Greg Clark Mackie
Encyclopedia
Greg Mackie is an American entrepreneur and inventor of professional audio products. He founded Mackie Designs (now LOUD Technologies
) in 1988 after nearly 20 years working as a musician and after founding two previous companies, Technical Audio Products (TAPCO)
in 1970, and AudioControl in 1977. Mackie Designs would grow to sales of $153.8 million and 946 employees by 1999, after it had been taken public in an IPO in 1995.
formed a company in 1970 that made guitar amps, speakers, and other music gear. But it was an audio mixer, which would become the TAPCO
6000 that launched his successful career as a successful pro audio entrepreneur.
in 1970. He and associates Martin Schneider and Rodger Rosenbaum devised the company’s seminal Model 6000 audio mixer, the first designed specifically for the louder volumes required by rock bands. Its innovations included variable-gain mic preamps. TAPCO also helped Mackie develop his understanding that form was as important as function for the new generation of pro audio equipment, that the external look and feel of a product is very important to the consumer. "Consumers have a tough time getting past a poor quality exterior even if the internal quality is excellent," he told an interviewer.
TAPCO would grow into a multimillion-dollar success. Mackie left in 1976 to start AudioControl, establishing it as a leading producer of stereo equalizers and analyzers for consumer stereo systems. TAPCO was eventually sold to Electro-Voice
. However, in 2003, Mackie purchased the rights to the TAPCO name from Electrovoice and applied it to a line of budget mixers, speakers, amplifiers, and other audio equipment, under the Mackie Designs umbrella of brands.
, Washington, and using parts left over from his previous ventures, Mackie created the LM-1602, which became popular with musicians, churches, small recording studios and schools. That was followed by the CR-1604 mixer in 1991, which was even more successful and continued to hew to Mackie’s philosophy of simple, rugged design and affordable pricing. In 1993, Mackie Designs debuted its 8-Bus mixer consoles, which were designed specifically for multi-track recording and live sound applications. These mixing products produced spectacular growth rates -- revenues for 1994 topped $35.5 million, and the company had over 250 employees. Mackie Designs was taken public in 1995, largely to capitalize further R&D and manufacturing capacity. That same year it sold its 100,000th mixer product and moved into a new 89000 square feet (8,268.4 m²) manufacturing facility in Woodinville, Washington, that was equipped with state-of-the-art automated production machinery, which helped boost the company’s manufacturing productivity. Here, Mackie developed and produced the SR 32-4, a 32 channel mixer designed specifically for live sound applications, and the UltraMix Universal Automation System, which let users automate, store, and replicate over 136 channels of parameters for a retail price of $2,795, well below the cost of competing console automation systems. Additional innovative products followed, as did entirely new lines of products, such as the Mackie 8200 Accuracy Active Studio Reference Monitor and the M-1200 premium power amplifier, its first-ever non-mixer product. The company also grew by acquisition, purchasing complementary brands including EAW, RCF, RCF Precision, SIA Software and Acuma Labs.
formed M&W Pro Audio. That same year, QSC Audio Products
, LLC announced a co-development partnership with M&W Pro Audio to develop, manufacture and market a new line of advanced digital mixing consoles.
LOUD Technologies
LOUD Technologies, Inc. is an American professional audio company. It operates in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Japan. Originally known as Mackie Designs, Inc., the name was changed to Loud Technologies, Inc. in 2003.-St. Louis Music:...
) in 1988 after nearly 20 years working as a musician and after founding two previous companies, Technical Audio Products (TAPCO)
TAPCO
Tapco is a brand name for sound reinforcement products including audio mixers, speakers, and amplifiers.The original Tapco, which stood for "Technical Audio Products COmpany", was founded in 1969 by Greg Mackie and Martin Schneider. Their original product line were guitar amps and PA speakers...
in 1970, and AudioControl in 1977. Mackie Designs would grow to sales of $153.8 million and 946 employees by 1999, after it had been taken public in an IPO in 1995.
Biography
Gregory Clark Mackie was born on September 22, 1949, in Seattle, Washington. His parents were Clair and Nathalia Mackie. In the mid-1960s, Mackie volunteered for and served in the U.S. Army. After being discharged, he worked for a period at Boeing Corp., and pursued a life-long interest in electronics. He and boyhood friend Martin SchneiderMartin Schneider
Martin Schneider , often just called "Maddin", is a German comedian, cabarettist and actor.- Biography :Martin Schneider grew up in Burgholzhausen, a district of Friedrichsdorf....
formed a company in 1970 that made guitar amps, speakers, and other music gear. But it was an audio mixer, which would become the TAPCO
TAPCO
Tapco is a brand name for sound reinforcement products including audio mixers, speakers, and amplifiers.The original Tapco, which stood for "Technical Audio Products COmpany", was founded in 1969 by Greg Mackie and Martin Schneider. Their original product line were guitar amps and PA speakers...
