"From Austria with love": Acquaintance with AKG

    Today we decided to go back to our historical category [ history of the Dolby , the history of Marshall ] and introduce you to the company AKG.


    In 1947, the post-war Vienna still has not recovered from the destructive World War II. The city, divided into several sectors, was under the joint management of the winning countries. In this unstable and difficult time two experts, Dr. Rudolf Gorike ( of Rudolf Goerike ) and engineer Ernst Pless ( of Ernst Pless ) open in a small workshop. They call it "Akustische und Kino-Geraete" [ translation - "film and acoustic equipment" ].

    Photo solidariat / CC-BY The

    workshop starts with microphones. Their sound characteristics make it possible to find demand among jazz club managers, theater organizers and radio broadcasters. The production employs five people. They collect microphones by hand.

    At the beginning of the fifties, the workshop began to manufacture headphones. Subsequently, this category of goods will become one of the AKG business cards.

    In just a few years, the company releases the legendary D12 microphone, followed by the C12 . He began to use the radio station BBC.

    Growth


    AKG continues to continuously improve its products. In the 60s, the company will present two-sided cardioid microphones: AKG D202 and  AKG D224 . By this time, AKG has a branch in Germany and an office in Latin America.

    The company is actively engaged in special projects. One example is participation in the postwar (1955th year) festival in Salzburg. AKG communicates with the organizers and kindly provides its products for use during the event.

    Then the Austrians listened to the performance of their countryman, the famous Herbert von Karajan. In the same year he became the life director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. AKG produces a unidirectional microphone especially for him at this concert.

    Innovation


    The Seventies is the time when AKG continues to work on technology. The company produces a BX20 reverb device, a DX11 combo microphone and a special line of microphones for vocal performances.

    Frank Sinatra, Falco and Roger Whittaker start working with the company.

    Special projects continue to play a significant role in the development and promotion of AKG products. In 1980, the company successfully debuted at the Olympics-80. The whole planet is watching the games, and AKG technology helps to convey the atmosphere of the event.

    Just 4 years after the games, AKG becomes a public company - the shares appear in free circulation on the exchange. Within a few years, management decides to open a subsidiary in the United States and acquire a number of German and British companies.

    Photo by Andrew Pilling / CC-BY

    Now AKG is a huge corporation. It can afford substantial R & D costs and participates in the work of the Mir orbital station with its development  Audimir. Subsequently, the company also produces other special devices for space programs and crews.

    In 1997, AKG participates in another “extreme” project and produces wireless microphones that can work in the Arctic. All this company is already implementing, being part of Harman International.

    More ambitious tasks are followed by more practical ones. Rod Steward, Simply Red, Peter Gabriel and other musicians join a huge number of AKG partners and use the company's wireless microphones in their performances.

    Subsequently, the company begins to cooperate with such stars as Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West and Eros Ramazotti. In 2012, he makes a collaboration with the legendary DJ Tiesto and presents a new model of headphones. In 2006, AKG worked side by side with the organizers of the World Cup.

    Photo by Christopher Gull / CC-BY

    This year, AKG celebrates its 70th anniversary. The company continues to develop and relies on strengthening its position in new markets and cooperation with fans of the brand.

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