I would love to know your advice on this: Would a pair of oktavas mk-012 be good to record a grand piano? And, for a small group of classical musicians, such as violin and horn? Would you recommend using all oktavas to record all the instruments, or changing with other mics, or mixing? Thanks a lot!
Thanks Luis! Yes, a stereo matched pair would be a good choice for recording instruments and small ensembles. I would generally advise to go with a matched pair if possible to avoid any stereo imbalance issues. Best of luck!
@@curtisjudd My matched pair of Oktava MK012 is on the way thanks to , amongst other sources, this video Curtis... and it's intended to be used both for recording the acoustic guitars and other string instruments, but also during my streamed teaching lessons where one of the mics would be for my voice. The idea is to set the mics in the right angle for the matched pair, only vertically in this case. One pointed to my mouth and the other to the guitar. I'm hoping to be able to have the mics above me and in front so that they aren't in the way for the three camera setup + ATEM Mini Pro with Picture in Picture settings.... Thank you for the great video!
@@HomesickMac Sounds like a solid setup - Best wishes and happy recording!
Thank you for your video. I would use the pair of them to record my classical guitar, mainly at my home. Would you go for the oktava mk or for the rode? Thank you
Probably for the RODE. I've heard a good number of reports of reliability issues with the Oktavas.
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis, can you say what kind of reliability issues you heard about the Oktava mics? I'm considering getting a matched pair. I'm also concerned that the self noise appears to be a tad higher than a few others because I will be recording fairly quiet sounds a lot of the time. Thanks for this helpful video!
@@TomWhoASMR I gave mine away a few months ago but it was still working great. I haven't had any issues myself, but have heard quite a few people indicate that they have had issues with theirs. I suspect that part of this is that there are a good number of fakes out there. Be sure to buy a genuine Oktava from a reputable retailers like Thomann.
Oktava seems lacking clarity and 3 dimension but it does sound smooth. The Rode is good but the low and high mid are all pushed forward, Rodes upper mid and treble always sounds popping to me with a break in transient, this is their signature unfortunately. The AT is a clear winner to me with a bright, clear mostly even natural sound with good transient and a treble response that suits female voice very well. The downside is a lack of warmth (natural sounding low end)
Thanks Brian!
was the audio missing for the white noise test for the AT and Røde mics or are they just better at rejecting?
Interesting - it would appear that UA-cam cut the audio out of that part of the video after it's been online for several years. It was there originally. 😕 Thanks for letting me know.
Hmm, was looking at the Rode, but the Oktava MK-012 really surprised me with warmth of the voice.
👍 not as good at handling noise, but good on a static boom.
Any reason you didn't use the hypercardioid capsule on the Oktava?
Yes, it was an intentional tradeoff and I might add the hyper capsule later. I already have a hyper mic (the AT) and I wanted a more open sound for when recording in rooms that don't need the more extreme hyper pattern - rooms that don't have a lot of slap/reverb.
Ah, I see. I think the hypercardioid capsule is the one that stands out on the Oktava. The omni seemed to pick up certain frequencies in the far distance, and the cardioid sounded very neutral. The hypercardioid seemed to be great at picking up a very full range of vocal frequencies at around 18 inches.
It might be worth a look if you ever get the chance.
I recommend the Michael Joly modifing for both mics Rode and Oktava, the Oktava is much better with this upgrade Greetings from Vienna
Hypercardoid comes with a low-cut filter....so that might take care of the booming sounds.
I think Michael Joly do do mod any more.
I bought some sampson co2's for the price based on what Curtis recommended and I was extremely surprised by the quality..
Good budget option for sure!
@@curtisjudd I had compared Samson c02 vs Behringer c-2 with white noise. They are the same, no differences. This means Behringer is better for the price!
@@Pavelkozhin Ok. Did you also A/B test the sound quality?
@@curtisjudd nope, just me, two pink noise tracks, recorded with these two mics(1m distance btwn mic and speaker) and monitors KRK rokit. Spectrum analyzer shows the same
@@curtisjudd , this is a comparison of that two guys -- Samson c02 and Behringer c2. I hope this url is available to you
sun9-34.userapi.com/c850416/v850416726/1c0938/ruO_ut4Axd8.jpg
Hello Curtis. Great test, like always. I need to film a short in a kitchen with bad acoustic. Do you think the Oktava can help me to avoid the reverberation in the dialog recordings?
If the kitchen is really reverberant, I'd probably opt for a lavalier or headset mic.
@@curtisjudd Thanks.
Thanks for the review :)
+Wilomix you're welcome!
Great video - thanks.
I don't think you understand how important your content is for indie filmmakers with no budget for expensive gear.
