SADiE finds a new home

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The SADiE brand of digital audio workstations (DAWs), used widely by the BBC and other TV and radio broadcasters, has been bought out by Prism Sound.

Prism Sound, a manufacturer of recording, digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversion and mastering devices for the recording and broadcast markets, has bought the SADiE brand of digital audio workstations. The acquisition includes the business and all intellectual property rights of Studio Audio and Video Limited, the former owner of SADiE, which went into administration on February 15.

Both Prism Sound and SADiE are based in Cambridgeshire, UK and the new owner of the DAW manufacturer sees the buy-out as creating a broad, combined product range. "Prism Sound is financially secure and in an ideal position to take on the SADiE brand," said Prism Sound co-founder and director Graham Boswell. "By combining two complementary product ranges with overlapping customer bases we are confident we can create a formidable and highly competitive business for the future."

The SADiE name will be a brand within Prism Sound and existing workstations and customers will continue to be supported. SADiE was established in 1991 by Joe Bull and Mike Kemp, who had been part of Spaceward Studios and Spaceward Microsystems. Its first product was a digital audio processing card, with development of the SADiE (Studio Audio Disk Editor) product beginning in 1992. This became the core of the company and was selected by the BBC as its primary radio production system, with over 1000 SADiEs now around the Corporation.

For the time being Prism Sound will run from SADiE's old premises as well as its own offices but the intention over the next few months is to find new headquarters to house both operations. Ian Dennis, Prism Sound's co-founder and chief technical officer, said, "SADiE products will benefit from joint marketing initiatives and we will also be looking at ways in which SADiE and Prism Sound can be packaged into attractive bundles."

Details of the price paid for SADiE and how many of its staff would be joining Prism Sound were not forthcoming, although it was confirmed that the higher level of SADiE management would not be joining Prism Sound. The managing director of Studio Audio & Video, Joe Bull, said: "It was a very sad day when Studio Audio & Video had to be put into administration but I'm delighted that Prism Sound has stepped forward to continue supporting the brand and customers. I am sure that under Graham and Ian's stewardship the SADiE brand can thrive once again."


source: Rapid TV News

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