Austrian Audio OC818 Studio Set

24

Condenser large diaphragm microphone

  • Switchable directional characteristics: omni, cardioid, hyper cardioid, figure eight
  • Freely configurable polar pattern via PolarDesigner plug-in for Win and Mac
  • Real-time polar patterning via OCR8 Bluetooth dongle (Art.467336 - not included) and PolarPilot app for Android and iOS
  • Handmade CKR12 ceramic capsule based on the CK12 capsule
  • Frequency range: 20 - 20,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity: 13 mV / Pa
  • Output impedance: 2 x 275 ohms (balanced)
  • Input impedance: 1 kOhm
  • Max. SPL: 148 dB / 158 dB (with pad)
  • Noise: <10 dB SPL
  • Signal-to-noise ratio:> 84 dB
  • Requires 48 V phantom power
  • Low Cut Filter: 40, 80 and 160 Hz
  • Pad: -10 dB and -20 dB
  • Includes elastic shock mount, microphone clamp, windscreen, mini XLR adapter and case
  • Dimensions: 157 x 63 x 35 mm
  • Weight: 0.36 kg
Available since July 2019
Item number 467339
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Tube No
Switchable Polar Pattern Yes
Omnidirectional Yes
Cardioid Yes
Figure-8 Yes
Low Cut Yes
Pad Yes
shockmount included Yes
USB Microphone No
12.790 kr
Free shipping incl. VAT
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This product is in stock and can be shipped immediately.

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A phoenix from the ashes

After the long-established Viennese manufacturer AKG closed its Austrian facilities in 2017, a team of former AKG engineers quickly founded their own company, Austrian Audio, and went on to launch the OC 818, a clear in-house progression of AKG's classic C414 microphone. The OC 818 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with selectable polar patterns, a dual-function switchable pad, and a high-pass filter with four settings. The Austrian Audio OC 818 microphone, however, has a number of features that other manufacturers can only dream of, not forgetting of course the special digital integration option available for the microphones via plugin and app – another feature definitely worth boasting about.

Back to the future

On examining the exterior of the microphone, it quickly becomes clear that the OC 818 is equipped with two outputs – a standard XLR socket and a mini XLR socket located at the rear of the device. The idea is that the regular XLR socket can output a full signal with the selected polar pattern, but the selection of the pattern can also be deferred by outputting the signals from the front and rear capsule separately, which means that the polar pattern can then be selected from the mixing console or DAW and even in an automated fashion. Austrian Audio also provides the internally developed "Polar Designer" plugin, which delivers even greater functionality and enables the user to choose various polar patterns for up to five different frequency bands and specifically eliminate interference signals using AI support.

New possibilities

In the studio, the OC 818 is an all-rounder that is ideal for vocal recordings but works equally well with acoustic guitars, drum overheads, and amplifiers - not to mention in live environments. A particularly practical feature of the OC 818 is that its polar pattern, pad, and high-pass filter can be controlled remotely from the Austrian Audio PolarPilot mobile app in conjunction with the optional OCR8 Bluetooth dongle. Trips to the microphone are thus reduced, which can make all the difference, particularly in a live environment. The Polar Designer plugin, on the other hand, enables users to conduct sound experiments using previously unavailable polar patterns.

About Austrian Audio

The Viennese manufacturer Austrian Audio was founded in 2017 by 22 former senior AKG employees, including engineers and managers - as the traditional Austrian manufacturer was closing its offices and factories in Vienna. The first product releases from Austrian Audio immediately put them on the map, confirming their pedigree. The company's product range, which so far consists of headphones and microphones, is characterised by elegant design and smart concepts with a modern twist. In addition, all products are manufactured in Austria, as during the golden age of AKG. It will be interesting to see what Austrian Audio will come up with next.

