Recording and Production in the News

Prism Sound Acquires SADiE

Cambridge, UK: Prism Sound, manufacturer of premium-quality interfaces and converters for the recording and broadcast markets, has acquired the business and intellectual property rights of SADiE, formerly owned by Studio Audio and Video Ltd.

The acquisition marks a new chapter in the histories of both businesses. The SADiE brand has long been held in high regard by the pro audio and broadcast industries for the quality and performance of its PC-based digital audio workstation products. Prism Sound is best known by this market for its high end A/D and D/A converters for mastering, tracking and post production. The merging of the two businesses under the Prism Sound name creates a stronger and more potent player in the market for high-quality audio production tools.

Prism Sound directors Graham Boswell and Ian Dennis negotiated the deal after learning that SADiE Studio Audio & Video Ltd had gone into administration in February.

"Along with many people in the industry, we were very saddened to hear that SADiE had run into problems," says Graham Boswell. "The company's reputation for innovation and creativity is truly remarkable and its digital audio workstations are rightly considered to be the best in the world. SADiE has always insisted on the highest standards of engineering and this is reflected in the quality of its product range and the tremendous loyalty of its customers."

Prism Sound's decision to acquire SADiE was based on a number of commercial factors. Both Prism Sound and SADiE are known for the quality, fidelity and performance of their respective products; both companies have impressive R&D and engineering heritages and both have enviable brand recognition throughout the broadcast and pro audio industries.

"Prism Sound is financially secure and in an ideal position to take on the SADiE brand," Boswell adds. "By combining two complementary product ranges with overlapping customer bases, we are confident that we can create a formidable and highly competitive business for the future."

The SADiE brand name will be retained but now as part of the Prism Sound business.

Prism Sound's initial aim is to place the existing SADiE product range on a secure business and financial footing. Existing customers will have full access to product support as before using the same telephone numbers and email addresses as previously and new orders are now once again being accepted by Prism Sound's sales offices in Cambridge, UK and New Jersey, USA. Deliveries will resume almost immediately, although availability of certain products may be limited initially as a result of reduced stock levels during the period of administration.

Prism Sound CTO, Ian Dennis, says: "SADiE products will benefit from joint marketing initiatives and we will also be looking at ways in which SADiE and Prism Sound products can be packaged into attractive bundles. Looking further into the future, we have the financial and engineering resources to aggressively develop new products and ensure that they are effectively promoted to broadcast and pro audio customers. We will be consulting with SADiE users to develop new product strategies and to identify ways in which the existing range can be enhanced and made more accessible to a wider market. We will be keen to combine the Prism Sound "Sound" with the supreme reliability and ease of use of the SADiE editing and production software."

Prism Sound's acquisition has been welcomed by Joe Bull, founder and managing director of SADiE's former owner, Studio Audio & Video Limited.

He says: "It was a very sad day when Studio Audio & Video Limited had to be put into administration but I'm delighted that Prism Sound has stepped forward to continue supporting the brand and the customers. Prism Sound and SADiE have very similar philosophies - creating the very best products for their customers - and I am sure that under Graham and Ian's stewardship the SADiE brand can thrive once again. I wish them and our customers every success for the future."