Microphone maker Audix acquired by content creation hardware and software specialists Vitec Group
The Vitec Group enters the microphone market proper with the acquisition of cult favourite microphone makers Audix.
Credit: Audix
Content creation solutions experts The Vitec Group has acquired Portland, Oregon-based microphone makers Audix and all its affiliates.
The acquisition is set to help Vitec accelerate its in-house microphone product design, development and manufacturing across all its current audio brands and Audix will be represented alongside microphone windshield makers Rycote and tripod makers JOBY as the three core brands to spearhead Vitec’s entry into the audio market.
Audix has gained a cult following for their high-quality premium microphones, having recently launched what they call the “new gold standard” for capturing vocals, the Audix’s A231. While ostensibly designed to capture vocals, the company claims the microphone captures sound in such detail that it can be used as an overhead for drums, or for recording acoustic instruments such as as violins and guitars.
MusicTech reviewed the Audix DP7 Drum Microphone Pack back in 2019, and found the seven-piece microphone pack to offer a “range of microphones optimised to work together, bringing out the best of their individual characteristics”, according to reviewer John Pickford.
The Vitec Group specialises in premium-branded hardware products and software solutions catering to the content creation market. They count livestreaming service Lightstream, camera accessories maker Manfrotto, and video solutions experts Teradek among their range of brands. The acquisition of Audix, is set to convert the Audix team and facility in Portland into the Vitec Imaging Solutions’ Audio R&D Centre of Excellence.
The group employs over 1,800 people worldwide working on camera supports, video transmission systems and monitors, live streaming solutions, smartphone accessories, robotic camera systems, prompters, LED lighting, mobile power, bags and motion control, audio capture and noise reduction equipment.
In a press statement, Marco Pezzana, Divisional CEO at Vitec Imaging Solutions outlined the value of the acquisition to Vitec, saying, “The brand will significantly increase our total addressable market, advance our audio technology capabilities and, most importantly, bring great people with intimate knowledge of the audio industry, who will be a real asset to the company and enable us to accelerate the delivery of Vitec’s audio strategy and delight the content creator community with easy to use, high fidelity audio capture solutions.”
