Microphone Timeline

1877-present

This timeline traces the earliest origins of the microphone through the technological developments of today – everything from carbon microphones to modeling microphones. Famous microphone models and the companies that helped to create them are also explored!

1877

• The patent for the first microphone that enabled proper voice telephony was granted to Thomas Edison in the United States. However, it is disputed that David Edward Hughes had a working microphone a few years earlier in England. These were both carbon microphones which converted sound into an electrical signal. Hughes is credited with using the term “microphone” to describe his invention.
• Thomas Edison invents the phonograph, which was the first practical device to record and play back audio. Sound was recorded into a horn that vibrated a diaphragm and moved a stylus (needle), which would inscribe the vibrations onto a metal cylinder. Later designs involved inscribing audio on wax discs that were called “records.” This recording method, however, could only capture a limited frequency range (approx. 250-2500 Hz). Audio was recorded using this acoustic/mechanical method until the 1920s

1886

• Thomas Edison refined his microphone design with the carbon-button transmitter. This microphone was used in the first ever radio broadcast in 1910 at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

1898

• British physicist Oliver Lodge invents the first moving-coil loudspeaker. His invention was refined and made practical by Edwin Pridham and Peter Jenson of the California company Magnavox in 1915.

1906

• Lee De Forest, a former Western Electric employee, publicly demonstrates his invention – the “Audion” tube

1912

• Dr. Harold Arnold and a team of engineers from the Western Electric Company purchase the patent for the “Audion” tube from Lee De Forest, and invent the vacuum tube for the amplification of sound. Tube amplification gave us modern communication and laid the foundation for radio, television, and sound recording and reproduction. Western Electric produced and mass-manufactured the 300B tube beginning in 1938

1915

• Edwin Pridham and Peter Jensen of the company Magnavox, combined the audio innovations of the carbon microphone, tube amplifier, and moving-coil loudspeaker to create a public address (PA) system to amplify San Fransisco’s annual Christmas Eve event in 1915. This was the first amplified public music performance

1917

• E.C. Wente and Albert Thuras of the Western Electric company invent the first condenser microphone. These microphones were, however, temperamental due to their susceptibility to humidity and had limited frequency response

1920

• Western Electric develops the model 373W spring-mounted double-button carbon microphone. This was followed by the improved 387 model and 600A model. These microphones became the standard in worldwide broadcasting, but were later replaced by other types of microphones due to the inherent noise of carbon mics and their limited frequency response

1923

• H.J. Round develops the first practical moving coil (dynamic) microphone – the Marconi-Sykes magnetophone. 

1924

• Walter H. Schottky and Erwin Gerlach of the German company Telefunken co-invent the first ribbon microphone. Early carbon and condenser microphones were omnidirectional devices, whereas, the ribbon microphone design produced a figure-of-8 polar pattern
• Eugene Beyer founds “Elektrotechnische Fabrik Eugen Beyer” (later renamed Beyerdynamic) in Berlin, initially producing speakers for cinemas. As the company grew, they expanded to produce headphones and microphones
• The Sanken Microphone company is established in Japan

1925

• The first published electrical recordings were released of the Philadelphia orchestra. The Western Electric company had combined the use of their condenser microphone, tube amplification, and electromechanical recorder (patented in 1918) to create an electric recording system that was leased to record companies. Rather than use an acoustic/mechanical process involving a metal horn, a microphone and amplifier were used to actuate the recording stylus – this was a major milestone in the history of sound recording. The frequency range of electrical recording was vastly superior (approx. 60-6000 Hz) and it could also be used to capture distant and quieter sounds
• S.N. Shure found the Shure Radio Company on April 25, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. The company initially sold AM radio kits and components

1927

• Al Kahn and Lou Burroughs establish the Radio Engineers Company in South Bend, Indiana, retailing, servicing, and repairing radios. Their company was renamed Electro-Voice on July 1, 1930, and their focus shifted to PA installations. Acquiring quality microphones was a big obstacle in the PA business and so Elecro-Voice began manufacturing their own to go along with their PAs.

