In 1984 three engineers and a marketeer founded MicroAudio. The background of the founders come from medical, audio and instrumentation electronics. Combined they had 60 years experience and had worked together as far back as 1970. This was the time when SUNN was making tube amps in the Woodstock era. With a stroke a marketing and engineering brilliance, in 1984 these four invented and patented the tamper-proof audio equalizer.

In the beginning, the first Microaudio units were manufactured in a "Tek blue" color out of building 16 at Tektronix in Beaverton, Oregon. At the time Tektronix did over a billion dollars a year in oscilloscopes and instrumentation. They had a huge manufacturing facility. In 1986 the company President, Gene Rimkeit, contacted Altec Lansing Corp about an OEM contract. Altec personnel flew out and visited the Tek plant. Shortly thereafter the Altec 8051,8551 and 8558 were born.

MicroAudio has done many large installations around the world. Between 1986 and 1991, MicroAudio supplied every Disney park (except Tokyo) with equalization equipment. In 1990, MicroAudio supplied 4800 channels of level control plus 300 channels of equalization for the Euro-Disney park. In 1994, MicroAudio supplied 450 channels of equalization to the new Denver airport. This is one many airports supplied with equipment.

In 1990, the Altec 8431 and 8432 were issued. The equivalent MicroAudio piece was the EQ POD1.2CQ and EQ POD2.2CQ. These were an ultra-low noise, RS232 controller equalizer. They featured parts that had tolerances of no more the 2% variation and laser precision finishes. These are still manufactured today and have the best performance of any equalizer sold.

In the 1994 the noise and EQ modules were release for the TOA 900 series amplifiers. The third generation DSP is now going into production.

In 1998 IRP Professional Sound outside of Chicago purchased the rights to manufacture and sell the MicroAudio line, as well as re-labelled product under their name. After the turn of the century IRP moved to Germany and the MicroAudio line was returned to corporate MicroAudio.

In 2003 MicroAudio released three cutting edge DSP products: the EQ POD 1.2DSP (single channel), EQ POD2.2DSP (dual channel) and EQ POD4.2DSP (4 channel, 1 rack).

On Dec 31, 2005 the MicroAudio Corp will dissolve. The President, Gene Rimkeit, hopes that you enjoyed the products through the years. We are all leaving MicroAudio to pursue other areas of Engineering.