Flash back to 1989 where the only things bigger than the domino-style collapses of communist regimes in Eastern Europe were the hairstyles. A young company called Mackie was learning the hard way that if you're going to make it in this cutthroat business, you've gotta take it with a smile, and smile they did.

Twenty years later, Mackie is still smiling in celebration of their 20th anniversary, but don't pop open the champagne corks just yet unless its non-alcoholic champagne. Nonetheless, a hearty kudos to Mackie, who released the CR-1604 compact mixer twenty years ago to this very year. It was the first in a lineage of successful products, and Mackie products flourish today in stages, under podiums, in stadium sound booths and in home studios.

From the CR-1604 to products like the HR824, SRM450 and Mackie Control Universal, Mackie remains one of the biggest names in the industry and has set several standards in its twenty year's running. I just hope Mackie has been keeping properly hydrated and wearing proper running shoes.