1928

• Georg Neumann and Erich Rickmann found Neumann microphones in Berlin, Germany
• Neumann releases the CMV 3 – the first mass produced condenser microphone. It was an omnidirectional microphone that captured up to around 12 kHz – a much greater frequency response than other microphones at the time. Condenser microphones rose in popularity over the years, overshadowing ribbon microphones due to their clarity and detail. Condensers also required much less gain from preamplifiers than their ribbon counterparts

1930

• Alan Blumlein and Herbert Holman improve upon the Marconi-Sykes magnetophone with their HB1A dynamic microphone and later the HB1B, that became a standard for broadcast

1931

• Bell Laboratory engineers A.L. Thuras and E.C. Wente develop the Model 618A microphone for the Western Electric company. This was the first moving-coil dynamic microphone designed for the general public. This was a significant step over noisy carbon microphones and often troublesome condenser microphones, both which required power sources
• Harry F. Olson of the RCA company develops their first ribbon microphone – the RCA Photophone Type PB-31. At the time of its development, condenser microphones could not compare to its frequency response

1932

• Harry F. Olson develops the RCA Type 77-A uni-directional ribbon microphone. This was a dual-ribbon microphone that was later updated with the B model, which was significantly reduced in size due to better magnet material. Then came the C model, which introduced multiple patterns. The 77-D was then released in 1945 and the 77-DX in 1954. The 77-DX became an iconic microphone for broadcasters and vocalists and stayed in production until 1973.
• Western Electric develops a miniature condenser calibration mic using a one-inch diaphragm called the 640A. After tweaking the capsule diaphragm material, they re-released it as the 640A/A, which was the standard calibration mic for serious audio work for many years.
• Shure releases its first microphone – the Model 33N Two-Button Carbon microphone. There were not many microphone manufacturers in the US and their microphone was fairly lightweight and inexpensive compared to other products in the market

1933

• RCA develops the Type 44A Velocity Microphone – a smaller, single-ribbon, lowered-priced version of the 77-A with a figure-8 polar pattern. Its tone and pattern control helped reduce reverberation and was considered the most musical microphone ever made at that time. It underwent a number of updates with the 44B introduced with a stronger magnet in 1936 and the 44BX in 1938 with new finishes. The RCA 44 was discontinued in 1957.
• Shure designs its first condenser microphone – the Model 42
• Shure designs its first wireless product, the Model 99 Modulator

1934

• Al Kahn at Electro-Voice develops the first microphone humbucking coil, which allowed their microphones to be used close to AC lines and power supplies without interference and noise. They used this technology on their V-1 velocity microphone.

1935

• Neumann develops a new capsule for their CMV-3 condenser microphone called the M7. The M7 capsule was the very first cardioid capsule and utilized a dual-diaphragm design which enabled the microphone to capture sound from all sides and enabled a single microphone to produce multiple polar patterns. The M7 went on to be used in the famous U47 and M49 microphones – both which utilized multiple polar patterns. 
• Al Kahn at Electro-Voice develops a method of stretching dynamic microphone diaphragms before assembly, creating manufacturing efficiencies and thereby dropping the price of their microphones

1939

• Shure releases the Model 55 Unidyne microphone – the world’s first single-element unidirectional dynamic microphone. This distinctively styled microphone went on to become one of the most classic live vocal mics of all time
• Shure introduces its first ribbon microphone – the Model 50
• Beyerdynamic releases the first studio-quality dynamic microphone – the M19

1941

• Western Electric patents the Model 639A ribbon microphone – the first multi-pattern microphone with settings for bi-directional (figure 8), omni-directional, and cardioid patterns. The 639B microphone was later released with an additional 3 settings that were a combination of patterns

1942

• E/V develops a microphone called the T-45 for the war effort that reduced battle (background) noise by using a 180 degree phase shift 
• Per Vilhelm Brüel and Viggo Kjær establish the Brüel & Kjær electronic company in Nærum, Denmark. The company specializes in equipment to capture acoustic and vibrational measurements, and released a world-renown line of measurement microphones

1943

• Neumann’s factory in Berlin was damaged due to bombing in the war and they fled to the town of Gefell. They set up shop in Gefell and resumed production in 1944

1945

• Fritz Sennheiser founds the Laboratorium Wennebostel (later Sennheiser Electronic) near Hanover, Germany. 

