Oktava tech support part 2

[Particle Salad]

OK, I got the Oktava MC012 open... but... er...

Yea, I broke the damn thing getting it open. Damn. OK, a few questions for
those of you in the know...

- first, how much of the sound comes from the capsule and how much from the
electronics? Reason being, I'm going to have to replace the one I broke...
and I'm hoping I don't have to go through the guitar center mic extravaganza
again.

- second, while I've got it open.... I've read with interest in Scott's
mod... unfortunately, it looks I stupidly threw out the appropriate issue.
I looked at their site (currently after business hours) and it doesn't look
as if that issue is still available for sale as a back issue. Obviously,
I'll call tomorrow, but does anyone know if they will sell me just the
article?

Finally, I think this is probably covered in the article, but once I screw
IN the screws and twist the body, should the insides of the mic come out in
one piece? In mine, the plastic top (where the capsule screws in) remained
attached inside the sleeve, and when I pulled on the bottom (where the XLR
goes), the connection between the PC board and the plastic top pulled apart.
I had to work the plastic part after it was already broken to get it out....
is that normal?


--
-------------------------------------------------------------
Now available: new Particle Salad CD "The Track Inside."

See http://www.particlesalad.com for more info.

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> - first, how much of the sound comes from the capsule and how much from the
> electronics?

How can you quantify this? You can't have one without the other.
However, you can modify or replace the circuit board and it will make
the capsule you have (if you still have a working capsule) sound more
like it does. But you can't change the sound of the capsule, you
can only replace it. The good news is that most of the time, improving
the electronics is a worthwhile effort with any capsule. But you won't
change it into a KM84 by replacing the circuit board.

> Reason being, I'm going to have to replace the one I broke...
> and I'm hoping I don't have to go through the guitar center mic extravaganza
> again.

Uh . . just what did you break, and what's the guitar center mic
extravaganza?

> - second, while I've got it open.... I've read with interest in Scott's
> mod... unfortunately, it looks I stupidly threw out the appropriate issue.

Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
toilet paper)

> I'll call tomorrow, but does anyone know if they will sell me just the
> article?

No, only the whole issue.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> - first, how much of the sound comes from the capsule and how much from the
> electronics?

How can you quantify this? You can't have one without the other.
However, you can modify or replace the circuit board and it will make
the capsule you have (if you still have a working capsule) sound more
like it does. But you can't change the sound of the capsule, you
can only replace it. The good news is that most of the time, improving
the electronics is a worthwhile effort with any capsule. But you won't
change it into a KM84 by replacing the circuit board.

> Reason being, I'm going to have to replace the one I broke...
> and I'm hoping I don't have to go through the guitar center mic extravaganza
> again.

Uh . . just what did you break, and what's the guitar center mic
extravaganza?

> - second, while I've got it open.... I've read with interest in Scott's
> mod... unfortunately, it looks I stupidly threw out the appropriate issue.

Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
toilet paper)

> I'll call tomorrow, but does anyone know if they will sell me just the
> article?

No, only the whole issue.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Scott Dorsey]

Particle Salad > wrote:
>OK, I got the Oktava MC012 open... but... er...
>
>- first, how much of the sound comes from the capsule and how much from the
>electronics? Reason being, I'm going to have to replace the one I broke...
>and I'm hoping I don't have to go through the guitar center mic extravaganza
>again.

That depends on the mike... since these things are so inconsistent it's hard
to tell. How broken is broken?

>- second, while I've got it open.... I've read with interest in Scott's
>mod... unfortunately, it looks I stupidly threw out the appropriate issue.
>I looked at their site (currently after business hours) and it doesn't look
>as if that issue is still available for sale as a back issue. Obviously,
>I'll call tomorrow, but does anyone know if they will sell me just the
>article?

They should, but I am _very_ surprised if it's sold-out, because they still
have the Chinese microphone article from a few years ago.

>Finally, I think this is probably covered in the article, but once I screw
>IN the screws and twist the body, should the insides of the mic come out in
>one piece? In mine, the plastic top (where the capsule screws in) remained
>attached inside the sleeve, and when I pulled on the bottom (where the XLR
>goes), the connection between the PC board and the plastic top pulled apart.
>I had to work the plastic part after it was already broken to get it out....
>is that normal?

No, but a little epoxy should fix that. Sounds like the plastic part was
not very accurately machined. You may wish to file the edges down.

012s that fail suddenly almost always fail due to hairline PC board trace
cracks. You can't see them easily, but you can measure them with a meter
very easily. Set it for continuity beep and make sure everything that is
supposed to be connected together is.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

Particle Salad > wrote:
>OK, I got the Oktava MC012 open... but... er...
>
>- first, how much of the sound comes from the capsule and how much from the
>electronics? Reason being, I'm going to have to replace the one I broke...
>and I'm hoping I don't have to go through the guitar center mic extravaganza
>again.

