Austrian Audio has introduced the OC18 and OC818 large-diaphragm condenser microphones.

Made in Vienna, both use the same handmade capsule – the OC18 is a precision microphone with a classic cardioid pick-up pattern, while the OC818 offer multiple patterns, dual outputs for recording its forward-facing and rear-facing capsules independently, and optional Bluetooth wireless control.

The single-diaphragm OC18 and dual-diaphragm OC818 both feature a new handmade ceramic CKR12 capsule, resulting in no compromise in sound between the two models. In fact, any OC18 and OC818 can be used as a matched pair due to the extreme precision of our manufacturing and measuring processes.

Since the OC18 and OC818 are sonically identical, choice for use is based on application. Where the OC18 features a classic cardioid pick-up pattern and includes a selectable high-pass filter plus a -10/-20dB pad, the OC818 features the same filter and Pad, plus a variety of pick-up patterns selectable from the body, and some incredible extra features up.

The OC818 has dual audio outputs that allows the rear facing capsule to be recorded independently of the forward-facing capsule. If both capsules are recorded to a stereo or dual-mono track, our free and open Source s(Mac/Win: VST, AU and AAX) will allow for unprecedented control and tailoring of polar patterns between one and five bands, with selectable crossover points during the mix process.

The OC818 also claims the world’s first wireless pattern and switching control via an optional transmitter/receiver (OCR8) that can be fitted to the rear of the microphone. This feature provides an unprecedented 255 discrete polar patterns between fig-of-eight, through all of the cardioid versions and into omnidirectional. This all occurs in the analogue domain and there is no processing or conversion of the mike’s signal to digital.

The free control software, PolarPilot, will be available for iOS and Android.

Austrian Audio is distributed in the UK/ROI by Sound Technology.