1946

• Japanese Electrician Dai Ibuka, along with co-workers Akira Higuchi and Akio Morita establish the Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Company (later renamed Sony) in Tokyo, Japan. They began repairing and modifying radios and later developed tape recorders, microphones, and other professional audio equipment
• After providing T-45 microphones for the war, production of E/V microphones exploded, necessitating a move in manufacturing facilities to nearby Buchanan, Michigan

1947

• The transistor is invented by John Bardeen, William Shockley, and Walter Brattain at Bell Labs (the engineering division of Western Electric). This invention changed the course of sound history as it used the same concept as DeForest’s vacuum tube, but was more powerful, smaller, less likely to overheat, and less likely to overheat. The first microphones to incorporate transistors were introduced in the 1960s
• Neumann partners with the Telefunken company for distribution of their products (namely the U47 microphone starting in 1949) to countries outside of Germany. Neumann allowed Telefunken to rebrand their microphones in return for Neumann being able to use Telefunken valve technology without having to pay royalties (specifically relating to the VF14 tube)
• The AKG company is founded by Dr. Rudolf Goerike and Ernst Pless in Vienna, Austria, with its main business providing technical equipment for cinemas
• Sennheiser launches their first microphone – the MD-2

1948

• RCA releases the KU3A unidirectional ribbon microphone. It featured a similar sound to the 44, but with a wide sweet spot and less proximity effect. It was designed for Hollywood and was used by film studios all over the world. It was RCA’s most expensive ribbon microphone and fewer than 600 were manufactured.
• The Beyerdynamic company moved to Heilbronn, Germany after their Berlin factory was destroyed during WWII.
• Georg Neumann moved back to Berlin and re-established production there
• Karl Schoeps founds the “Schall Technik” company in Karlsruhe, Germany. The company developed their first condenser microphone in 1950

1949

• Neumann releases the legendary U47 tube microphone – the first switchable pattern condenser mic. It incorporated a switch on the microphone body to toggle between cardioid and omnidirectional patterns
• Shure releases the Model 520 Green Bullet microphone which went on to be the most popular microphone for blues harmonica

1951

• Neumann releases the M49 – the first studio microphone with a continuously variable directional pattern (polar pattern was adjusted on the power supply and could be blended between patterns)
• Neumann releases the M50 tube condenser microphone that had a small diaphragm capsule in a larger head basket. Its unique properties made it ideal for orchestral recording and was instrumental in developing the Decca tree recording technique – where 3 omni microphones were used in a T-pattern to capture ensembles
• Schoeps begins working with Telefunkin to distribute their microphones internationally

1953

• AKG releases the C12 condenser microphone – a remote-controlled multi-pattern condenser microphone (polar patterns could be switched from the power supply in the control room up to 6t feet away). The microphone featured the famous CK12 large diaphragm capsule designed by their engineer Konrad Wolf. The CK12 capsule was the first to offer constant frequency response and sensitivity for all polar patterns
• AKG releases the D12 – the first dynamic cardioid microphone. It became a classic kick drum microphone, however, it was originally intended as a vocal microphone
• The British Broadcast Company designs a ribbon microphone that was manufactured by Standard Telephones and Cables, called the STC 4038. In the mid 70s, manufacture of the microphone was transferred to Coles Electroacoustics and became the legendary Coles 4038.
• Neumann releases the KM53 – the company’s first small diaphragm mic. This microphone used tube electronics like all other mics of the time and was omnidirectional
• Shure debuts the first handheld wireless microphone system – the Vagabond 88. The microphone was powered by two batteries and had a performance range of 700 ft.
• Electro-Voice introduces Variable-D microphone technology, which reduced the proximity effect

