Oktava

Oktava is a Russian manufacturer of professional audio equipment best known for its microphones. The company originated in the Soviet era as a state-owned enterprise producing electroacoustic equipment for studios and broadcasting, with facilities in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). Over the decades Oktava built a broad line of condenser, dynamic, and ribbon microphones used in recording studios, broadcasting, and live sound.

Among its products, the small-diaphragm condensers MC-012 and MK-012 are the most widely known internationally, commonly deployed as overheads, on acoustic instruments, and on percussion. Oktava also produced larger-diaphragm condensers, vintage-style tubes, and other capsule designs, as well as accessories.

The brand has a reputation for offering favorable price-to-performance, which made Oktava popular with home studios and budget-conscious professionals. However, the consistency of units and parts tolerances have varied across production runs, contributing to a mixed but sometimes cult-like reception.

In the post-Soviet era, Oktava's ownership and manufacturing arrangements have changed, with microphones circulating through various suppliers and distributors worldwide. Despite these changes, Oktava mics remain a recognizable name in the world of affordable studio hardware, and some models continue to be discussed, modded, and used by audio engineers around the globe.