Oktava ML52 mods?

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Hello,
I own 2 Oktava ML52 (not 53) ribbon microphones.
The sound is pretty dark (too dark!) and I wonder if there are some mods I
can try to have the mics more "usable".
I accept suggestions for both mechanical and electronic mods....
Transformers? Removing screenings?
Thanks for your inputs.
F.
 
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Federico <plokmichael@tiscali.it> wrote:
>Hello,
>I own 2 Oktava ML52 (not 53) ribbon microphones.
>The sound is pretty dark (too dark!) and I wonder if there are some mods I
>can try to have the mics more "usable".
>I accept suggestions for both mechanical and electronic mods....
>Transformers? Removing screenings?

You want more _top_ end, or you want flatter midrange?

You can remove the phosphor-bronze plate in front of the ribbon... this
will give you much better top end and a better pattern, BUT it will make
the microphone much more delicate, and blowing into it will destroy it
(just like an RCA).

You can replace the transformer with the Lundahl ribbon mike transformer,
which definitely gives you more output level and both more top end detail
and better low end.

But most of the midrange problems are due to the poor grille and case
design, and I don't have a quick fix for any of that.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
 
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"Federico" <plokmichael@tiscali.it> wrote in message
news:LLlKe.61779$fm.4082869@news4.tin.it...
> Hello,
> I own 2 Oktava ML52 (not 53) ribbon microphones.
> The sound is pretty dark (too dark!) and I wonder if there are some mods I
> can try to have the mics more "usable".
> I accept suggestions for both mechanical and electronic mods....
> Transformers? Removing screenings?
> Thanks for your inputs.
> F.


Ribbon microphones are dark. They all have restricted top, to varying
degrees. It's a large part of their charm.

If you want more highs, you need a different type of microphones.

Predrag
 
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Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Thank you Predrag,
I like dark microphones but the ML52 is really TOO dark...
It is like it has a blanket on it!
F.


"Predrag Trpkov" <predrag.trpkovNeSpamu@ri.htnet.hr> ha scritto nel
messaggio news:ddcqrv$ptb$1@ss405.t-com.hr...
>
> "Federico" <plokmichael@tiscali.it> wrote in message
> news:LLlKe.61779$fm.4082869@news4.tin.it...
> > Hello,
> > I own 2 Oktava ML52 (not 53) ribbon microphones.
> > The sound is pretty dark (too dark!) and I wonder if there are some mods
I
> > can try to have the mics more "usable".
> > I accept suggestions for both mechanical and electronic mods....
> > Transformers? Removing screenings?
> > Thanks for your inputs.
> > F.
>
>
> Ribbon microphones are dark. They all have restricted top, to varying
> degrees. It's a large part of their charm.
>
> If you want more highs, you need a different type of microphones.
>
> Predrag
>
>
 
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Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Can your suggestion be: sell them and get a pair of other ribbon mics?
(Beyer 160s, Coles, Royer?)
Is that what you're trying to tell me?
It is a good suggestion...

"Scott Dorsey" <kludge@panix.com> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:ddd2gl$co4$1@panix2.panix.com...
> Federico <plokmichael@tiscali.it> wrote:
> >Hello,
> >I own 2 Oktava ML52 (not 53) ribbon microphones.
> >The sound is pretty dark (too dark!) and I wonder if there are some mods
I
> >can try to have the mics more "usable".
> >I accept suggestions for both mechanical and electronic mods....
> >Transformers? Removing screenings?
>
> You want more _top_ end, or you want flatter midrange?
>
> You can remove the phosphor-bronze plate in front of the ribbon... this
> will give you much better top end and a better pattern, BUT it will make
> the microphone much more delicate, and blowing into it will destroy it
> (just like an RCA).
>
> You can replace the transformer with the Lundahl ribbon mike transformer,
> which definitely gives you more output level and both more top end detail
> and better low end.
>
> But most of the midrange problems are due to the poor grille and case
> design, and I don't have a quick fix for any of that.
> --scott
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

"Federico" <plokmichael@tiscali.it> wrote in message
news:mjmKe.61898$fm.4088433@news4.tin.it...
> Thank you Predrag,
> I like dark microphones but the ML52 is really TOO dark...
> It is like it has a blanket on it!
> F.


I haven't tried Oktava ribbons, but I can imagine.

Sometimes pulling the ribbons a bit farther from the source helps getting a
better balance, although it won't help much with the top end. Also, due to
the low sensitivity of the ribbons, it's only relatively usable with loud
sources.

Predrag
 
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Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Federico <plokmichael@tiscali.it> wrote:
>Can your suggestion be: sell them and get a pair of other ribbon mics?
>(Beyer 160s, Coles, Royer?)
>Is that what you're trying to tell me?
>It is a good suggestion...

Not yet, because I do think it's possible to improve the things, I just
haven't spent a lot of time on it yet.

But the Coles 4040 _is_ a very difficult act to beat, and I don't think
you'll ever get that degree of performance from anything else.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."