Hello Scott,

I just received the back issue Recording Magazine with the OKTAVA 012
mic mod article.

Has there been any erratta or addenda since you wrote that article?
Would you choose the same parts now, etc?

Thanks,

Tom B.

Tom Baldwin wrote:

I just received the back issue Recording Magazine with the OKTAVA 012
mic mod article.

Has there been any erratta or addenda since you wrote that article?

No changes at all, I don't think. I do know the 1G resistors are now
only available in a lead-free version... if the Digi-Key guys don't
recognize the part number, put an E on the end for the lead-free one.

Would you choose the same parts now, etc?

Yes, pretty much. It _may_ be possible to replace that ceramic input
coupling cap with a low leakage film cap. I haven't found one with low
enough leakage, but I am thinking it is possible to find one. It's going
to have to be a polypropylene, probably a film-and-foil type. Cut types
are right out. In the meantime, use the ceramic.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

OK, thanks for info!

TB


Scott Dorsey wrote:
Tom Baldwin wrote:

I just received the back issue Recording Magazine with the OKTAVA 012
mic mod article.

Has there been any erratta or addenda since you wrote that article?


No changes at all, I don't think. I do know the 1G resistors are now
only available in a lead-free version... if the Digi-Key guys don't
recognize the part number, put an E on the end for the lead-free one.


Would you choose the same parts now, etc?


Yes, pretty much. It _may_ be possible to replace that ceramic input
coupling cap with a low leakage film cap. I haven't found one with low
enough leakage, but I am thinking it is possible to find one. It's going
to have to be a polypropylene, probably a film-and-foil type. Cut types
are right out. In the meantime, use the ceramic.
--scott

What Issue is that in?

Dan Fox

September 2003 Vol 16 Number 12

It costs $5 to have it mailed to you from Recording Magazine.

tb


Daniel Fox wrote:
What Issue is that in?

Dan Fox

does all this apply to oktava mk011?

regards,
Jukka.A.
Finland


"Tom Baldwin" wrote in message
...
September 2003 Vol 16 Number 12

It costs $5 to have it mailed to you from Recording Magazine.

tb


Daniel Fox wrote:
What Issue is that in?

Dan Fox

Daniel Fox wrote:

What Issue is that in?

Do It Yourself: Upgrade Your Oktava 012 Microphone
Recording, Vol. 16, No. 12 (Sept 2003)

This should be available for a call to the editors at 303-516-9118, I think.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

In article , j a a wrote:
does all this apply to oktava mk011?

It should. I have not taken the 011 apart, but Taylor Johnson assures
me that it has the same capsule and PC board as the 012, just with
added shock mounting and pop filtering.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Do you think they'll ship to italy? I've got two 012 waiting for an
upgrade....
F.

Scott Dorsey wrote:

In article , j a a wrote:

does all this apply to oktava mk011?


It should. I have not taken the 011 apart, but Taylor Johnson assures
me that it has the same capsule and PC board as the 012, just with
added shock mounting and pop filtering.
--scott


Will this work for the Marshall 603S as well?

--
Les Cargill

http://www.recordingmag.com/home.html#

I think they will. Their web site asks where you want a subscription
shipped. US, Canada, Mexico, Rest of World. Click back orders on left.
Then September Issue on right, then checkout. It will tell you there I'm
sure.

TB


Federico wrote:
Do you think they'll ship to italy? I've got two 012 waiting for an
upgrade....
F.

Les Cargill wrote:
Scott Dorsey wrote:
In article , j a a wrote:

does all this apply to oktava mk011?

It should. I have not taken the 011 apart, but Taylor Johnson assures
me that it has the same capsule and PC board as the 012, just with
added shock mounting and pop filtering.

Will this work for the Marshall 603S as well?

No. Definitely not. Not even a little bit. And the real problem
with those things are the capsule anyway, so electronics upgrades
aren't really worth the trouble.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

012 mod applied to 603: No. The two are completely different circuits.
However, I think I remember an article by scott about a standard
schoeps circuit (or something) that you *might* be able to compare to
the 603 to get ideas for mods. There really isn't a whole lot you can
do to a 603 though...it's a good mic through the use of pretty darn
good electronic componentry w/ a pretty awful capsule...which is the
complete opposite of the oktava's: good mic due to good capsule but
suffers from bad componentry.

In article ,
Federico wrote:
Do you think they'll ship to italy? I've got two 012 waiting for an
upgrade....

Yes, they will, although you might be better off ordering through
the website or by e-mail, to save yourself the cost of a transatlantic
call. I think recordingmag.com is the place to go.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
Federico wrote:
Do you think they'll ship to italy? I've got two 012 waiting for an
upgrade....

Yes, they will, although you might be better off ordering through
the website or by e-mail, to save yourself the cost of a transatlantic
call. I think recordingmag.com is the place to go.

Wonder why they don't get a clue and sell article "reprints" online?
Other magizines in similar markets seem to find it profitable.
Save a tree. Save the fuel to transport the paper copy. Save the
mail-carriers bunions.

