Behringer
 |
| File:Behringer Logo.svg | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Genre | Audio equipment |
| Founded | Germany (1989) |
| Founder | Uli Behringer[1] |
| Headquarters | 10 Countries and Territories, , |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Audio equipment |
Number of employees | 3000 |
| Website | www.behringer.com/ |
Behringer International GmbH (Behringer) is an audio equipment company founded in its present form by Uli Behringer in 1989, in Willich, Germany. Today, Behringer has its products manufactured in China and has a presence in 10 countries and territories around the world.
Products
Behringer designs, manufactures and distributes professional audio products that include:
- mixing consoles,
- effects pedals and processors for musical instruments,
- DJ mixers and tools,
- loudspeakers and studio monitors,
- microphones,
- public address systems,
- musical instrument amplifiers,
- musical instruments such as guitars and digital pianos,
- podcasting systems,
- computer recording tools and accessories,
- preamplifiers and effects processors for live sound and studio applications,
- professional lighting systems, and
- studio and DJ headphones.[2]
Production
Since 2002, Behringer's research and design, manufacturing, testing, and distribution operations have been headquartered in an over 1 million square foot facility called Behringer City in the city of Zhongshan in China's Guangdong province. Behringer employs over 3,000 people there and manufactures many of the components that go into its products including cabinets, speakers, and the pulp for its speaker cones. Behringer City is an ISO 9001/9002 certified factory.[3] [4] [5]
About the ear logo
The stylized ear logo that the company uses is meant to symbolize Behringer's approach to design, as well as represent a nickname, "The Ear", given to founder Uli Behringer as a young piano student. [6]
About the founder
Behringer began in 1989 by Uli Behringer after he, as a sound engineering student, began building his own audio gear at the kitchen table of his Düsseldorf apartment. The company began to take shape as Uli Behringer's friends and fellow students began requesting their own Studio Exciters, his first real product. Uli Behringer remains directly involved in all aspects of the company's operations. [7] [8]
Notable users
Alice Cooper[9]
Buster Williams[10]
Ann Peebles[11]
Peter Wolf (producer)[12]
DJ Lucca[13]
Rob Tognoni[14]
Legal troubles
FCC lawsuit
In February 2006, the US FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability against Behringer, claiming that 50 of the company's products had not been tested for conducted and radiated emissions limits as required by US law. The FCC proposed a fine of US $1m for these violations.[15]
Controversy
Companies that have accused Behringer of design infringement include Mackie [16] [17] and Roland [18] [19]. The case against Mackie was settled out of court under confidential, undisclosed terms. These allegations are difficult to confirm or disprove because even though some circuitry is patented, most audio circuits are variations on existing building-block circuits (like electronic amplifiers and bandpass filters.) Thus, independently developed circuits may seem similar. There is no clear proof or legal decision proving or disproving the allegations, though Behringer has won at least one court case brought against it for infringement. [20]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.behringer.com/EN/Learn-More/BEHRINGER/Uli-Behringer.aspx
- ^ http://behringerdownload.de/catalogue/BEHRINGER_2009_Catalog_EN.pdf
- ^ http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/article/793-behringer-city-opens-its-doors-.html
- ^ http://behringerdownload.de/catalogue/BEHRINGER_2009_Catalog_EN.pdf
- ^ http://www.behringerdownload.de/News/Blog/2008/12/happy-new-ear_30.html
- ^ http://www.behringerdownload.de/News/Blog/2008/12/happy-new-ear_30.html
- ^ http://behringerdownload.de/catalogue/BEHRINGER_2009_Catalog_EN.pdf
- ^ http://www.behringerdownload.de/News/Blog/2008/12/happy-new-ear_30.html
- ^ http://www.behringer.com/EN/Power-Users/Alice-Cooper.aspx
- ^ http://www.behringer.com/EN/Power-Users/Buster-Williams.aspx
- ^ http://www.behringer.com/EN/Power-Users/Ann-Peebles.aspx
- ^ http://www.behringer.com/EN/Power-Users/Peter-Wolf.aspx
- ^ http://www.behringer.com/EN/Power-Users/DJ-Lucca.aspx
- ^ http://www.robtognoni.com/
- ^ Radio Currents Online - Feb 20 - Feb 26, 2006
- ^ Loud Technologies Inc. LTec Quarterly Report (10-Q) Item 1. Legal Proceedings
- ^ Mackie Designs Inc. files lawsuit to stop "knockoff" products; Company seeks damages of $327 million | Business Wire | Find Articles at Bnet.com
- ^ Behringer Sued for Cloning Renowned Boss Guitar Effects Pedals @ Music Gear Review
- ^ Sonic State - News Roland Aim To Show Behringer Who's Boss, Lawsuit filed against Behringer for range of Boss-a-like pedals
- ^ Mackie/Behringer lawsuit. | Music Trades | Find Articles at Bnet.com
External links
- Company website
- Behringer products museum - Behringer instruments database, resources, user reviews, pictures
- News of Settlement between Behringer & Mackie
- Template:Fr icon Behringer's stomp boxes samples bank
- Behringer factory tour pt1
- Behringer factory tour pt2
- FCC Notice of Apparent Liability against Behringer, February 2006