Australia’s Røde Microphones has acquired U.S. pro-audio mainstay Mackie.
Sydney, Australia (December 4, 2023)—In a blockbuster deal crossing oceans, Australia’s Røde Microphones introduced it has acquired U.S. pro-audio mainstay Mackie from Transom Capital Group. Mackie, primarily based in Bothell, Washington, now joins Aphex, Occasion Electronics and SoundField beneath the umbrella of Røde’s privately owned mother or father firm, The Freedman Group.
Particulars of the deal stay scant, however in a press release saying the acquisition famous that Mackie’s model, manufacturing and operations will stay unchanged. As could be anticipated, nonetheless, the manufacturers’ applied sciences will probably be co-mingled, as Damien Wilson, Freedman Group CEO, famous: “There are unbelievable alternatives to mix the complementary IP, infrastructure and sources of each manufacturers in highly effective methods. I’m very excited in regards to the potential this gives Røde and Mackie.”
Each corporations have taken related trajectories over time, having every first come to prominence with the house recording growth of the early Nineteen Nineties. At this time, every is a key participant in particular corners of the pro-audio world they usually have each centered closely on content material creator gear in current occasions.
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Nonetheless, it could be the businesses’ variations that spotlight the enchantment of the acquisition for Freedman Group. Røde has a protracted historical past within the recording and broadcast world, whereas Occasion is understood for its studio displays, Aphex has its presence in outboard gear and interfaces, and SoundField is a mainstay within the realm of ambisonics. The acquisition of Mackie offers Freedman Group an prompt beachhead on the earth of reside sound, thanks partly to its ProFX compact mixers and Thump model of powered loudspeakers.
Dwell sound would look like one of many essential impetuses for the acquisition, as Freedman Group’s founder and chairman Peter Freedman AM repeatedly famous Mackie’s historical past in that subject, noting, “They’re true legends, with a pedigree of reside sound experience that’s merely unmatched…. The Freedman Group is now a premier audio expertise firm providing world-class merchandise to a good wider vary of consumers, from up-and-coming content material creators to professionals working in reside manufacturing and everybody in-between.”
He later added, “My background is in reside sound manufacturing. It’s one thing I’ve all the time been captivated with, ever since I noticed Tom Jones on the Chevron Lodge in Sydney as a child again in ’69 – my father Henry put in the sound system there, in addition to many different venues throughout the town. Dwell sound is the place I minimize my tooth in audio, so this very a lot appears like that a part of my profession coming full circle.”
Alex Nelson, CEO of Mackie, famous that the acquisition announcement is simply the primary of many to count on from Mackie within the coming weeks, providing, “[Røde is] the proper companion to assist Mackie develop as we enter an thrilling new chapter in our historical past. Additionally, the timing couldn’t be higher. We’ve got an unbelievable product roadmap forward of us, which we’ll be making some large bulletins for main as much as NAMM ’24. That is an especially thrilling time for Mackie, and we couldn’t be happier doing all of this alongside the Røde staff.”