Scott Dorsey wrote:

Les Cargill wrote:

Scott Dorsey wrote:

In article , j a a wrote:


does all this apply to oktava mk011?

It should. I have not taken the 011 apart, but Taylor Johnson assures
me that it has the same capsule and PC board as the 012, just with
added shock mounting and pop filtering.

Will this work for the Marshall 603S as well?


No. Definitely not. Not even a little bit. And the real problem
with those things are the capsule anyway, so electronics upgrades
aren't really worth the trouble.
--scott

Ah. Thanks!

--
Les Cargill

"Richard Crowley" wrote in message
...
"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
Federico wrote:
Do you think they'll ship to italy? I've got two 012 waiting for an
upgrade....

Yes, they will, although you might be better off ordering through
the website or by e-mail, to save yourself the cost of a transatlantic
call. I think recordingmag.com is the place to go.

Wonder why they don't get a clue and sell article "reprints" online?
Other magizines in similar markets seem to find it profitable.
Save a tree. Save the fuel to transport the paper copy. Save the
mail-carriers bunions.

They're a surprisingly small operation, and one of the things they haven't
had is a full-time web person who could set up stuff like that.

Peace,
Paul

On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 10:02:20 -0500, Scott Dorsey wrote:

Do It Yourself: Upgrade Your Oktava 012 Microphone Recording, Vol. 16, No.
12 (Sept 2003)

This should be available for a call to the editors at 303-516-9118, I
think. --scott

On a similar note, I've read references to a passive eq project you did,
but all I can find at the Recording website says "active". Was I
misinformed?

Richard Crowley wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
Federico wrote:
Do you think they'll ship to italy? I've got two 012 waiting for an
upgrade....

Yes, they will, although you might be better off ordering through
the website or by e-mail, to save yourself the cost of a transatlantic
call. I think recordingmag.com is the place to go.

Wonder why they don't get a clue and sell article "reprints" online?
Other magizines in similar markets seem to find it profitable.
Save a tree. Save the fuel to transport the paper copy. Save the
mail-carriers bunions.

I think they are considering doing this for newer issues. Part of the
problem is there is just such a huge volume of back material, and a lot
of the older stuff was pasted-up by hand and was never in digital form.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Agent 86 wrote:
On Thu, 03 Nov 2005 10:02:20 -0500, Scott Dorsey wrote:

Do It Yourself: Upgrade Your Oktava 012 Microphone Recording, Vol. 16, No.
12 (Sept 2003)

This should be available for a call to the editors at 303-516-9118, I
think. --scott

On a similar note, I've read references to a passive eq project you did,
but all I can find at the Recording website says "active". Was I
misinformed?

The design is an active equalizer with inductors and capacitors, but
in the feedback loop of an op-amp.

You can add a transformer (to isolate the filter network from the gain
stage) and turn it into a cut-only passive equalizer, but honestly it
sounds better in the active configuration. There is space on the board
for the transformer, though.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

On Fri, 04 Nov 2005 09:47:52 -0500, Scott Dorsey wrote:

Agent 86 wrote:

On a similar note, I've read references to a passive eq project you did,
but all I can find at the Recording website says "active". Was I
misinformed?

The design is an active equalizer with inductors and capacitors, but in
the feedback loop of an op-amp.

You can add a transformer (to isolate the filter network from the gain
stage) and turn it into a cut-only passive equalizer, but honestly it
sounds better in the active configuration. There is space on the board
for the transformer, though.

Thanks.

Agent 86 wrote:
On Fri, 04 Nov 2005 09:47:52 -0500, Scott Dorsey wrote:

Agent 86 wrote:

On a similar note, I've read references to a passive eq project you did,
but all I can find at the Recording website says "active". Was I
misinformed?

The design is an active equalizer with inductors and capacitors, but in
the feedback loop of an op-amp.

You can add a transformer (to isolate the filter network from the gain
stage) and turn it into a cut-only passive equalizer, but honestly it
sounds better in the active configuration. There is space on the board
for the transformer, though.

Thanks.

That was a funny project. It uses inductors from MCE, which work pretty
well and sound good, but which are a lot more expensive than multi-tap
inductors and use a lot more board space. BUT, I couldn't get any multi-tap
ones without a minimum of at least 200 units, which I couldn't guarantee
on a project.

Maybe if the cost had been $50 less, I could have sold more. Maybe not.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
[ magazine article on equalizer]
That was a funny project. It uses inductors from MCE, which work pretty
well and sound good, but which are a lot more expensive than multi-tap
inductors and use a lot more board space. BUT, I couldn't get any
multi-tap
ones without a minimum of at least 200 units, which I couldn't guarantee
on a project.

Maybe if the cost had been $50 less, I could have sold more. Maybe not.

Do you have to give up forever exclusive rights to the article
for them to publish it? Else you could re-publish and sell kits
online (after 6 months or whatever is agreeable with the rag).

