Oktava ML52 mods-

[Brian]

Hey, Devlars!
I'm in Memphis now, the bank hasn't closed my loan in a month and a half and the hotel and storage charges are killing me.I had a drummer pummel my drum heads to death when I told him not to.
Go figure.

[Devlars]

Good to hear from you Brian. Have you tried the mod on your ML52 yet? I'm a bit nervous about doing the procedure since I only have the one. If I get another I'll definitely do the modification...until then I'm still debating. Pretty stupid since I was such a big advocate for having the whole process done and documented so that everyone else could see it in the magazine.

[Brian]

I feel your pain! I only have the 5200? tube job, and a buncha 319's and 012's. My buddy, Lee, got the last 52 here. He gets all the goodies. He got the last "brick" here, an RCA BK-44, a nice trident ripped pre, the same board I have (only automated) for a SONG!
Sometimes I wish I was him.
i'm looking into getting one, though. I'll give it a listen, then decide. I'll probly do it.

[dejacky]

What tape-op issue is this ribbon mic mod in? I just subscribed .

[Devlars]

What tape-op issue is this ribbon mic mod in? I just subscribed .

It was in issue #44. However if you have just subscribed then it won't be sent to you, as it's already been mailed. You'll have to special order it or find it in one of your finer music/record stores.

[dejacky]

How do I special order it?

[Devlars]

Go to TapeOp.com website (which can also be linked to at the bottom of each message board page), click on the FAQ and scroll down until you see the Can I start my subscription with issue number____? and it has a link in the answer to order back issues. Issue #44 cannont be back ordered from the website yet, as it's the most recent issue. If you want the issue sooner than later then you might try contacting TapeOp directly and asking nicely to have it sent.

[lifeintime]

Lame question of the day

just bought a ML52 display with no docs or specs. Does this mic use phantom power? Thanks.

[Flight Feathers]

Lame question of the day

just bought a ML52 display with no docs or specs. Does this mic use phantom power? Thanks.

NO WAY!!!

that is the quickest way to destroy a ribbon mic. that, or dropping it. or looking at it funny.

[Devlars]

Keep phantom power as far away from that microphone as possible. I will say that you needn't "fear" using this mic as I did when I first purchsed it, because of all the strong warnings about ribbon mics. It's great for a number of applications and even if you do happen to accidentally apply phantom power to it (as I have twice) it won't die. It's a fairly resiliant mic and will let you know when it doesn't like what you're doing to it long before it actually gives up the ghost on you. Enjoy that mic and finding it's strong points for your recording needs. Here are some links which you may find helpful:

Application notes

Specs

Review

[lifeintime]

Here are some links which you may find helpful:

Application notes

Specs

Review

The application notes are great, thank you.

I just set the mic up and I am finding that I am having to drive it very hard. On the Mackie 1402, turned the trim all the way up, kinda sucked. On the Aardvark Q10, I had to select the M2 range, and then adjust the gain quite a bit up also. Just tried a Bellari RP-220 and that helped a lot, required minimal gain.

[kayagum]

For most modern ribbons, phantom power won't do anything to the mic. Serious.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Dec01/a ... 6da2df4f5a

[Devlars]

But since it isn't required it's not a bad idea to keep the mindset that 48v + ribbon mics= bad, avoid etc. As I had said earlier and someone else, Joel Patterson?, had mentioned in another thread entirely, ribbon mics will generally let you know that they don't like what you're doing to them before they give out when using them improperly (48v, excessive SPLs). Flappy, distorted sound and such.

[dejacky]

For those of you that have performed the TapeOp modification on the Oktava ML52 ribbon microphone, how much as it improved on the sound and in what ways? Also, isn't there a way to view the tape-op articles online since I'm now a memeber???

[darjama]

Mine was the mic modded by auralman in the piece. I had tried it on male vocals and guitar cabs before the mod, and while I really liked it on guitar cabs, It had a ping-y quality on vocals that made it unusable. I now like it for male vocals, it's less strangely peaky and seems more responsive. I still like it for guitar cabs, but it's a more natural sound.