With the increasing popularity of rotary mixers, directly inline with the resurgence of vinyl and the rise of the new world hipsters it was inevitable that boutique brands would start to pop up.
I am going to start off with a list of brands that are active in the field, paid their dues and been around for a significant amount of time to bestow the correct respect upon them.
- Bozak (Yes the British company)
- Isonoe
- Alpha Recording Systems (ARS)
- Taula 2/4 (Can Audio)
- Mastersounds
- Varia Instruments
- Condesa
- Formula Sound
- E&S
And now for the mid/new brands making waves in the industry and widening the range of available mixers for us consumers:
- Resor
- Audio DJ
- SubZero
- Omnitronic
- Wax
- Henderson
- Union Audio (Orbit 6)
- Ecler
- Headliner
Obviously on the surface of it and certainly in the short term this is great for the consumer but I worry that in an already specialised niche with only a certain ceiling height for sales whether there is enough to go around. Could we potentially lose some of the more established brands potentially? I hope not as I know many of the manufacturer heads personally and know how much they have put into their companies. Judging by the fact that there’s a waiting list with most of the current manufacturers is a good sign of the current demand.
Let’s hope the industry grows because of the diverse choice available and this little corner of the industry thrives and continues to grow.
