The modern production of live sound began with the development of a reliable, high-power PA capable of good sound reproduction, which could be mass-produced and sold at an affordable price. In 1976, a company called RSD (Recording Studio Design) based in England, was among the first to design and build such amplifiers. Not only did they challenge the engineering specifications and performance of the very few available, extremely expensive models imported from the USA, which could produce no more than a few hundred watts per channel, but they were also truly affordable – very affordable. RSD's goal was to bring the pure sound quality of the recording studio to the concert stage. They were massively co-opted by sound engineers for extravagant shows and arena tours for megagroups like Pink Floyd. Then came the explosion of punk music in the late 1970s, bringing with it the concert revolution, PA rental became an industry, and all companies used the RSD 800B. Equally important, these amplifiers were extremely affordable, meaning that even the smallest bands starting on their road to stardom could perform with a great-sounding PA system that would easily fit in the back of a tour van. RSD continued to develop innovative products, introducing the first compact monitor console and one of the first mixing desks for home recording with 8 buses, designed to work with the new generation of eight-track cassette machines. This mixing desk, the “Studiomaster 16-8” was the one that announced the company's name change from RSD to Studiomaster and the move to a new factory based in the town of Luton, UK, where it remained for many years.
Throughout the 80s and 90s, the new research and development department produced a string of innovative product developments, continuously providing features and technologies previously reserved for large recording studios, to bands and composers of all levels.
Today, Studiomaster is not only a recognized legend in the sound industry, but it also remains a pro-audio engineering company based in the UK. Now, under the ownership of the Soundking group, among the largest manufacturers of professional musical and audio equipment in China, it has access to distribution, investment, and mass production facilities worldwide in Ningbo, while maintaining product development, engineering, strategic management, marketing, distribution, and service departments, all at its new headquarters in Milton Keynes, UK.
As it was in 1976, what differentiates Studiomaster in the modern musical equipment industry is the innovation and drive to provide premium quality products at the most competitive affordable prices.
