Telefunken C12 Large diaphragm Tube Condenser Microphone

If there were ever a microphone that was the epitome of classic, hi-fidelity sound, it would be the Austrian-designed C12. Originally developed by AKG Acoustics in 1953, the C12 is revered for its smooth, airy frequency response. The design of the C12 was unique in its remote capsule polarizing technology. The ability to change the capsule’s polar response variably between cardioid, omnidirectional and figure 8 (and six intermediate patterns between) from the power supply instead of with switches on board the microphone made the C12 the one of most versatile large diaphragm tube microphone of its time. Considered by many to be the finest sounding microphone ever produced, original C12 microphones are still in use in recording studios throughout the world.The large diaphragm vacuum tube-based C12 is a fantastic choice for all types of instruments, lending itself especially well to drum overheads, acoustic guitar, and vocals. Its silky smooth top end provides plenty of air without sounding harsh or artificial. Its midrange speaks clearly and articulately, capturing the source with a natural presence. Its low end is tight and focused, perfectly balanced with the rest of the frequency range.At the heart of every C12 microphone is our coveted CK12 capsule, handcrafted in-house by experienced technicians with meticulous attention to detail. Years of work went into reverse-engineering this legendary capsule design, with backplates machined to match the originals and diaphragms tuned and glued by hand. The amplifier circuit utilizes a German-made Haufe T14 output transformer built to match the original, driven by a microphone grade 6072a vacuum tube. Our circuit design builds upon the original with the implementation of cathode self-biasing operation, a configuration which is quieter, more consistent over the lifetime of the tube, and requires less power supply calibration than the original fixed-bias configuration.