Long Beach, CA—Røde Microphones LLC announced the acquisition of iconic American pro audio leader Mackie. Further, the Røde acquisition of Mackie represents a new chapter in the company’s evolution. In addition, it establishes the Freedman Group—parent company of Røde—as one of the most well-rounded pro audio companies. Its catalog of products now spans a range of audio solutions for content creation, home and studio recording, broadcasting as well as live sound production.
“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Mackie to the Freedman Group’s roster of iconic audio brands,” said Peter Freedom, founder and chairman, the Freedman Group. “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.” 
Since 1989, Mackie has been a leading designer and manufacturer of pro audio products. Its portfolio includes mixers and loudspeakers for home, studio as well as stage use. An integral player in the home recording revolution in the 1990s, Mackie made a name for itself as an innovative brand with a focus on “built-like-a-tank’” quality and affordability.
Products like the 1602 and D8B mixers and SRM450 loudspeaker became classics and, combined with a unique approach to marketing, established Mackie as a go-to brand in the recording and live sound industries. Moreover, that’s a status they uphold with products like the ProFX series of compact mixers, Thump powered loudspeakers and CR desktop production monitors.
Røde Acquires Mackie
“Mackie is one of the great success stories in pro audio. I have admired them for a long time,” added Freedman. “My background is in live sound production. It’s something I have always been passionate about, ever since I saw Tom Jones at the Chevron Hotel in Sydney as a kid back in ’69. My father, Henry, installed the sound system there, as well as many other venues across the city. Live sound is where I cut my teeth in audio, so this very much feels like that part of my career coming full circle.”
Speaking about the acquisition, Alex Nelson, CEO of Mackie said: “The entire Mackie team is excited to be joining forces with Peter, Damien and their incredible crew. Having worked in the audio industry for many years, I have always held Røde in high esteem. Their manufacturing capability and technology leadership is second-to-none in pro audio. I think they are the perfect partner to help Mackie expand as we enter an exciting new chapter in our history. Also, the timing could not be better. We have an incredible product roadmap ahead of us, which we’ll be making some big announcements for leading up to NAMM ’24. This is an extremely exciting time for Mackie. We couldn’t be happier doing all of this alongside the Røde team.”
Greg Mackie, founder of Mackie and audio industry legend, shares a similar sentiment, stating: “I can’t think of a better company for Mackie to be associated with than Røde.”
