Oktava MK-319

The Oktava MK-319

The Oktava microphones come in their own padded plastic cases with a manual and our MK-319 and MK-012 came with their own shockmounts which suspend the microphones to minimize mechanical vibrations. The first mic we're going to take a look at is the MK-319 condenser microphone. The MK-319 is the successor to the MK219 and comes housed in a new casing which has been acoustically designed to cut down the sound refractions inside the grill, allowing a smoother and more open sound, as well as being more rugged and shock resistant.

The MK-319 as with all condenser microphones, require phantom powering (48V) and comes with a cardiod (heart shaped) polar pattern. The MK-319 isn't a full range mic but it comes pretty close with a frequency response of 40Hz to 16kHz but according to Oktava, the frequency response extends well beyond that figure. The heart of the mic comes in the form of a 1" gold spattered teflon diaphragm with a low noise discreet preamplifier circuitry. The MK-319 has two switches which provide -10db padding as well as a low frequency cut off. The switches felt a little loose for our taste but they did work without a problem throughout the review.

MK-319 In Use

The Oktava MK-319 was perhaps our favorite microphone of the bunch. The MK-319, even when compared to the Neumann U87 (which costs many times more) shared a very similar sound character that I found inviting in vocals. Clear, detailed and warm. Although the Neumann mic did rival the MK-319 in the absolute last bit of detail, you should bear in mind that the Neumann mic costs about 8 to 10 times more than the MK-319! The MK-319 had a full bodied and warm, slightly tube-like mid range which can capture one's vocals very well. The only gripe I have about the MK-319 is in the high frequencies, which is present but lacks a bit of magical sparkle at the end.

Aside from vocals, I found the MK-319 to be an excellent mic when used in conjunction with the MK-012 for miking our Marshall and Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier electric guitar amplifiers. I setup the MK-012 one feet away from the first 12" driver in the speaker cabinet at an angle and the MK-319 4' back in a rather lively room and I managed to pick up some really nice room ambience with both the MK-319 and MK-012 mics. Both held up to really high SPL levels and I only got them to distort when the neighbours were hammering on my wall.

I did a couple of guitar tracks with the MK-319 one feet away, aimed at the neck joint at the 12th fret from my Seagull acoustic guitar and the results were really good! Each note came out clear and since the mic was quite close to the guitar, it managed to capture the body resonance of the guitar as well adding an excellent warmth to the overall sound. All in all, the MK-319 makes an excellent vocal and acoustic instrument microphone and it offers a taste of high-end microphones at such an unbeatable value.

Conclusion

The three Oktava microphones (MK-319, MK-012 and ML-52) reviewed are amazing performers for the price. First up, we have the MK-319 which is magical with vocals and stringed/acoustic instruments. Then comes the MK-012 which is another amazing performer that is so flexible, it's like having a whole bunch of mics cramped into one compact design. Get a stereo matched set and have them setup as drum set overheads! Last but not least, the ribbon based ML52 proves yet again that ribbon mics should not be forgotten offering an inviting and warm sound. If you're looking for great microphones that offer an amazing value for your money, I would not hesitate to suggest that you give the Oktava line an audition. Highly recommended!
 

The 319 was magnificent vocally. My voice is a natural baritone, but I've been able to sing both tenor and bass in a pinch (I was California Central Valley Regional Honor Choir back in '94, and though I've played many instruments over the years, voice has always been my forte). Another caveat--I'm a sucker for "warm" in all things--in my photography, I shoot warm-tone film, with my amps, I love mid-to-low-end sounds, vocally, I shoot for richness, whatever the register. Given my experience using SM-58s as vocal mics in both ambient settings and via a 4 and 24 track recordings, the 319 *really* impressed me. It's got a real "vintage" feel. Note that I hate gratuitous quote marks, but I'm using them for the sake of illustration. To my ears, the sound is gorgeous, and I'm not one to take my own voice lightly. The 319 makes me genuinely love my voice in the way that I do when I'm singing along to the car stereo. That said, the quality *isn't* pristine. I'm giving it a ten because the thing was a bargain, and because it's a kind of non-pristine that anyone who's seriously into Sixties garage/Seventies punk (or for that matter, Dixieland) will fall in love with.

i use this mic mainly for vocals. i have two audio-technica condenser mics around the same price range but i use those for acoustic guitar or room ambience.

i run the oktava into a presonus tubepre then into a behringer composer pro compressor (until i get my samson optical comp. which should be here any day) then i go into my boss br1180cd digital studio. in there i use a little stereo delay and maybe reverb for vocal tracking.

the sound i'm going for is the warm, bass-y, in your ear vocal of coldplay's "rush of blood to the head" or travis' vocal sound on "the man who". i also love elliott smith's vocal sound which is also in your ear/head but a lil' more airy.

this mic gives a great clear signal and picks up my voice really well. i use the pad because i sing loud and i don't use the bass roll-off because i like the sound (boy that sounds scientific).
ear/head but a little more airy.

Very big, articulate and detailed sound without hi-end hype, equal or somewhat better than German mics IMO. Can take hi SPL.

319 sounds very good on most vocals, very good on acoustic guitar and very good close mic'ing guitar cab, especially clean tones IMO. Nice all around mic in mod form.