AKG Acoustics WMS 40 - Manual (Page 6)

The breakthrough
At the beginning of the 1950s, the two
ambitious founders of AKG achieved a break-
through with completely revolutionary techno-
logies. They applied for patents for their
moving coil technology and the principle of the
mass loaded diaphragm. For the first time,
they were successful in extending the frequen-
cy response to the bass range. Whereas pre-
vious microphones had given a strange shrill,
hollow sound similar to that in old talking
motion pictures, AKG technology now added
warmth and volume to the sound.
In 1953 the first dynamic microphone star-
ted its conquest of world markets: the D 12
took studios, broadcasting stations, movies,
theaters, public speaking places, etc. by
storm. It was followed by two successors, and
for more than a decade set the standards for
voice miking.
The first notable successes in the field of
condenser microphones were achieved soon
afterwards. The C 12 tube microphone set new
standards in the professional sector.
AKG engineers used the CK 12 microphone
capsule for the equally successful C 12A and
the C 24, a stereo version. Even in the 21st
century, the capsule is one of the foremost
innovations from AKG. The newest version –
the C 12 VR – also won the Tec Award for the
year 1995.
The K 10 set a new milestone in the head-
phone market. This AKG product is still on the
market today, and is used at the European
Parliament, for instance.
Expansion course
Dynamic microphones for tape recorders
formed the cornerstone of AKG’s German sub-
sidiary, founded in 1955. Leading manufactu-
rers of tape recorders such as Philips, Grundig,
Uher, Loewe Opta, Nordmende, Telefunken
and others all purchased their microphones
from AKG. Since most of these customers
were located in Germany, and it was difficult
for AKG to supply them from an occupied
Austria, some of the production facilities and
the sales division were relocated, initially to
Munich.
In the early years, AKG did not have its own
sales network, using Siemens and other large
companies as distribution partners. By the end
of the 1950s, however, the company already
had distribution partners in Europe and over-
seas. Thanks to Austria’s neutrality, the com-
pany was also able to establish links with the
countries of the former East Bloc. It was only
during the 1960s that AKG also started to
build up contacts in the Far East and Latin
America.
During the years that followed, AKG concen-
trated on studio products, and opened up a
new market with portable reverb equipment.
By 1965 television had reduced the attrac-
tion of the big movie theaters so significantly
that motion picture equipment was dropped
from the production range entirely. From this
time on, AKG engineers focused on their origi-
nal strength: audio transducer technology.
Top products soon followed in all areas, like
the dynamic two-way microphone, the modu-
lar condenser microphone system (CMS) and
the K 141, which was ideally suited for both
studio use and for hifi equipment. The C 414
set yet another standard in studio recording.
At the beginning of the 1970s, pickups
were added to the consumer product line,
where AKG achieved success with a series of
top quality models until the advent of the com-
pact disc superseded the record player. AKG
subsequently withdrew from this market seg-
ment.
A new and exciting product line was found
in transistorized telephone handset capsules,
A P
IONEER IN
A
COUSTICS FOR OVER
50 Y
EARS
AKG - A LEGENDARY BRAND
4 www.akg.com
Rock me Amadeus
Falco, Austria’s most successful pop star to date – was a convinced and enthusiastic AKG user
right from the beginning of his career. 1983 saw the relaunch of the legendary C 12 large-dia-
phragm tube microphone using the original 6072 tube – the “AKG Tube”.
Peter Wolf
With eight number one hits to his credit, Peter Wolf is
one of the most successful Austrian composers and pro-
ducers. Top acts he worked for include Jefferson
Starship, The Commodores, Santana, The Scorpions,
Frank Zappa, and many others.
AKG HISTORY