Ever wondered how to pronounce some of the more unusual music gear brand names out there? Here at zZounds, we’ve heard every mispronunciation out there. Here are 12 commonly mispronounced music gear brand names, and our guide to saying them correctly — so you can avoid embarrassing mistakes next time you’re talking gear.
This post is Part 2 in a series. Wondering about the proper way to pronounce Behringer, D’Addario, Epiphone, Eventide, Ibanez, Moog, Neumann, Paiste, or Takamine? You’ll find all those in Part 1: 10 Music Gear Brand Names You Should Know How to Say.
How to Pronounce AIAIAI
The name of this Danish brand, known for their headphones and studio monitors, is not a reference to artificial intelligence. It also does not sound like Ozzy Osbourne at the beginning of “Crazy Train.” Nor is it delivered with an eye-roll and an “Ay, yi, yi.” AIAIAI is simply pronounced as “Aye-aye-aye.” Hear it pronounced on AIAIAI’s official YouTube channel.
How to Pronounce Ashun Sound Machines
This Chinese company’s name is pronounced much like the English word “ashen,” as in “My face turned a pale gray ashen color when I discovered that, to my horror, my arch-enemy had just bought the last Ashun Sound Machines Hydrasynth in stock at zZounds.” Hear ASM’s director of product development say “Ashun Sound Machines” on ASM’s official YouTube channel.
How to Pronounce Beyerdynamic
This German company has been around for over 100 years, and if you’ve spent much time in recording studios you’ve likely encountered Beyerdynamic headphones and microphones. Although you may hear folks pronouncing the first syllables like “bayer” (rhymes with Slayer), you won’t go wrong if you pronounce “Beyer” like the English word “buyer.” Hear it pronounced on Beyerdynamic’s official YouTube channel. And here’s another pronunciation in a German accent.
How to Pronounce Cioks
Don’t get tongue-tied by the name of this Danish company, known for making top-quality pedalboard power supplies. Cioks is pronounced somewhere between “chalks” and “chucks.” Hear the founder of the company say “Hello, Poul Ciok here from Cioks.”
How to Pronounce Denon
This venerable audio equipment brand was initially named Nippon Denki Onkyō Kabushikigaisha (日本電氣音響株式會社, Japan Electric Sound Company), which was shortened to Denon. If you pronounce the Japanese katakana for the company name, デノン, it comes out more like “day-non,” but in American English, you’ll want to say “DEN-uhn” to refer to all Denon brands, including Denon Professional and Denon DJ. Hear it pronounced on Denon DJ’s official YouTube channel.
How to Pronounce Fuchs
Your Fuchs guitar amp sounds amazing, but how the eff are you supposed to pronounce the brand name? Don’t fudge it up, just say “fyooks.” Hear Andy Fuchs say “I’m Andy Fuchs of Fuchs Audio Technology” on the official Fuchs YouTube channel.
How to Pronounce Kurzweil
Co-founded by noted futurist Raymond Kurzweil, Bruce Cichowlas, and Stevie Wonder, the American company Kurzweil is known for making high-end stage pianos, synthesizers, and MIDI controllers. “KURZ-wyle” is how you’ll hear it pronounced on the Kurzweil Music Systems official YouTube channel.
How to Pronounce Teisco
Once a Japanese company best known for crafting unique guitars, the Teisco (“TY-sko”) brand name was relaunched in 2018 and now graces effects pedals. You can hear it pronounced in this video on Teisco’s official Instagram.
How to Pronounce u-he
With a moniker derived from the name of founder and CEO Urs Heckmann, u-he is the Berlin-based company behind software synthesizer plug-ins like Diva and Hive. “You-hey” is how you’ll hear it pronounced on u-he’s official YouTube channel.
How to Pronounce Veillette
Bearing the name of founder Joe Veillette, this boutique company crafts unusual and innovative guitars and basses from a small shop in Woodstock, New York. The LL is silent, so the name sounds more like “vay-ette.” Hear it out loud: “Welcome to the Veillette Guitars YouTube Channel. I’m Joe Veillette…”
How to Pronounce Xvive
This Chinese company hasn’t stopped innovating since their original U2 Guitar Wireless System became a hit with guitarists in 2016. Xvive is pronounced “ex-vyve” (rhymes with “alive”), and you can hear it pronounced on Xvive’s official YouTube channel.
How to Pronounce zZounds
Don’t let that double-Z spelling throw you off — zZounds is pronounced as one syllable, and it rhymes with “sounds.” The first “z” is silent, so there’s no need to say “Zee Zounds,” “zuh-zounds” or “ZZ Sounds.” And hey, if you can pronounce zZounds correctly, you might even get a free T-shirt if you happen to run into us at the NAMM Show!
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