2nd July 2012
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#1 | | Guest | Akai buys M-Audio & AIR from Avid
InMusic will add the AIR Software Group, a cutting-edge audio software and technology development team o their portfolio. Jack O Donnell owner and CEO, inMusic said;
“By acquiring the AIR Software Group and M-Audio, we’re not only broadening but also deepening our commitment to the future of music creation and production,” “All of our brands are technology leaders, and they all have tremendous market momentum. With the addition of AIR and M-Audio, we’re in an even better position to push the boundaries of computer-based composition, production, and performance. Naturally this will be very positive for musicians, who will get better software, better hardware, and a much more integrated music-making experience as a result.”
The AIR Software Group will continue to develop and maintain technologies for the Avid Pro Tools family of digital audio workstations, and a number of M-Audio products will continue to include Pro Tools software. Select Akai Professional and Alesis products will also now include Pro Tools, bringing the leading professional production software to a whole new audience of musicians, producers, and engineers.
M-Audio and the AIR Software Group will dovetail with Akai Professional, Alesis, and Numark in many key areas, including product development, engineering, and distribution. This synergy will bolster the product offerings and technological leadership of all five brands, giving musicians an array of instruments unprecedented in both capability and value. M-Audio and the AIR Software Group will join the other brands at the Summer NAMM Show in July and will debut a number of innovative new products at the show.
Avid is now concentrating totally on the professional audio & video markets: Quote:
Today Avid® (NASDAQ: AVID) initiated a series of strategic actions to focus the company on its Media Enterprise and Post & Professional customers and to drive improved operating performance. As part of these actions, the company is divesting its consumer businesses. With these changes, Avid will concentrate on core markets where its deep domain expertise, track record of technical innovation, and strong brand offer the greatest opportunity for success.
“The changes we are announcing today make Avid a more focused and agile company,” said Gary Greenfield, CEO of Avid. “By streamlining and simplifying operations, we expect to deliver improved financial performance and partner more closely with our enterprise and professional customers. Our objective remains to provide these customers with the innovative solutions that allow them to create the most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world. I’m excited about our future prospects.”
Avid has agreed to sell its consumer audio and video product lines. The company’s consumer audio products are being sold to inMusic, the parent company of Akai Professional, Alesis and Numark, among others. Headquartered in Cumberland, Rhode Island, inMusic's brands are best known for producing innovative products for music production, performance and DJing. The products involved in this transaction include M-Audio brand keyboards, controllers, interfaces, speakers and digital DJ equipment and other product lines. Avid will continue to develop and sell its industry-leading Pro Tools® line of software and hardware, as well as associated I/O devices including Mbox and Fast Track.
Separately, the company’s consumer video editing line is being sold to Corel Corporation, a consumer software company headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. The products involved in this transaction include Avid Studio, Pinnacle Studio, and the Avid Studio App for the Apple iPad®, as well as other legacy video capture products.
The divested product lines contributed approximately $91 million of Avid’s 2011 revenue of $677 million. As part of the transactions, certain employees of Avid will transfer to each acquiring company. Avid estimates that the proceeds from these transactions will be approximately $17 million, subject to closing inventory adjustment, with a portion held in escrow. Both transactions are expected to close today, July 2, 2012.
Avid also plans to reduce the number of its employees as it streamlines operations, with approximately 20% of its permanent employee base impacted by the divestitures and headcount reduction plans. The company currently expects to incur a restructuring charge of approximately $19 to $23 million related to these actions and other associated measures.
The company’s cash balance on March 31, 2012 was $49.7 million. The proceeds from the sale of these product lines should offset most of the restructuring charges paid in 2012.
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2nd July 2012
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#2 | | Gear addict
Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Cali, USA
Posts: 485
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That's huge!!
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2nd July 2012
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#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Stavenisse
Posts: 1,838
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I'm surprised... In a good way.
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2nd July 2012
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#4 | | Gear addict
Joined: Feb 2010 Location: GA - CA
Posts: 375
| inMusic, the parent company of Akai, buys M-Audio and AIR from Avid.
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2nd July 2012
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#5 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,053
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It's probably a good thing for pro tools, and people using MC6.
Probably a bad thing for hobbiests and innovation in general at the consumer level (which I will be the first to admit I don't care about, but having m-audio and akai controllers being made by the same company doesn't exactly foster competition.)
Overall though, I really only care about how they support the products professionals use every day. Which seems where they are re-focusing on, and that's great.
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2nd July 2012
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#6 | | Jack of all Trades
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,268
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I'm glad that Pro Tools will be more the focus of Avid and Digi. I could care less about M-Audio interfaces and such... but it will be cool to see what Akai does with it's new technology. I don't even use the Air pluggins in PT. lol A couple of them have been put to use, but not often.
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2nd July 2012
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#7 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 215
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So will Akai give up on making midi keyboards then? I think the M-Audio line have more brand identity, even if you might debate their quality.
