Swedish audio icon MILAB has been revived under new leadership, with the legendary VIP-series back in production at its Swedish factory.
Few microphone brands carry the kind of history MILAB does — and after going bankrupt in August last year, its return is welcome news for the professional audio world.
Founded in Stockholm in 1939 as Pearl Microphones, MILAB spent more than eight decades earning a reputation for precision engineering, technical innovation and some of the most distinctive microphone designs in the industry. Studios, broadcasters and artists around the world trusted the brand, and its collapse left a notable gap in the market.
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Now, production is back up and running. The revival is led by David Stenmarck (Epidemic Sound/IMRSV) and music technology entrepreneur Andreas Liffgarden, who have assembled a team of engineers, designers and industry specialists to bring the brand back to professional audio’s top shelf.
The first microphones off the production line are from the VIP-series — MILAB’s award-winning flagship range, recognisable for its distinctive rectangular capsule design and exceptional sonic clarity. Ray Charles, Michael Jackson and Drake are just some of the renowned artists who have rerecorded with VIP-series microphones, which says a lot about the series’ calibre. Leading production is Hans Svensson, who has been building MILAB microphones for the past 40 years.
“Reviving MILAB is both a responsibility and a privilege. This is a brand deeply rooted in Swedish audio excellence, and also an important, largely untold part of the Swedish music wonder. To bring it back with the right people, the right values, and a long-term vision is a rare opportunity and an honor,” says Stenmarck.
Liffgarden echoes that forward-looking intent: “MILAB is not just a microphone company, it’s a legacy. Our goal has been to respect its heritage while building a modern, forward-looking manufacturer that serves today’s creators at the highest professional level.”
New product lines are already in development, expanding on MILAB’s classic portfolio with what the company describes as next-generation engineering aimed at producers, artists and broadcast professionals. Details are still under wraps, but the team says development is moving at full speed.
For an industry that loves its icons, having MILAB back in production, and building toward something new, is a positive outcome.
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