That depends on the mike... since these things are so inconsistent it's hard
to tell. How broken is broken?

>- second, while I've got it open.... I've read with interest in Scott's
>mod... unfortunately, it looks I stupidly threw out the appropriate issue.
>I looked at their site (currently after business hours) and it doesn't look
>as if that issue is still available for sale as a back issue. Obviously,
>I'll call tomorrow, but does anyone know if they will sell me just the
>article?

They should, but I am _very_ surprised if it's sold-out, because they still
have the Chinese microphone article from a few years ago.

>Finally, I think this is probably covered in the article, but once I screw
>IN the screws and twist the body, should the insides of the mic come out in
>one piece? In mine, the plastic top (where the capsule screws in) remained
>attached inside the sleeve, and when I pulled on the bottom (where the XLR
>goes), the connection between the PC board and the plastic top pulled apart.
>I had to work the plastic part after it was already broken to get it out....
>is that normal?

No, but a little epoxy should fix that. Sounds like the plastic part was
not very accurately machined. You may wish to file the edges down.

012s that fail suddenly almost always fail due to hairline PC board trace
cracks. You can't see them easily, but you can measure them with a meter
very easily. Set it for continuity beep and make sure everything that is
supposed to be connected together is.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

Particle Salad > wrote:
>OK, I got the Oktava MC012 open... but... er...
>
>- first, how much of the sound comes from the capsule and how much from the
>electronics? Reason being, I'm going to have to replace the one I broke...
>and I'm hoping I don't have to go through the guitar center mic extravaganza
>again.

That depends on the mike... since these things are so inconsistent it's hard
to tell. How broken is broken?

>- second, while I've got it open.... I've read with interest in Scott's
>mod... unfortunately, it looks I stupidly threw out the appropriate issue.
>I looked at their site (currently after business hours) and it doesn't look
>as if that issue is still available for sale as a back issue. Obviously,
>I'll call tomorrow, but does anyone know if they will sell me just the
>article?

They should, but I am _very_ surprised if it's sold-out, because they still
have the Chinese microphone article from a few years ago.

>Finally, I think this is probably covered in the article, but once I screw
>IN the screws and twist the body, should the insides of the mic come out in
>one piece? In mine, the plastic top (where the capsule screws in) remained
>attached inside the sleeve, and when I pulled on the bottom (where the XLR
>goes), the connection between the PC board and the plastic top pulled apart.
>I had to work the plastic part after it was already broken to get it out....
>is that normal?

No, but a little epoxy should fix that. Sounds like the plastic part was
not very accurately machined. You may wish to file the edges down.

012s that fail suddenly almost always fail due to hairline PC board trace
cracks. You can't see them easily, but you can measure them with a meter
very easily. Set it for continuity beep and make sure everything that is
supposed to be connected together is.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Particle Salad]

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> How broken is broken?

.... as you said, probably nothing a little epoxy can't fix, but I'm a little
leery to open up the other one now to see how it should go! :)

> They should, but I am _very_ surprised if it's sold-out, because they
still
> have the Chinese microphone article from a few years ago.

I was too busy at work today to call them about it... I was surprised they
didn't list it on their site. They really should offer article reprints for
a few bucks...

> Sounds like the plastic part was
> not very accurately machined. You may wish to file the edges down.

Yea, didn't think of that, but I will do.

> 012s that fail suddenly almost always fail due to hairline PC board trace
> cracks. You can't see them easily, but you can measure them with a meter
> very easily. Set it for continuity beep and make sure everything that is
> supposed to be connected together is.

EXCELLENT advice... I'll give it a go, thanks much!

[Particle Salad]

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> How broken is broken?

.... as you said, probably nothing a little epoxy can't fix, but I'm a little
leery to open up the other one now to see how it should go! :)

> They should, but I am _very_ surprised if it's sold-out, because they
still
> have the Chinese microphone article from a few years ago.

I was too busy at work today to call them about it... I was surprised they
didn't list it on their site. They really should offer article reprints for
a few bucks...

> Sounds like the plastic part was
> not very accurately machined. You may wish to file the edges down.

Yea, didn't think of that, but I will do.

> 012s that fail suddenly almost always fail due to hairline PC board trace
> cracks. You can't see them easily, but you can measure them with a meter
> very easily. Set it for continuity beep and make sure everything that is
> supposed to be connected together is.

EXCELLENT advice... I'll give it a go, thanks much!

[Particle Salad]

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> How broken is broken?

.... as you said, probably nothing a little epoxy can't fix, but I'm a little
leery to open up the other one now to see how it should go! :)

> They should, but I am _very_ surprised if it's sold-out, because they
still
> have the Chinese microphone article from a few years ago.

