Sound Associates

Name

Sound Associates

Legal name

Sound Associates, Inc.

Website

https://soundassociates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Audio/Video Systems for Performing Arts

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310), Sound Recording Studios (51224)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Production & Technical Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video) (MPAGAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio/Sound Reinforcement (PA) (MPAGAKAC), Live Sound & Stage Equipment (PA Systems, Amplification, Monitoring) (MPAIAJAD)

Keywords

• Professional audio systems
• Assistive listening devices
• Theatrical accessibility technology
• Closed captioning systems
• Audio video integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sales of professional audio and video equipment including proprietary infrared listening systems, receivers, transmitters, and accessibility products
2. Equipment Rental: Rental of audio and video equipment for events ranging from long-term installations to one-day performances
3. Integration, Design & Installation: Custom system design, retrofitting, and installation services for new or upgraded audio and video systems
4. GalaPro Distribution: Exclusive worldwide distribution of the GalaPro mobile app for accessibility services in live entertainment venues
5. Recording Studio Services: Professional recording services from Midtown Manhattan location for vocal, instrumental, and ADR recording
6. Accessibility Distribution Services: Distribution and reservation services for accessibility devices at participating Broadway shows

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sound Associates, Inc. designs, sells, rents, and installs professional audio and video systems for performing arts venues including Broadway theaters, concert halls, arenas, and houses of worship. The company specializes in accessibility technology, providing proprietary closed captioning (I-Caption), audio description (D-Scriptive), and multilingual translation (Audien) systems, and is the exclusive worldwide distributor of the GalaPro mobile app for live theater accessibility. Operations include custom system design, equipment fabrication, installation, and ongoing service contracts from offices in Yonkers, New York City, and Atlanta.

Product overview

Sound Associates provides a comprehensive suite of professional audio, video, and accessibility solutions for the performing arts industry. The product portfolio centers on two core systems: the I-Caption/D-Scriptive/Audien accessibility platform (comprising the CS6 automation control unit, T4 transmitter/repeaters, and R6 handheld receivers) for delivering closed captions, audio descriptions, and foreign language translations; and the GalaPro mobile app, which extends these accessibility services to patrons' personal smartphones and tablets via WiFi. Supporting these platforms is a full line of wireless infrared listening hardware including the SA1541H single-channel receiver, SA1532P two-channel pendant receiver, SA1211 and SA1411 emitter panels, SA1401 small-area transmitter, and SA1710/SA1720 power supplies. The company also offers FM listening systems and induction loop systems. Sound Associates has served Broadway and professional theaters since 1946, and in 2022 began managing GalaPro operations globally as exclusive distributor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• I-Caption: Award-winning automated closed captioning system for live theatrical productions
• D-Scriptive
• Audien
• GalaPro
• CS6
• R6 Receiver

Products and services

• GalaPro Mobile App A mobile accessibility application that delivers automated captions, audio description, and multilingual subtitles to patrons' smartphones or tablets via WiFi at live theatrical productions. Distributed exclusively by Sound Associates worldwide as licensed from The Shubert Organization.
• CS6 Automation Control Unit An automation control station that synchronizes pre-recorded captions, audio descriptions, and translations to live theatrical productions via MIDI show-control, MIDI note, MIDI time code, or OSC commands for the I-Caption, D-Scriptive, and Audien systems.
• R6 Wireless Receiver A 6th-generation handheld wireless video display receiver with 1080P OLED display for delivering closed captions, subtitling, graphics, and audio playback as part of the I-Caption system for live theatrical productions.
• I-Caption T4 Transmitter and Repeater A transmitter and repeater unit that broadcasts cue information via 900 MHz wireless mesh network to R4 or R6 receivers, supporting captions, audio description, and multilingual commentary.
• D-Scriptive Audio Description Service An audio description service providing aural descriptions of sets, costumes, characters, and staging for patrons with low vision or blindness, delivered via handheld receivers or the GalaPro app.
• Audien Translation Service Foreign language translation service providing audio commentary and word-for-word subtitles in multiple languages including French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish.
• Professional Audio and Video Equipment Sales Sales of professional audio and video equipment including proprietary infrared listening systems, receivers, transmitters, emitters, and accessibility products, as an authorized reseller of leading professional AV manufacturers.
• Equipment Rental Services Rental of audio and video equipment for events ranging from long-term installations to one-day performances, including accessibility devices for Broadway shows.
• System Design, Integration, and Installation Services Custom system design, retrofitting, fabrication, and installation services for new or upgraded audio and video systems at performing arts venues, arenas, and houses of worship.
• Recording Studio Services Professional recording services from the Midtown Manhattan location for vocal, instrumental, and ADR (automated dialogue replacement) recording.
• Broadway Accessibility Distribution Services Distribution and reservation services for accessibility devices at participating Broadway shows, including device reservation via the company website with theater pickup.
• SA1541H Single-Channel Infrared Receiver A stethoscope-style wireless infrared receiver operating at 2.3 MHz, designed for professional assistive listening applications with lithium polymer rechargeable battery.

Quantifiable outcome

• First infrared listening system on Broadway
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• Kennedy Center (Access/VSA International Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 August 2023Sound Associates actively participates in the Kennedy Center's Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference, presenting on accessibility technology topics including Auracast Broadcast Audio. Mark Annunziato serves as speaker on assistive listening technology panels.
• LW TheatresflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 March 2023LW Theatres, owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber, rolled out GalaPro across all resident productions in their six West End theatres including London Palladium, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Her Majesty's Theatre, Cambridge Theatre, Gillian Lynne Theatre, and Adelphi Theatre. This made LW Theatres the first West End theatre company to introduce closed-captioning and audio description technology across their entire theatre estate.
• Mirvish ProductionsmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 February 2023Mirvish Productions in Toronto added the GalaPro app to the Canadian premiere production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, making live theater more accessible for Torontonians and tourists.
• The Shubert OrganizationcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 February 2022Since February 2022, when The Shubert Organization acquired GalaPro, Sound Associates has managed all operations including equipment sales, installation services, content development, and key technical support to theaters globally. Sound Associates is the exclusive worldwide distributor of GalaPro.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/soundassociate1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sound Associates