Soundbrenner
![]() | |
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Music technology, D2C music electronics |
Founded | 2014 |
Founders |
|
Headquarters | |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Florian Simmendinger (CEO) |
Products | Wearable technology, Music software |
Revenue | $10 Million[1] |
Website | www |
Soundbrenner is a multinational music technology company based in Hong Kong and Germany, that develops wearable devices and application softwares designed to assist musicians with practice and performance.[2] Its products having global availability of features including vibrating metronome, practice tracking, musical tuning, sound level monitoring and dB meter measurements.[3]
Soundbrenner is the maker of the world's first wearable devices for musicians.[4] It has a global reach with its products available in music stores in over 40 countries and its Android and iOS apps used by musicians worldwide.[5][6]
History
[edit]
Soundbrenner was founded in 2014 by Florian Simmendinger, Julian Vogels and Vinh Nghi Tiet.[7] It is primarily based in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong; Its European headquarters is located in Berlin, Germany.[8][9] The company launched its first product, Soundbrenner Pulse, a wearable vibrating metronome, through a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.[10][11] In 2017, Soundbrenner appeared on Die Höhle der Löwen, the German version of Shark Tank, where the founders sought US$1.5 million in exchange for 10% equity.[12] The show brought significant exposure to the company and its innovative wearable metronome, which is a vibrating watch-like wearable device that vibrates to the rhythm and can help with both practices and performances.[13]

Since its inception, Soundbrenner has raised funds through multiple rounds, including $500,000 in 2015 and $1.5 million from angel investors in 2017 to support product development and expand into new markets.[14][15] The AI enabled and haptic metronomes of Soundbrenner are globally accepted and used by noted musicians including Australian musicologist Zubin Kanga and Canadian audio-visual artist Luke Nickel.[16][17][18] Soundbrenner's key investors include Jaan Tallinn (co-founder of Skype), Sonny Vu (co-founder of Misfit), Yat Siu (CEO of Animoca Brands) and Matthias Knobloach (CEO of Betatron).[4]
Products
[edit]Soundbrenner Pulse
[edit]
Soundbrenner Pulse, containing USB charging stations and two wearable bands (one short, one long), released in 2015, is a wearable metronome designed to help musicians keep time through tactile vibrations.[19] It connects wirelessly to mobile apps for tempo control, synchronization, and advanced features such as setlists and rhythm libraries. It can be worn on the wrist, arm, ankle, thigh, shoulder, or chest and connects to the Soundbrenner app via Bluetooth for enhanced functionality.[20][21] The Pulse is designed to allow musicians to feel the beat without needing to rely on auditory cues, making it suitable for both practice sessions and live performances. Publications such as Sound on Sound noted its innovative design, while Gizmodo highlighted its ability to provide a tactile alternative to traditional metronomes.[22][23] VentureBeat described the device as a "wearable metronome that merges functionality with style."[24]
Soundbrenner Pulse comes up with a 7G ERM motor within the box alongside a magnetic charging station and USB cable.[25]
Soundbrenner Core
[edit]Soundbrenner Core, launched in 2018, is a multi-functional device that combines a vibrating metronome, tuner, dB meter, and smartwatch features. The product was introduced through crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, raising over US$1 million in pre-orders.[26] Designed specifically for musicians, the Core can be worn on the wrist, arm, ankle, thigh, shoulder, or chest, similar to the Pulse. Rolling Stone featured the Core as a versatile tool for musicians, noting its powerful vibrations and adaptability for different rhythms and time signatures.[27][28] The device was also highlighted in Hodinkee for its role as a modern tool watch designed for musicians.[29]
The Metronome by Soundbrenner
[edit]'The Metronome by Soundbrenner' is a multi-functional app available on iOS and Android, designed to support musicians in practice and performance. It offers features like a customizable metronome, practice tracking, and a tuner. The app has been reviewed over 100,000 times across both platforms, reflecting its widespread use among musicians worldwide. It was also recognized by Wired magazine as one of the best apps to learn music.[30][31][32]
Awards and recognitions
[edit]In 2016, Soundbrenner Pulse and Soundbrenner Metronome (wearable metronome smartwatch) won "Best in Show" award at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the largest annual trade show for the music products industry. The award recognized Soundbrenner Pulse for its innovative design and functionality as a wearable metronome.[33]
