MACKIE, GREG[ORY CLARK] (22 SEP 1949–)

Professional audio designer. Mackie was a frustrated rock musician who took to making his own amps and PA systems because he was unhappy with the quality of what was commercially available. Mackie formed his first company in 1969 as cofounder of Technical Audio Products (TAPCO) with partner Martin Schneider, operating out of a house in the Pacific Northwest. The company introduced the first six-channel mixer designed to handle the heavy demands of rock bands. The mixers became very popular because of their heavy-duty construction. In 1977 Mackie left the firm to form another company, AudioControl, to manufacture home stereo equipment, particularly equalizers and analyzers. In 1989 he returned to the mixer business, recognizing the needs of contemporary bands that utilized banks of synthesizers as well as conventional instruments. Today the company produces highly regarded recording mixers, digital recording products, studio consoles, studio loudspeaker monitors, and professional amplifiers. In 1993 the company produced the first reasonably priced, eight-bus analog console.