Oktava MK-101

Large Diaphragm Studio & Sound Reinforcement Condenser

Overview

The Capsule
The Oktava MK-101 uses the successful 26mm 219/319 capsule much loved for its classic midrange presence and sibilance-free top end.

The Headbasket & Body
The MK-101 headbasket features a large open area “forehead” for excellent off-axis response in the vertical as well as horizontal planes. Vertical asymmetry of the headbasket allows the recordist to explore different polar responses when using the mic upright or inverted. The small headbasket and body size make for easy placement and minimal reflection between sound source and microphone body.

The Circuit
Building on the marketplace success of the legendary MK-012, (over 90,000 in use worldwide) the MK-101 uses the same impedance converter / output circuit and body design made famous by the MK-012.

The Sound
On Axis – The MK-101 offers a powerful midrange presence and natural top end response with excellent rejection of sibilance. Off-Axis - The MK-101 has moderate attenuation at 90 degrees giving the mic a wide cardioid pick up pattern. 180 degree response has a warm spectral balance with strongest output below 200Hz, smooth amplitude reduction to 3 kHz followed by a moderate high frequency ambient sound presence peak.

The MK-101 excels on vocals or guitar cabinets where the recordist wants classic midrange presence, sibilant-free top end and a warm room sound with just a touch of top end room presence.
 

Technical specifications

Frequency response

User comments

I never heard of it before, but I knew the MC012 which I really love and use for stereo-recordings as well as for overhead- and ambience-micing.

I used the MC101 with voice, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and snare drum and it just sounded great in all these situations.

I compared the MC101 to the Oktava "Lomo-Head" and I personally like the MC101 even better.

I also compared it to a Neumann U87 and to me it sounded very similar.

After all, Iґm going to get me a second MC101 so I can do stereo-recordings with these great microphones.

Michael Eidt
Audio Engineer
Mannheim, Germany

I’ve tried to record ambience first of all – a very low self-noise level, excellent legibility of a sound.

Speech and voice recording:
It sounds almost like MK-319, but I like the voice timbre better. High frequencies are precise and clear, the low-range is also legible and not blurry.
The announcer recording has turned out rather impressive.
I can tell secretly, that I like my own voice, recorded with this microphone. I couldn’t record it normally before.
The microphone receives both the man's and female vocal very truthfully.

Acoustic guitar (classic and country):
MK-101 reproduces all timber nuances of a guitar-sound, you should only choose a pick-up point correctly. Thanks to cardioid pattern it pointed towards low frets of the finger-board. The result can be processed afterwards anyhow and anyway. No complaints.

General impression - excellent.
Can be used as a universal studio microphone.

Thanks and best regards,
Michael, audio operator, Moscow

Thanks! I am pleased with it.

Sergey
Balance engineer
Moscow, Russia