Oktava MC-012 Cardioid Microphone Pair with Capacitor Upgrades 1990S Made in Russia

Oktava MC-012 — A Pair with Presence Two cardioid condenser microphones with capacitor upgrades INTRODUCTION Some microphones earn their place by capturing a source as discreetly as possible. Others offer a character that makes you choose them deliberately. For my ears, this pair of Oktava MC-012 microphones belongs in the second category. Detailed, present, and carrying an attractive upper-frequency sheen, these are microphones I would particularly appreciate on drums. Their sound has personality, while their compact, lightweight construction makes them practical for overhead placement. Offered here are two Russian-made MC-012 microphones, each with a cardioid capsule and an original removable −10 dB pad. Both have received internal capacitor replacements. They were brought together as a pair by a previous owner and are not a factory-matched stereo set. OPTICAL CONDITION The microphones carry identification engravings numbered “1” and “2,” added by a previous owner. Please examine the photographs for the finish, engraved markings, and condition of the supplied accessories. TECHNICAL CONDITION Both microphones have been tested. Their internal capacitors have been replaced as part of modification work rather than repair. Both microphones are supplied with cardioid capsules and their removable −10 dB pads. THIS LISTING INCLUDES Two Oktava MC-012 microphone bodies Two cardioid capsules Two original −10 dB attenuator modules Storage box and microphone bag OKTAVA — A MICROPHONE TRADITION FROM TULA Oktava’s roots reach back to 1927 in Tula, where the company developed alongside the expansion of Soviet broadcasting. Its history extends well beyond the recording studio, encompassing microphones, communications equipment, and other electroacoustic products. That background gives the brand a different context from companies established primarily to serve the modern home-recording market. Oktava comes from a long manufacturing tradition, with a catalogue spanning small- and large-diaphragm condensers, ribbon microphones, and tube microphones. Tula remains central to its manufacturing identity. The MC-012 is an especially approachable expression of that tradition: a compact recording tool whose interest lies in the combination of its capsule system, straightforward physical design, and distinctive sound. THE MC-012 — A MODULAR RECORDING TOOL The 012 family separates the microphone into interchangeable parts. The capsule screws onto the amplifier body, allowing different pickup patterns to be used with the same electronics. Cardioid, omnidirectional, and hypercardioid capsules form part of the system; this listing includes cardioid capsules only. That modular construction gives the microphone a useful life beyond a single configuration. Changing the capsule changes its directional behaviour without requiring an entirely separate microphone body. The attenuator is modular too. Each supplied −10 dB pad fits between the capsule and amplifier body, reducing the signal reaching the electronics for louder recording situations. It is a physical screw-in module rather than a switch on the housing. The microphones operate from 48 V phantom power through their XLR connections. For everyday recording, the appeal is practical: a small microphone that can be positioned without a large housing obstructing the source, with relatively little weight at the end of a boom. THE ELECTRONICS AND THE MODIFICATION STORY The MC-012 also developed a following among engineers interested in improving its electronic components. Scott Dorsey’s published upgrade article treated the underlying circuit as a worthwhile design, with opportunities for refinement through component replacement rather than a wholesale redesign. His recommendations addressed capacitors, high-value resistors, and the input transistor. Particularly relevant here, he identified limitations in certain original capacitors and described suitable replacements. He also reported finding better BCC or Philips capacitors already fitted in some newer production examples—evidence that component selection changed over time. Commercial modification services developed around this model as well. JJ Audio, for example, documents an MK-012 modification involving the capsule coupling capacitor, other selected capacitors, resistors, and the FET. Consequently, “modified MC-012” can describe several different combinations of work rather than one standardized upgrade. The microphones offered here have received capacitor improvements. SOUND — DETAIL AN AUDIBLE CHARACTER What stands out to me is the presence. These microphones do not simply disappear behind the source: an audible character to transparent recording. There is detail and an upper-frequency sheen that makes the presentation feel lively. I would not describe this pair as dark. Equally, I would not choose “completely transparent” as its defining quality. Their appeal is the combination of clarity and…