I was too busy at work today to call them about it... I was surprised they
didn't list it on their site. They really should offer article reprints for
a few bucks...

> Sounds like the plastic part was
> not very accurately machined. You may wish to file the edges down.

Yea, didn't think of that, but I will do.

> 012s that fail suddenly almost always fail due to hairline PC board trace
> cracks. You can't see them easily, but you can measure them with a meter
> very easily. Set it for continuity beep and make sure everything that is
> supposed to be connected together is.

EXCELLENT advice... I'll give it a go, thanks much!

[Particle Salad]

> Uh . . just what did you break, and what's the guitar center mic
> extravaganza?

Mainly just the connection where the squiggly wire meets the plastic part
near where the capsule screws on... the plastic part separated from the PC
board, broke off (instead of unscrewing like it should).

> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
> toilet paper)

Funny, for YEARS I kept every darned magazine I ever bought... until I
moved! Then I realized it's a bit too much, now I regularly throw 'em out,
and never look back.. until now, of course.

Of course, I've read ALL your articles...

[Particle Salad]

> Uh . . just what did you break, and what's the guitar center mic
> extravaganza?

Mainly just the connection where the squiggly wire meets the plastic part
near where the capsule screws on... the plastic part separated from the PC
board, broke off (instead of unscrewing like it should).

> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
> toilet paper)

Funny, for YEARS I kept every darned magazine I ever bought... until I
moved! Then I realized it's a bit too much, now I regularly throw 'em out,
and never look back.. until now, of course.

Of course, I've read ALL your articles...

[Particle Salad]

> Uh . . just what did you break, and what's the guitar center mic
> extravaganza?

Mainly just the connection where the squiggly wire meets the plastic part
near where the capsule screws on... the plastic part separated from the PC
board, broke off (instead of unscrewing like it should).

> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
> toilet paper)

Funny, for YEARS I kept every darned magazine I ever bought... until I
moved! Then I realized it's a bit too much, now I regularly throw 'em out,
and never look back.. until now, of course.

Of course, I've read ALL your articles...

[Geoff Wood]

Mike Rivers wrote:

> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
> toilet paper)

You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
slightly less than nothing useful. But it's a bit stiff for wiping your
arse on . Good for digging out stuck bits though.


geoff

[Geoff Wood]

Mike Rivers wrote:

> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
> toilet paper)

You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
slightly less than nothing useful. But it's a bit stiff for wiping your
arse on . Good for digging out stuck bits though.


geoff

[Geoff Wood]

Mike Rivers wrote:

> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
> toilet paper)

You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
slightly less than nothing useful. But it's a bit stiff for wiping your
arse on . Good for digging out stuck bits though.


geoff

[Mike Rivers]

In article > -nospam writes:

> You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
> that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
> slightly less than nothing useful.

I use the loose cards for bookmarks.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Mike Rivers]

In article > -nospam writes:

> You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
> that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
> slightly less than nothing useful.

I use the loose cards for bookmarks.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Mike Rivers]

In article > -nospam writes:

> You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
> that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
> slightly less than nothing useful.

I use the loose cards for bookmarks.

--
I'm really Mike Rivers )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me here: double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo

[Scott Dorsey]

Geoff Wood -nospam> wrote:
>Mike Rivers wrote:
>
>> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
>> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
>> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
>> toilet paper)
>
>You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
>that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
>slightly less than nothing useful. But it's a bit stiff for wiping your
>arse on . Good for digging out stuck bits though.

I like the postcards that aren't bound into the magazine, and which just
fall out when you shake it. They are handy to use as bookmarks.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

Geoff Wood -nospam> wrote:
>Mike Rivers wrote:
>
>> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
>> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
>> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
>> toilet paper)
>
>You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
>that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
>slightly less than nothing useful. But it's a bit stiff for wiping your
>arse on . Good for digging out stuck bits though.

I like the postcards that aren't bound into the magazine, and which just
fall out when you shake it. They are handy to use as bookmarks.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

Geoff Wood -nospam> wrote:
>Mike Rivers wrote:
>
>> Oh, never throw out a useful magazine. I hope you didn't throw out all
>> the issues with my articles, or Paul's or Monte's or Scott's other
>> articles. (but it's OK to tear out the Taxi section if you're short on
>> toilet paper)
>
>You can also tear out that infuriating usdeless cardy postcard ad ****e bit
>that makes it idifficult to flick through the pages and contribution
>slightly less than nothing useful. But it's a bit stiff for wiping your
>arse on . Good for digging out stuck bits though.

I like the postcards that aren't bound into the magazine, and which just
fall out when you shake it. They are handy to use as bookmarks.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."