In June 2020, Soundbrenner was featured by Wired magazine as one of the best musical apps and tools in the world.[5][32]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Company Profile: Soundbrenner". LeadIQ. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Millward, Steven (18 January 2017). "Soundbrenner gets funding to build more wearables for musicians". techinasia.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Schroeder, Stan (10 January 2020). "Soundbrenner Core review: A watch that will help you keep time in more ways than one". Mashable. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ a b "Soundbrenner: Business overview". CRUSADE PARTNERS. Archived from the original on 19 March 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ a b "SOUNDBRENNER — THE MODERN METRONOME: SMART, WEARABLE AND POWERED BY VIBRATIONS". brinc.io. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Hong Kong music tech start-up Soundbrenner raises $1.5M funding from Choco Up". technode.global. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Die Höhle der Löwen 2025: Die Fan-Seite zur Gründer-Show — Die Kandidaten" [The Lion's Den 2025: The fan page for the founder show — The candidates]. hoehle-der-loewen.de (in German). Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Soundbrenner — About the company". tracxn.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Soundbrenner GmbH, Berlin, Germany". northdata.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Treuhaft, Teshia. "Soundbrenner creates the First Wearable Device for Musicians: Berlin-based Soundbrenner launches their first product 'Pulse'". core77.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Khullar, Kunal (21 July 2015). "Soundbrenner Pulse: The First Wearable Device For Musicians". BW Businessworld. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Soundbrenner Pulse: Die Uhr, die Musikern das Leben erleichtern soll" [This flashing clock is designed to help you rock out]. Stern (in German). 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ McSpadden, Kevin (17 January 2017). "Hong Kong's Soundbrenner raises US$1.5M to bring metronome into 21st century". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Hong Kong's Soundbrenner raises US$1.5M to bring metronome into 21st century". Tech in Asia. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ McSpadden, Kevin (18 January 2017). "Death to the click tracks! Hong Kong based wearable metronome raises US$1.5M". e27. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "Cyborg Soloists: The Body Electric — Zubin Kanga". Submerge. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Zubin Kanga: Hidden Vortices". City St. George's, University of London. 28 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ Kanga, Zubin (23 October 2024). "Curating a Technological Repertoire: a conversation with Zubin Kanga". prxludes.net. Archived from the original on 6 November 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ Wood, Jake (26 June 2019). "Review: Soundbrenner Pulse Wearable, Vibrating Metronome". drummagazine.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024.
- ^ "Soundbrenner Pulse Wearable Vibrating Metronome". anatomyoftone.com. 4 February 2025. Archived from the original on 3 July 2025. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Drummer's Review Xtra: Reviewed – Soundbrenner Pulse Wearable Metronome". drummersreview.com. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024.
- ^ "Soundbrenner Pulse Review". Sound on Sound. Archived from the original on January 15, 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ Liszewski, Andrew (31 March 2015). "This Wristband's Tactile Vibrations Let Musicians Silently Feel The Beat". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Terdiman, Daniel (31 March 2015). "Beat It: New Wearable Device for Musicians Is Like a Sexy Wearable Metronome". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Senner, Chris (29 March 2014). "Soundbrenner Pulse Review – Is It Worth The Hype?". Keyboard Kraze. Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ "Soundbrenner Core reaches a record breaking $1 million USD in pre-orders with the support of over 4800 musicians". Bass Gear Magazine. 3 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Kanter, Joshua. "RS Recommends: The Best Wearable Metronomes and Watches for Musicians". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Lai, Richard (3 October 2018). "Soundbrenner watch includes a metronome, tuner and decibel meter". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ Milton, Danny (22 March 2021). "Just Because I Made A Song With A Metronome Watch". Hodinkee. Archived from the original on 22 May 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "The Metronome by Soundbrenner on the App Store". apps.apple.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ "The Metronome by Soundbrenner on Google Play". Google Play. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ a b Hall, Parker (17 June 2020). "The Best Sites, Apps, and YouTube Channels to Learn Music". Wired. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ Alkyer, Frank (2 November 2015). "Best in Show". namm.org (National Association of Music Merchants). Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.