Thanks Ibrahim.
Thanks for this info and analysis!
6:11 What shockmount did you use to test the handling noise? It seems very sophisticated.
The Rycote cyclone shockmount.
@@curtisjudd thank you!!
@Curtis Judd, thanks for another great, informative video. What do you think of the Oktava 012 as a voice over microphone (I assume with a good pop-filter)? It's obviously not designed for that, but can it do double duty as a decent V.O mic?
Yes, I think so. Best for darker voices.
Thanks for this.
You're welcome.
I do NOT have super audio and speakers, but fair. I can NOT hear much difference, but I do hear that the AT4053B is a bit cleaner and neutral, that is 'better'. If we are talking youtube videos, only 0,0000001% of billions of internet users can hear the diff. BUT thanks again for a super video.
Thanks Michael.
Hello Curtis, Please WOULD YOU RECOMMEND MKE600 VS OCTAVA?
Yes, I would.
I just got a hypercardiod mic called the little gem by ISK. I think it sounds pretty good for $60 bucks. I'm about to record a film in a garage unit turned film set. I also have a Rode NTG-3 which is a much nicer mic. Would you use one of your cheaper hypercardiod mics or a much nicer shotgun?
Thanks for another amazing video!
I am thinking of taking the Rode NT5 for zoom calls instead of a dynamic microphone. I don"t have an audio treated room and I also sit in front of a big monitor. Do you think there is a chance the NT5 might still sound good enough without picking up too much room noise ? I don't want the mic to be in the frame. For that reason I am considering the NT5 instead. I just purchased the Rode Video Mic GO II and that does pick up too much room noise unfortunately (but it was mainly bought for outdoor use anyways).
I expect that the NT5 does NOT have more "reach" or directionality than the VideoMic GO II. What I do for Zoom calls is place the microphone just at the bottom of the video frame so it isn't too imposing but it is close enough to sound good.
this is exactly what I'm trying to do. wish there is an option under $300 with decently low self noise and decent room reverb/sound rejection
I would be interested in a comparison test (against these or other mics) involving a Michael Joly upgraded Oktava 012, as it is one of his least expensive upgrades, resulting in less total cost than purchasing an inexpensive MX, then having him upgrade it, or even purchasing an unmodified Rode NT5.
Me too! It’s been on my list for a long time.
I'm in the process of purchasing a "stock" version with all three capsules. If and when I have an excuse to do so (I'll probably use it only for UA-cam videos, assuming that project gets off the ground), I'll send it to MJE for the upgrade, and, if you haven't tested one yet, loan it to you for testing.
Awesome, thanks Ed!
In the words ("word," I guess) of Charlie Brown, "Arrrrgggghhhh!" My new hypercardiod Oktava 012 was delivered an hour prior to lunch, and then, about an hour after lunch, Michael Joly announced he plans to shutdown Oktavamod/MJE, and will only be accepting modification orders for a few more days. I'm not sure whether their would be much utility in sending to you an example of a modified mic that would, by then, no longer be available, except, once in a while, on e-bay. I may still send the mic to Mr. Joly, but (also today) I came across the name of someone else who upgrades Oktave 012s, i.e. Bill Sitler, and, though he is not as well known as Michael Joly, the comments I have read all have been positive. It has been and interesting three hours!
Wow Ed. That sounds like a rollercoaster of a day. I find even the stock version to sound very nice so I'm betting you can't lose whichever route you decide to take. Good luck.
Nice comparison. The girl has a difficult frequency range. Which mic are you using on your narrative? It's picking up extrem 'S' noise at various points. It would take a lot of manual editing to balance or a perfect deesser. Maybe there's a mic more suited to your voice. BTW, the sound cuts out from 3:44 and appears again at the end of the white noise test.
Thanks Armsby, yes, I used a free app on my phone to produce the white noise and the company which produced the app claimed copyright so I had to remove that. Sorry about that inconvenience. I used the Oktava for the narrative portion of the video and I agree, not a great fit. I didn't process it too much here because I wanted viewers to be able to hear the mic without too much processing. Best wishes.
I promise this is the last dumb question. I forgot to mention that I've got the Rodecaster Pro and 4 Podmics for podcasting with guests. It didn't occur to ask if those mics are any good for vocals/guitar. Perhaps that could be one of my first videos. What do you think?
Hi Alan, usually engineers will use condenser microphones to record guitars, though I would suggest you give it a try - it'd be a good topic for a video. Vocals can go either way - dynamic or condenser. Best wishes!
really good
Thanks
Have you had a chance to try the Aputure Deity super cardioid condenser microphone yet? Again, so many mics, so little time? I imagine that the cost of these mics adds up.
