Austrian Audio Makes Debut at Musikmesse 2019

Austrian Audio OC818

Austrian Audio made its formal introduction at this year’s Musikmesse gathering with eight products including microphones and headphones, as well as digital control systems, software, and proecessing.

In the wake of Harman International’s 2017 closure of AKG design and manufacturing facilities in Vienna, a group of former engineers and executives joined forces to form Austrian Audio with the goal of bringing handmade microphones back to Vienna.

The new OC818 and OC18 are large diaphragm condenser microphones that are built around a handmade capsule that Austrian Audio has developed: the CKR12 (Capsule Keramik Ring). This is a nod to AKG’s CK12 capsule, but employs patent-pending ceramic rings in place of brass ones.

The more premium OC818 mic features 255 discrete polar patterns ranging from figure of eight through to cardioid and omnidirectional. It also has wireless pattern switching and selecting via an optional transmitter/receiver (OCR8), which can be fitted to the rear of the microphone.

The OC818 also features a secondary output that allows independent recording of the rear-facing capsule, or simultaneous recording of both. If the capsules are recorded in stereo or dual-mono, the signal can be fed into the brand’s free PolarDesigner plug-in for additional tailoring of polar patterns across up to five frequency bands.

The OC18, on the other hand, is a single-diaphragm, single-pattern, classic cardioid version of the OC818.

Both mics will be available as singles or matched pairs and with or without accessories. View a product intro for the mics here.

Depending on the configuration you select, the OC18 is set to retail between €699-1399, and the OC818 between €999-1899.

Austrian Audio has also debuted a pair of headphones: Hi-X50 and Hi-X55. Both feature 44mm drivers and pro features, but the former is on-ear whereas the latter is over-ear.