The acquisition announcement is certainly a surprising move for Audiotonix, which was present in the US mainly through its Group One operation, a US importer and distributor of audio and lighting products, which works with most Audiotonix brands. On a smaller scale, Reedsburg, Wisconsin-based Sound Devices is a highly successful and very focused audio company, working in a completely different field of applications - predominantly film and TV production - than that of the companies that have congregated around DiGiCo to create the Audiotonix group.
In fact, just in 2018, Sound Devices itself expanded its business with the acquisition of Audio Limited, a UK-based manufacturer and developer of high-performance wireless microphone systems. With that acquisition, Sound Devices gained a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the results of the two combined product portfolios are only now starting to appear.
An explanation for the announcement seems to be directly related with the decision of Sound Devices’ co-founder Jon Tatooles to retire from the company he helped create and so successfully expanded for the last 23 years. After managing Shure’s mixing and processing division over a period of 9 years, Jon Tatooles founded the company in 1998 together with Matt Anderson, and James Koomar, both also colleagues from Shure.
Signaling Sound Devices 23rd anniversary, Tatooles wrote, “We started in an environment when analog and tape were on the verge of changing to digital and file. The Internet was growing exponentially, but its ubiquity was not yet in our hands and pockets. A big change has been that, by and large, streaming video didn’t exist and along with it there wasn’t the demand for content that we have today.”
Co-founder Matt Anderson, who has been Chief Engineer of Sound Devices since inception and CEO since 2013, will continue to serve in both roles.
As Jon Tatooles states, “It has been incredible to build Sound Devices over the last 23 years into the organization it is today. I am very excited about the next chapter for the company, and I leave it in great hands. Audiotonix is a great organization who will build on the success we have achieved. I don’t believe there is a better partner.”
James Gordon CEO of Audiotonix comments, “The addition of Sound Devices and their fantastic team to our portfolio of premium audio brands is a proud moment for all involved. Their expertise and technical pedigree in film production, broadcasting and professional recording is a great fit. As with previous acquisitions we always look to increase the knowledge share group-wide and, with FPGA-based solutions and RF wireless technology at their core, we have an enviable opportunity.”
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know James and the team during the past few months. In terms of values and culture, Sound Devices fits perfectly within the Audiotonix group of companies. In a way, it will be ‘business as usual’ at Sound Devices, as we will carry on doing the same thing we've been doing for the past 23 years: focussing intensely on making the best sound products we can. However, the Audiotonix group brings us more strength in terms of access to capital, depth in manufacturing, knowledge in engineering, sourcing of parts, and expanding our sales and marketing expertise. I am extremely excited about this new opportunity,” adds Matt Anderson.
Audiotonix is a group of companies predominantly involved in the design, engineering and manufacturing of professional audio mixing consoles and ancillary products. The group combines leading mixing console brands used extensively in live sound, broadcast, theatre production, installations, house of worship and recording studios globally. Now, Sound Devices adds portable mixers and multitrack recording to the Audiotonix equation.
For over 20 years, Sound Devices has created premier audio equipment that helps sound professionals capture superior audio. The company's multitrack audio recorders, field production mixers and related equipment have been used on the sets of award-winning movies, TV shows, and documentaries. Sound Devices designs, assembles and supports its products at their Reedsburg, Wisconsin headquarters and their Madison, Wisconsin and Watford, UK offices.
www.sounddevices.com | www.audiotonix.com