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3rd July 2012
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#8 | | Gear addict
Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Cali, USA
Posts: 485
| Quote:
Originally Posted by FubarSnafu  So will Akai give up on making midi keyboards then? I think the M-Audio line have more brand identity, even if you might debate their quality. | I doubt that.
I think Akai was making far better mini keyboard controllers then M-audio.
Probably put a hurting on M-audio keyboard sales and put Akai in a good position to buy them out.
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3rd July 2012
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#9 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,333
| Quote:
Originally Posted by MIDIchlorian I doubt that.
I think Akai was making far better mini keyboard controllers then M-audio.
Probably put a hurting on M-audio keyboard sales | Sales on some M-Audio controllers at some shops starting today. I see the Axiom Pro 61 for under $425 now. Clearance sales soon?
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3rd July 2012
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#10 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 744
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Look out for Akai and Numark Compression plugins..........I wonder if they will let go of the Artist Mix Series......
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3rd July 2012
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#11 | | Banned
Joined: Feb 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,348
| Quote:
Originally Posted by skira Sales on some M-Audio controllers at some shops starting today. I see the Axiom Pro 61 for under $425 now. Clearance sales soon? | I hope so! I would love a new midi controller for cheap!  | |
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3rd July 2012
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#12 | | www.KevWestBeats.com
Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,890
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This is great for Akai but I am not sure how I really feel about this
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3rd July 2012
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#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Tokyo, Japan by way of Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 862
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First Sonivox now M-Audio....Mostly interested in seeing if this positively impacts the development of future MPCs.
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Tool Box:
Akai MPC Renaissance
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Akai MPC 2500XLCD
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Ensoniq ASR-10
Roland Fantom G6
Roland MV-8800
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3rd July 2012
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#14 | | Gear addict
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 320
| Avid sell M-Audio and video divisions
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3rd July 2012
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#15 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Nov 2007 Location: N.Y.
Posts: 1,130
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Already posted here yesterday.
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3rd July 2012
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#16 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2009 Location: los angeles
Posts: 2,660
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Old news.
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6th July 2012
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#17 | | 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended.
Joined: May 2005 Location: Hollywood, FL
Posts: 1,625
| The future of Avid?
HD is basicly a wrap HDX AAX is in and Avid has been cleaning up in house. Ive been slowly moving to studio one for my personal things.
Should we be freaking out now?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Gearslutz App
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6th July 2012
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#18 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2008 Location: 'da Pitts, PA
Posts: 2,932
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Why should anyone freak out? PT10 native here and I ain't goin' nowhere.
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6th July 2012
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#19 | | 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended.
Joined: May 2005 Location: Hollywood, FL
Posts: 1,625
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im still in 8/9. 10 is a big leap financially and i loved the demo but im watching this from the outside.
Wish it was money to be made to justify the upgrade.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Gearslutz App
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6th July 2012
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#20 | | Jack of all Trades
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,268
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What is a big leap financially?
PT 10 Native here as well ($300 brand new, my first ever copy of PT - with 4 years of free upgrades)
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6th July 2012
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#21 | | Guest | Quote:
Originally Posted by JoRillo There is no way in hell that they are ONLY going to services the HDX AAX crowd. That is such a SMALL part of their business. | It's opposite. The HDX AAX crowd, Media Composer/Symphony + Nitris/Mojo Hardware, Venue professional users accounted for 86% of their revenue. The small part of revenue which they sold off accounted for the rest.
Music recording is a small part of the recording industry. Post/Film where you have 6-8 HD6 rigs connected to media composer/symphony systems to mix 1000-4000 tracks is where HDX3's are quickly popping up worldwide to go with Media Composer/Symphony + Nitris/Mojo DX hardware. Here is a quote that sums it up: Quote:
Originally Posted by narcoman since when the fek has the majority of the recording industry been about records? There is FAR more work in voice overs, adverts and soundtrack (including foley work)... by a factor of about 100:1. Post production is a HUGE market. Recording "songs" is one of the smallest part of the industry.. recall is indespensible in the money areas, and songs (even at the top end) is peanuts in comparison!!  | | |
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6th July 2012
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#22 | | Gear interested
Joined: Mar 2011 Location: NYC/NJ
Posts: 24
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Killah_Trakz im still in 8/9. 10 is a big leap financially and i loved the demo but im watching this from the outside.
Wish it was money to be made to justify the upgrade.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Gearslutz App | I can't see that happening plus they push the low end products more
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6th July 2012
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#23 | | Gear addict
Joined: Mar 2012 Location: Illinois
Posts: 344
| Quote:
Originally Posted by JoRillo What is a big leap financially?
PT 10 Native here as well ($300 brand new, my first ever copy of PT - with 4 years of free upgrades)
There is no way in hell that they are ONLY going to services the HDX AAX crowd. That is such a SMALL part of their business. | Avid's latest update says differently. They're going to try to move their focus almost exclusively on the professional side, which would be there HDX stuff and PT11.
After that announcement and the selling of m-audio, people are wondering if PT11 is going to move back to using proprietary hardware only...
A lot of studios are only sticking with Pro Tools because they already have so much invested in it, but they are otherwise unhappy with AVID. And on the consumer side, alternative DAWs are getting much more popular (Studio One, Logic, Cubase...)
I know I've been transitioning away from Pro Tools.
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6th July 2012
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#24 | | Jack of all Trades
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,268
| Quote:
Originally Posted by MediaMix It's opposite. The HDX AAX crowd, Media Composer/Symphony + Nitris/Mojo Hardware, Venue professional users accounted for 86% of their revenue. The small part of revenue which they sold off accounted for the rest.
Music recording is a small part of the recording industry. Post/Film where you have 6-8 HD6 rigs connected to media composer/symphony systems to mix 1000-4000 tracks is where HDX3's are quickly popping up worldwide to go with Media Composer/Symphony + Nitris/Mojo DX hardware. Here is a quote that sums it up: | Damn, 86%. That I did not know. I guess since the guys that do buy HDX, end up buying 50+ channels worth of the cards and such, that it adds up in the end.
I'm well aware of Post being a much bigger industry then music, I guess I just hadn't thought that the numbers for HDX sales had gotten so large.
I retract my previous statement.  | |
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6th July 2012
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#25 | | 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended.
Joined: May 2005 Location: Hollywood, FL
Posts: 1,625
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I dont know what too say. I mean we can stay pt10 forever and say its "vintage" but thats almost another $1000 and it uses the new .ptx format.
Yeah maybe this HD rig is staying put. I wished someone would make a VST card like the uad's / avid too offload into. I never understood why. Waves did back then but it was utter garbage.
Shits getting more expensive and the game is alot tougher now.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Gearslutz App
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6th July 2012
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#26 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 718
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Killah_Trakz I dont know what too say. I mean we can stay pt10 forever and say its "vintage" but thats almost another $1000 and it uses the new .ptx format.
Yeah maybe this HD rig is staying put. I wished someone would make a VST card like the uad's / avid too offload into. I never understood why. Waves did back then but it was utter garbage.
Shits getting more expensive and the game is alot tougher now.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Gearslutz App | You can get someone to custom build you a computer that will handle your vst processing like a uad card.
I knew one kid in florida that could do that. I never really looked into it, but its possible
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Gearslutz App
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6th July 2012
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#27 | | Gear addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 417
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Originally Posted by Killah_Trakz Shits getting more expensive and the game is alot tougher now | Well, buy in price for a single 24 track pro tape recorder used to be $15000 on up, and this was in the 70's, so adjust for inflation. Then, you had to buy THE TAPES...
As much as I think Avid does price gouge, I'm still glad to be doing music in this day and age | |
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6th July 2012
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#28 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2010 Location: NYC/LA
Posts: 1,636
| Quote:
Originally Posted by MediaMix Music recording is a small part of the recording industry. Post/Film where you have 6-8 HD6 rigs connected to media composer/symphony systems to mix 1000-4000 tracks is where HDX3's are quickly popping up worldwide to go with Media Composer/Symphony + Nitris/Mojo DX hardware. Here is a quote that sums it up: | Quote:
Originally Posted by narcoman
since when the fek has the majority of the recording industry been about records? There is FAR more work in voice overs, adverts and soundtrack (including foley work)... by a factor of about 100:1. Post production is a HUGE market. Recording "songs" is one of the smallest part of the industry.. recall is indespensible in the money areas, and songs (even at the top end) is peanuts in comparison!!
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7th July 2012
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#29 | | Gear Head
Joined: Jan 2010 Location: West Coast
Posts: 74
| M-Audio is not longer part of Avid. Or something.
Did anyone else get this e-mail from Avid? Quote:
Dear Valued Customer,
We have some exciting news related to our audio product lines! inMusic, the parent company of Akai Professional, Alesis, Numark and others, has purchased several products lines from Avid®, including the entire M-Audio® line of keyboard controllers and accessory products (including Avid Keystudio), studio monitors and accessories, Avid Vocal Studio, the DJ line, including Torq®, and the Profire, Delta and Audiophile series of audio interfaces. The team at inMusic is committed to ongoing support for owners of these products, and would like the opportunity to contact you directly.
| [and so on...]
Can't say I'm unhappy. I had really bad customer service from M-audio when it was under Avid (in fact I'm no longer an M-audio customer, hello Novation!). I only hope their management and customer service improves. Not to mention the products, which is why I needed customer service in the first place.
Any thoughts?
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7th July 2012
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#30 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,307
| Avid sold maudio line to numark/alesis/Akai?
Just got an email about this and not to happy about it to be honest.
What y'all think?
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