GIK Acoustics may have been founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2004, but it became an international entity in 2008 when GIK Acoustics-Europe was formed. Since then, the acoustic treatment manufacturer/consultancy has only grown, and helped more than 130,000 customers across 32 countries.
Leading the European corner of the business is David Shevyn, who tackles the roles of both Head of Europe and Chief Product Officer.
“My entire pro-audio career has been with GIK Acoustics, where I started as a co-founder of the European business in 2008,” Shevyn told Mix in an April interview. “Like many in the pro-audio business, my interest in acoustics and the foundation of GIK Acoustics came from a band background. Many of our team still work in active studios or are musicians. We became interested quite early in recording and working on releases ourselves, and this naturally led us to the world of acoustics, understanding how sound works in an environment and why.”
While Shevyn and others at GIK wanted to better understand acoustics, they realized they were not alone in that regard. As a result, education has always been a core focus for the brand. “We set out from the very start to educate people about acoustics, what it means, how the sound moves and what you can do to make the destructive interference work for you,” said Shevyn. “Now, there is a lot more awareness of acoustics than ever before, and as a result, a lot more great-sounding rooms out there. We continue this education and offer a free acoustic advice service to help everyone get the best sound out of their room they can.”
Today, the company has nearly a dozen acoustic designers spread out across North America and Europe, ready to help customers design rooms. The acoustical products that they work with stem from three physical manufacturing locations—Atlanta, Georgia, supplying North America; Kielce, Poland, supplying the EU; and Bradford, England, supplying the UK, and the rest of the world. In all, more than 50 people are involved in GIK Acoustics’ production processes.
READ MORE: GIK Acoustics Launches Q11D Diffusor.
The manufacturing locations are also a crucial resource for Shevyn, as he heads R&D for the company: “I use the resources of all three factories and the design team to come up with innovative acoustic solutions. All our products are tested independently at Salford University, Manchester, to ensure we get those designs right.”
Ensuring that its offerings meet the demands of different professional environments has always been a priority for the company. “We like to engage with our customers in every way we can,” Shevyn explained. “What is it that they need to improve their working environment? What everyday challenges are they experiencing which we perhaps could come up with a solution for? Which markets and environments could we make a difference in that we have not yet considered? Everyone at GIK Acoustics…wants to help improve our customers’ experience.”
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Those customers aren’t necessarily all studios and architects, either. As GIK Acoustics has grown, so has the need for acoustical treatments outside of the pro-audio world. “One of my proudest achievements in the last 20 years has been how we have also been able to bring these products into the home and have grown our home consumer market extensively,” said Shevyn. “We offer the same products that the professionals use to make and create the music for the home enthusiast who is reproducing it.”
That said, the audio professional is still GIK Acoustics’ core focus: “We have always been a pro-audio company first and foremost, and this is one of the factors that sets us apart,” he added. “We have been leading this sector for many years; we haven’t just come along and seen an opportunity to make money in a market and community that we are not heavily involved in. We love what we do, and I feel you can see this passion in everything we do.”