1954

• Neumann releases the KM54 microphone – the cardioid version of the small-diaphragm KM53

1955

• Neumann releases the KM56 – their first small diaphragm with selectable polar patterns

1956

• AKG introduces the D19 dynamic microphone – a hi-fi microphone at the time that did not suffer from the proximity effect. This microphone was famously used as overheads on Ringo Starr’s drum kit
• Sennheiser develops the first shotgun microphone – the MD-82. Shotgun microphones pick up a very narrow field but with long distances, making them excellent microphones for film production
• Neumann releases the first stereo microphone – the SM-2. This microphone utilized two capsules in one housing to produce a stereo sound. It featured remote switchable polar patterns for each capsules, allowing for all sorts of stereo recording techniques

1957

• Beyerdynamic releases the M160 hypercardioid ribbon microphone. It featured a rugged dual ribbon design and was extremely directional for a ribbon mic. It is still in production today

1958

• AKG introduces the D30 – the first multi-pattern dynamic mic. The mic used two D12 capsules to produce 4 selectable polar patterns and was famously used as a kick drum microphone due to its extended bass response. It was made exclusively for the European market and was discontinued in 1960
• Neumann develops the K47 capsule to replace the M7, which was made of PVC plastic that would deteriorate over time. The K47 was made of durable mylar and is still used in Neumann microphones today
• Neumann decides to not renew their worldwide distribution deal with Telefunken, deciding to distribute their products themselves. Telefunken then partnered with AKG for distribution and manufacture of microphones
• Sony releases their first microphone – the C-37A tube condenser, which became a “go to” mic for recording horn sections
• The ITT-Cannon company develops the XLR connector for use in sound equipment and military applications. It later became the standard connector for all microphones

1959

• Telefunken releases the Ela M 251 large diaphragm tube microphone. After Neumann dropped Telefunken for their worldwide distribution, Telefunken quickly looked for another manufacturer to create a large diaphragm condenser for them. They partnered with AKG, who based the design of the Ela M 251 on their C12 model. AKG manufactured the microphone, but Telefunken branded and distributed it.
• Shure releases the Model 545 Unidyne microphone – the first unidirectional dynamic microphone that is used by speaking into the end of the mic, rather than the side. It was the predecessor of the Shure SM57

1960

• Neumann releases the legendary U67 microphone. Its predecessor, the U47, relied upon the VF14 tube from Telefunken, which was being discontinued. Neumann designed the U67 around the more available EF86 tube. The U67 also incorporated Neumann’s new K47 capsule and an additional polar pattern – the figure 8.
• Sennhesier releases the MD 421 – a dynamic microphone famous for its use on toms
• Schoeps releases their M 221 B microphone series which could use eight different interchangeable capsules, including the first single-diaphragm hypercardioid condenser (MK 241).

1961

• The Berlin Wall is erected and Neumann’s Berlin and Gefell factories are separated

1962

• AKG develops the C12A Nuvisor condenser microphone. This was the original predecessor of the C414
• The Audio Technica company is founded by Hideo Matsushita in Tokyo, Japan. The company initially manufactured phonograph cartridges, but later expanded to headphones and in 1978, microphones.

1963

• Beyerdynamic releases the M88 dynamic microphone, a popular studio staple
• Electro-Voice receives an Oscar for the development of their 642 Cardiline shotgun microphone used in film production

1964

• Schoeps releases the CMT 20 series, which were their first transistorized microphones and the first microphones to ever use phantom power

1965

• The Shure SM57 is released, becoming one of the most classic instrument microphones of all time. “SM” stands for studio microphone
• Sony releases the C-38 microphone – the very first condenser mic to incorporate FET (field effect transistors) rather than tubes 
• Neumann releases the KTM small diaphragm microphone, which was their first mic to use solid state (FET) technology. FET microphones were more reliable than their tube counterparts and could be made in smaller form factors

1966

• The Shure SM58 dynamic microphone is released, becoming the most popular live vocal microphone in the world
• Neumann introduces 48V “phantom powering” to the world of microphones. The company popularized this technology that had been historically used in some telephone systems
• Neumann releases the famous KM84 – a small diaphragm cardioid solid state microphone

1967

• Neumann releases the famous U87 – a large diaphragm solid state microphone with switchable polar patterns, which was the FET version of the U67. It was also Neumann’s first microphone to feature 48V phantom power
• Sennheiser releases the MD-409 dynamic microphone which is famous for its use on a variety of sources, but especially guitar amplifiers. Because of its flat design, it could be placed closely against cabinets or hung in front of them. While it was discontinued in 1994, it spawned two successors – the e609 and e906.

