Design Philosophy

We don't do distortion. Our sound systems uses the latest technology to deliver accurate sound reproduction at high SPL. We do like creativity and new ideas. We have an agile philosophy allowing us to be both productive and imaginative. Our acoustic development uses first hand audible experience and measured results. We ensure the correct outcome without bias. We like building and standing next to big sound systems. Each director has between 10 and 25 years experience with audio and can still be found setting up equipment at events.

How we work

We model prototypes theoretically and physically aiming for acoustic excellence and rapid product development. Acoustic modeling is mostly done with custom software. Measurement is done with a combination of MLSSA and our custom software. Mechanical design is done in Solidworks. All our team choose the style of work that suits them best avoiding a typical corporate mindset. The final stage of development is road testing. Unless we have been with our product out at a gig how do we know how it really performs? Live environments create conditions that can not be re-created in the lab. Some other R&D tools ? Ears, pen and paper, thought and discussion.

History

Traction Sound grew out of making loudspeakers for local PA hire and installation companies. Most of the venues in Brighton have had one of our soundsystems installed at one point or another, with early cabinets still gigging several times a week. The company was formed by Shreddie, Jonny and Billy in 2009 with Andy joining the team a year later.

With the launch of our SDS Horn technology a UK distribution network was secured. We choose our partners carefully and now have a distribution network with a proven track record of great after sales support.

Who we are

Andy Pardoe has been engineering loudspeakers since the age of 13. He graduated from Salford University with first-class honours degree in Electro-Acoustics and is an established AES member. Since then he has worked for companies such as Bose, Turbosound and Martin Audio in loudspeaker research and development. His development technique has a strong emphasis on simulation, measurement and listening. If you ask him what the most rewarding part of his career has been, he will reply: “Watching 100,000 people in a field jumping up and down in unison to a bass beat emanating from the array he designed on the Glastonbury main stage.

Jonny Goodwillie has been involved in virtually all aspects of the music business over the past 20 years. From promoting club nights and live performances to presenting a show on Brighton’s Juice 107.2 radio station, DJ’ing across Europe and most importantly running Catskills Records & Music Publishing. Catskills has been operating for over 15 years, and artists such as Husky Rescue have toured the world, played many high profile festivals such as Glastonbury and Lollapalooza and sound tracked adverts for brands such as Levis Twisted, iPod and Ray Ban.

Shreddie Glew's career in the entertainment industry began with playing keyboards and moved on to promoting and DJ’ing, working on Swiss national radio station Couleur 3 and in venues around the world. Gigging in central Europe tied in nicely with a career riding snowboards for Santa Cruz and stage-managing the original winter music festival, ChamJam. In parallel (even the alps do not have constant snow) Shreddie managed to maintain a freelance career working for an Architectural design company in high end fashion shops all around the world. Settling down in the UK with a young family he designed several night clubs and bars.

Billy Wood has for many years been in the music scene around Brighton. It did not take him long to realise that a sound system is a musical instrument. Before long the bass bins were stacked to the ceiling for the club nights he ran with Shreddie. He has successfully run a sound hire business focusing on PA packages for non-experts. When not moving speakers around Billy puts his BSc in product design to good use. His work in aerospace test engineering has made him strive for quality and accuracy with ruthless attention to detail.