The FX Hackathon combines analog and digital effects tinkering combined with an effects showcase from various pedal makers and audio effects designers—it’s an event for students and the public hosted by WPI's RATLab (the Electric Guitar Innovation Lab and the Interactive Music Systems Lab) whereby students work in small teams with coaches (musicians, faculty, and professionals from pedal/effects communities) to create interesting audio effect devices alongisde a pedal showcase, a pedal repair station, and more! The event is sponsored by The Les Paul Foundation and run by a growing community of friends and companies that like making unique sounds!

The FX Hackathon will return on Saturday, April 5th 2025 10am - 3pm in Alden Hall

↳ For Attendees:

And it's not just hacking! FX Hackathon 2025 will feature a pedal showcase and hands-on electronics DIY/tinkering activities in our Soundgarden™ (powered by CopperSound Pedals), a Pedal Repair Station (powered by Rock n' Repair)—bring your broken pedal and learn to fix it (!!!)—all day long in Alden Hall with audio effects companies. Our 2024 event included Fuzzrocious Pedals, Electronic Audio Experiments, Poison Noises, and others; attendees were able to demo unique pedalboard rigs designed by Stompbox Sonic, play a mythical SynthAxe, and hear performances by guitarist Andy Pitcher and harpist Emily Hopkins ! Come by, hang out, make noise, and be fun—open to the public!