Austrian Audio OC818 Dual Set Go Matched Stereo Condenser Mic Pair

Austrian Audio OC818 Dual Set Go: A Portable Matched Stereo Rig

The Austrian Audio OC818 Dual Set Go is a matched pair of large-diaphragm multi-pattern condenser microphones built for portable stereo recording. Each mic carries the handmade CKR12 ceramic capsule, four switchable polar patterns, and a dual-output design that lets you reshape pattern and stereo width after the take. Packed with lightweight clamps, windscreens, cables, and a compact carrying case, it turns two flagship condensers into a grab-and-go stereo kit. For engineers who record on location as often as in the studio, it is a professional stereo pair you can actually carry. This is a reference rig that goes wherever the session does.

Two Matched OC818 Condensers

The Dual Set Go pairs two OC818 large-diaphragm condensers selected to behave consistently across the frequency range. A condenser microphone uses a thin diaphragm placed close to a charged backplate, so tiny changes in air pressure translate into a highly detailed electrical signal, which is why condensers capture more nuance and high-frequency air than dynamic mics. Matching two of them matters because stereo techniques rely on both capsules responding identically; any mismatch smears the phantom center image and blurs the stereo field. With a consistent pair, XY, ORTF, and spaced arrays stay tight and believable. That makes this set a natural first choice for drum overheads, acoustic guitar, and full ensemble capture.

Four Switchable Polar Patterns

Each OC818 offers cardioid, omnidirectional, figure-8, and hypercardioid patterns, plus programmable presets. A polar pattern describes which directions a microphone is most sensitive to: cardioid rejects the rear for isolation, omni hears everything for natural room tone, and figure-8 captures front and back equally for Mid-Side and Blumlein stereo. Having all four on tap means one pair covers close-miking, room ambience, and classic stereo arrays without swapping microphones. On overheads you might run cardioid for focus, then switch to figure-8 for a wide Blumlein image on the same session. That flexibility is why multi-pattern condensers earn a permanent place in a recording kit.

Dual-Output Design and PolarDesigner

The OC818 signature trick is its second mini-XLR output, which carries the signal from the rear of the capsule separately. Fed through the free PolarDesigner software, those two signals let you dial in any polar pattern, or even automate pattern changes, after recording is finished. StereoCreator and AmbiCreator extend the same idea to build stereo images and Ambisonic B-format from a pair. In practice, you can commit a performance to disk and still decide the room sound, bleed, and stereo width in the mix. For immersive and post-heavy workflows, that after-the-fact control is genuinely rare in an analog microphone.

Handmade CKR12 Capsule

At the heart of each mic is the CKR12, a ceramic-based large-diaphragm capsule hand-built in Vienna and inspired by the legendary CK12. Ceramic gives the backplate exceptional dimensional stability, so the capsule holds its tuning across temperature and humidity swings that would detune older designs. The result is an open, detailed top end with a controlled proximity effect and up to 148 dB SPL handling, rising to 158 dB with the pad engaged. That headroom lets the same mic sit inches from a snare or gently over a choir. Reviewers routinely praise the sound as detailed and refined, placing it among the most respected large-diaphragm condensers.

Portable Stereo Kit Contents

The Dual Set Go ships with two OCH8 microphone clamps, two OCW8 foam windscreens, two OCC8 mini-XLR cables, and a compact carrying case sized for travel. The lightweight OCH8 clamps mount fast when speed matters, while the OCW8 windscreens tame breath and light wind for location work. The OCC8 cables are the key to the dual-output feature, carrying that second signal into your interface for PolarDesigner. Everything nests into the included case so the pair stays organized between sessions. It is a complete, ready-to-record stereo package rather than a bare pair of microphones.

Where the Dual Set Go Shines

This set is built for engineers who need a trustworthy stereo pair that travels well. Use it for drum overheads and room mics, acoustic guitar and piano, orchestral and choir sessions, and location or field recording where a compact rig matters. The optional OCR8 Bluetooth remote adds real-time wireless control of pattern, pad, and high-pass through the PolarPilot app, invaluable when the mics are up on tall stands. Because both mics require 48V phantom power, any modern interface or preamp will drive them. For a studio that wants one pair to handle stereo everything, the Dual Set Go is a reference-grade answer.