Ground-breaking options

The former staff of AKG have made an impressive new start with Austrian Audio and the OC 818 microphone, breathing new life into an eternal classic. Although the sound of the OC 818 has already been tested many times over, the new features added by the Austrians are more than just a gimmick, offering musicians and engineers alike a new level of flexibility and greater scope. The digital integration options available with the microphone are both groundbreaking and very easy to apply. The OC 818 will appeal to anyone looking for a high-quality and versatile large-diaphragm microphone, particularly given its favourable price tag.

24 Customer ratings

4.8 / 5

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20 Reviews

B
Great!
Baracuda666 21.12.2022
Great sound, great design, simply something every studio must have. Perfect for vocals, guitars, all string instruments, drum and so much more.
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JB
Incredible sound.
Jack Benzin 05.11.2021
Microphone number one in my studio.
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Great mic to have in your toolkit
Eden1 13.02.2024
This mic is awesome. I don't really use the double polar pattern recording but even without that it's great. A little bright but that's it's sound
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c
Das Austrian Audio OC818 ist das beste 414, das AKG in den letzten 40 Jahren nicht gebaut hat.
c747 26.12.2020
Das Mikrofon bringt den Wiener Sound, so wie er sein soll. Es ist ausgezeichnet gefertigt und hat einen sehr moderaten Preis für das Gebotene.

Ich habe meine beiden OC818 nun über ein Jahr und habe sie vor nahezu alles gehalten, was mir möglich war. Für mich ein echter Studio-Allrounder. Das Mikro klingt sogar in eigentlich eher unüblichen Einsatzsituationen noch OK, meistens aber gut bis absolut überragend (immer in Bezug auf die gängigen Alternativen). An meinen beiden Exemplaren konnte ich keinerlei "Belegtheit" feststellen; klanglich ist die Verwandtschaft zu den AKG C414 Versionen unverkennbar. Als ich im Sommer bei einem guten Kollegen den direkten Vergleich zu dessen 77er C414 EB-Pärchen machte staunten wir beide nicht schlecht, denn das OC818 fiel beileibe nicht so deutlich ab wie zunächst angenommen, das war Leiden auf sehr hohem Niveau.
Die Pegelfestigkeit ermöglicht z. B. die Abnahme von allerlei Blasinstrumenten, Kickdrums, Pauken usw. Gerade Sax und Trompete gefielen mir ausgesprochen gut.
Es ermöglicht ebenso eine "fertige" Hifi-Abnahme eines Gitarren-Amp. Mit dem Polar Designer und z. B. dem Mid-lastigen Sound eines MD441 lassen sich auch hervorragend neue Sounds kreieren.
Auch als Overheads ist mein Pärchen allererste Wahl - ich kann nicht sagen ob ich Glück hatte oder die Fertigungstoleranz tatsächlich so gering ist, meine Mikrofone verhalten sich absolut gleich. Das 818 eignet sich zudem als Gesangsmikrofon, oder als Raummikro, es macht sich aber auch in verschiedenen Positionen am Flügel gut.
Wer ambisonic aufnehmen möchte, kann das mit dem entsprechenden Plugin machen. A propos Innovationen: dank des Polar Designers hat man tatsächlich ganz neue Möglichkeiten in der Postproduktion, wer gerne live aufnimmt wird dieses Feature zu schätzen lernen!

Wer ohnehin schon für jede denkbare Aufnahmesituation mehrere Mikros zu Auswahl hat, braucht das OC818 nicht zwingend, es schadet aber sicher nicht, es in der Schublade zu haben, denn es regt den Spieltrieb an. Bei mir hat es neben einigen hochwertigen Großmembranern seinen Platz gefunden.
Wer als junger Künstler oder Tonschaffender nach einem nahezu universell einsetzbaren Mikrofon sucht, der sollte sich das OC818 dringend ansehen. Es mag sein, dass Du später Mikrofone findest, die Du lieber in bestimmten Situationen einsetzt, aber ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass Du bis zur Rente eine Verwendung für das OC818 finden wirst. Was ich gerade angesichts der heutigen Wegwerfkultur bemerkenswert finde ist, dass die Mikros aufgrund ihrer Keramikkapseln das Potential haben, über Generationen vererbt zu werden.
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