When former AKG designers founded their own company, Austrian Audio, in the summer of 2017, they set an ambitious goal to bring high-end audio technology back to Vienna, the capital of Austria. The dual-capsule Austrian Audio OC818 is a highly sensitive, low-noise condenser microphone with a freely selectable polar pattern.

The large-diaphragm OC818 microphone’s unique ceramic CKR12 capsule is based on the best-measured units of the legendary AKG CK12 capsule, known from both the tube microphone C12 and the newer C414 models. All Austrian Audio OC18 and OC818 microphones are matched to within one decibel in output level, allowing them to be used in stereo pairs and grouped together. The microphones have a fully analog signal path.

The real innovation, however, is the remote controllability of the dual-capsule OC818 microphone, and the use of the single-capsule OC18 model in various combinations with it. The PolarPilot and PolarDesigner apps, along with the OCR8 Bluetooth controller, enable microphone customization for any need and space in a completely new way. When using the PolarDesigner and the OCR818 microphone, the final polar pattern can even be fine-tuned during the final mix.

Features:

• Freely adjustable polar pattern: Omni, cardioid, hypercardioid, figure-eight
• Impedance: 2 x 275 Ohms
• Frequency range: 20 – 20,000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 13 mV/Pa
• Max SPL: 148 dB SPL (158 dB SPL with pad)
• Pad switch: -10 dB, -20 dB
• Operating voltage: 48V Phantom
• Microprocessor-controlled and stabilized bias voltages
• Two different analog high-pass filters with three cutoff frequencies (40 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz)
• Two different analog attenuation levels
• Compatible with other OC18 and OC818 microphones with 1 dB precision
• Connector: 3-pin XLR
• Dimensions: 157 x 63 x 35 mm
• Weight: 335 g
• The set includes a flexible shock mount, microphone clip, windscreen, mini-XLR adapter, and case