Good news, I've actually reviewed it: ua-cam.com/video/kom1nMM0DrQ/v-deo.html and compared it to 4 other shotgun microphones: ua-cam.com/video/veD8BVXV3Ls/v-deo.html
Hallo Curtis, first of alla thanks for your reviews, they are a pleasure to watch. I wanted to ask you if you think is a good combination to have an Oktava MK-012 connected to XLR1 adapter by Panasonic, if you think is an acceptable combination for documetnary work (of course in-door recording with the hyper). I own the Oktava which is a mike I really like (must be a design thing), and I'm interested currently in the Panasonic adapter for my GH5 for a documentary I'll start in October, thanks a bunch, you're a truly talented host!
+FERULA Film thanks, yes, they would make a good combination if you don't want to or cannot sync sound from a separate recorder.
Thank you Curtis, I think I'm going to opt for a zoom h5 or h6 and a gh5, somehow clumsy and bulky but I think for a doc and location sound would be just better and futureproof. Hey keep up the good work and thanks again!
Sounds like a good combination - best wishes!
In the 5 indoor mics test you had the AKG Blue Line Hypercardioid as well. I really liked the sound of that in that test, and I'm curious if you didn't include it here because you simply don't own it or for other reasons? I'm strongly considering it to get a proper indoor mic for my setup leading up to a shoot in June and am curious if there were any other reasons that led to you omitting that from this test if you can recall.
Great video as always, and thank you for the excellent comparisons!
Hi, correct, I do not own the AKG, it was on loan for that previous comparison video. It produces a little more self noise than some of the others but with a good preamp behind it, it sounds quite good.
Mentioned these varients of audio technica microphones (at2021, at4021, at4041) can be used as indoor dialogue. Thanks
👍
@@curtisjudd ..Thanks for prompt response. Eager to watch a new comparison video of these 3 mics( audio technica at2021, at4021, at4041) including samson c02, rode nt5 & rode m5. Lets see whats ur take on above mentioned mics for indoor dialogue. Especially budget mics like audio technica at2021 vs samson c02, as these 2 falls in similar price range.
Hi Curtis. I think I need one more mic to begin my UA-cam journey. I'm quite taken by the Oktava. I am curious to know if you think the cardioid or hyper cardioid would be best for indoor mic stand deployment (so no handling noise to worry about) I need an inexpensive all rounder that will be good for spoken voice, musical vocals and acoustic guitar. I only have enough to get one mic and don't want to pay for extra capsules I probably won't use. So is it hyper or regular cardioid? Also how bad would it be to just add another one as a stereo pair down the road. Would it make that much difference compared to a balanced pair? Love your work sir, and I've made several critical kit decisions based on your input so thank you again.
For an all-rounder, I'd go with the cardioid. I'm not sure how much variation there is from copy to copy but you are likely to find differences on a mic at this price point (that's a guess).
I could be hearing things but does the Oktava have a better bass pickup?
Definitely more bass on the Oktava. You're hearing right!
More bass, absolutely. Better bass? Well, that depends on what you want.
Hey Curtis, this was super helpful, thank you! I'm currently setting up a tricky scenario - a radio play format with 4 talents at the table with ideally minimal mic in frame due to set and costume. These super/hyper cardiod boom mics seem like a pretty good start, but wondering if you have any additional tips on what I should be considering?
Mic bleed will be a challenge. If you have a recorder with an automix feature, that will help a LOT.
Hi Curtis! How does the Sampson microphone compare to the Oktava MK012?
Hi Diego, the Samson C01 doesn't sound nearly as nice as the Oktava MK012 in my tests. The Samson is good *for its price* but not amazing. The Oktava is amazing for its price, if you get a good copy and use a really good shock mount.
Do you think the nt55 is better for indoor dialogue than the nt5? Not worrying about the price differences or anything like that, just as a microphone?
Curtis, i wish you did a test with a tv and air conditioner going in the background while you spoke, so that I could get good sense of if I could use this in my noisy environment.
Is there perhaps a setup and mic type that maaaybe I can use to get a good signal to noise ratio while still not blocking my view or keyboard? and that's cheap? I don't make money off of my vids.
I try Layarion. I do this on the side as tim allows. As noted in response to your other comment. A dynamic mic that doesn’t obscure your face is your best bet with TV and other noise in the background. The laws of physics make eliminating noise tough work, but that’s the best, most natural way I’ve found.
@@curtisjudd well they're great videos overall
Hello!
