#1681036 - 05/24/05 10:21 AM
Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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AudioMaverick
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After seeing the comment by Phil in the Drum Overheads thread, I started searching the Internet for more on the Chinese Knock-Offs. And I was not disappointed in the search... Just the findings...
Official Oktava Press Release In English -
http://www.oktava.tula.net/news/reliz_eng.htm
An Oktava Site With Pictures Of Both -
http://oktava.tula.net/fake/
An Article Of Someone Getting Guitar Center Knock-Offs (Unknowingly by GC) -
http://www.debris.com/journal/2005-05-04
I bought a pair for Guitar Center, early last year, when they were $100/pair. Mine are more like the real thing, but have characteristics of the Chinese ones. I will need to do more to determine if mine are fake or real. But, at $50/each, maybe it isn't worth it.
Sometimes, it isn't easy to remember that a too-good-to-be-true deal may be just that. Trying to save a buck can cost you one. This Chinese thing is enoughto send me to the Political Forum for a while. But, that subject is for another forum...
Thanks for commenting on this, Phil. If you hadn't have brought it up... I hope this helps a lot of people on a budget make a better purchasing decision.
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#1681037 - 05/24/05 10:35 AM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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Lee Knight
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Registered: 10/19/01
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I got the 2 for $100 deal at GC too and mine are the Russians... identical to the pics you supplied and they sound great.
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#1681039 - 05/24/05 11:31 AM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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Bob Keelan
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I agree that all of this is a bit unsettling but I have yet to definitively hear that the Chinese mics suck in comparisons to the Ruskies. Remember QC used to be a big issue.
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#1681040 - 05/24/05 11:35 AM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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Chris Cavell
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Registered: 04/04/05
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If you don't have the black screw at the base, yours are russian.
OAO Oktava (the russian company) is doing their darndest to adress as many of the visual variations available in recent years with the russian mics as possible on their visual comparison page. (different lettering, lack of serial numbers on all 012's made prior to 2002, a matte black model which has not officially been distributed in the west yet, etc.)
The circuitry in the knock-off is basically the same, but surprisingly employs better componentry (better fet, better bias and leak resistors, and a different DC input blocking cap in the model I viewed). However, the contacts aren't sputtered...and the capsules sound like shite (imho).
While the russian mic circuitry reeks of Russian manufacturing, their capsules are truly something to behold.
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#1681041 - 05/24/05 12:25 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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AudioMaverick
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It looks like I have Russian ones. But, the capsul picture at the bottom-left of the URL doesn't show an exrension pin over the gold-sputtered plate that mine has. And, the body of mine has ink markings like the Chinese one. But, it has the physical layout of the Russian. And, they don't have Serial numbers on them. Also, only one of them had the booklet, which looks like a photocopy. No personal performance graph for either.
If interested, I'll shoot some pics and link them off of my web site. But, first... yard work!
{If anyone noticed, I edited this post. But, I am not seeing the edit notations at the bottom. Not trying to confuse. Just correct typos and oversights -- 05-23-2005 - 10:31}
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#1681042 - 05/24/05 12:33 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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AudioMaverick
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Oh... There it is! Must be the meds... Off to the yard.
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#1681043 - 05/24/05 12:51 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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Philip O'Keefe
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OAO Oktava (the russian company) is doing their darndest to adress as many of the visual variations available in recent years with the russian mics as possible on their visual comparison page.
The problem is, the name and serial numbers (or lack thereof) and some other details were different on older authentic Russian built mics, so if you have an older (Russian) Oktava, it might look somewhat like the pictures of the Chineese knock offs in some respects. That makes identification a bit more difficult, although the changes they're making (the name, the matte black finish, etc) will help differentiate future mics.
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#1681044 - 05/24/05 01:08 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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Originally posted by Philip O'Keefe:
[qb] ... some other details were different on older authentic Russian built mics, so if you have an older (Russian) Oktava, it might look somewhat like the pictures of the Chineese knock offs in some respects. That makes identification a bit more difficult,....