1968

• The Electro-Voice RE-20 microphone is introduced, becoming a standard in radio and broadcast as well as excelling at capturing low-frequency sources such as kick drums
• AKG releases the first modular condenser microphone system with the C-451 with FET preamp and CK capsules. The C-451E was their first FET condenser microphone

1969

• Neumann releases the U47 FET, which was an FET version of the U47. Audio engineers were beginning to utilize more close miking techniques, and this microphone was designed to handle higher SPL levels from loud sources – something tube microphones could not do without distorting. The U47 FET was the first professional condenser microphone that could handle high SPL levels. It became famous particularly for its use on kick drums and vocals

1970

• The AKG C412, a solid-state version of the C12A is released. It featured three polar patterns on the microphone and a pad switch. It was the direct predecessor of the C414

1971

• Improvements are made to the AKG C412 and released as the famous AKG C414 microphone
• Sennheiser releases the MD-441 dynamic microphone
• Neumann releases the KMS 85 – the company’s first handheld microphone. This microphone introduced handheld condenser mics to the stage

1972

• Neumann’s Gefell factory changed its company name to Microtech Gefell

1973

• Shure releases the SM7 voice-over microphone. It gained incredible popularity in radio, television, recording and podcasting studios

1974

• Schoeps releases their first modular microphones – the COLETTE series – their most popular microphone line. Twenty different capsules are available that can be placed at some distance from the amplifier of the microphone – allowing them to be placed extremely close and unobtrusively at sources

1976

• Scheops releases the MSTC microphone – the first stereo microphone designed specifically for the ORTF micing technique
• General Electric buys RCA and shuts down RCA’s microphone division
• AEA is founded by Wes Dooley in Pasadena, California, servicing original RCA and Coles microphones. By 1998, they were exclusively manufacturing replacement parts for the RCA 44

1977

• The AKG C414 EB is released and featured improved circuitry and integrated XLR connector

1978

• Shure releases the SM81 small-diaphragm condenser microphone – the first small diaphragm mic to combine studio quality sound with the rugged reliability needed for live performance

1979

• Brüel & Kjær release the 4006 measurement microphone, an omnidirectional pressure gradient mic. DPA continued this microphone when they took over in 1992 and marketed the 4006 small diaphragm condenser to recording studios. It became a worldwide studio standard.
• AKG releases their first studio grade microphone designed for the stage – the D 300 series. They were built to be extremely rugged

1983

• Neumann releases the TLM 170 microphone – the first transformerless microphone, giving a more transparent and open sound. Transformerless microphones were also less expensive to produce and could be made in smaller form factors
• With used sales of the original C12 microphones skyrocketing, AKG releases a reissue of the microphone

1984

• Shure opens a plant in Juarez, Mexico for the manufacture of their wired microphones

1986

• Electro-Voice introduces a Neodymium-based magnet structure in microphone design, resulting in greater power output and extended frequency response. This technology was used in their N/D767A microphone
• AKG releases the C1000 – the first condenser stage microphone with a convertible polar pattern and options for either phantom power or a 9V battery
• With the D12 discontinued in 1978, AKG releases the D112 dynamic microphone. This mic was modeled after the D12 but added a 4kHz presence peak to achieve a greater level of attack when placed on a kick drum
• Shure releases the SM91 boundary microphone that was designed for surface-mounted applications such as kick drums and pianos. It was a condenser microphone with a half-cardioid pattern. Shure later released the Beta 91 in 2005 and then the Beta 91A in 2010.