6000 that launched his successful career as a successful pro audio entrepreneur.
TAPCO
Mackie formed TAPCOTAPCO
Tapco is a brand name for sound reinforcement products including audio mixers, speakers, and amplifiers.The original Tapco, which stood for "Technical Audio Products COmpany", was founded in 1969 by Greg Mackie and Martin Schneider. Their original product line were guitar amps and PA speakers...
in 1970. He and associates Martin Schneider and Rodger Rosenbaum devised the company’s seminal Model 6000 audio mixer, the first designed specifically for the louder volumes required by rock bands. Its innovations included variable-gain mic preamps. TAPCO also helped Mackie develop his understanding that form was as important as function for the new generation of pro audio equipment, that the external look and feel of a product is very important to the consumer. "Consumers have a tough time getting past a poor quality exterior even if the internal quality is excellent," he told an interviewer.
TAPCO would grow into a multimillion-dollar success. Mackie left in 1976 to start AudioControl, establishing it as a leading producer of stereo equalizers and analyzers for consumer stereo systems. TAPCO was eventually sold to Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice is a manufacturer of audio equipment, including microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers. A subdivision of Telex Communications Inc., Electro-Voice markets its products for use in small or large concert venues, broadcasting, houses of worship, and in retail situations.-History:On...
. However, in 2003, Mackie purchased the rights to the TAPCO name from Electrovoice and applied it to a line of budget mixers, speakers, amplifiers, and other audio equipment, under the Mackie Designs umbrella of brands.
Mackie Designs
Mackie Designs was formed in 1988 to address what Greg Mackie perceived as a burgeoning but untapped market for mid-priced but powerful small audio mixers and consoles that lay between the expensive upper end of the market that served professional recording studios and the mass-produced low end of the market. Working initially from his three-bedroom condominium in EdmondsEdmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
, Washington, and using parts left over from his previous ventures, Mackie created the LM-1602, which became popular with musicians, churches, small recording studios and schools. That was followed by the CR-1604 mixer in 1991, which was even more successful and continued to hew to Mackie’s philosophy of simple, rugged design and affordable pricing. In 1993, Mackie Designs debuted its 8-Bus mixer consoles, which were designed specifically for multi-track recording and live sound applications. These mixing products produced spectacular growth rates -- revenues for 1994 topped $35.5 million, and the company had over 250 employees. Mackie Designs was taken public in 1995, largely to capitalize further R&D and manufacturing capacity. That same year it sold its 100,000th mixer product and moved into a new 89000 square feet (8,268.4 m²) manufacturing facility in Woodinville, Washington, that was equipped with state-of-the-art automated production machinery, which helped boost the company’s manufacturing productivity. Here, Mackie developed and produced the SR 32-4, a 32 channel mixer designed specifically for live sound applications, and the UltraMix Universal Automation System, which let users automate, store, and replicate over 136 channels of parameters for a retail price of $2,795, well below the cost of competing console automation systems. Additional innovative products followed, as did entirely new lines of products, such as the Mackie 8200 Accuracy Active Studio Reference Monitor and the M-1200 premium power amplifier, its first-ever non-mixer product. The company also grew by acquisition, purchasing complementary brands including EAW, RCF, RCF Precision, SIA Software and Acuma Labs.
Leaving Mackie Designs
Greg Mackie announced his plans to sell his controlling stake in Mackie Designs in January 2003, also stepping down as chairman that year in the wake of slowing sales and increased debt due in part to the technology bubble-induced economic recession in the first years of the decade. In 2001, the company lost $5.3 million on sales of $206.5 million. Investment firm Sun Capital Partners Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla., acquired 65 percent of Mackie Designs' stock, through Greg Mackie retained a three-percent share of the stock and continued as a consultant until mid-2006. The same year, the company’s name was changed to Loud Technologies Inc.New venture
In 2010, six years after retiring from Mackie Designs, Greg Mackie and mixing console technology designer Peter WattsPeter Watts (audio engineer)
Peter Watts is a designer of pro audio equipment who is recognized as a leader in his field.-Overview:Watts spent a total of 35 years designing analog and digital audio recording consoles...
formed M&W Pro Audio. That same year, QSC Audio Products
QSC Audio Products
QSC Audio Products, LLC is an American manufacturer of professional audio products. QSC's target markets are audio professionals in concert, installation, portable entertainment and cinema applications.-History:...
, LLC announced a co-development partnership with M&W Pro Audio to develop, manufacture and market a new line of advanced digital mixing consoles.