sounds they may not have reached other- wise,” Ball said. “For Ernie Ball, the timing feels right because musicians are creating in more expansive ways than ever before, and effects are a huge part of that creative language. Source Audio gives us a credible and innovative platform in premium effects that fits naturally into that mission.” Looking beyond the acquisition itself, Ball said Source Audio also establishes an important foundation for Ernie Ball’s long- term strategy in music technology. “Yes, [we plan to make a deeper foray into the effects market] but in a thoughtful way,” Ball said. “We’re not acquiring Source Audio to simply put an Ernie Ball stamp on another pedal company. Source Audio will continue to be Source Audio, and the first priority is continuity for the existing products, customers, dealers, distributors and artists. Longer term, we absolutely see premium effects and music technology as an important part of Ernie Ball’s future.” “Source Audio has always been driven by innovation and the desire to give musicians new ways to create,” said Roger Smith, CEO and co-founder of Source Audio. “Ernie Ball understands musicians, artists and the cul- ture of guitar in a way very few companies do, and that alignment is what makes this such an exciting next chapter.”
Ernie Ball’s Brian Ball (left) and Source Audio’s Roger Smith (right).
ERNIE BALL AGREES TO ACQUIRE SOURCE AUDIO E rnie Ball has entered into a definitive
global distribution network, artist relation- ships, marketing strength and manufacturing discipline to Source Audio. The shared goal is to bring Source Audio’s innovation to far more musicians around the world while protecting what makes the brand special. “We’re not acquiring Source Audio to change what makes it special,” Ball said. “We’re acquiring Source Audio because we believe in what it already is, and because we believe Ernie Ball can put that innovation in the hands of more players than ever before.” Ball said the companies’ strengths comple- ment one another at a moment when musi- cians are relying on effects more than ever as part of their creative process. “Source Audio represents the rare combi- nation of deep engineering, real musicality and products that inspire players to find
agreement to acquire Source Audio, the Massachusetts-based effects pedals manu- facturer. The move marks a defining moment for both companies. It carries Ernie Ball’s six- decade legacy of shaping how musicians sound — a journey that began with guitar strings and now extends into the effects that color a player’s tone — while giving Source Audio the global reach and resources of a family-owned industry leader, without compromising its musician-first spirit. For more than 60 years, Ernie Ball has defined the feel of modern guitar through products like its Slinky strings and Ernie Ball Music Man. The acquisition gives Ernie Ball an immediate presence in the premium effects category while opening Ernie Ball’s
Source Audio will continue to operate under its own brand. Existing products are expected to remain available, and the immediate focus will be on continuity for customers, dealers, distributors, artists and partners. {ernieball.com} {sourceaudio.net} Synthax Appointed Exclusive Harvey Distributor for U.S., Canada, LATAM D SPECIALISTS has announced a dis- tribution agreement with Synthax for Harvey products in the U.S., Canada and Latin America.
Harvey is a family of high-performance, freely programmable audio DSP processors designed for professional audio installations requiring superior sound quality, extensive control capabilities and flexible system integra- tion. Through this new partnership, Synthax will expand the availability of Harvey products throughout North and South America, pro- viding customers with local sales, technical support and distribution expertise. Synthax is currently the distributor for several pro-audio solutions, including RME, Auvitran, Digigram, Appsys Audio, Ferrofish,
Marian and ALVA cable ware. “Synthax is the ideal partner to bring Har- vey to a broader audience across the Americas” said Jochen Cronemeyer, managing director of DSPECIALISTS. “Their strong reputation,
technical expertise and commitment to cus- tomer support make them a perfect fit for our growing product family. We were excited to officially launch this partnership at InfoComm 2026 in Las Vegas.” {synthax.com}
18 I MUSIC INC. I SEPTEMBER 2026
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