Sound Devices has acquired Audio Ltd!!

[IronFilm]

https://www.sounddevices.com/news/sound-devices-news/sound-devices-acquires-audio-ltd


Late last year Sound Devices became the North American distributor for Audio Ltd.

https://www.sounddevices.com/news/s...amed-north-american-distributor-for-audio-ltd



Sound Rolling just uploaded about this:

 

[Rick R]

As I understand, they didn't exactly buy the company, but will become the North America distributor. I'm sure Lectro and Zax ain't happy about it, more competition may be good for us schmucks in the field.

 

[Run&Gun]

I'm wondering how they'll get around their transmitters being able to record (with TC), since Zax apparently sues everyone in the US who tries it. Will they just disable that feature in the US?(or do they have some type of licensing agreement with Zax?) Although I've been told by a sales rep that Lectro is currently in litigation with Zaxcom over it and if they win, they will be able to update the firmware on their newer transmitters, like some of my SMDWB's, to be able to allow them to transmit and record simultaneously.

 

[Greg_E]

The ability to transmit and record is fairly obvious, so if that is the only thing the patent is built on, it deserves to fall.

 

[Run&Gun]

The ability to transmit and record is fairly obvious, so if that is the only thing the patent is built on, it deserves to fall.

I'm with you, but at least so far, they've been successful at enforcing it. Here's to Lectro successfully toppling it. And additionally, here's to patent reform in the US, in general.

 

[Jim Feeley]

As I understand, they didn't exactly buy the company, but will become the North America distributor. I'm sure Lectro and Zax ain't happy about it, more competition may be good for us schmucks in the field.

From the press release:

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Sound Devices Acquires Audio Ltd.

Audio Ltd's heritage of excellence in wireless microphone systems for film and TV markets, an ideal match for Sound Devices.


REEDSBURG, WI USA & WATFORD, UK, FEBRUARY 13, 2018 – Sound Devices, LLC is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Audio Limited, the UK manufacturer and developer of high-performance wireless microphone systems. Audio Ltd., now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sound Devices, continues to operate out of its Watford, UK offices with Kishore Patel and Lee Stone continuing as managing director and technical director, respectively.
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[IronFilm]

As I understand, they didn't exactly buy the company, but will become the North America distributor.

No, that was late last year.

I'm sure Lectro and Zax ain't happy about it, more competition may be good for us schmucks in the field.

Indeed, the more competition the merrier! Provides a strong force to drive forward innovation.

 

[indiawilds]

Are the Audio Ltd product in the same cost level as Lectros?

 

[Jim Feeley]

Are the Audio Ltd product in the same cost level as Lectros?

Same-ish to more expensive. They have some cool tech, but a small presence in many countries (or at least in the US). Interesting acquisition by a smart company.