1987

• Neumann releases the RSM 190-S – the first stereo shotgun microphone

1988

• Josephson Engineering is established by David Josephson in San Jose, California, manufacturing high quality condenser microphones. The company later moved to Santa Cruz, California in the year 2000.
• Brüel & Kjær release the 4011 small diaphragm condenser microphone featuring a cardioid polar pattern, designed for the studio

1989

• Shure releases their Beta 57 and Beta 58 microphones featuring a supercardioid polar pattern for excellent gain before feedback in live environments. The updated models – the Beta 57A and 58A were released in 1996 and excluded the humbucking coil and added a transformer to the design

1990

• David Manley, an employee of the Vacuum Tube Logic of America company, designs and releases several tube-based pro audio products at the Los Angeles AES show – a microphone preamplifier, two outboard tube EQs, as well as two large-diaphragm tube microphones – the Reference Gold (with continuously variable polar patterns) and the Reference Cardioid. In 1993, Manley established his own company Manley Laboratories, Inc

1991

• Neumann is purchased by Sennheiser. The factory was subsequently moved near Hanover, Germany, however, the headquarters remained in Berlin
• AKG releases their first wireless microphones, the WMS100 and WMS900
• Audio Technica enters the studio microphone market and releases the value-driven 4033 microphone – the first time a high quality, condenser microphone retailed for under $1000

1992

• Sony releases the C-800G large-diaphragm tube condenser mic. It went on to become a legendary vocal microphone, used especially in pop, hip-hop, and R&B artists
• When the pro audio division of Danish electronics company Brüel & Kjær closed down, employees Morten Støve and Ole Brøsted Sørensen signed a contract to take over the division and establish the company DPA (Danish Pro Audio). Brüel & Kjær already had a well-known lineup of precisely accurate measurement microphones and DPA took those designs and brought them to the recording and live sound markets

1993

• Shure releases the Beta 87 – a handheld supercardioid condenser mic that brought a studio sound to the stage with excellent feedback rejection. Shure updated the model in 2015 with the Beta 87A

1994

• AKG is acquired by American company Hartman International Industries
• Neumann releases KM184 cardioid small diaphragm condenser microphone, which replaced the KM84 that was discontinued in 1992. The KM184 incorporated a new transformerless design.
• Scheops releases the world’s smallest professional studio condenser microphones – the CCM series
• Audio Technica releases the 4050 large diaphragm multi-pattern condenser microphone – a versatile studio workhorse that sounded great on a wide variety of sources

1995

• Neumann releases the M149 – their first tube microphone design in almost 30 years. It used a transformerless design, however, which differed from their original tube mics

1996

• Shure releases the Beta 52 supercardioid dynamic microphone – specifically designed for kick drum and other low-frequency instruments. Shure released an updated model with improved ergonomics called the Beta 52A in 2002.

1997

• David Royer (founder of Mojave Audio – who produced condenser microphones, mic preamps, and compressors) designs a ribbon microphone – the R-121. The microphone featured neodymium magnets (that were much stronger than traditional Alnico magnets) and high-grade output transformers – for better signal to noise ratio and sensitivity. The “offset ribbon” design of the R-121 also made the microphone much more durable than traditional ribbon microphones. 
• Beyerdynamic releases the first ever digital studio microphone – the MCD 100

1998

• After being in the repair business for many years, AEA releases a clone of the original RCA 44 microphone – the AEA R44C – using original parts. As the use of digital recording increased, engineers began to again favor the warm and smooth sound of ribbon mics, and demand for AEA mics ensued
• After designing the R-121 ribbon microphone, David Royer founds another microphone company – Royer Labs – in Fullerton, California
• Shure enters the market for side-address large-diaphragm condenser microphones with the KSM32
• With the growing home-recording market, Audio Technica releases the budget 30 series microphones, putting high-quality microphones in reach of the average consumer. They later released the 20 series in 2004 that became wildly popular and retailed for a mere $100