I find your video truly informative about these microphones! For me the Oktava sounds the best for the price I can afford. However I'm hesitating, because I would like to use for talking from a further distance, around 2,5 meters (~8 feet) and I don't know if these mics are adequate for that. Should I use another type of microphones? Or these also can do that distance? My room is around 20 squaremeters (~215 squarefeet) and I wouln't say its resounding/echoing, because it has several carpet surfaces in it and I'm also planning to buy some foams onto the wall.
What would be your suggestion?
Thank you for your answer!
Hi Zoltan, no microphone works well at a distance of 8 feet. Would you be willing to explain why you want to position the so far away. Would there be any way to position it closer?
@@curtisjudd Hi! Thank you for your quick answer!
The reason why I would put the microphone further is because I planned the background and my position, and I would like to use an "american plan/shoot", so my body would be visible from my legs (thighs). To achive that I have to move the camera a bit further than the usual (~8 feet), however with some trick the mic can be closer.
What is the furthest distance these microphones can handle?
@@zoltanlunk1654 I always suggest booming your microphone much closer to the person speaking - within 40 cm or less. Here's an affordable way to do that: ua-cam.com/video/TUEmQBZKoBs/v-deo.html
@@curtisjudd That's a good trick! Thank you for your help!
Hey Curtis, knowing what you do now, would you still purchase the 4053B? I already have a pair of NT5's so am deliberating going straght for a Senn 8050. Appreciate your thoughts!@ Thanks
If the choice is between the 4053b and the MKH8050, I’d choose the 8050. But if budget is tighter, the 4053b is a solid choice.
Awesome videos Curtis. One thing i always like to know is where each piece of equipment is made :-) just fyi 👍👍👍
Russia, Australia, and I believe Taiwan. 🙂
Curtis Judd Thanks Curtis!!!
Hey Curtis, I came across a super affordable mic, and wanted your opinion on it, or have you ever tested it. It's the Senal SCI-3212 Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone with Interchangeable Capsules. B&H sells it for $59.99.
Hi Johnny, I’ve heard of the Senal brand but haven’t tested it, unfortunately. I would expect reasonable quality but likely a mid-range focus which is quite common in the more affordable small diaphragm condensers like this. Best wishes!
Hi Curtis,
I have a question: I'm starting make movies, I have a canon Eos 600D, and I want to buy microphones (with a low budget), to start with professional audio.
I found some informations on internet, and finally I would buy a zoom h4n (or h5 but I don't know if I absolutely need it), with a shotgun that could be a sennheiser ME-66 (with k6), an Audio-Technica AT897, or a AZDEN SGM-2X. For the price the best is the Audio- Technica, but I'm not a pro, so I need help. I want a good audio to make any sort of audio for a film... which one is the best for start with a low budget?
Thank you very much (and sorry for my english).
Hi MrAliceguardaigatti, Any of the microphones you listed can make great recordings. More important will be learning how to place them to get the best sound. E.g., mounting the microphone on top of the camera is usually results in rather poor sound while booming the mic above the person speaking sounds many times better.
As for recorders, I would suggest the H5 over the H4n. The H4n was good for its time several years ago, but its preamps don't have quite as much gain and tend to produce a bit more noise than the H5.
Good luck!
Curtis I have a set of the Oktavas and love them I was considering buying th Oktava Mk-101 Large Diaphragm capsule and adding it in to my voiceover mics which are the Lweitt LCT 440 Pure and Rode NTG5 both which have very low self noise as you know. But I just read the specs for the Oktava and learned that Self Noise is dBa
Remember that classic microphones like the Neumann U87ai have self noice specs in the 23dB range. And yet, they're still in wide use. I just apply a mild high pass filter and that's about it. I find that the room tone is almost always more than the self-noise of the microphone.
@@curtisjudd Great point and solution. Thank you for being such a great inspiration to us all. I don't know where I would be without your videos.
So I think I might by this with the different capsules, and would this work well for movie dialogue from a distance? It seems youtuber's use this up close so it sounds good, but would the boxy sound appear more if further away?
No, this is true of almost all microphones. If you need a lot of "reach" you could look at long shotgun mics, but they must be aimed precisely and they're a bit unwieldy, sort of a specialty tool. This is why camera mounted microphones never sounds as good as microphones boomed up close. They are fine mics, just too far away from the sound source. This is one of the basic rules for getting good sound - get the microphone close.
One other thought, if the talent will be moving and far from the camera, wireless lavalaier mics are generally the best option in terms of getting good sound quality.
@@curtisjudd yes I understand, I just bought the Oktava mk 012 and I think the furthest we would be away would be 4ft tops, so should be ok? I think we are talking proximity effect so ya makes sense.
Good, should work decently. Best wishes and happy recording!
Thanks man! I really appreciate all you do for us! you really seem to fit very well for educating and helping others, you are perfect for UA-cam!