"From Austria with love": Acquaintance with AKG
Today we decided to return to our historical heading [ Dolby Story, Marshall Story ] and introduce you to 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 specialists, Dr. Rudolf Goerike and engineer Ernst Pless, open a small workshop in the city. 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. Five people work in the production. They collect microphones by hand.
In the early fifties, the workshop begins 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 bilateral 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 the 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 for this concert especially for him.
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 Audimir development. Subsequently, the company also produces other special devices for space programs and crews.
In 1997, AKG takes part 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 of 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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