Richard Crowley wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
[ magazine article on equalizer]
That was a funny project. It uses inductors from MCE, which work pretty
well and sound good, but which are a lot more expensive than multi-tap
inductors and use a lot more board space. BUT, I couldn't get any
multi-tap
ones without a minimum of at least 200 units, which I couldn't guarantee
on a project.

Maybe if the cost had been $50 less, I could have sold more. Maybe not.

Do you have to give up forever exclusive rights to the article
for them to publish it? Else you could re-publish and sell kits
online (after 6 months or whatever is agreeable with the rag).

I've done that before, and it doesn't sell products because people don't
find out about the things.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
Richard Crowley wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
[ magazine article on equalizer]
That was a funny project. It uses inductors from MCE, which work pretty
well and sound good, but which are a lot more expensive than multi-tap
inductors and use a lot more board space. BUT, I couldn't get any
multi-tap
ones without a minimum of at least 200 units, which I couldn't guarantee
on a project.

Maybe if the cost had been $50 less, I could have sold more. Maybe not.

Do you have to give up forever exclusive rights to the article
for them to publish it? Else you could re-publish and sell kits
online (after 6 months or whatever is agreeable with the rag).

I've done that before, and it doesn't sell products because
people don't find out about the things.

Your Oktava mods seem pretty popular, though.
Google reports 636 hits on: dorsey oktava
which is pretty good for something so esoteric.
I suspect it would be even more popluar if the info
were more accessible.

Richard Crowley wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
Richard Crowley wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
[ magazine article on equalizer]
That was a funny project. It uses inductors from MCE, which work pretty
well and sound good, but which are a lot more expensive than multi-tap
inductors and use a lot more board space. BUT, I couldn't get any
multi-tap
ones without a minimum of at least 200 units, which I couldn't guarantee
on a project.

Maybe if the cost had been $50 less, I could have sold more. Maybe not.

Do you have to give up forever exclusive rights to the article
for them to publish it? Else you could re-publish and sell kits
online (after 6 months or whatever is agreeable with the rag).

I've done that before, and it doesn't sell products because
people don't find out about the things.

Your Oktava mods seem pretty popular, though.
Google reports 636 hits on: dorsey oktava
which is pretty good for something so esoteric.
I suspect it would be even more popluar if the info
were more accessible.

Right, the thing is that I don't make any money off of the Oktava mods.
So making them more accessible doesn't help me in that regard. If anything
it reduces the number of people buying back issues, which is bad.

I do make money on the Shanghai mike retrofit boards, the equalizer
project boards, and so forth. But not a huge amount. Most of the actual
money is up front for the article.

I have two more mike modification articles in the pipeline, one of which
requires no parts (and therefore has no ongoing profit for me), and the
other of which requires a very precisely-made PC board (and cannot be
made on perfboard) which I intend on charging a lot for.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

I have the latest version of the MK012 .. does that mean the mods have
been incorporated into my mike? I would like a line amp to convert this
mike to plug directly into my Marantz 670 line in and bypass the noisy
mic input.

When I bought my 4.2 from Kudelski I requested a phantom pre-amp for
use with my 815 or 415 on the boom and I used a lav in the other input
.... that handled most situations -- those were the days ...

thanks
fraser in Toronto

frz-man wrote:
I have the latest version of the MK012 .. does that mean the mods have
been incorporated into my mike?

No. And beware of the "latest version" as well, since that description
includes some of the bad Chinese clones that McKay has sold to Guitar
Center.

I would like a line amp to convert this
mike to plug directly into my Marantz 670 line in and bypass the noisy
mic input.

There are plenty of good mike preamps out there available. They range
from as cheap as a used Symetrix 620 on up to seemingly unlimited prices.
If you want battery power, Cooper makes a nice box which is also resold
by Beyerdynamic.

When I bought my 4.2 from Kudelski I requested a phantom pre-amp for
use with my 815 or 415 on the boom and I used a lav in the other input
... that handled most situations -- those were the days ...

The preamps on the Nagras aren't bad at all, and the problem is that
making something like today as a production item today would cost around
a thousand bucks just for a box with a couple PC boards and input
transformers in it. Depressing.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message

frz-man wrote:
I have the latest version of the MK012 .. does that mean
the mods have been incorporated into my mike?

No. And beware of the "latest version" as well, since
that description includes some of the bad Chinese clones
that McKay has sold to Guitar Center.

I would like a line amp to convert this
mike to plug directly into my Marantz 670 line in and
bypass the noisy mic input.

There are plenty of good mike preamps out there
available. They range from as cheap as a used Symetrix
620 on up to seemingly unlimited prices.

Isn't the Symetrix 620 an A/D with only line level inputs?

http://www.symetrixaudio.com/index.p...&Produc t=156

Arny Krueger wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message

There are plenty of good mike preamps out there
available. They range from as cheap as a used Symetrix
620 on up to seemingly unlimited prices.

Isn't the Symetrix 620 an A/D with only line level inputs?

It is. I meant Symetrix 202. Brain jam.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."