I had a pair for a while. Really much better performance than one could reasonably expect for a pair of SDs that cost (...at the time) $250 each, including pad and additional capsules. One of the guys from Rusted Root has them now. Last time we spoke, he was still happy with them. I used one of them as the ringer in a mic comparision. It didn't sound as good as the vintage Neumanns and AKGs, but it stood pretty tall in that august company. I only got rid of mine because I had too darned many SDs, and these were the least of the bunch.
Bill
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#1681045 - 05/24/05 02:15 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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blackfish
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by bpark@prorec.com:
[QB] but it stood pretty tall in that august company.
and never again will the world understand
the beauty of sound in such sweet words
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#1681046 - 05/25/05 11:34 AM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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gaotu
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Registered: 01/10/04
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I'm wondering about mine now. I purchased mine from Guitar Center but about 2 years ago. They did come with the -10 dB pad and they do seem to perform nicely although I haven't compared them to any other SD's in my studio. I didn't find the pictures that were mentioned. Where are those?
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#1681047 - 05/25/05 11:50 AM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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gaotu
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Sorry, I found the pictures. Whew... mine look like the Russian versions!
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#1681048 - 05/31/05 08:13 AM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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Chance
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If anyone is interested Recording mag had a DIY article to up-grade the 012. The mod really makes a big difference
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#1681049 - 05/31/05 09:58 AM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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AudioMaverick
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Yes... What issue? Is it on the internet anywhere?
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#1681050 - 05/31/05 10:27 AM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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Chris Cavell
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If I'm not mistaken, they've sold out of the backissues and don't plan on a reprint (they don't even list the issue in their backissues section anymore).
There is a very poor quality scan to be found here:
http://www.tbrstudio.com
click on 'sneak into old site', then click 'help', the link should be there.
Cheers,
Chris
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#1681051 - 05/31/05 05:16 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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Philip O'Keefe
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But it's not a mod for the faint of heart... things get pretty tight inside a SD condenser mic, and those boards are small and fragile. Proceed with caution, and only attempt it if you're experienced with gear mods.
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#1681052 - 05/31/05 07:51 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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AudioMaverick
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Thanks for the link, Chris! I got the pages. they are barely readable, in places.
Yes, Phil, it isn't for the novice. It isn't out of my realm. But, that picture looks like 2 oz. traces on some very thin circuit baord material! I wouldn't be surprised if the traces don't peel off with anything but a solder-station class regulated iron.
I am curious about the implication that the top end opens up and becomes *airy*. The graph is not included. If the mod just hypes the top end with a typical 10KHz bump (or similar), an EQ adjust probably will do the same thing.
I'll save it for one of those experimental days...
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#1681053 - 05/31/05 09:16 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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HiRoller
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Here are some mp3's that someone did (not me):
http://studioforums.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&...3255#3396003255
I've modified one of mine so far and did a quick drum oh shootout with an unmodified 012 and didn't really notice a big difference.
Performing the mod requires pretty advanced soldering skills- the traces are very delicate. Also make sure you have a low wattage iron, a vice to hold the mic and good lighting.
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#1681054 - 05/31/05 09:47 PM
Re: Oktava MK-012 Fakes Info
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AudioMaverick
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Thanks for the link, HiRoller. It sounds like the top end gets a slightly higher roll-off by about 2kHz (maybe). I'd push the EQ or just grab another mic, myself, and be done with it. Better, yet, I'd just grab another microphobe from the stock. A guitar like that deserves my KSM-32 or NT-1000... or both. One day, I'll get better.
MK-012s for $100 a pair... They are what they are. I'm just glad it lookslike I don't have the Chinese knock-offs!
The reason I got the Oktavas was a thread where someone was asking for help on a drum kit recording that was brittle. Lee Flier popped in talking about the wonders of a ribbon. A little rich for some pockets. Then, Phil popped in and offered the MK-012s as a budget alternative with a roll-off that made for decent overheads. About that time GC had the 2-for-1 sale. So, I am putting myself back into perspective, here. I didn't buy them because I couldn't afford better, at the time. They seemed like something worth getting for a specific purpose. My time could be better spent elsewhere.
Great feedback, everyone. Time for this thread to roll off of page one...
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