Mike Butera, founder and CEO of Artiphon, shares how he’s reimagining musical instruments for everyone—making music creation as approachable as taking a photo. In this episode of Innovating Music, we explore how sound studies, sociology, and product design converge in the quest to make music more playful, accessible, and creative.
Rethinking the Musical Interface
Artiphon’s multi-instrument devices, including the groundbreaking INSTRUMENT 1 and the new Chorda, are designed to remove the intimidation factor from music-making. Instead of requiring years of training, these instruments offer scalable complexity—easy entry for beginners, yet capable of sophisticated performance for experienced players.
From Sound Studies to Smart Instruments
With a PhD in sound studies, Butera understands the cultural and emotional aspects of sound. His approach blends academic insight with hands-on product innovation, resulting in instruments that invite experimentation and creativity without the pressure of perfection.
Why Democratizing Music Matters
Traditional instruments were designed for professionals; Artiphon’s mission is to design for everyone else. By making music creation less about rules and more about discovery, Butera hopes to shift how people see themselves—as capable, expressive, and part of the music-making world.
Listen now to hear Mike Butera’s journey and explore how smart, approachable musical instruments can transform creativity.
Guest: Dr. Mike Butera, Founder & CEO, Artiphon
Dr. Mike Butera is the founder & CEO of Artiphon, a music tech company designing smart instruments that anyone can play. Mike received his Ph.D. in Sound Studies from Virginia Tech and was a professor of Sociology and Philosophy for 6 years. Prior to founding Artiphon, Mike was a consumer electronics product designer, a touring musician, and a public speaker in music & technology.
Highlights
“We think a lot more people can have fun playing music than ever before.”
“If you multiply what a thing can do, any one thing is less intimidating.”
“Musical instruments were once the most advanced tech tools of their time.”
“I wanted to bring muscle memory back into digital music creation.”
What are you most passionate about with your current work? : Inspiring people to be musical for just a minute every day!
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