Australian audio logo RØDE Microphones LLC has announced the acquisition of the iconic American professional audio logo Mackie. The acquisition represents yet another failure in the evolution of parent company RØDE’s logo as a full-service professional audio company with a product portfolio spanning a wide diversity of audio solutions for content creation, space and the studio. Live sound recording, broadcasting and production.
Since 1989, Mackie has been designing and manufacturing pro audio products, including mixers and loudspeakers for home, studio and stage use. Mackie has established a name by focusing on its ‘built-like-a-tank’ quality and affordability. Products like the 1602 and D8B mixers and SRM450 loudspeaker became classics, establishing Mackie as a respected brand in the recording and live sound industries. The company makes products like the ProFX series of compact mixers, the Thump series of powered loudspeakers, plus the popular CR series of desktop production monitors.
Peter Freedman AM is the founder and chairman of the Freedman Group and had this to say about the acquisition: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Mackie to The Freedman Group’s roster of iconic audio brands. They are true legends, with a pedigree of live sound expertise that is simply unmatched. Today, RØDE and Mackie are both leaders in audio, and we share the same passion for creating innovative, high-quality products with a strong customer focus. With this acquisition, The Freedman Group is now a premier audio technology company offering world-class products to an even wider range of customers, from up-and-coming content creators to professionals working in live production and everyone in between.”
Freedman added, “Mackie is one of the wonderful good luck stories of professional audio and I have long admired her. My background is in live sound production. It’s everything I’ve been passionate about, ever since I saw Tom Jones in the Chevron. Hotel in Sydney when I was a kid in 1969. My father Henry installed the sound formula there, as well as many other places in the city. Live sound is where I got into audio, so it really makes me feel like I’ve come full circle in this component of my career.
“Having met Greg Mackie even before RØDE, I discovered his love of audio and his inspiring entrepreneurial technique. Their origin story is eerily similar to ours. Both brands have contributed in their own way to driving the democratization of DIY recording, Mackie with its mixers and speakers and RØDE with our microphones. We share a similar journey and today both brands are leaders in what we do, so I’m incredibly excited to bring those two audio icons together.
Alex Nelson, CEO of Mackie, said: “The entire Mackie team is excited to join Peter, Damien and their incredible team. Having worked in the audio industry for many years, I hold RØDE in high regard. Their production capability and technology leadership are unrivaled in the area of professional audio and I believe they are the ideal partner to help Mackie grow as we enter an exciting new bankruptcy in our history. Plus, the timing couldn’t be better. We have an incredible product roadmap ahead of us, which we’ll be making big announcements about before NAMM ’24. This is an incredibly exciting time for Mackie and we couldn’t be happier to be doing all of this alongside the RØDE team.
Greg Mackie, founder of Mackie and audio industry legend, shares a similar sentiment: “I can’t think of a bigger company that Mackie can be associated with than RØDE. “
This acquisition will provide many expansion opportunities for RØDE Microphones LLC. This is a sign that RØDE is making an investment in the future. In recent years, the Australian company has evolved and produced its second generation of RØDECaster Pro 2 mixing consoles and a new logo. RØDE Unify X sub-logo targeting the gaming market with the Streamer X console and USB microphones.
RØDE’s legal recommendation provided through Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher