Focusrite
{{Short description|British audio equipment company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Focusrite plc.
| logo = Focusrite plc logo.svg
| type =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1985}}
| founder = Rupert Neve
| location = Windsor House, Turnpike Rd, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England
| key_people = Phil Dudderidge
| area_served =
| industry = Electronics, Professional Audio
| products =
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent =
| divisions = {{unbulleted list|Focusrite|Focusrite Pro|Ampify Music|Optimal Audio}}
| subsid = {{unbulleted list|Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited (with subsidiaries Focusrite Novation Inc and Focusrite Novation Asia Limited)|ADAM Audio GmbH|Martin Audio Limited||Novation|Sequential}}
| owner =
| company_slogan =
| homepage = {{unbulleted list|[https://www.focusriteplc.com/ focusriteplc.com]|[https://focusrite.com/ focusrite.com]|[https://pro.focusrite.com/ pro.focusrite.com]|[https://www.adam-audio.com/ adam-audio.com]|[https://martin-audio.com/ martin-audio.com]|[https://novationmusic.com/ novationmusic.com]|[https://ampifymusic.com/ ampifymusic.com]}}
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
}}
Focusrite PLC is an English music and audio products group based in High Wycombe, England (with its history in Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd.). The Focusrite Group trades under eight brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Martin Audio, ADAM Audio, Novation, Ampify Music, Optimal Audio and Sequential. Focusrite designs and markets audio interfaces, microphone preamps, consoles, analogue equalizers (EQ) and channel strips, and digital audio processing hardware and software for professional and home studios.{{cite web |publisher=Focusrite |date=April 2013|title=Focusrite |url=http://www.focusrite.com }}
History
Founded in 1985 by Rupert Neve, Focusrite's first contracts included a commission from George Martin to build extensions to AIR Studios' custom Neve consoles, initially the vintage recording console in Martin's AIR Montserrat studio in the Caribbean – specifically a microphone preamplifier and equaliser.{{cite web |publisher=Mercenary Audio |date=September 2006 |title=Letter from Focusrite to Mercenary Audio |url=http://www.mercenary.com/whynofocusrite.html |access-date=24 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510063323/http://www.mercenary.com/whynofocusrite.html |archive-date=10 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Audio industry entrepreneur and co-founder of Soundcraft Electronics Ltd, Phil Dudderidge purchased the company's assets in April 1989, establishing Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd and reissuing the original modules along with some new designs.{{cite web |publisher=Plan 2 Music |date=September 2006 |title=Focusrite Company History |url=http://www.plan2music.com/bastille/www/pages/Focusrite%20Audio%20Engineering_fichiers/index.htm |access-date=7 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822144543/http://www.plan2music.com/bastille/www/pages/Focusrite%20Audio%20Engineering_fichiers/index.htm |archive-date=22 August 2011 |url-status=dead }} The company also designed a new console, the Focusrite Studio Console, released in 1990.
In August 2004, Focusrite acquired electronic instrument manufacturer Novation which became a subsidiary called Novation Digital Music Systems Ltd.{{cite web |publisher=Novation Music |date=1 August 2004 |title=Focusrite acquire Novation |url=http://www.novationmusic.com/news.asp?id=24 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20051113100516/http://www.novationmusic.com/news.asp?id=24 |archivedate = 13 November 2005}}
On 12 December 2014, Focusrite was floated on the AIM market as Focusrite plc.{{cite web |publisher=London Stock Exchange |date=24 November 2014 |title=Focusrite PLC – Intention to Float |url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/12159753.html }}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In July 2019, Focusrite acquired monitor speaker manufacturer ADAM Audio,{{Cite web|url=https://www.adam-audio.com/en/news/industry/adam-audio-focusrite|title=ADAM Audio becomes a part of Focusrite Group|date=2019-07-16|website=ADAM Audio|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-23}} and in December 2019 acquired Martin Audio{{Cite web|url=https://martin-audio.com/news/press-release/focusrite-plc-announces-the-acquisition-of-martin-audio-ltd|title=Focusrite plc announces the acquisition of Martin Audio Ltd|website=martin-audio.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-23}} who manufacture loudspeaker systems for sound reinforcement.
In April 2021, Focusrite acquired Sequential, a designer of analogue synthesizers.{{cite web|url=https://www.musictech.net/news/industry/focusrite-acquires-analogue-synth-powerhouse-sequential/|title=Focusrite acquires analogue synth powerhouse Sequential}}
In March 2022, Focusrite acquired the UK audio equipment maker Linea Research Holdings for £12.6 million.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-15 |title=Music giant Focusrite acquires audio equipment maker Linea Research Holdings |url=https://businessmag.co.uk/corporate-finance/music-giant-focusrite-acquires-audio-equipment-maker-linea-research-holdings/ |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=The Business Magazine |language=en-GB}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.Focusrite.com The official Focusrite website]
Category:Audio mixing console manufacturers
Category:Audio equipment manufacturers of the United Kingdom
Category:Companies based in Buckinghamshire
Category:Electronics companies established in 1985
Category:British companies established in 1985
Category:1989 mergers and acquisitions
Category:2004 mergers and acquisitions
Category:2014 initial public offerings
Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions