AUDIX proudly announces their 40th anniversary as a premier manufacturer of the highest quality microphones. Since its humble beginnings in 1984, AUDIX has grown to offer a wide range of microphones for audio recording, live performance, and installed sound applications. Today, product families for instruments, vocals, and studio recording enjoy a reputation for audio fidelity and build quality that rivals microphones costing many times more.
To celebrate its history and continued innovation, the company has produced a Limited Edition of the iconic D6 kick drum microphone. The Limited Edition D6X microphone has all the sonic attributes that makes D6 a classic, plus additional filtering options for unsurpassed flexibility. Only 100 units of the bead blasted D6X Limited Edition will be produced and will be available through selected giveaways throughout the next months.
In 1986, the AUDIX OM1 handheld dynamic mic was born. The OM1 began to amass a word-of-mouth reputation for sounding better than the ubiquitous industry standard and offered interchangeable grilles — ball-shaped for vocals and cap-shaped for instruments — so one model could then take the place of the competition’s two.
In 1991, AUDIX relocated from the San Francisco Bay area to Wilsonville, Oregon, where R&D and manufacturing still takes place. The 78,000-square-foot facility includes a recording studio and live soundstage for testing mics under real-world conditions, as well as bespoke tooling that allows AUDIX to adhere to tight engineering tolerances and deliver premium quality.
One of the best-selling products in AUDIX history is the D6, which has become the go-to mic for reproducing kick drum. Monitor engineer Nathan Bauld (Tower of Power) praised, “It crushes every other kick drum mic” and front-of-house mixer Charlie Martinez (Little Feat, Steely Dan) noted its flexibility on other low-end sources, saying “I thought I’d try it on baritone sax. I fell in love with it immediately.”
For their anniversary, AUDIX is producing a premium edition of the D6 in a beautiful, bead blasted finish. This special edition not only looks stunning but also offers enhanced and innovative functionality. Limited to a run of 100 mics, it features three selectable frequency responses: the original kick-drum curve plus two flatter options for even greater versatility. Watch AUDIX’s website and social media for details on how to win this collectible piece of microphone history, available from November.
Descendants of the brand-launching OM1 now comprise a full range of models with different pickup patterns for instrument and handheld vocal applications. “Changing to the OM7 was a night-and-day difference in terms of the clarity of vocals in our in-ear mixes,” notes Soul Asylum bassist Jeremy Tappero. “I could crank up a vocal without bringing up the roar of the stage.”
Sound pros repeatedly cite the same virtue across AUDIX’s range: If they choose the right mic for the source, there’s far less work to be done at the mixing console. “AUDIX makes so many different microphones geared to specific purposes and they all sound fantastic,” explains Riley Brinser, engineer for multicultural L.A. superband Ozomatli. “I find that I’m needing very little EQ or compression after the fact.” Award-winning, UK-based producer Tayte Nickols agrees: “It’s next to impossible to botch recording any source with AUDIX in general,” he says.
“We are overjoyed to celebrate 40 years of excellence at AUDIX,” says Bjørn Rennemo-Henriksen, Senior Director at AUDIX. “AUDIX always passionately challenges norms and works tirelessly to exceed both expectations. Product launches coming soon in 2025 are a phenomenal testament to this commitment; we look forward to introducing the amazing results of our team’s hard work and innovations to the community. We express our sincerest thanks to the musicians, engineers, and audio enthusiasts who have made AUDIX who we are today.”
