The instrument
1950 AKG starts designing the world's first high qualify cardioid microphone, the D 12 with its patented "mass-loaded tube". When it first appeared in 1953 the AKG D 12 was presented as a high quality, general purpose musician’s microphone, suitable for instruments and vocals. He is a large-diaphragm microphone that not only provides the first true cardioid polar pattern but introduces engineering innovations such as the massloaded tube and deep-drawn diaphragms.