Sound Devices has grown into an international brand that prides itself on providing high-quality products, coupled with a customer-focused, accessible and personable approach. Headquartered in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, Midwestern values such as hard work, integrity and courtesy are ingrained in the company's DNA. Sound Devices reinforced and honored such values during the design process and partner selection for its newest product, the CL-12 linear fader controller. The CL-12 is an optional accessory that significantly expands the mixing capabilities of the 688 mixer/recorder. The CL-12 comes in two models: a standard model and the Alaia , a higher-end model featuring smooth-gliding Penny & Giles (P&G) faders. As an added feature, the Alaia also comes outfitted with custom hardwood side panels, made locally in Wisconsin. Sound Devices sought to hire a business that could provide the utmost craftsmanship and quality. Ultimately, they chose J&E Custom Woodworks in the rural village of Cashton, not far away from the Reedsburg office.
A friend of mine works with J&E to create custom displays for musical instruments, said Tim Schroeder, Mechanical Engineer at Sound Devices. I mentioned that we were looking for a high-quality woodworker for a project we were working on, and he said I have just the guy youre looking for.'
The Amish craftsmen at J&E developed expertly handcrafted custom side panels, perfectly suited for the CL-12 Alaia, in both Red Mahogany and Blonde Maple hardwood.
We supplied the specs and originally were just going to go with mahogany parts, said Ross Madrigal, Mechanical Engineer at Sound Devices. While touring their facility they showed us the curly maple wood and we decided to proceed with this material, as well. In addition, J&E suggested that we use a clear finish on the maple pieces and the parts turned out beautiful, as did the mahogany pieces.
The technology and design process used to craft the hardwood side panels is truly unique. As an Amish business, no electricity is used. All power tools, such as drills, saws and sanders, are powered via diesel engine through a system of timing belts. With no access to computers, all communication between Sound Devices and J&E was conducted in a weekly phone call, via the lone phone line in a shed next to Cashton's town hall.
The partnership between a high-tech manufacturer and Amish craftsmen seemed like an unusual pairing, but the end result was truly a landmark product for Sound Devices. This collaboration successfully bridged the gap between modern audio technology and custom Amish craftsmanship. The pairing of the console with side wood panels is also a nod to classic' mixing consoles, and consumer electronics from the 1960s. The addition of wood adds character, an artistic element, a one-of-a-kind quality due to the individuality of the grain and feel of each piece of wood, and an aesthetically pleasing presence hinting to the artistry still needed in such a technological area of expertise - sound mixing.
I was impressed with their attention to detail and ability to manufacture parts to Sound Devices tight tolerances without the aid of any CNC machinery, Madrigal adds.
The beautiful custom hardwood became the inspiration behind the product's name, the CL-12 Alaia. The CL-12 Alaia (pronounced ah-LIE-ah) is named in homage to the historic, hand-carved wooden surfboards used globally pre-20th century; they also had a recent resurgence in popularity in the early 2000s. The finless longboards were renowned for their flawless design, durability, and longevity, and like any wooden piece, was once alive, proved to be unique in grain and color, and provided a connection to the surrounding environment. As the business relationship evolved, a mutual trust and respect was formed between the two unlikely partners. J&E invited Sound Devices to their farm to see firsthand how the side panels are made. Each panel takes an hour to create, start to finish. The following photos provide a look at the superior skill, patience and artistry behind each CL-12 Alaia side panel, as well as a brief glimpse into the life of a true Amish craftsman.
Heres a link to a short video album from the trip.
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
Sound Devices has grown into an international brand that prides itself on providing high-quality products, coupled with a customer-focused, accessible and personable approach. Headquartered in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, Midwestern values such as hard work, integrity and courtesy are ingrained in the company's DNA. Sound Devices reinforced and honored such values during the design process and partner selection for its newest product, the CL-12 linear fader controller. The CL-12 is an optional accessory that significantly expands the mixing capabilities of the 688 mixer/recorder. The CL-12 comes in two models: a standard model and the Alaia , a higher-end model featuring smooth-gliding Penny & Giles (P&G) faders. As an added feature, the Alaia also comes outfitted with custom hardwood side panels, made locally in Wisconsin. Sound Devices sought to hire a business that could provide the utmost craftsmanship and quality. Ultimately, they chose J&E Custom Woodworks in the rural village of Cashton, not far away from the Reedsburg office. 
