Oktava MK-012-01 1992

I purchased these microphones a few months ago. They work perfectly, and I absolutely love them—I’ve already used them on quite a few recordings in that short time. They were manufactured in Russia in 1992.

Below I’ve included the original listing from the previous owner. These microphones have quite a history.

The mics came from the USA, so before bringing them to Spain I took the opportunity to send them to Bill Sitler for his well-known modification. This modification replaces all the critical electronic components with higher-quality parts, making an already excellent microphone sound even better. It improves the high- and low-frequency response, increases detail, and lowers the noise floor. The modification cost $212 (approximately €184). I can provide the invoice upon request.

You can read more about the modification and even listen to before-and-after comparisons on Bill’s website.

I’m selling them to help finance a project, so I reserve the right to withdraw them from sale at any time.

The following is the description from the previous owner. As in his studio, these microphones have also been kept in a smoke-free environment in my studio, though not a cat-free one.

Matched stereo pair of Oktava MK-012-01 microphones in excellent condition. I bought these around 1992, and they have been one of the workhorses of my smoke-free (but not cat-free) studio ever since.

If you’d like to hear examples of these exact microphones, download FL Studio (if you don’t already have it). I used this very pair, along with several other microphones, to record nearly all of the pianos, strings, brass, acoustic guitars, and drums included with the software, primarily for DirectWave, FPC, and Flex.

For the FPC drum kits, these microphones were used as overheads. On acoustic guitar, I placed one microphone at the fretboard and the other aimed at the body. They were also used as piano overheads alongside a pair of AKG C414s, and for most of the foley recordings included in FL Studio.

As a result, you can hear these microphones throughout much of FL Studio’s built-in content (included with the software), as well as in many of Image-Line’s sample packs, including Sounds of India, Axe Forge, Amped, Bass Mace, SFX, World, Contagious Audio, and Orchestral. Many of those samples are also used in FL Studio’s Flex instrument.

These microphones are outstanding for stereo recording. Back in the day, I recorded entire live performances using nothing more than this pair and a Marantz PMD660, and you’d swear they had been tracked through a full professional mixing console.

The microphones have a few cosmetic scratches, and the finish shows some wear. You can especially see it where the labels from my studio used to be—the exposed areas are noticeably shinier. Other than that, they sound and perform exactly as if you had just bought them new from Oktava today.

Please note: these microphones require 48V phantom power.