"Octava" microphones
Denis Kuzmenko

For many years "Octava" Open-Stock company has been the only factory in Russia, producing on a large scale electro-acoustic transducers (microphones, telephones, headsets, sub-miniature transducers, etc.).

For the last ten years development and manufacture of professional condenser, tube and ribbon microphones have become the basic specification of the company.

The main consumer of the microphone equipment carrying the "Octava" mark is the USA, where, paradoxical as it may sound, those microphones are much more known, than in Russia. Moreover, the major part of Octava studio microphones is consumed by the European countries, as well as by Australia and Japan. On an average, Octava exports about 2500 studio microphones a month! This figure is comparable to a sales volume of all taken together microphones of a similar class of all makes in the territory of the CIS.

In the western world the "Octava" brand has already for a long time been very popular, what is proved to be true by numerous publications in professional magazines, press and in the Internet (Production Partner, The Mix, Audiomedia, New York Times). In the specialized American and British musical catalogues (Musician's Friend, Sound-On-Sound) "Octava" microphones rank with such well-known makes as Neumann, AKG, Rode, Audiotechnica, Shure. Owing to their high-quality and attractive price, Octava studio microphones has won the deserved popularity among beginning musicians and small sound recording studios.

Octava condenser microphones have been successfully used by many musicians all over the world, among the most known names it is possible to mention Bananafish, Bryan Ferry, David Sylvian, Edwyn Collins, Eighteen Wheeler, Hugh Padgham, Iron Maiden, Jimmy Nail, John Leckie, Kula Shaker, Mick Taylor, Mike Oldfield, Neil Diamond, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Rick Wakeman, Roger Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Tears for Fears, The Mission, U2 and many others.

Condenser microphones

The MK-012 is a professional small-size condenser microphone with interchangeable capsules to provide a choice of cardioid, hyper-cardioid or omnidirectional polar patterns. Low noise level and transformerless preamplifier circuitry ensure high efficiency both at close and distant location of the sound source from the microphone. Extended and linear frequency response guarantees all the sounds are reproduced with an extremely high fidelity. The 10 dB attenuation pad allows to use the microphone in environments with the loudest ambient noise featuring very high sound pressure levels.

MK-012 microphone

This microphone is intended specifically for use in such situations, when the highest quality and accurate sound reproduction are required. Its small dimensions make it suitable for use in radio broadcasting, cinema voice-over, sound reinforcement in theater or sound recording studios.

In pairs, the MK012's are perfectly suited for coincident and spaced stereo miking techniques, and also overhead usage in live and studio situations. Factory matched pairs can be specially ordered. Owing to its ability to successfully withstand and work in a wide range of temperatures it may be used for ENG/EFP applications.

The MK-219 is a really popular fixed-pattern, cardioid microphone featuring a large-diaphragm capsule teamed with a low-noise, discrete pre-amplifier circuit. Magnetic reed switches are provided for reliable long-term durability of both the 10dB attenuation pad and high-pass filter (cut-off frequency at 1000Hz).

The capsule employs an extremely thin, gold plated diaphragm and is built to a classic design, enabling the microphone to equal or outperform models many times its price, not only on subjective sound quality but also, in many cases, in terms of sensitivity.

When used for vocals, the large diaphragm capsule adds warmth and enhances high frequency detail while still sounding completely natural. It is strongly recommended that the microphone be used in conjunction with a pop filter when close miking vocals.

The MK-219's high sensitivity makes it ideal for use on acoustic guitars, piano (in stereo-pairs) and vocal recordings.

MK-319 microphone fixedon elastic suspension

The MK-319 microphone is the successor to the MK-219, providing the same relentless attention to detail and legendary performance in an improved form. The MK-319 is housed in a new casing that 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 Switches are also improved and whilst still using magnetic reed switches the mechanism has been redesigned for extra durability and easier operation.

MK-220 multidiaphragm microphone

The use of a classic design capsule and low noise discreet preamplifier circuitry teamed with a gold-plated XLR-type connector guarantees maximum reliability with natural sounding of the microphone that suits perfectly for virtually any sound source, especially when smooth warmth and clarity are required.

Keeping the same traditional design of the MK-219 and MK-319 cardioid microphones, the new MK-220 multi-diaphragm condenser microphone has two active diaphragms and a special electric circuitry to switch them on, providing a choice of three switchable polar patterns: omni-directional, cardioid and figure-8.

Both the bass roll-off and sensitivity level switches broaden the microphone's functionality.

Octava condenser tube microphones

The MKL-100 tube condenser cardioid microphone is a new step in development of a popular line of the MK-219, MK-319 and MK-012 condenser microphones.

The all-metal capsule with a large diaphragm (33 mm in diameter) teamed with the amplifier on a bass of the 6C5B vacuum tube provides accurate and natural sounding owing to which the microphone has won deserved popularity among the western and home artists. The power supply device activated by 220/110 V, 50 Hz AC power supply, is used for both powering the anode and incandescent amplifier circuits and pre-polarization of the microphone capsule.

The MKL-319 tube condenser cardioid microphone is a result of further development of the MK-219 model. The combination of a traditional MK-219 capsule with the amplifier stage on a basis of the 6G1P vacuum tube has given the microphone rich, lifelike sounding. The power supply device activated by 220/110 V, 50 Hz AC power supply, is used for powering the anode and incandescent amplifier circuits and the microphone capsule pre-polarization.

Octava electret condenser microphones

The MKA-15A microphone is intended for sound recording and sound reinforcement of music and speech. The MKA-15A is a short-range condenser microphone with a super-cardioid polar pattern, capsule suspension system and built-in windscreen, making it suitable for use in both closed studios and out-of-doors. The IC-follower is powered by a built-in 1.5 V accumulator.

MKA-204U

The microphone body design features a transformerless balanced output via a 3-pin XLR connector.

The miniature condenser electret microphone MKA-204U with omni-directional polar pattern refers to lapel clip-on microphones and is intended for sound recording, sound transmission and sound reinforcement of speech as part of a professional-purpose radio-electronic equipment set. The IC-follower is incorporated immediately in a static electrode, powered by 1.5 Vdc, which is provided via the universal power supply unit by either a built-in element or external power source (for example, 48 V fed by a sound-mixer). The transformerless balanced output is provided by a 3-pin XLR connector.

Ribbon Microphones

ML-52 tape microphone

The reinforced signal is dumped from the secondary winding of the step-up transformer, with its level not yielding to dynamic coil microphones (1.6 mV/Pa). Due to the compact-size exclusive magnetic system with highly-coercive neodymium magnets and acoustic elements generally accepted for ribbon microphones, the ML-52 microphone offers a completely uniform polar pattern at all frequencies and ideally flat frequency response (with factory installed bass boost compatibility, against customer's order) and represents an ideal microphone for studio sound reproduction and both analogue and digital recording.

Octava Open-Stock Company.

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