TAPCO
Encyclopedia
Tapco is a brand name for sound reinforcement
products including audio mixers, speakers
, and amplifiers
.
The original Tapco, which stood for "Technical Audio Products COmpany", was founded in 1969 by Greg Mackie
and Martin Schneider. Their original product line were guitar amps and PA speakers. They recognized that there were no mixers available with a feature set aimed at the performing musician. The first mixer product, the model 6000 and its variants was successful enough to establish the company and provide revenue for growth. In time, the company produced a line of audio mixers and power amplifiers for sound reinforcement and (later) recording.
In 1979, Tapco was purchased by Electro-Voice
who slowly phased out the Tapco name and blended the Tapco products into their own product line. The factory space in Redmond, Washington
remained active, producing electronic products for EV until perhaps 1989, when the lease ran out. The entire industrial park was razed and high rise office buildings constructed. Microsoft
is the current occupant.
Around 1979, Greg Mackie started a company that made an equalizer for home stereo speakers. That company was AudioControl. It was home stereo because of a non-compete clause in the sale agreement between EV and Tapco. Eventually AudioControl manufactured a line of equalizers for home stereo, and branched out into autosound (car stereo), home theater, and measurement. The company is still in business today (2011).
Subsequently, Greg Mackie went on to found Mackie
, with an initial product line similar to the Tapco company that he had founded previously.
In 2003, Mackie purchased the rights to the Tapco name from Electro-Voice, resurrected the Tapco name and applied it to a line of budget mixers, speakers, amplifiers, and other audio equipment. All of the products were American designs manufactured in China. According to their website, Tapco now stands for "Total Audio Production COmpany."
Sound reinforcement system
A sound reinforcement system is the combination of microphones, signal processors, amplifiers, and loudspeakers that makes live or pre-recorded sounds louder and may also distribute those sounds to a larger or more distant audience...
products including audio mixers, speakers
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
, and amplifiers
Amplifier
Generally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
.
The original Tapco, which stood for "Technical Audio Products COmpany", was founded in 1969 by Greg Mackie
Greg Clark Mackie
Greg Mackie is an American entrepreneur and inventor of professional audio products. He founded Mackie Designs in 1988 after nearly 20 years working as a musician and after founding two previous companies, Technical Audio Products in 1970, and AudioControl in 1977...
and Martin Schneider. Their original product line were guitar amps and PA speakers. They recognized that there were no mixers available with a feature set aimed at the performing musician. The first mixer product, the model 6000 and its variants was successful enough to establish the company and provide revenue for growth. In time, the company produced a line of audio mixers and power amplifiers for sound reinforcement and (later) recording.
In 1979, Tapco was purchased by Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice
Electro-Voice is a manufacturer of audio equipment, including microphones, amplifiers, and loudspeakers. A subdivision of Telex Communications Inc., Electro-Voice markets its products for use in small or large concert venues, broadcasting, houses of worship, and in retail situations.-History:On...
who slowly phased out the Tapco name and blended the Tapco products into their own product line. The factory space in Redmond, Washington
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
remained active, producing electronic products for EV until perhaps 1989, when the lease ran out. The entire industrial park was razed and high rise office buildings constructed. Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
is the current occupant.
Around 1979, Greg Mackie started a company that made an equalizer for home stereo speakers. That company was AudioControl. It was home stereo because of a non-compete clause in the sale agreement between EV and Tapco. Eventually AudioControl manufactured a line of equalizers for home stereo, and branched out into autosound (car stereo), home theater, and measurement. The company is still in business today (2011).
Subsequently, Greg Mackie went on to found Mackie
Mackie
Mackie is a brand of the United States-based company LOUD Technologies. The Mackie brand is used on professional music and recording equipment, such as mixing consoles, loudspeakers, and DAW control surfaces....
, with an initial product line similar to the Tapco company that he had founded previously.
In 2003, Mackie purchased the rights to the Tapco name from Electro-Voice, resurrected the Tapco name and applied it to a line of budget mixers, speakers, amplifiers, and other audio equipment. All of the products were American designs manufactured in China. According to their website, Tapco now stands for "Total Audio Production COmpany."