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Oktava MK-012 (was:Hello all!)

Subject: Oktava MK-012 (was:Hello all!)
From: "Emanuele Costantini" lamacchiacost=
a
Date: Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:34 am ((PDT))

Hi all,
my experience of "once in a lifetime experience" recording is based on
the Oktava MK-012

http://www.oktava-online.com/mk012.htm

pretty affordable mics with great quality. The basic stereo pair is
=80319.
Pretty handy as well and they can stay in a pocket.
I stressed them very much to test and improve using them in every
weather condition and I put a lot of effort to help Oktava to get the
best for this kind of purpose.
I'll go straight to the point telling that the new line actually
shouldn't have issues on location.
I've got five of them and using them every day in every environment
(my actual playground is the grey and wet England and the hot and
humid Italy). No problems for a couple of years on, when i started
testing the new line.
As already told in other answers the best (and the big) investment is
the windshield and whatever you pay for it, it worth and last a
lifetime if you use it properly.
I've got some experience recording wind and seawaves.
The first example I would like you to listen to is made in summer 2008
in Sardegna Island (Italy).
Calm place, calm sea, constant wind, around 5/10 Km/h. I'm 10cm far
from the waves.

www.ecciproduzioni.com/uploads/postcards/files/sardegna.mp3

The second one is recorded in Sicilia Island (Italy), winter 2007.
One of the most difficult recording ever.
Very cold, the wind was blowing at 50/80Kmh speed. The sea waves were
very long and dangerous.
In that circumstance I kept myself 20mt away from they were crashing
and I was still reached by them.

www.ecciproduzioni.com/uploads/postcards/files/sicilia.mp3

Some advise I can tell:

Always cover properly the recorder with a plastic bag or anything you
have to protect it and the add a plastic bag on it. :-)
Even if you feel pretty sure and safe, the sea is unpredictable and
the recorder can be easily damaged by the salty water.
I tried on my own skin. I burned out a Tascam DA-P1 due to this kind
of negligence.

Get the more close you can to the seawaves without take any risk. The
sea is not a nice guy.
During the Sicilian session, despite the the 20mt safe distance, I was
hit by one and I felt down, I used my body as shelter for the
equipment from water and the sand covering me.
The equipment was fine. I spent a week at home with a fever.

The only way to protect the microphones from water is using zeppelin
windshield with the furry cover. So be ready to remove the mic the
fast you can to avoid submerging it.

I hope it helps.

>
> That said, as requested below, my first and most important use will
> be to record one hour or more of waves / surf at a california beach
> with 30mph winds gusting to 50mph.
>
> I will have the unit on a sand compatible tripod (legs buried) and
> would like to record the EXPERIENCE of being there. While not
> necessarily suggesting a binaural setup, I would like to play it
> back later and be fairly able to close my eyes and be there again.
>













Emanuele Costantini

Sound, Media Engineer
Filmmaker

+44 (0)7891661862

for bookings and job queries please call Stella
+44 (0)2089941199

21 Herne Hill Road
SE 24 OAX
London
U.K.

IT: +39 3479381946

www.ecciproduzioni.com
www.imdb.com/name/nm1987084/
www.myspace.com/emanuelecostantini










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