The Australia-based Rode acquired U.S.-based Mackie, a high-end professional audio brand most widely known for its audio mixers that primarily serve musicians and recording studios.
Described by Rode as an “iconic American pro audio leader,” the addition of Mackie makes Rode — and its parent company the Freedman Group — one of the most well-rounded audio companies in the world. That description is Rode’s, per its press release, but that doesn’t make the characterization any less true.
The company now makes headphones — very good ones at that — microphones ranging from on-camerae shotguns to wireless lavalier mics that run the gamut of entry-level to highest-end, and now adds professional mixing boards and speakers designed for the desk, systems for the home studio, and massive loudspeakers built for events — and everything in between.
“Since 1989, Mackie has been a leading designer and manufacturer of pro audio products, including mixers and loudspeakers for home, studio and stage use. An integral player in the home recording revolution in the 1990s, Mackie quickly made a name for itself as a highly innovative brand with a focus on ‘built-like-a-tank’ quality and affordability,” Rode explains.
“Groundbreaking products like the 1602 and D8B mixers and SRM450 loudspeaker were instant classics and, combined with a unique approach to marketing, established Mackie as a go-to brand in the recording and live sound industries – a status they uphold today with leading products like the ProFX series of compact mixers, the Thump series of powered loudspeakers, and the popular CR series of desktop production monitors.”
Rode’s press release is overflowing with positive language about how beneficial the acquisition is for both brands, and it tracks. Mackie’s portfolio lines up very well with Rode’s and while the former does dip into some of the latter’s core competencies (namely, microphones), there is a lot more to what Mackie does that Rode doesn’t currently touch.
Now, that changes.
“I can’t think of a better company for Mackie to be associated with than Rode,” Greg Mackie, founder of Mackie, says.
Neither the value of the acquisition nor any details of the transaction were revealed.
Rode now manages a truly massive range of audio solutions that runs the gamut of basically anything anyone would need to record and play sound. Together with Mackie’s portfolio, it now offers a range of products for content creation, home and studio recording, broadcast, and live sound production.
Image credits: Rode