LOUISVILLE, KY — Hardy Martin, co-founder of Innovative Electronic Designs (IED), died May 1 at his home in Louisville, KY. He was 79. Martin and longtime associates Ray Allen and Robert Ponto established IED in 1978, initially to develop an automatic microphone mixer for JBL. From there, Martin and others at IED developed many firsts in the realm of digital audio processing.
Among the audio firsts: the first airport digital record and playback system in 1981, the first digital announcement control system for an airport in 1982 and the first airport ambient analysis system in 1987.
IED’s audio expertise later expanded into other large-scale facilities such as stadiums and arenas, hotels, convention centers, amusement parks, office buildings, schools and government installations.
“He was always taking the company forward,” said Bob Ponto, one of the company’s co-founders and former VP of engineering. “He always advanced and wanted to do things that were unheard of before.” In Martin’s spirit, the innovation at AtlasIED will doubtlessly continue.
