Mackie To Purchase SYDEC
January 24, 2001In a move to expand its global digital audio recording presence, Mackie Designs
Inc. signed an agreement to purchase SYDEC n.v. of Belgium, a major innovator
of digital audio technology products.
With the purchase of Sydec, Mackie Designs Inc. will own the digital audio
workstation technology and other intellectual property created by Sydec, and currently
being marketed by Soundscape Digital Technologies Ltd. Sydec created the first
PC compatible multi-track digital audio workstation. Released in 1993, it is considered
by many professionals to be the most stable workstation in the audio industry.
Sydec products have won numerous international awards including the EQ "Blue
Ribbon" awarded by the Audio Engineering Society.
Mackie Designs Inc. has been actively developing technologies in the digital
audio environment, winning the 1999 AES TEC Award for Best Medium-Sized Console
(Mackie Digital Systems' Digital 8-Bus). Additionally, Mackie recently released
the HDR 24/96, a 24-bit hard disk recorder/editor.
"We are excited to be able to take advantage of Mackie's global marketing
and manufacturing machine," commented Erik Wijnen, managing director of SYDEC.
"Our cutting-edge technologies will find a home in many more audio products,
worldwide. We'll be able to further develop audio technologies in tandem with
Mackie Digital Systems."
Jamie Engen, president and CEO of Mackie Designs Inc, is likewise exuberant
about the possibilities. "On so many levels, this is a smart alliance. We're
expanding our global presence, intensifying and solidifying our digital research
and development, and opening up the floodgates for the creation of new Mackie
products."
"But most importantly, we're bringing new, exciting, and immensely talented
people into the Mackie environment. Yes, we're purchasing a company - but it's
the employees of SYDEC that mean more to us than the existing technology. People
are the potential, not the hardware or software."
For more information, visit their web site at www.mackie.com. | 