1999

• AKG releases the very first microphone to feature multiple polar patterns using a dual diaphragm electret capsule (instead of true capacitor capsules) – the 4000B. This new design enabled multi-pattern microphones to come in at a lower price point

2000

• AEA releases the R84 series to address some of the inherent flaws in the R44 design – such as the intense proximity effect and weight. The R84 is lighter in weight, has a reduced proximity effect, and more top end

2001

• After repairing many vintage Telefunken microphones, Toni Fishman decides to purchase the Telefunken name and logo and establish Telefunken Elektroakustik in South Windsor, Connecticut, USA. The new company painstakingly reverse engineered classic Telefunken mics and recreated them – releasing the ELA M 251E, C12, and U47 reissue models. They have also begun to create new microphone designs based on the classics.

2002

• Neumann releases the KK 105 S – the company’s first capsule head for wireless mics
• Neumann releases the MCM (Miniature Clip Microphone System) for close-micing instruments in a live environment. The microphone is Neumann’s first ever electret design and includes swappable cardioid and omni capsules. It also has interchangeable clips for attachment and modules for wireless or wired applications 
• Royer introduces the R-122 active ribbon microphone – the first ribbon microphone to utilize phantom power. The active design allowed the mic to be used with virtually any preamplifier and to be used on much quieter sound sources

2003

• Josephson releases the E22S side-address cardioid condenser mic. The mic was originally designed for producer Steve Albini who kept getting his prized vintage drum kit mics damaged by drummers. Albini asked Josephson to create a microphone that was bulletproof and could close mic drums with good rejection. The E22S is uniquely designed to fit in tight spaces and work well close-micing loud sources

2004

• Sanken introduces the first microphone that could capture up to 100 kHz for recording – the CO-100K. The microphone can capture from 20 Hz to 100 kHz.

2005

• Neumann releases the BCM 705 – their first dynamic microphone made for the broadcast industry
• Royer releases the first tube ribbon microphone with the R-122V

2008

• AKG releases the C214 large diaphragm microphone – a less expensive, cardioid-only version of the C414.
• Steven Slate establishes Slate Digital, creating digital emulations of classic gear. The company begin creating plug-ins to emulate analog outboard equipment but later developed digital modeling microphones

2009

• Shure acquires Crowley and Tripp Ribbon microphones, and then releases the Shure KSM353 and KSM313 ribbon mics

2016

• Shure releases the KSM8 microphone – the first dual-diaphragm, dynamic handheld microphone
• Slate Digital releases the ML-1 large-diaphragm digital modeling microphone. Using software, the user can select from a wide variety of classic microphone models to capture the sound of those mics – allowing them to have an entire mic locker with a single microphone

2017

• Manley releases a new microphone – the Reference Silver large-diaphragm tube mic, which is based on the Sony C-37A
• AKG’s Vienna facilities are shut down and transferred to California. A group of former employees began the company Austrian Audio in Vienna as a result

2018

• The Neumann U67 is reissued
• Sony releases the C-100 large diaphragm condenser, ECM-100U small diaphragm cardioid condenser, and the ECM-100N small diaphragm omni condenser microphones. These microphones were introduced as reference microphones for the new “Hi-Res” era and extend the high-end frequency response up to 50kHz. 
• Slate Digital releases their second microphone, the small-diaphragm ML-2. This mic utilizes their digital modeling software to recreate classic dynamic, ribbon, and condenser microphones

2019

• DPA releases the d:facto 4018VL Supercardioid Vocal Handheld Microphone. The 4018 is extremely linear, bringing a natural sound to live vocals

2022

• Neumann releases the M49 V – a reissue of the legendary M49

2024

• Shure releases the Nexadyne 8/C (cardioid) and 8/S (supercardioid) dynamic handheld microphones. These mics incorporated Shure’s revolutionary Revonic dual-engine transducer design that give enhanced vocal clarity and minimal bleed from unwanted sources
• Sennheiser releases the MD421 Kompakt microphone – improving upon some of the challenges of the original MD421 design. The Kompakt is smaller and lighter (getting out of the way of the drums) and has an improved mounting clip