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Mark Herman, 1956-2016

The passing of an entrepreneur, publisher and passionate contributor to the professional audio community

Mark Herman, for decades a passionate member of the professional audio community, passed away last weekend following complications during a medical procedure. He was 60 years of age.

A resident of Northern California (more specifically, the San Francisco Bay Area), Herman worked with console design pioneer Jim Gamble for several years before going on to found Hi-Tech Audio Systems in 1983, a live sound rental company that had grown from a single console to a thriving operation when Herman chose to sell his stake in it in 1995.

Following that, he launched Triton Network, which manufactured A-TECH loudspeakers in addition to handling the export of audio gear.

Herman was also an original contributor to Live Sound International when it launched more than 25 years ago, and remained heavily engaged with the publication before purchasing it in the late 1990s. Serving as president and group publisher of parent brand Huge Universe, in the early 2000s he added ProSoundWeb to the stable.

Herman chose to remain on board after Huge Universe was acquired by current owner EH Media in 2007, serving as an advisor and consultant for several years.

He also pursued other opportunities, such as founding AVL Factor, a video production and delivery company with more than 2,000 educational videos on audio, lighting and video production. Most recently he was focused on Big Buzz Factor, a website designed to offer audio product and industry news.

“Mark has had a long and influential career in professional audio, both for the industry as a whole as well as numerous individuals,” states Henry Cohen of CP Communications in a thread about Herman in the LAB on PSW. “His passing is yet another reminder that many of the innovators and pioneers of the pro audio/SR industry as we know it today are leaving us, some way too young.”

Memorial and funeral arrangements have not yet been announced; we’ll provide that information as soon as it becomes available.

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