Sound Linear Elektroakustik GmbH • Steinbruchweg 12 • 33106 Paderborn • 05251/77460info@sound-linear.de

How it all started...

It is the year 1977. Two young, enthusiastic technicians are on the road with the band “EPITAPH“. Full of energy and thirsty for action, they quickly acquired a sound system and named their new company “Sound Linear“. From time to time, they worked together with the, simultaneously founded, company “Lightpower“– the first company for stage-light rentals in the region. At the same time, there were even more people on the road – crazy about music and thirsty for action. On the one hand, a young man, 

and his sound system, were touring with a band called “BELA BARTOK“. On the other hand, two committed spring-chickens were working for the “Reiner Schöne Band“ as technicians for the band equipment. It was fate’s humour and a lucky coincidence that, one night, just this band played at the live club “Takt“ in Paderborn where precisely these five young men now met. They got to know each other, became friends and quickly realised that their equipment complemented each other nicely to a beautiful whole. They, then, moved together from Hanover to Paderborn, took over the equipment of “Reiner Schöne Band“ and by simply combining everything, built a PA-rental from scratch. So, 1978 was the year in which 14 so-called “Martin-Stacks“ and “Soundcraft“ desks (Series 1 & 2b) formed the basis for “Sound Linear“.

In the meantime, one of the founders has already left the company (apparently something to do with money and future prospects). Another left the company after moving from Schloss Neuhaus (a nice neighbourhood; it was a wonderful experience to carry the equipment from the lorry to the warehouse in the middle of the night) to Salzkotten – distance to your next-door-neighbour: 300m. Who was left? Peter Molzen, Guido Sehrbrock and Kalle Hogrefe who are still passionately running the company today.

... and we were mainly responsible for festivals (“Tanz auf dem Vulkan“ with Inga Rumpf in Gorleben, besides others). Apart from that we worked together with various bands, like “Tribute“ from Sweden, and some of our technicians even supported acts like Marius Müller-Westernhagen, Herbert Grönemeyer, and the “Scorpions“ on their tour stops in Hannover.

... brought a significant change for the company. We changed “Sound Linear“ to a limited liability company as general partners (German: GmbH).

... we toured with bands, such as, “Slade“, “Sweet“, “Third World“, “Blues Brothers Band“ (with the original members), “Zeltinger“ and many more. Also, we supported numerous Turkish artists, for example Sezen Aksu and Nilüfer on their European tours.

... we have also been booked as specialists for sound technology in more classical areas. Our first great challenge in this field was a concert with Justus Franz at the Waldbühne Northeim. Besides that, we have been working for the Music Festival in Bremen on a regular basis. Andrea Bocelli and Jessye Norman were just two of the distinguished artists we accompanied on their tours. Additionally, we have a long standing and successful cooperation with many high-class orchestras worldwide (London Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Bamberg Philharmonic Orchestra) which emphasises our variability. Since 1989 we also plan, execute and accompany industrial events as well as various trade fairs and exhibitions.

... we moved to our current address and built a new warehouse in Paderborn-Wewer. A new era started – finally there was no more teeth chattering and freezing in the winter. We now have incredibly spacious offices and workshops (compared to Salzkotten anyway).

... we officially have the permission to take on interns and train them in becoming specialists in event technology.

... we have been able to increase the number of artists and their tours which we support with technology, staff and anything else they might need. Artists, such as James Last, “The Ten Tenors“, Annett Louisan, “Tangerine Dreams“, Ina Müller, Rüdiger Hoffmann, Bodo Wartke, Tamme Hanken and many more, have trusted in our expertise and service in the past years; a large number of them still do today.

... we also offer training programs for graduate engineers in event technology in collaboration with the BA- Karlsruhe.

... we managed to successfully acquire the contract for the entire planning and installation of all the sound technology in the football arena in Paderborn (“Benteler Arena“). The whole arena was equipped with 40 Nexo PS15 and a complete ELA- system. After that, we were able to secure contracts for a number of very large and permanent installations, such as the “Stadthalle Bielefeld“ (NEXO GeoS12), the “Paderhalle“ in Paderborn, the “Heinz-Nixdorf-Forum“ in Paderborn, the “Lipperlandhalle“ in Lemgo, the “Carpesol Spa Therme“ in Bad Rothenfelde, the “Eastwood Club“ in Berlin and numerous churches.

… we are an authorised distributor for NEXO. This means for our clients that they now have the option to obtain any available NEXO products from Sound Linear. Additionally, any questions concerning service or maintenance can be asked and answered in contact with our company.

... we offer an apprenticeship training for event managers. Also, in September, we obtained a permit for personnel leasing. This basically means that, if need be, our clients can hire our personnel services, and, individually, reinforce and boost their team to set up their events.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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